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Happy New Year and our very best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2020! W e ll w h a t a 2 0 1 9 w e h a v e h a d a t A s h d o w n T ra v e l. D e s p ite th e p o litic a l d o o m a n d g lo o m , w e h a v e s till m a n a g e d to tra d e w e ll a n d s e n d m a n y c lie n ts to lo ts o f e x c itin g d e s tin a tio n s. J a p a n h a s b e e n a h u g e s e lle r w ith th e R u g b y W o rld C u p a n d w ith th e O ly m p ic s in 2 0 2 0 th e d e m a n d w ill n o d o u b t s till b e h ig h . W e o n ly w o rk w ith c o m p a n ie s th a t w e h a v e lo n g -s ta n d in g tra d in g re la tio n s h ip s w ith s o th is e n s u re s th a t w e c a n d e liv e r y o u th e s ta n d a rd s a n d s e r v ic e th a t w ill h o p e fu lly s u rp a s s y o u r e x p e c ta tio n s. O u r 2 0 1 9 H o lid a y S h o w w a s h e ld a t th e N u tfi e ld P rio r y H o te l a n d w e w o u ld lik e to s a y a h u g e th a n k y o u to e v e r y o n e th a t c a m e a lo n g to jo in u s . O v e r 1 3 0 p e o p le c a m e a lo n g to 5 in fo rm a tiv e p re s e n ta tio n s a n d to m e e t w ith in d u s tr y e x p e r ts c o v e rin g v ir tu a lly th e w h o le o f th e g lo b e . T h e fe e d b a c k w e re c e iv e d w a s e x c e p tio n a l a n d w e w ill b e h o s tin g o u r n e x t s h o w o n S u n d a y 0 1 s t M a rc h 2 0 2 0 a t th e s a m e v e n u e . Yo u w ill re a d a b o u t th e e x h ib itin g p a r tn e rs in th e n e w s le tte r a lo n g w ith d e ta ils o f 5 m o re e x c itin g d e s tin a tio n p re s e n ta tio n s w h ic h I re a lly fe e l w ill w h e t y o u r a p p e tite to tra v e l. M a n y p e o p le a s k m e if w e w ill e v e r m o v e in to h a v in g a n o n lin e b o o k in g s y s te m . W ith m a n y tra v e l w e b s ite s re a d ily a v a ila b le , w e b e lie v e m o re s tro n g ly th a n e v e r, th a t o u r e x p e r tis e lie s in o u r p ro d u c t k n o w le d g e , e x c e p tio n a l s e r v ic e a n d in d u s tr y re la tio n s h ip s w h ic h y o u ju s t c a n n o t g e t w h e n y o u b o o k o n lin e . O u r little b la c k b o o k o f c o n ta c ts th a t h a s b e e n b u ilt u p o v e r a h u g e n u m b e r o f y e a rs a llo w s u s to ta lk to m a n y k e y p e rs o n n e l in H o te ls a n d To u r O p e ra to rs a ro u n d th e w o rld a n d in re tu rn re c e iv e m a n y p riv ile g e s th a t a re e x c lu s iv e to o u r c lie n ts . T h e s e re la tio n s h ip s a re in v a lu a b le a n d a re o n e o f th e m a n y re a s o n s to c o n s id e r u s in g u s fo r y o u r fu tu re tra v e ls . S e a D re a m Ya c h t C lu b o ff e r lu x u r y y a c h t s t y le c ru is in g a c ro s s th e M e d ite rra n e a n a n d C a rib b e a n . T h e e x p re s s io n “y a c h tin g ” is n o t o n ly a s ta te m e n t a b o u t s iz e ; it d e s c rib e s a life s t y le a b o a rd th e ir in tim a te v e s s e ls . S e a D re a m ’s a w a rd -w in n in g 5 -s ta r s e r v ic e is s e c o n d to n o n e . F ro m th e m o m e n t g u e s ts a re w e lc o m e d a b o a rd , it fe e ls a s if th e y a re b e in g w e lc o m e d o n to th e ir o w n p riv a te lu x u r y y a c h t. R e a d m o re a b o u t th is fa b u lo u s p ro d u c t la te r in th e n e w s le tte r. T h e C a rib b e a n re m a in s a h u g e s e llin g d e s tin a tio n fo r A s h d o w n T ra v e l a n d I a m d e lig h te d th a t a c o u p le o f o u r fa v o u rite p ro p e r tie s h a v e o ff e re d u s s o m e e x c lu s iv e s p e c ia l a d d e d v a lu e o ff e rs. R e n d e z v o u s in S t L u c ia is a n a d u lt o n ly c o lo n ia l p ro p e r t y th a t w e lo v e s e n d in g c lie n ts to . T h e s e r v ic e is im p e c c a b le , a n d th e y h a v e a h u g e re p e a t g u e s t ra tio . S e a B re e z e B e a c h H o u s e in B a rb a d o s is a lo v e ly h o te l th a t o ff e rs s o m e th in g fo r e v e r y o n e a n d re p re s e n ts e x c e p tio n a l s e r v ic e a n d v a lu e fo r m o n e y a n d y o u w ill re a d m o re a b o u t b o th p ro p e r tie s la te r. T h e re h a v e b e e n a fe w s ta ff c h a n g e s a t A s h d o w n in 2 0 1 9 . A le x w e n t o n m a te rn it y le a v e in A p ril 2 0 1 9 a n d w e lc o m e d in to th e w o rld a h a p p y a n d h e a lth y b a b y b o y c a lle d L u c a s . T h e fa m ily a re a ll d o in g w e ll, a n d w e a re d e lig h te d th a t A le x is re tu rn in g to jo in u s in A p ril 2 0 2 0 . L a u ra le ft u s in A u g u s t to re s u m e a c a re e r b a c k in To u r O p e ra tin g , re s u ltin g in u s w e lc o m in g L is a H a r t to th e te a m in O c to b e r. L is a b rin g s a w e a lth o f e x p e r tis e fro m h e r c a re e r in p re s tig io u s L o n d o n tra v e l a g e n ts a n d s h e h a s tra v e lle d e x te n s iv e ly, a d d in g g re a t d e s tin a tio n k n o w le d g e to o u r e x is tin g te a m . T h a n k y o u fo r ta k in g th e tim e to re a d o u r n e w s le tte r a n d w e d o h o p e to s e e y o u in th e s h o p s o o n a n d a t o u r h o lid a y s h o w o n S u n d a y 0 1 s t M a rc h . K in d e s t re g a rd s N ic k S a m u e ls M a n a g in g D ir e c t o r N ic k @ a s h d o w n t r a v e l.c o .u k ASHDOWN TRAVEL | 24-26 STATION ROAD EAST, OXTED, SURREY
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J a p a n O ly m p ic s T h e s u m m e r 2 0 2 0 O ly m p ic s w ill t a k e p la c e in T o k y o b e t w e e n t h e d a t e s o f 2 4 t h J u ly a n d 0 9 t h A u g u s t . W h ils t w e c a n ’t a s s is t w it h t h e t ic k e t s , w e a r e a b le t o o ff e r y o u t r a n s p o r t a t io n a n d g r o u n d a r r a n g e m e n t s . H a v in g m a n a g e d t o g e t m a n y p e o p le s u c c e s s f u lly t o J a p a n fo r t h e R u g b y W o r ld C u p , I a m c o n fi d e n t w e c a n p u t t o g e t h e r a g r e a t t r ip fo r y o u . E x p e r ie n c e h a s s h o w n t h a t d u r in g t h e s e h u g e s p o r t in g e v e n t s , r e g r e t f u lly t h e r e a r e o c c a s io n s w h e r e o v e r b o o k in g o f h o t e ls a n d fl ig h t s o c c u r s . In o r d e r t o a v o id t h is h a p p e n in g , w e o n ly w o r k w it h t r u s t e d p a r t n e r s t h a t h a v e lo c a l o ffi c e s a n d d ir e c t c o n t r a c t s t h u s a v o id in g h u g e d is a p p o in t m e n t a n d d is t r e s s .
2 0 2 1 L io n s T o u r S o u t h A f r ic a A f t e r t h e re c e n t R u g b y W o r ld C u p fi n a l d e fe a t t o t h e P ro t e a s , T h e L io n s To u r t o S o u t h A fr ic a is g o in g t o b e v e r y h ig h ly a n t ic ip a t e d . T h e re a re o ffi c ia l c o m p a n ie s t h a t w ill b e a r r a n g in g ‘s e t p a c k a g e s ’ t o t h e t e s t s , h o w e v e r m a n y o f o u r c lie n t s w h o h a v e b e e n o n p re v io u s t o u r s lik e t o c o m b in e t h e s e w it h s e e in g t h e b e a u t ifu l d e s t in a t io n a s w e ll. E a r ly in d ic a t io n s a re t h a t t h ro u g h a t r u s t e d p a r t n e r b a s e d in S o u t h A fr ic a w e w ill b e a b le t o g e t a c c e s s t o t ic k e t s a s w e ll a s p u t t in g t o g e t h e r b e s p o k e t r ip s t o c o m b in e g a m e re s e r v e s a n d t h e b e s t t h a t S o u t h A fr ic a h a s t o o ff e r. P le a s e re g is t e r y o u r in t e re s t w it h u s a s e a r ly b o o k in g w ill b e e s s e n t ia l.
H o te l N e w s W h ils t D u b a i is b le s s e d w it h a p le t h o r a o f lu x u r y h o t e ls , M a n d a r in O r ie n t a l t h e lu x u r y c h a in h a s re c e n t ly o p e n e d t o h u g e a c c la im . W it h s t ro n g c o n t e m p o r a r y A s ia n t h e m e s a n d w o r ld c la s s s p a fa c ilit ie s it w ill b e a g re a t c h o ic e fo r t h e d is c e r n in g t r a v e lle r. Ik o s h o t e ls h a v e b e e n o p e r a t in g lu x u r y a ll-in c lu s iv e re s o r t s in G re e c e fo r s e v e r a l y e a r s , h o w e v e r M a y 2 0 2 0 w ill s e e t h e o p e n in g o f Ik o s A n d a lu c ia . S it u a t e d in M a r b e lla t h is is g o in g t o b e a n o t h e r h u g e ly p o p u la r a d d it io n t o t h e ir e x is t in g p o r t fo lio . A s h d o w n T r a v e l w o r k v e r y c lo s e ly w it h Ik o s s o p le a s e g iv e u s a c a ll fo r a q u o t e . A f t e r a lo n g c lo s u re I a m d e lig h t e d t o s a y t h a t R a ffl e s S in g a p o re h a s n o w re o p e n e d , a n d t h e le g e n d is b a c k s e r v in g S in g a p o re S lin g s o n t h e t e r r a c e . S in g a p o re is a g re a t s t o p o v e r d e s t in a t io n o n t h e w a y t o A u s t r a lia , s o w h y n o t h a v e a lo v e ly s t o p o v e r t o b re a k t h e jo u r n e y a lo n g t h e w a y .
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A s w e ll a s b o o k in g d a y t o d a y b u s in e s s t r a v e l a r r a n g e m e n t s u s in g t h e la t e s t G D S a n d N D C t e c h n o lo g y w e h a v e a ls o a r r a n g e d m a n y g r o u p s . W e h a v e e x te n s iv e k n o w le d g e in t h e g ro u p a n d in c e n t iv e m a r k e t w h ic h s t a r t s w it h a d e s t in a t io n a n d v e n u e fi n d in g s e r v ic e , fo llo w e d b y a t h o ro u g h h o te l s e le c t io n p o lic y a n d t h e n a n y te a m b u ild in g a n d c o n fe re n c e fa c ilit ie s t h a t a re re q u ire d . T h is s p e c ia lis t a re a re q u ire s e x te n s iv e c o n t a c t s w h ic h w e h a v e b u ilt u p o v e r m a n y y e a rs a n d w e w o u ld b e d e lig h te d to c h a t t h ro u g h a n y re q u ire m e n t s y o u m a y h a v e h o w e v e r la rg e o r s m a ll.
James Metcalf - Business Travel Manager
Email: james@ashdowntravel.co.uk Tel: 01883 877772
O u r c o r p o r a t e t r a v e l s e r v ic e e x t e n d s b e y o n d p la n e s a n d t r a in s o n t o c a r r e n t a l, h o t e ls a n d p a s s p o r t a n d v is a s o u r c in g w h ic h m e a n s w e c a n r e a lly t a k e a w a y t h e h e a d a c h e o f h a v in g t o a r r a n g e e v e r y t h in g y o u r s e lf a n d e n s u r in g y o u e n d u p w it h t h e c o r r e c t t ic k e t f o r y o u r n e e d s. W e h a v e m a n y p r e s t ig io u s a c c o u n t s in t h e m e d ic a l a n d h a ir a n d b e a u t y p r o f e s s io n s t h a t t r u s t u s w it h t h e ir c o r p o r a t e t r a v e l a r r a n g e m e n t s , s o I a m c o n f id e n t t h a t w e w o u ld e x c e e d y o u r e x p e c t a t io n s s h o u ld y o u g iv e u s t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o q u o t e .
Stacey McCartney - Business Travel Executive Email: stacey@ashdowntravel.co.uk Tel: 01883 877774
ASHDOWN TRAVEL | 24-26 STATION ROAD EAST, OXTED, SURREY
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T h e t i m e s a r e 1 0 :3 0 a m t o 3 :0 0 p m a n d s o m e o f o u r k e y s u p p li e r s f r o m a ll a r o u n d t h e g lo b e w ill b e in a t t e n d a n c e . T h e re w ill a ls o b e 5 e x p e r t d e s t in a t io n p re s e n t a t io n s t h a t w ill b e h e ld a s fo llo w s ; 1 0 :4 5 1 1 :3 0 1 2 :1 5 1 3 :3 0 1 4 :1 5
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A ll a t t e n d e e s w ill b e e n t e r e d in t o a p r iz e d r a w t o w in a v o u c h e r fo r a w e e k e n d s t a y f o r 2 a t a H a n d p ic k e d H o te l o f th e ir c h o ic e in c lu d in g d in n e r b e d a n d b r e a k f a s t a n d 1 x sp a tre atm e n t p e r p e rso n .
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ASHDOWN HOLIDAY SHOW - SUNDAY 1ST MARCH 2020, NUTFIELD PRIORY HOTEL & SPA, NUTFIELD ROAD, REDHILL, RH1 4EZ
C a rib to u rs h a s b e e n a rra n g in g lu x u r y h o lid a y s fo r o v e r 4 0 y e a rs . W e c ra ft h o lid a y s b e s p o k e to th e in d iv id u a l, s o w h e th e r y o u ’re d re a m in g o f a m u lti-c e n tre is la n d -h o p p in g h o lid a y, o r s im p ly lo o k in g fo r a w e e k -lo n g a llin c lu s iv e b e a c h b re a k , y o u c a n tru s t u s to c re a te s o m e th in g p e r fe c tly s u ite d to y o u r n e e d s . H o lid a y s w it h C a r ib to u rs a ll in c lu d e a c c o m m o d a t io n , fl ig h t s , p r iv a te t ra n s fe rs a n d d e p a r t u re a ir p o r t lo u n g e a c c e s s a s s t a n d a rd , b u t w e d o m u c h m o re t h a n b o o k g e n e r ic o ff -t h e -s h e lf h o lid a y s . W e ’v e s e le c te d e v e r y h o te l in t h e C a r ib to u rs c o lle c t io n w it h g re a t c a re , o n ly fe a t u r in g p ro p e r t ie s t h a t liv e u p to t h e h ig h e s t s t a n d a rd s o f h o s p it a lit y . P lu s , w e p ro v id e 2 4 -h o u r s u p p o r t a n d a s s is t a n c e , e n s u r in g e v e r y t h in g ru n s s m o o t h ly , fro m fl ig h t s a n d t ra n s fe rs to in -re s o r t e x p e r ie n c e . C a r ib to u rs a r ra n g e s h o lid a y s to d e s t in a t io n s s p a n n in g t h e C a r ib b e a n , In d ia n O c e a n , A ra b ia , E u ro p e a n d m o re , a n d w e ’v e t ra v e lle d to e v e r y d e s t in a t io n w e c o v e r, s o w h e t h e r y o u ’re lo o k in g fo r a h o te l, re s t a u ra n t o r d a y t r ip re c o m m e n d a t io n , a t le a s t o n e o f u s h a s b e e n t h e re a n d d o n e it. W e c a n e v e n a r ra n g e m u lt ic e n t re h o lid a y s , w it h is la n d h o p p in g in t h e C a r ib b e a n o r G re e c e p o p u la r o p t io n s , o r e v e n a n o c e a n c ru is e c o m b in e d w it h a lu x u r y h o te l s t a y . A s w e ll a s b o o k in g h o lid a y s , C a r ib to u rs c a n m a k e s u re a ll t h e lit t le e x t ra s a re o rg a n is e d , to o . O u r c o m p le te C a r ib to u rs C o n c ie rg e s e r v ic e c o m e s a s s t a n d a rd ; fro m t h e s im p le t h in g s , s u c h a s b o o k in g a g re a t re s t a u ra n t o r o rg a n is in g a n e x c u rs io n o r c a n d le lit d in n e r o n t h e b e a c h , to t h e g ra n d g e s t u re s s u c h a s p la n n in g a w e d d in g o r c h a r te r in g a p r iv a te h e lic o p te r, C a r ib to u rs w ill e n s u re y o u r h o lid a y is a b s o lu te ly p e r fe c t.
C r y s t a l C r u is e s h a s b e e n v o t e d t h e W o r ld ’s B e s t C r u is e L in e fo r o v e r 2 5 y e a r s , t h e lu x u r io u s C r y s t a l C r u is e s fl e e t o ff e r s g u e s t s t h e m o s t c h o ic e w it h a h u g e a r r a y o f d e s t in a t io n s , fa c ilit ie s a n d a c t iv it ie s o n o ff e r a c ro s s O c e a n , R iv e r a n d Ya c h t c r u is in g . W e a re v e r y p ro u d t h a t in 2 0 1 9 w e w e re a w a rd e d b y t h e re a d e r s o f C o n d e N a s t T r a v e lle r s , B e s t C r u is e L in e , B e s t R iv e r C r u is e L in e a n d B e s t S m a ll S h ip fo r o u r Ya c h t E s p r it . In 2 0 2 0 w e la u n c h o u r b r a n d -n e w E x p e d it io n S h ip – C r y s t a l E n d e a v o r, g iv in g g u e s t s t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o e x p lo re t h e re m o t e s t d e s t in a t io n s o n t h e p la n e t , w h ils t e n jo y t h e a w a rd e d w in n in g s e r v ic e a n d e le g a n c e t h a t C r y s t a l o ff e r s . W it h n e w in n o v a t io n s a n d s h ip s b e in g b u ilt , w o r k in g fo r C r y s t a l is e x t re m e ly e x c it in g , t h e re is n e v e r a d u ll m o m e n t . E v e r y t im e I v is it o r t r a v e l o n o n e o f o u r b e a u t ifu l s h ip s t h e re is a lw a y s a n e w re s t a u r a n t t o e n jo y , o r s im p ly ju s t a c h a n c e t o d is c o v e r n e w d e s t in a t io n s . T h is is t h e jo y o f c r u is in g a n d I h a v e b e e n lu c k y e n o u g h t o w o r k fo r C r y s t a l fo r 1 0 y e a r s . I a m e s p e c ia lly lo o k in g fo r w a rd to t h e la u n c h o f e x p e d it io n c ru is in g a s t h d e s t in a t io n s t h a t w e w ill b e e x p lo r in g re a lly e x c ite m e . M y n a m e is N a t a lie a n d I v e r y m u c h lo o k fo r w a rd to c h a t t in g w it h y o u in M a rc h .
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E s t a b lis h e d in 1 9 7 4 , t h e In s p ir in g T r a v e l C o m p a n y p io n e e r e d t h e c o n c e p t o f lu x u r y t r a v e l in t h e U K . O v e r 4 0 y e a r s la t e r, w e r e m a in p r iv a t e ly o w n e d a n d a r e v e r y p r o u d o f o u r u n r iv a lle d e x p e r ie n c e a n d c lo s e r e la t io n s h ip s w it h t h e w o r ld ’s fi n e s t h o t e ls , r e s o r t s a n d a ir lin e s . E v e r y In s p ir in g T r a v e l C o m p a n y h o lid a y o ff e r s t h e u t m o s t in p e r s o n a lis e d lu x u r y , a n d w ill b e c r e a t e d p e r s o n a lly b y a n In s p ir in g T r a v e l S p e c ia lis t . S o w h e t h e r it ’s a r r a n g in g fo r y o u r f a v o u r it e t ip p le t o b e w a it in g in y o u r r o o m o r m a k in g t h e p e r fe c t d in n e r r e s e r v a t io n in -r e s o r t , t h e In s p ir in g t e a m t a k e c a r e o f e v e r y lu x u r io u s e le m e n t o f y o u r d r e a m h o lid a y . M y n a m e is N ik h il, a n d I d e v e lo p e d m y lo v e fo r t r a v e l a t a n e a r ly a g e , t r a v e llin g a r o u n d m y h o m e c o u n t r y o f In d ia w it h m y f a m ily . I’v e w o r k e d in t h e t r a v e l in d u s t r y b o t h in In d ia a n d h e r e in t h e U K , a n d fo r m e it is n ’t ju s t a b o u t s e llin g a h o lid a y - it ’s a lw a y s a ll a b o u t w in n in g a n d c o n v e r t in g h e a r t s t o m a k e a ll m y c lie n t s f a n s a n d a m b a s s a d o r s o f In d ia . I’m v e r y p r o u d t o n o w b e c o n s id e r e d o n e o f t h e w o r ld ’s le a d in g e x p e r t s in lu x u r y t r a v e l t o In d ia , a n d I p r id e m y s e lf o n u s in g m y in s id e r ’s k n o w le d g e t o h a n d -c r a f t e a c h a n d e v e r y h o lid a y . A t o u r o f In d ia c a n b e d o n e in s o m a n y d iff e r e n t w a y s – I u s e m y y e a r s o f e x p e r ie n c e , c o n t a c t s , a n d p a s s io n fo r t h e c o u n t r y t o h e lp e a c h o f m y c lie n t s b u ild a c u s t o m t o u r t h a t s u it s t h e m , a n d t h a t ’s n o t a b o u t b o x -t ic k in g o r s p e n d in g t h e w h o le t im e o n t h e r o a d . I m a k e s u r e e v e r y t o u r is a b o u t v a r ie t y a n d t h a t e a c h d e s t in a t io n is s h o w c a s e d in u n c o n v e n t io n a l w a y s a n d t h r o u g h u n iq u e e x p e r ie n c e s .
A t R e g e n t H o lid a y s , w e ’re c o m in g u p t o o u r 5 0 t h b ir t h d a y , a n d w e c o u ld n ’t b e m o re p ro u d a n d e x c it e d t o h a v e b e e n p io n e e r in g h o lid a y s t o u n iq u e a n d u n u s u a l d e s t in a t io n s fo r a lm o s t fi v e d e c a d e s . It a ll b e g a n in 1 9 7 1 , w h e n w e t o o k o u r fi r s t g ro u p t o u r t o t h e t h e n -c o m m u n is t s t a t e o f A lb a n ia . S in c e t h e n , w e ’v e b e e n o n e o f t h e fi r s t c o m p a n ie s t o o p e r a t e t o u r s t o R u s s ia – o r t h e U S S R , a s it w a s w h e n w e fi r s t t o o k t r a v e lle r s t h e re – a lo n g w it h U k r a in e , t h e ‘S t a n s , G re e n la n d , a n d e v e n N o r t h K o re a . T h e t y p e s o f p e o p le w h o b o o k a R e g e n t h o lid a y t e n d t o b e t h o s e w h o lik e t o d o t h in g s a lit t le d iff e re n t ly . E v e n if y o u ’re t r a v e llin g t o o n e o f o u r m o re p o p u la r d e s t in a t io n s lik e Ic e la n d o r L a p la n d , w e ’ll d o o u r b e s t t o h e lp y o u fi n d a lt e r n a t iv e e x p e r ie n c e s t o g e t y o u o ff t h e w e ll-t ro d d e n t o u r is t ro u t e s . W it h o v e r 1 0 0 t r ip s t o R u s s ia u n d e r o u r b e lt s , w e a re t h e U K ’s le a d in g s p e c ia lis t in R u s s ia n t r a v e l a n d w e p r id e o u r s e lv e s o n o ff e r in g u n iq u e a n d a u t h e n t ic e x p e r ie n c e s . A n y h o lid a y t o R u s s ia s h o u ld in c lu d e ic o n s lik e M o s c o w ’s R e d S q u a re w it h it s t o w e r in g K re m lin a n d S t B a s il’s C a t h e d r a l a n d t h e o r n a t e a n d e x t r a v a g a n t p a la c e s o f S t P e t e r s b u r g . B u t o u r R u s s ia h o lid a y s a re fa r m o re t h a n ju s t v is it s t o t h e s e p o p u la r, g r a n d io s e c it ie s . A t r ip t o R u s s ia w it h R e g e n t H o lid a y s c o u ld in c lu d e r iv e r c r u is e s a b o a rd h a n d p ic k e d v e s s e ls t h a t g e n t ly c a r r y y o u t h ro u g h t h e c o u n t r y s id e a n d s t o p a t s m a ll r iv e r -s id e v illa g e s . O r it c o u ld b e a n e p ic r a ilro a d jo u r n e y , c la t t e r in g a c ro s s d e e p e s t S ib e r ia a b o a rd t h e T r a n s -S ib e r ia n R a ilw a y . O t h e r R u s s ia t o u r o p t io n s in c lu d e e x p lo r in g R u s s ia ’s fu r t h e s t fro n t ie r s , fro m t h e e a s t e r ly K a m c h a t k a p e n in s u la t o t h e n o r t h e r n lig h t s -s p y in g t o w n o f M u r m a n s k in t h e n o r t h .
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I jo in e d t h e c o m p a n y a t t h e b e g in n in g o f N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 8 a n d I c a n h o n e s t ly s a y t h a t A s h d o w n is a lo v e ly c o m p a n y t o w o r k fo r. I m a in ly lo o k a f t e r o u r g ro u p b o o k in g s , in t h e c o r p o r a t e t r a v e l d e p a r t m e n t . A f t e r a c o u p le o f w e e k s t r a in in g , I s t a r t e d b o o k in g fl ig h t s fo r o n e o f o u r c lie n t ’s a n n u a l c o n g r e s s e s , w h ic h t o o k p la c e in L y o n . I b o o k e d fl ig h t s in f r o m B r a z il a n d t h e U S b u t m a in ly E u r o p e . I w a s a ls o lu c k y e n o u g h t o jo in m y m a n a g e r in A p r il e s c o r t in g a g r o u p fo r fi v e d a y s in M a la g a . T h is in v o lv e d m a k in g s u r e a ll c lie n t s g o t t o t h e ir t r a n s fe r s o n t im e , a s w e ll a s c h e c k in g t h e m in t o t h e ir h o t e l a n d e n s u r in g a ll e v e n t s p la n n e d w e r e e x c u c u t e d a s e x p e c t e d . P a r t o f t h is in c lu d e d w a lk in g d o w n t h e s t r e e t w it h 5 0 + b a llo o n s in t o w fo r t h e ir fi n a l g a la n ig h t ! W e s t a y e d in t h e A C M a la g a P a la c io H o t e l w h ic h w a s a g r e a t c e n t r a l lo c a t io n . F r o m m y r o o m y o u c o u ld s e e a ll t h e c r u is e s h ip s d o c k in g , a n d w a lk in g a r o u n d t h e t o w n fe lt v e r y s a fe w it h t h e b e a u t if u l c a t h e d r a l o n ly a 2 -m in u t e w a lk a w a y . I w a s a b le t o jo in t h e g r o u p w it h t h e ir “ iP a d T o u r o f M a la g a ”, w h ic h w a s s o m u c h f u n a n d n o t a t a ll w h a t I e x p e c t e d . T h is in c lu d e d fo o d a n d w in e t a s t in g f r o m t h e lo c a l s h o p s /r e s t a u r a n t s a n d t a k in g v id e o s o f u s d o in g a r u g b y H a k a ! F o r t h e r e s t o f t h e y e a r I h a v e b e e n b u s y w o r k in g o n s m a lle r g r o u p s t r a v e llin g fo r c o u r s e s /c o n g r e s s e s a n d e x p e d it io n s in G e n e v a , A m s t e r d a m , a n d M ila n a n d n o w I a m ju s t s t a r t in g o n a g r o u p t o T b ilis i. M y f a m ily e n jo y g o in g t o a s m a n y s t e a m a n d c o u n t r y s h o w s a r o u n d S u r r e y a n d S u s s e x a s w e c a n w e s t a y fo r t h e w h o le w e e k e n d a n d h a v e fi n a lly b r o u g h t o u r s e lv e s a c a r a v a n ! M y h u s b a n d ’s f a m ily h a v e b e e n g o in g t o t h e s e s h o w s s in c e b e fo r e h e w a s b o r n s o it is lo v e ly t o c a r r y o n t h e t r a d it io n a lo n g s id e h is b r o t h e r a n d s is t e r s a n d t h e ir f a m ilie s . B u t w e a r e lo o k in g fo r w a r d t o o , t o o u r fi r s t f a m ily h o lid a y a b r o a d in 2 0 2 0 , a n d w e a r e h e a d in g t o H u r g h a d a in E g y p t . M y b o y s a r e 4 a n d 7 y e a r s o ld a n d a r e e x t r e m e ly e x c it e d a t t h e p r o s p e c t o f t h is !
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2 0 1 9 h a s c e r t a in ly b e e n a y e a r f o r t h e u n e x p e c t e d . H e r e a t A s h d o w n w e a r e a lw a y s r e a d y t o h e lp o u r c lie n t s w h e n t h e y h a v e t h e ir t r a v e l p la n s a f f e c t e d b y s t r ik e s , a ir lin e b a n k r u p t c y o r f o r c e m a je u r e a n d 2 0 1 9 w a s n o e x c e p t io n t o t h is . J a n u a r y b e g a n w it h a m e d ic a l m e e t in g in H a r a r e h a v in g t o b e c a n c e lle d a t t h e la s t m in u t e , w it h r io t in g in t h e s t r e e t s a n d t h e c it y u n d e r s t r ic t c u r f e w . A f t e r m a k in g s u r e e v e r y o n e w a s s a f e a n d a c c o u n t e d f o r, w e w e r e a b le t o a s s is t w it h r e a r r a n g in g t r a v e l p la n s w h e r e n e e d e d . W e a ls o h a d t h e c h a lle n g e o f r e -a r r a n g in g o u r t r a v e lle r s a f f e c t e d b y t h e B r it is h A ir w a y s p ilo t s ’ s t r ik e a n d t h e s a d d e m is e o f T h o m a s C o o k . In t h e m id d le o f J a n u a r y , I s p e n t a lo n g w e e k e n d a w a y w it h m y w if e o n t h e is la n d o f M a lt a . S t e e p e d in h is t o r y y o u a r e n e v e r f a r a w a y f r o m s o m e t h in g in t e r e s t in g t o s e e . V is it in g M d in a w it h t h e N o r m a n a n d B a r o q u e h o m e s lin in g t h e w in d in g n a r r o w s t r e e t s a n d m a g n if ic e n t v ie w s w a s a h ig h lig h t . A s E n g lis h is w id e ly s p o k e n a c r o s s t h e is la n d a n d t h e y d r iv e o n t h e le f t lik e u s , it ’s a p e r f e c t p la c e f o r a lo n g w e e k e n d a w a y . In o u r c o r p o r a t e d e p a r t m e n t w e w e r e in u n d a t e d w it h g r o u p s f o r t h e f ir s t h a lf o f t h e y e a r. I d id m a n a g e t o g e t a w a y f o r a f a m ily h o lid a y t o S o u t h D e v o n in J u n e , t h e n a t t h e e n d o f A u g u s t t o o u r u s u a l h a u n t in t h e V e n d e e , w it h f r ie n d s a n d f a m ily . N o v e m b e r b r o u g h t a n e x c it in g a d v e n t u r e h o lid a y t o t h e A r a b ia n la n d o f J o r d a n . T a k in g a d v a n t a g e o f t h e n e w d ir e c t E a s y J e t f lig h t s f r o m G a t w ic k t o A q a b a w e s p e n t a f e w n ig h t s r e la x in g b y t h e R e d S e a , in T a la B a y . T h e n w e h it t h e r o a d v is it in g t h e D e a d S e a , t h e N a b a t e a n C it y o f P e t r a . W e e n d e d u p a t W a d i R u m w it h t h e a w e -in s p ir in g M a r t ia n la n d s c a p e b y d a y , a n d t h e v a s t c a n o p y o f t h e s t a r f ille d h e a v e n s b y n ig h t . T h is w a s c e r t a in ly t h e h ig h lig h t f o r 2 0 1 9 a n d o n e t h a t y o u w o u ld lo v e t o e x p e r ie n c e .
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S e a D re a m Ya c h t C lu b h a s a c h ie v e d t h e in d u s t r y ’s h ig h e s t a c c o la d e s . T h e S e a D r e a m y a c h t in g e x p e r ie n c e is d e fi n e d b y it s c a s u a l e le g a n c e , a w a r d - w in n in g s e r v ic e , 5 -s t a r d in in g a n d d e s t in a t io n -d r iv e n it in e r a r ie s . S e a D re a m ’s c la s s ic t w in y a c h t s , S e a D re a m I a n d S e a D re a m II, v is it s m a ll h a r b o u rs a n d p o r t s in t h e M e d ite r ra n e a n a n d C a r ib b e a n , m a n y in a c c e s s ib le b y la rg e r s h ip s , o n 7 to 1 5 -d a y v o y a g e s . S e t t in g t h e b e n c h m a r k fo r lu x u r y a t s e a , S e a D re a m e x e m p lifi e s “G lo b a l Ya c h t in g ” a t it s fi n e s t. A s a m p le it in e ra r y fo r t h e C a r ib b e a n is s h o w n o p p o s ite . M a r k S c h m it t t h e U K D ir e c t o r f o r S e a D r e a m w ill b e in o u r o ffi c e o n S a t u r d a y 1 5 t h F e b r u a r y 2 0 2 0 a n d is a v a ila b le t o c h a t t h r o u g h t h e ir a m a z in g p r o d u c t in m o r e d e t a il.
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2 0 1 9 h a s b e e n a q u ie te r y e a r fo r m e p e rs o n a lly, a s w e d e c id e d to g e t a re s c u e p u p p y. M ilo jo in e d o u r fa m ily e a rlie r th is y e a r fro m th e D o g s T ru s t. It h a s a lw a y s b e e n o u r in te n tio n to re -h o m e a d o g a n d th is y e a r w e fo u n d th e o n e fo r o u r fa m ily. M y tra v e llin g th is y e a r h a s th e re fo re b e e n k e p t to th e U K , s o th a t w e c o u ld e n s u re M ilo w a s a b le to c o m e w ith u s a n d n o t g o to k e n n e ls fo r lo n g p e rio d s o f tim e d u rin g o u r fi rs t y e a r to g e th e r. W e tra v e lle d u p to L in c o ln s h ire in th e s u m m e r a n d s ta y e d in a lo d g e n e a r to L o u th , w h e re I u s e d to s p e n d tim e w ith m y D a d ’s s id e o f th e fa m ily w h e n I w a s y o u n g e r. L u c k ily, w e h a d g o o d w e a th e r s o s p e n t m o s t o f th e tim e re la x in g o r o u t o n lo n g c o u n tr y w a lk s ! It w a s a g re a t o p p o r tu n it y to s p e n d tim e w ith M ilo a s a fa m ily. I h a v e p u t to g e th e r s o m e v e r y in te re s tin g trip s in 2 0 1 9 . C lie n ts a re tra v e llin g fu r th e r a fi e ld a n d w a n tin g to e x p e rie n c e a little m o re th a n ju s t fl y a n d fl o p ! A ta ilo r-m a d e trip to P e ru , v is itin g th e S a c re d V a lle y a n d M a c h u P ic c h u , fo llo w e d b y a G a la p a g o s c ru is e w a s a re a l c h a lle n g e , a s a v a ila b ility in th a t p a r t o f th e w o rld is a lw a y s d iffi c u lt a n d g e ttin g th e rig h t G a la p a g o s c ru is e is c ru c ia l to th e o v e ra ll e n jo y m e n t o f th e trip . R e g u la r c lie n ts h a v e s e le c te d to s e e V ie tn a m a n d C a m b o d ia o n a riv e r c ru is e , w h ic h is a g re a t w a y to s e e th e s e fa s c in a tin g c o u n trie s p a s s in g th ro u g h lo c a l to w n s a lo n g th e w a y. R e s t a s s u re d , A s h d o w n T ra v e l w ill a ls o a s s is t in o b ta in in g th e n e c e s s a r y d o c u m e n ta tio n fo r v is a s, a s th is c a n s o m e tim e s s e e m ra th e r d a u n tin g . A re tu rn v isit to N e w Z e a la n d fo r a c lie n t, sta y in g in lu x u r y lo d g e s, v isitin g th e sig h ts o f th e M a rlb o ro u g h S o u n d , H a w k e s B a y a n d th e B a y o f Isla n d s lo o k s to b e a n a m a z in g trip a n d o n e th a t sh o u ld b e o n e v e r y o n e ’s b u c k e t list. I a m lo o k in g fo r w a rd to tra v e llin g m o re in 2 0 2 0 – s o w a tc h th is s p a c e !
ASHDOWN TRAVEL | 24-26 STATION ROAD EAST, OXTED, SURREY
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L iv in g a b r o a d in T u r k e y w o r k in g in t h e f a m ily r u n b u s in e s s b e g a n m y t r a v e l c a r e e r a n d le d o n t o w o r k in g a s a H o lid a y R e p in v a r io u s r e s o r t s o f G r e e c e a n d S p a in . W e ll a n d t r u ly “in f e c t e d w it h t h e t r a v e l b u g ” I b e c a m e f a s c in a t e d w it h e x p lo r in g t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r ld . I r e t u r n e d t o t h e U K t o p u r s u e m y lo v e o f t r a v e l a n d w o r k e d in r e t a il t r a v e l s t o r e s f ir s t ly w it h T h o m a s C o o k a n d t h e n f o r t h e la s t 8 y e a r s w it h K u o n i. I a m a n a d v e n t u r o u s t r a v e lle r t h a t lik e s t o r e a lly im m e r s e m y s e lf in “lo c a l lif e ”. F r o m c a t c h in g a lo c a l b u s t o e x p lo r e t h e is la n d o f M a h e , S e y c h e lle s , t o S a ls a d a n c in g in t h e c lo u d f o r e s t o f M o n t e v e r d e in C o s t a R ic a , t o b e in g p u r if ie d in a t e m p le in U b u d , In d o n e s ia . I’m v e r y p a s s io n a t e w it h e x p e r ie n t ia l t r a v e l, I r e a lly w a n t t o s e e a s m u c h o f t h e c o u n t r y a s p o s s ib le a n d d o a s m u c h a s I c a n , s o y o u w ill f in d t h a t m y t r ip s a r e u s u a lly m u lt i s t o p s w it h m a n y e le m e n t s in v o lv e d . I a b s o lu t e ly lo v e c o m b in a t io n h o lid a y s o f a d v e n t u r e , r e la x a t io n , s o m e w ild lif e t h r o w n in , a c o o k in g c la s s , a c it y t o u r, a h e lic o p t e r r id e t h e n m a y b e s o m e m o r e r e la x a t io n a t t h e e n d . M y f a v o u r it e p la c e s o f a r t h a t I h a v e t r a v e lle d t o w o u ld m o s t d e f in it e ly h a v e t o b e S r i L a n k a . T h e c o u n t r y is s o in c r e d ib ly d iv e r s e , o f f e r in g m a n y f a s c in a t in g h is t o r ic a l s ig h t s , c u lt u r e , w ild lif e , b e a u t if u l s c e n e r y a n d o f c o u r s e I lo v e t h e c u is in e . S r i L a n k a is ju s t f u ll o f a d v e n t u r e a n d t h e n o n ly a n h o u r ’s f lig h t a w a y , y o u r e a c h m y m o s t f a v o u r it e b e a c h d e s t in a t io n o f a ll t im e , T h e M a ld iv e s . T h is c o m b in a t io n w o r k s h a n d in h a n d a n d I a m y e t t o f in d a b e a c h t h a t b e a t s t h a t p u r e w h it e t a lc u m p o w d e r s a n d t h a t I w a lk e d o n in T h e S o u t h A r i A t o ll. M y t r a v e l c a r e e r h a s p r e s e n t e d m a n y o p p o r t u n it ie s t o t r a v e l t o s o m e in c r e d ib le f a r f lu n g d e s t in a t io n s s u c h a s t h e In d ia n O c e a n , S r i L a n k a , In d o n e s ia , T h a ila n d , C o s t a R ic a , a n d W e ste rn C a n a d a . T h is y e a r I’v e t r a v e lle d t o T h e D e e p S o u t h o f t h e U S A , t o T h e C a r o lin a s , G e o r g ia , A la b a m a , a n d T e n n e s s e e . I w a s c o m p le t e ly b lo w n a w a y b y t h e c o n t r a s t o f T h e D e e p S o u t h c o m p a r e d t o t h e r e s t o f t h e U S A . I t is f u ll o f h is t o r ic a l s ig h t s a n d a u t h e n t ic c h a r m in g lit t le t o w n s w it h lo t s o f c h a r a c t e r. C h a r le s t o n w a s m y a b s o lu t e f a v o u r it e o f t h e a r e a s I v is it e d ; it is s u c h a b e a u t if u l q u a in t p la c e , w it h c o b b le d s t r e e t s a n d c r o o k e d b u ild in g s . T h e lo c a ls w e r e s o f r ie n d ly , a n d e v e r y o n e w a n t e d t o s a y a b ig “H e y y ’a ll”! WWW.ASHDOWNTRAVEL.CO.UK
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E x o d u s T r a v e ls a re t h e U K ’s lo n g e s t e s t a b lis h e d A d v e n t u re t o u r o p e r a t o r, w it h a 4 5 -y e a r h is t o r y o f s p e c ia lis in g in s m a ll g ro u p w a lk in g t o u r s , c y c lin g h o lid a y s , w ild life t r ip s a n d c u lt u r a l it in e r a r ie s t o a ll s e v e n c o n t in e n t s . W e h a v e fo rg e d a s t ro n g re p u t a t io n fo r o u r fo c u s o n re s p o n s ib le t o u r is m , s u p p o r t in g t h e lo c a l c o m m u n it ie s o u r s m a ll g ro u p t o u r s v is it , a n d e m p lo y in g s p e c ia lis t , m a in ly lo c a l, t o u r g u id e s . O n e o f o u r b ig g e s t s e llin g d e s t in a t io n s is P e r u w h e re o u r lo c a l g u id e s a re s o m e o f t h e v e r y b e s t in t h e b u s in e s s . W it h t h e ir v a s t e x p e r ie n c e o f t re k k in g t h e In c a T r a il, b r in g in g t o life t h e m a g ic a n d m y s t e r y o f t h e lo s t c it y o f M a c c h u P ic h u a n d w ild life s p o t t in g in t h e A m a z o n r a in fo re s t t h e y re c e iv e c o n s is t e n t ly o u t s t a n d in g fe e d b a c k fro m v e r y s a t is fi e d E x o d u s c lie n t s . O u r c o n s t a n t s e a rc h t o in n o v a t e a n d im p ro v e o u r t o u r s h a s m e a n t w e h a v e a n e w fl e e t o f s u p e r io r y a c h t s a n d c a t a m a r a n s o n o u r G a la p a g o s c r u is in g p ro g r a m m e w h ic h c a n b e c o m b in e d w it h P e r u t o c o m p r is e t h e t r ip o f a life t im e . M y n a m e is D a n a n d I h a v e w o r k e d fo r E x o d u s fo r 1 9 y e a r s . In m y t im e w it h E x o d u s I h a v e b e e n v e r y fo r t u n a t e t o t r a v e l t o m a n y p a r t s o f t h e w o r ld , o n fo o t a n d b y b ik e , b o t h w ild life a n d c u lt u r a l t o u r s t r a v e llin g w it h o u r lo y a l c lie n t s . In p a r t n e r s h ip w it h A s h d o w n T r a v e l, I w o u ld b e d e lig h t e d t o d is c u s s y o u r T r a v e l p la n s a n d lo o k fo r w a rd t o m e e t in g y o u a t t h e H o lid a y S h o w t o h o p e fu lly in s p ire y o u t o t r a v e l w it h E x o d u s v e r y s o o n t o o n e o f t h e 9 0 c o u n t r ie s w e o p e r a t e in , o n o n e o f o u r 4 0 0 d iff e re n t h o lid a y s !
In s p ire d b y A u s t r a la s ia a re a h o lid a y a n d t o u r c o m p a n y s p e c ia lis in g in a ff o rd a b le lu x u r y h o lid a y s t o A u s t r a lia , N e w Z e a la n d a n d t h e S o u t h P a c ifi c . W e a re A B TA a n d A T O L b o n d e d a n d o ff e r c o m p le t e p e a c e o f m in d w it h y o u r t r a v e l a r r a n g e m e n t s . W h e n it c o m e s t o c h o o s in g a n d p la n n in g y o u r A u s t r a la s ia h o lid a y , y o u n e e d t o d e a l w it h p e o p le w h o k n o w t h e d e s t in a t io n in s id e o u t . A t In s p ire d b y A u s t r a la s ia w e h a v e in -d e p t h e x p e r t is e t h a t m a k e s a ll t h e d iff e re n c e . O u r t e a m h a s t r a v e lle d e x t e n s iv e ly t h ro u g h o u t t h e re g io n t o e n s u re y o u re c e iv e fi r s t h a n d a d v ic e , s u g g e s t io n s a n d t ip s fro m t h o s e w h o h a v e re a lly “b e e n t h e re a n d d o n e t h a t .” L e t u s t a ilo r m a k e t h e p e r fe c t lu x u r y h o lid a y fo r y o u , b u t a t a n a ff o rd a b le p r ic e . M y n a m e is H e le n a n d I h a v e b e e n w o r k in g fo r In s p ire d b y A u s t r a la s ia s in c e 2 0 1 3 , b u t h a v e v is it e d A u s t r a lia re g u la r ly s in c e 1 9 9 8 , a n d h a v e a lw a y s w o r k e d fo r c o m p a n ie s s p e c ia lis in g in t h is a m a z in g c o n t in e n t . A s w e ll a s A u s t r a lia , d u r in g t h is t im e I h a v e a ls o b e e n lu c k y e n o u g h t o v is it N e w Z e a la n d n u m e ro u s t im e s a n d t h e fa n t a s t ic S o u t h P a c ifi c Is la n d s o f R a ro t o n g a in t h e C o o k Is la n d s a n d T a h it i in F re n c h P o ly n e s ia O n m y la s t t r ip d o w n u n d e r I s w a m w it h w h a le s h a r k s a t N in g a lo o R e e f (A u s t r a lia ’s s e c o n d re e f!) in W e s t e r n A u s t r a lia w h ic h w a s a t r u ly h u m b lin g e x p e r ie n c e . W h e t h e r y o u a re a fi r s t -t im e v is it o r o r h a v e v is it e d b e fo re , a s o lo t r a v e lle r o r a fa m ily , a fo o d ie o r a w ild life e n t h u s ia s t , A u s t r a lia h a s s o m e t h in g fo r e v e r y b o d y . P le a s e c o m e a lo n g t o s e e m e a n d fi n d o u t m o re a b o u t m y fa v o u r it e c o u n t r y in t h e w o r ld .
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H e r e a t A f r ic a & B e y o n d w e d o n ’t ju s t s e ll A f r ic a w e liv e a n d b r e a t h e A f r ic a . W e w o r k e x c e p t io n a lly h a r d t o p r o v id e e x c e lle n t s e r v ic e a n d w e b e lie v e w e a r e t h e b e s t in t h e in d u s t r y fo r g o in g t h a t e x t r a m ile a n d p r o v id in g u n iq u e , h a n d s o n e x p e r ie n c e w it h in t h e A f r ic a T o u r O p e r a t o r d iv is io n . In O c t o b e r 2 0 1 9 w e w e r e t h e p r o u d r e c ip ie n t s o f t h e T T G a w a r d fo r B e s t S p e c ia lis t O p e r a t o r in t h e U K . W e p r id e o u r s e lv e s o n n o t o n ly s e n d in g c lie n t s t o t h e m o r e w e ll k n o w n a r e a s o f A f r ic a lik e S o u t h A f r ic a , T a n z a n ia a n d K e n y a , b u t a ls o t o m o r e “o ff t h e b e a t e n t r a c k ” a r e a s , s u c h a s U g a n d a a n d M a la w i. M y n a m e is K a t ie a n d I fi r s t v is it e d A f r ic a in y e a r 2 0 0 0 a n d t h a t w a s it , I w a s h o o k e d , 1 9 y e a r s o n I s t ill lo v e A f r ic a , p r o b a b ly e v e n m o r e s o . I h a v e b e e n lu c k y e n o u g h t o v is it v a r io u s c o u n t r ie s w it h in A f r ic a e v e r y y e a r s o m e t im e s t w ic e a y e a r. I lo v e s t e p p in g f r o m t h e a ir c r a f t in B o t s w a n a a n d fe e lin g a s e n s e o f w o n d e r a n d o n e n e s s w it h n a t u r e , s ip p in g g in a n d t o n ic s w h ile w a t c h in g t h e s u n s e t a n d h e a r in g t h e lio n s r o a r in t h e d is t a n c e . I lo v e c o m in g in t o la n d in C a p e T o w n a n d s e e in g t h e b e a u t if u l T a b le M o u n t a in a g a in a n d fe e lin g a s e n s e o f e x c it e m e n t fo r m y t r ip a h e a d . I a m v e r y m u c h lo o k in g fo r w a r d t o a t t e n d in g t h e H o lid a y S h o w a n d t a lk in g a b o u t A f r ic a . I h a v e r e c e n t ly v is it e d t o U g a n d a , a t r u ly b e a u t if u l c o u n t r y w h ic h I a m v e r y p a s s io n a t e a b o u t y o u w ill s o o n r e a lis e h o w m u c h I lo v e A f r ic a b y c o m in g t o t a lk t o m e a n d h o p e f u lly I c a n e n c o u r a g e y o u t o v is it t h is m a g ic a l c o n t in e n t .
W it h m o re t h a n 3 0 y e a r s ’ e x p e r ie n c e in p re m iu m s m a ll g ro u p t o u r s a c ro s s t h e U K , E u ro p e , A s ia a n d t h e U S A , B a c k -R o a d s To u r in g is t r u ly t h e o r ig in a l S m a ll G ro u p To u r in g c o m p a n y . C a t e r in g fo r t h e m a t u re t r a v e lle r, B a c k -R o a d s To u r in g h a s b u ilt u p a b r a n d ro o t e d in e x p e r t lo c a l k n o w le d g e , s u s t a in a b le t o u r is m , c u lin a r y e x c e lle n c e a n d b o u t iq u e a c c o m m o d a t io n . W it h B a c k -R o a d s To u r in g y o u ’ll e n jo y a m o re p e r s o n a lis e d t o u r in g e x p e r ie n c e w it h a lik e -m in d e d g ro u p o f t r a v e lle r s d e lv in g in t o n e w p la c e s w h ils t d is c o v e r in g n e w c u lt u re s a n d n e w fl a v o u r s . Yo u ’ll v e n t u re o ff t h e t o u r is t t r a il a n d g e t t o t h e h e a r t o f e a c h d e s t in a t io n w it h g e n u in e lo c a l e x p e r ie n c e s le d b y o u r p a s s io n a t e a n d k n o w le d g e a b le To u r L e a d e r s w h o u n d e r s t a n d w h a t it t a k e s t o m a k e y o u r t r ip t r u ly s p e c ia l. It ’s a ll d o n e a t a le is u re ly p a c e s o t h e re ’s p le n t y o f t im e t o e n jo y e a c h s t e p o f t h e jo u r n e y . M y n a m e is L o c k ie K e r r a n d I’v e b e e n w o r k in g a t B a c k -R o a d s To u r in g fo r 4 y e a r s . W h a t I lo v e m o s t a b o u t o u r s m a ll g ro u p t o u r s is t h a t w it h o u r p re m iu m m in i-c o a c h e s , w e h a v e t h e a b ilit y t o c re a t e it in e r a r ie s t h a t w ill t a k e y o u o ff t h e t y p ic a l t o u r is t t r a il g iv in g y o u a n e x p e r ie n c e lik e n o o t h e r. P le a s e c o m e a n d v is it m y s t a n d a t t h e H o lid a y S h o w s o I c a n s h a re s o m e o f m y p e r s o n a l B a c k -R o a d s To u r in g e x p e r ie n c e s .
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W h e n t h e B a r n a rd fa m ily fi r s t o p e n e d R e n d e z v o u s ’ d o o r s in 1 9 6 6 , t h e a im w a s t o p ro v id e a t r u ly p e r s o n a lis e d , in t im a t e a n d ro m a n t ic h o lid a y o n t h e b e a u t ifu l is la n d o f S a in t L u c ia . E x c lu s iv e ly fo r c o u p le s , R e n d e z v o u s is t h e h o lid a y o f “S t o le n T im e ” w h e re c o u p le s c a n t a k e a b re a k a n d c o n c e n t r a t e o n e a c h o t h e r fo r a t im e . T h is s o p h is t ic a t e d A ll-In c lu s iv e , 1 0 0 -ro o m re s o r t is s e t o n a m a g n ifi c e n t t w o -m ile s t re t c h o f u n s p o ilt C a r ib b e a n b e a c h w h e re c o u p le s e n jo y in c re d ib le c u is in e a n d n ig h t ly “b u b b y h o u r ” t o g e t h e r. A s e r ie s o f “S t o le n M o m e n t s ” a re a v a ila b le s u c h a s w in e t a s t in g , a w e e k ly d a t e n ig h t o r b u b b le s a n d a m o v ie o n t h e s a n d .
S a m p le t h e s t a t e o f t h e a r t w a t e r -s p o r t s c e n t r e w it h c o m p lim e n t a r y w a t e r -s k iin g , w in d s u r f in g , h o b ie c a t s a ilin g a n d t u b in g o r t h e f ir s t -c la s s P A D I S c u b a C e n t r e w it h c o m p lim e n t a r y d iv in g p r o g r a m m e . O r p e r h a p s c h ill in t h e r e s o r t s la z y r iv e r w it h w a t e r w a it e r s e r v ic e , a t r e a t m e n t in t h e s p e c t a c u la r s p a o r a d ip in o n e o f t w o p o o ls . W h a t e v e r t h e t w o o f y o u im a g in e y o u r s e lv e s d o in g , a t R e n d e z v o u s it c a n c o m e t r u e in c lu d in g h o lis t ic w e lln e s s e x p e r ie n c e s s u c h a s c o u p le s T a i C h i, Yo g a a n d c o o k e r y c la s s e s . R e n d e z v o u s is a p la c e t o s t e a l p r e c io u s t im e t o g e t h e r.
* B o o k b y 3 1 s t J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0 t o r e c e iv e $ 5 0 U S D p e r p e r s o n s p a c r e d it . *M in im u m 7 n ig h t s ta y.
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S e a B re e z e B e a c h H o u s e is a n in t im a t e , lu x u r y , b o u t iq u e A ll-In c lu s iv e a m id 2 .5 a c re s o f lu s h g a rd e n s a lo n g t h e C a r ib b e a n S e a . L o c a t e d o n t h e liv e ly S o u t h C o a s t o f B a r b a d o s , it is fa s t b e c o m in g o n e o f t h e m o s t s o u g h t a f t e r p ro p e r t ie s o n t h e is la n d . T h is c o n t e m p o r a r y re s o r t h a s b e e n fu lly re fu r b is h e d , s t y le d w it h a c h ic b e a c h -h o u s e e le g a n c e a n d a b e a u t ifu l c o lle c t io n o f lu x u r y o c e a n fro n t S u it e s (u p t o fo u r -b e d ro o m s ) re c e n t ly a d d e d . W it h s e p a r a t e a re a s fo r a d u lt s -o n ly a n d fo r fa m ilie s , t h e re a re p le n t y o f p la c e s t o re la x o r p la y . S in k in t o a lu x u r io u s s u n lo u n g e r o n o n e o f t h e e x p a n s iv e s u n d e c k s , s p la s h in o n e o f t h e t h re e p o o ls o r s o a k in t h e a d u lt s o n ly J a c u z z is . T h e re is o v e r 1 ,0 0 0 f t o f s p e c t a c u la r b e a c h fro n t w it h c o m p lim e n t a r y n o n -m o t o r is e d w a t e r s p o r t s in c lu d in g p a d d le b o a rd in g , k a y a k in g , w in d s u r fi n g a n d S c u b a D iv in g . T h e W e s t B e a c h a re a p ro v id e s a m o re s e c lu d e d s e t t in g , p e r fe c t fo r q u ie t re la x a t io n o r fo r a s t u n n in g d e s t in a t io n w e d d in g . T h e re is a s e le c t io n o f fo u r b a r s a n d s ix d in in g e x p e r ie n c e s s e r v in g a w a rd -w in n in g lo c a l c u is in e , a r u m s h o p c a fĂŠ a n d n ig h t ly e n t e r t a in m e n t . C o m e a n d d a n c e u n d e r t h e s t a r s t o t h e s o u n d s o f s t e e l d r u m s a n d e x c it in g lo c a l e n t e r t a in m e n t a n d e n jo y t h e b e s t in B a ja n h o s p it a lit y ! * B o o k b y 3 1 s t J a n u a r y 2 0 2 0 t o r e c e iv e $ 4 0 U S D p e r p e r s o n t o w a r d s a n in -r o o m s p a t r e a t m e n t . *M in im u m 7 n ig h t s ta y.
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W o w ! W h e re d id t h a t y e a r g o ? It d o e s n ’t s e e m p o s s ib le t h a t I’m re fl e c t in g o n 2 0 1 9 a lre a d y ! J a n u a r y t h ro u g h M a rc h s e e m s a b it o f a b lu r a s w e e x p e r ie n c e d a b u s y s a le s p e r io d in t h e o ffi c e , p u n c t u a t e d b y a b r ie f w e e k o f s u n s h in e in F lo r id a a t h a lf t e r m . It ’s o u r t h ir t e e n t h y e a r s t a y in g a t B a h a m a B a y R e s o r t , D a v e n p o r t – s u ffi c e t o s a y it w o r k s fo r u s ! P re t t y la n d s c a p in g , fo u r s w im m in g p o o ls , a n d t h e c o n d o s a re s im p le b u t s p a c io u s a n d a lw a y s c le a n . W it h in 1 0 m in u t e s d r iv e y o u h a v e a g re a t c h o ic e o f s h o p s , s u p e r m a r k e t s a n d re s t a u r a n t s – L o n g h o r n S t e a k h o u s e a n d B a h a m a B re e z e b e in g o u r fa v o u r it e s – a n d a 2 0 m in u t e d r iv e b r in g s y o u t o t h e D is n e y p a r k s . W h a t ’s n o t t o lik e ? L a t e J u n e s a w u s t a k in g a d v a n t a g e o f a n e a r ly s c h o o l fi n is h p o s t G C S E ’s w it h o u r b ig t r ip o f t h e y e a r - s a fa r i in S o u t h A fr ic a a n d t h e n o n w a rd s t o M a u r it iu s . W e fl e w E m ir a t e s fro m G a t w ic k a n d h a d a fe w d a y s s t o p o v e r in D u b a i b e fo re a r r iv in g in J o h a n n e s b u r g , w h e re a fo u r h o u r d r iv e b ro u g h t u s t o t h e m a la r ia fre e g a m e re s e r v e o f t h e W e lg e v o n d e n . I c a n h o n e s t ly s a y it w a s a n a w e s o m e e x p e r ie n c e - in t e r m s o f g a m e , t h e n a t u r a l b e a u t y o f t h e re s e r v e a n d fro m t h e lo d g e a n d it s s t a ff t e a m . W e s t a y e d a t N e d ile L o d g e w h ic h is p e rc h e d o v e r lo o k in g n o t h in g b u t b u s h v e ld a s fa r a s y o u c a n s e e , a n d w it h ju s t 5 ro o m s , it is a w o n d e r fu l p e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e . P lu s b e in g o p e n t o t h e re s e r v e m e a n s a ll s o r t s o f w ild life m a y s h a re y o u r t e r r a c e a n d s u r ro u n d s w it h y o u – o u r u p -c lo s e v is it o r s w e re b a b o o n s , k u d u , z e b r a a n d e le p h a n t ! I h a v e n o d o u b t w e w ill re t u r n . It t o o k u s a fe w d a y s t o c o m e d o w n fro m o u r s a fa r i-in s p ire d ‘h ig h ’, a n d w h e re b e t t e r t o b e t h a n t h e t ro p ic a l p a r a d is e o f M a u r it iu s . In S e p t e m b e r, I fl e w t o F r a n k fu r t fo r a w e e k e n d c a t c h u p w it h m y b e s t fr ie n d - w e s t a y e d in t h e p re t t y w in e t o w n o f Ip h o fe n in B a v a r ia w h ic h is a m e re t w o h o u r d r iv e fro m t h e a ir p o r t . Ip h o fe n , k n o w n fo r it s r a re c o m p le t e m e d ie v a l t o w n w a ll a n d o t h e r h is t o r ic a l b u ild in g s , a ls o h a s m a n y lit t le re s t a u r a n t s a n d w in e b a r s , a n d lo v e ly w a lk s t h ro u g h t h e h ills id e s o f t h e v in e y a rd s , p e r fe c t fo r a w e e k e n d g e t a w a y . O c t o b e r g a v e m e t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o c o n t in u e m y lo v e a ff a ir w it h is la n d s – t h is t im e t o t h e p e re n n ia lly p o p u la r M a jo rc a . T h is fa m t r ip g a v e m e t h e c h a n c e t o s e e a g o o d n u m b e r o f p ro p e r t ie s , w it h s o m e v a r ie d fa v o u r it e s b e in g t h e v e r y c o n t e m p o r a r y G r a n M e lia d e M a r t o t h e h is t o r ic C a s t e llo H o t e l S o n V id a w it h it s b e a u t ifu l b re a k fa s t t e r r a c e a n d t h e c h a r a c t e r fu l B e lm o n d L a R e s id e n c ia , in D e ia . T h e s c e n e r y b e t w e e n P a lm a a n d D e ia w a s b e a u t ifu l a n d t h e n t h e d r a m a t ic b a y s a n d c o v e s a lo n g t h e n o r t h w e s t c o a s t w e re a t t im e s b re a t h t a k in g . I c a n s e e m e h e a d in g b a c k fo r a lo n g w e e k e n d s o o n . ASHDOWN TRAVEL | 24-26 STATION ROAD EAST, OXTED, SURREY
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M y y e a r s ta r te d o u t v e r y b u s y in d e e d b o o k in g a n d fi n a lis in g h o lid a y s fo r a ll m y lo v e ly c u s to m e rs, a ll b e fo re I w a s d u e to g o o n m a te rn ity le a v e to h a v e m y s e c o n d c h ild . O n e o f th o s e trip s in c lu d e d a n e x c itin g m u lti c e n tre ra il jo u rn e y th ro u g h th e U S A , ta k in g in W a s h in g to n , P h ila d e lp h ia a n d N e w Yo rk in c lu d in g tic k e ts to s e e th e M e n ’s s e m i fi n a ls o f th e U S O p e n Te n n is C h a m p io n s h ip s. A n o th e r s ta n d o u t trip fo r m e w a s a b e a u tifu l tw in c e n tre in th e S e y c h e lle s fo r a c o u p le c e le b ra tin g a s p e c ia l w e d d in g a n n iv e rs a r y. T h e y o p te d to s ta y o n th e u n iq u e ‘B ird Is la n d ’ w ith its ru s tic c h a rm a n d a b u n d a n c e o f w ild life , c o m b in e d w ith th e is la n d o f P ra s lin w ith is s tu n n in g c o a s t lin e s & b e a u tifu l s a n d y b e a c h e s. In M a y I w a s v e r y fo r tu n a te to g iv e b ir th to a h e a lth y b a b y b o y a n d w a s th ro w n in to th e b u s y w o rld o f b e in g M u m to 2 y o u n g c h ild re n ! I d id h o w e v e r m a n a g e to g e t a w a y o n a lo v e ly fa m ily h o lid a y in O c to b e r to th e p o p u la r S p a n is h Is la n d o f Te n e rife . T h e w e a th e r w a s 2 7 C a n d s u n n y, a p e r fe c t A u tu m n e s c a p e . W e s ta y e d a t th e R o c a N a v a ria h o te l n e a r C o s ta A d e je . It w a s a b s o lu te ly id e a l! O u r 3 y e a r o ld lo v e d th e h e a te d p o o ls, fre e k id s c lu b , m in i d is c o a n d it e v e n h a d a p la y a re a in th e m a in re s ta u ra n t to k e e p h e r e n te r ta in e d . B e in g a 5 * h o te l, th e ro o m s w e re s p a c io u s a n d o u r ju n io r s u ite e v e n h a d a s e p a ra te s le e p in g a re a fro m th e m a in b e d ro o m , p e r fe c t fa m ily a c c o m m o d a tio n . W e o p te d fo r a ll in c lu s iv e , w h ic h g a v e u s b rillia n t c h o ic e a t m e a l tim e s, a la rg e v a rie ty o f d rin k s a n d s n a c k s to c h o o s e fro m a n d a ll o f e x c e p tio n a l q u a lity. W e w o u ld n ’t h e s ita te to g o b a c k ! N e x t o n m y lis t is D is n e y la n d P a ris in M a rc h , a m u s t d o trip fo r a n y little (o r b ig ) D is n e y P rin c e s s fa n !
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ASHDOWN HOLIDAY SHOW - SUNDAY 1ST MARCH 2020, NUTFIELD PRIORY HOTEL & SPA, NUTFIELD ROAD, REDHILL, RH1 4EZ
M a s o n R o s e is a S a le s & P R r e p r e s e n t a t io n a g e n c y b a s e d in K n ig h t s b r id g e , L o n d o n a n d w a s f o u n d e d b y T a n y a R o s e w h o la u n c h e d t h e c o m p a n y o v e r 2 5 y e a r s a g o a f t e r s e e in g a g a p in t h e m a r k e t f o r in t e r n a t io n a l lu x u r y h o t e l r e p r e s e n t a t io n b a s e d in t h e U K . T o d a y M a s o n R o s e r e p r e s e n t s s o m e o f t h e w o r ld ’s m o s t ic o n ic p r o p e r t ie s a n d w e lln e s s c lie n t s a c r o s s t h e fi e ld s o f s a le s , m a r k e t in g , d ig it a l m a r k e t in g a n d P R s e r v ic in g U K , U S a n d E u r o p e a n m a r k e t s . W e r e p r e s e n t h o t e ls in a ll p a r t s o f t h e g lo b e in c lu d in g E u r o p e , In d ia n O c e a n , U S A & In d ia . A ll o f w h ic h a r e in d e p e n d e n t ly o w n e d , b o u t iq u e in s iz e a n d lu x u r io u s t h r o u g h o u t . O u r h o t e ls b e n e fi t f r o m t h e v e r y b e s t lo c a t io n s a n d h ig h e s t le v e ls o f s e r v ic e . M y n a m e is B r y d ie a n d I’m e x t r e m e ly p r o u d t o w o r k f o r a c o m p a n y t h a t is t r u ly p a s s io n a t e a b o u t t r a v e l a n d I f e e l lu c k y t o w o r k w it h s o m e o f t h e v e r y b e s t h o t e ls in t h e w o r ld w h ic h I lo o k f o r w a r d t o s h a r in g w it h y o u .
H a n d P ic k e d H o t e ls is a p r iv a t e ly -o w n e d c o lle c t io n o f 1 9 c o u n t r y h o u s e a n d s p a h o t e ls a c r o s s t h e U K a n d C h a n n e l Is la n d s . M a n y a r e lis t e d b u ild in g s o f h is t o r ic a l s ig n ifi c a n c e w it h s t u n n in g o r ig in a l f e a t u r e s , f a s c in a t in g s t o r ie s a n d e x t e n s iv e g r o u n d s t o e x p lo r e ; w h ile it s h o t e ls in J e r s e y a n d G u e r n s e y h a v e a m o r e M e d it e r r a n e a n f e e l, p o s it io n e d in p r im e c o a s t a l o r c o u n t r y s id e lo c a t io n s . E a c h is o n e o f a k in d a n d a t t r a c t s a r a n g e o f c u s t o m e r s , w h e t h e r t h e y ’r e lo o k in g f o r a g o o d n ig h t ’s s le e p , a u n iq u e d in in g e x p e r ie n c e o r a m a g ic a l w e d d in g v e n u e . G e n u in e , a u t h e n t ic d in in g e x p e r ie n c e s a r e a t t h e v e r y h e a r t o f H a n d P ic k e d H o t e ls ’ o ff e r in g , w it h a f o c u s o n m o d e r n B r it is h d is h e s t h a t r e fl e c t s e a s o n a lit y a n d p r o v e n a n c e . A f t e r n o o n t e a is a ls o a p o p u la r c h o ic e a c r o s s t h e c o lle c t io n , c o m b in in g a n o ld t r a d it io n w it h a c o n t e m p o r a r y t w is t . T e n o f t h e h o t e ls h a v e a h a v e h e a lt h c lu b a n d s p a f a c ilit ie s o ff e r in g s p a d a y s , s p a b r e a k s a n d t r e a t m e n t s f r o m t o p p r o d u c t h o u s e s in c lu d in g E le m is , C o m f o r t Z o n e a n d Is h g a . W it h s u c h v a r ie d c h a r a c t e r a n d d e s ig n , e a c h H a n d P ic k e d H o t e l o ff e r s a c o m p le t e ly d iff e r e n t e x p e r ie n c e ; y e t u n it in g t h e m is a s h a r e d s e n s e o f p r id e a n d a m e t ic u lo u s a t t e n t io n t o d e t a il t o e n s u r e t h e ir g u e s t s f e e l s p e c ia l. O v e r t h e y e a r s , t h e y h a v e w o r k e d h a r d t o c r e a t e a n e n v ir o n m e n t t h a t in v it e s t h e ir g u e s t s t o k ic k o ff t h e ir s h o e s , r e a d a b e s t -s e lle r, s e t o ff o n a g o o d s t r o ll, e n jo y a w o n d e r f u l m e a l, s ip a n e x c e p t io n a l g la s s o f w in e a n d a b o v e a ll, f e e l r e la x e d a n d a t h o m e .
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L a tin R o u te s is a le a d in g in d e p e n d e n t to u r o p e ra to r s p e c ia lis in g in ta ilo r-m a d e tra v e l to L a tin A m e ric a . W e m a k e it o u r m is s io n to d e liv e r o u ts ta n d in g T r u l y I n d i v i d u a l H o l i d a y s th a t a re c re a te d to y o u r e x a c t re q u ire m e n ts. W e ’v e re c e n tly la u n c h e d o u r E s c o r te d S m a ll G ro u p To u rs, g iv in g y o u a n o th e r o u ts ta n d in g o p tio n fo r d is c o v e rin g th is in c re d ib le c o n tin e n t – th is tim e in th e c o m p a n y o f o th e r lik e -m in d e d in d iv id u a ls. W h e t h e r y o u ’re t ra v e llin g s o lo , w it h fa m ily , a s a g ro u p lo o k in g fo r a u n iq u e e x p e r ie n c e o r a s h o n e y m o o n e rs w a n t in g t h e u lt im a te ro m a n t ic g e t a w a y , w e c a n t a ilo r t h e p e r fe c t t r ip fo r y o u . F ro m t h e ra n g e o f d e s t in a t io n s , t h e d iff e re n t s t y le s o f a c c o m m o d a t io n a n d t h e in c re d ib le v a r ie t y o f to u rs , e x c u rs io n s a n d a c t iv it ie s w e c a n b u ild in to y o u r t r ip , w e g u a ra n te e w e ’ll b e a b le to m e e t a ll o f y o u r p re fe re n c e s , e x p e c t a t io n s a n d n e e d s . O u r a w a rd -w in n in g te a m is c a r in g , fr ie n d ly a n d w ild ly e n t h u s ia s t ic . E v e r y s in g le te a m m e m b e r h a s e x te n s iv e fi rs t-h a n d k n o w le d g e o f t h e d e s t in a t io n s w e ’re o ff e r in g , a n d a g re a t p a s s io n fo r t h is m a g n ifi c e n t p a r t o f t h e w o r ld . T h e y s t r iv e to g iv e t h e b e s t w h ile m a k in g s u re y o u r h o lid a y is u n fo rg e t t a b le . M y n a m e is C h a r lie a n d I w a s lu c k y e n o u g h to t ra v e l e x te n s iv e ly in S o u t h A m e r ic a fo r 8 m o n t h s , w o r k in g m y w a y a ro u n d t h is fa n t a s t ic c o n t in e n t. W h ils t t ra v e llin g , I n e v e r t h o u g h t I w o u ld e n d u p w it h a c a re e r in t ra v e l w h ic h a llo w s m e to t a lk a ll a b o u t m y e x p e r ie n c e s a n d o ff e r a d v ic e to a n y o n e w h o is t h in k in g o f g o in g . I h o p e to m e e t y o u a t t h e H o lid a y S h o w a n d t a lk a ll t h in g s S o u t h A m e r ic a n !
C a n a d a a n d A la s k a - P re s t ig e H o lid a y s a re a n a w a rd w in n in g , in d e p e n d e n t to u r o p e ra to r o ff e r in g in c re d ib le h o lid a y e x p e r ie n c e s to t h is fa b u lo u s c o u n t r y . W e w e re v o te d a s t h e ‘B e s t To u r O p e ra to r ’ re c e n t ly a t t h e B r it is h C a n a d a T ra v e l A w a rd s a n d h a v e d e c a d e s o f e x p e r ie n c e in fi n d in g t h e p e r fe c t C a n a d a t r ip fo r o u r c lie n t s . O u r fi rs t h a n d k n o w le d g e e n s u re s t h a t y o u r v is it to C a n a d a is o n e t h a t w ill p ro v id e m e m o r ie s t h a t la s t a life t im e . W h e t h e r y o u w a n t to t a k e a t r ip o n t h e in c re d ib le R o c k y M o u n t a in e e r T ra in , jo in a n e s c o r te d to u r a ro u n d O n t a r io a n d Q u e b e c , a C it y B re a k to To ro n to o r a s e lf-d r iv e jo u r n e y in A t la n t ic C a n a d a w e lo o k fo r w a rd to h e lp in g w it h y o u r p la n s to t h is s p e c t a c u la r p a r t o f t h e w o r ld . M y n a m e is J o n a t h a n a n d I a m in c re d ib ly fo r t u n a te to h a v e s p e c ia lis e d in c o m p o s in g b e s p o k e h o lid a y s to C a n a d a fo r o v e r 2 5 y e a rs . I h a v e t ra v e lle d t h ro u g h o u t C a n a d a in t h a t t im e a n d h a v e b e e n p r iv ile g e d to t ra v e l o n b o a rd e a c h o f t h e R o c k y M o u n t a in e e r ra il ro u te s , v ie w t h e P o la r B e a rs o f C h u rc h ill, t a k e a h e lic o p te r t r ip o v e r N ia g a ra F a lls , S n o w b o a rd in W h is t le r a n d d r iv e a ro u n d N o v a S c o t ia . W e h a v e w o r k e d c lo s e ly w it h A s h d o w n T ra v e l fo r m a n y y e a rs a n d in v ite y o u to m y p re s e n t a t io n o n C a n a d a a n d A la s k a a t t h e H o lid a y S h o w . It w ill h o p e fu lly p u t t h e s c a le o f t h is h u g e c o u n t r y in to p e rs p e c t iv e a n d in s p ire y o u to t a k e y o u r fi rs t (o r n e x t ) t r ip to C a n a d a a n d A la s k a !
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2 0 1 9 w a s a v e r y in t e r e s t in g y e a r a s b o t h m y s e lf a n d m y w ife c e le b r a t e d b ig b ir t h d a y s a lo n g w it h o u r s ilv e r w e d d in g a n n iv e r s a r y . H a v in g b e e n fo r t u n a t e t o t r a v e l t o m a n y lo v e ly a n d e x c it in g p la c e s t o g e t h e r w e w a n t e d t o c e le b r a t e b y g o in g a w a y s o m e w h e r e w h ic h n e it h e r o f u s h a d b e e n a n d h a d a lw a y s w a n t e d t o g o . T h e r e fo r e , in S e p t e m b e r t h is y e a r w e s e t o ff fo r C a lifo r n ia a n d H a w a ii a n d I m u s t s a y w e h a d s im p ly t h e m o s t a m a z in g t im e . L o s A n g e le s a n d S a n F r a n c is c o a r e f a b u lo u s c it ie s , v e r y d iff e r e n t a n d s o m e t h in g fo r e v e r y o n e h o w e v e r t h e r e a l h ig h lig h t fo r s u r e w a s H a w a ii. W e w e r e b o o k e d w it h T a u c k , t h e ir t o u r ‘B e s t o f H a w a ii’. W e w e n t a s p a r t o f a s m a ll g r o u p o f 2 5 a n d e v e r y t h in g f r o m s t a r t t o fi n is h w a s t r u ly o u t s t a n d in g . T a k in g in t h e is la n d s o f O a h u , H a w a ii B ig Is la n d , K a u a i a n d M a u i w e s a w e v e r y t h in g f r o m v o lc a n o e s t o c a n y o n s t o ic o n ic s it e s lik e P e a r l H a r b o u r. F o r le is u r e t im e , a c t iv it ie s lik e s u n s e t c a t a m a r a n c r u is e s w e r e in c lu d e d a s w e ll a s e x c lu s iv e d in n e r s in t h e R o y a l P a la c e a n d a p r iv a t e f a r e w e ll L u a u w h ic h is a t r a d it io n a l H a w a iia n fo lk lo r e e v e n in g . H a w a ii is a lo n g w a y t o t r a v e l, h o w e v e r it is m o s t c e r t a in ly w o r t h it . It h a s b e e n a s t e a d y y e a r b u s in e s s -w is e a n d I h a v e s e e n p e o p le b e in g m o r e a d v e n t u r o u s w it h t h e ir d e s t in a t io n c h o ic e . In M a r c h t h is y e a r I a r r a n g e d a g r o u p t o c lim b M t K ilim a n ja r o fo r c h a r it y . T h e r e a r e d iff e r e n t r o u t e s t o t h e s u m m it d e p e n d in g o n a b ilit y a n d t im e r e s t r a in t s ; o f p a r a m o u n t im p o r t a n c e a n d t h e m o s t c r u c ia l d e c is io n is t h e c h o ic e o f c o m p a n y fo r t h e a r r a n g e m e n t s . I a m d e lig h t e d t o s a y t h a t a ll o f o u r g r o u p m a d e t h e s u m m it a n d h a v e m a d e m e m o r ie s t o la s t a life t im e . T h e In d ia n O c e a n a n d C a r ib b e a n r e m a in s t r o n g f a v o u r it e s fo r w in t e r s u n s h in e a n d fo r t h e s u m m e r G r e e c e a n d It a ly s t ill a r e h u g e ly p o p u la r. I a m lo o k in g fo r w a r d t o a h a p p y , h e a lt h y 2 0 2 0 a n d h o p e f u lly I w ill c o n t in u e t r a v e llin g t o n e w a n d e x c it in g p la c e s .
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W h a t a r o lle r c o a s t e r o f a y e a r 2 0 1 9 h a s b e e n ! A n o t h e r y e a r o f e x c it in g , t a ilo r m a d e it in e r a r ie s f o r in t e r e s t in g a n d f a r f lu n g d e s t in a t io n s f o llo w in g o u r H o lid a y S h o w in e a r ly M a r c h , J a p a n a n d C o s t a R ic a b e in g t h e m o s t p o p u la r o f t h e d e s t in a t io n s f e a t u r e d . T h e L a n d in g s in S t L u c ia w a s o u r c h o ic e o f v e n u e f o r t h is y e a r ’s C a r ib b e a n h o lid a y , t h e g r o u p w a s a lit t le s m a lle r t h a n u s u a l, b u t t h e w e a t h e r w a s p e r f e c t , t h e b e a c h g lo r io u s a n d o u r b e a c h f r o n t s u it e w a s lu x u r io u s . T h e in c r e d ib le P it o n s in S t L u c ia n e v e r c e a s e t o a m a z e m e in t h e ir s iz e a n d lo c a t io n . M a y s a w u s w it h o u r G r a n d s o n s in K in g s b r id g e , K e n t . T h e c o t t a g e w e s t a y in is r ig h t o n t h e b e a c h , t h r o w in g s t o n e s in t h e s e a a n d g e t t in g b lo w n a c r o s s t h e c lif f s c e r t a in ly t ir e s t h e m b o t h o u t . A g r e a t lo c a t io n ju s t o u t s id e D e a l w it h a lo n g p ie r, id e a l f o r f is h in g ! T h e r e s t a u r a n t s a n d v in t a g e s h o p s a r e r e a lly in c r e a s in g a s D e a l b e c o m e s a n id e a l w e e k e n d h u b f o r L o n d o n e r s ! In J u n e m y h u s b a n d a n d I s t a y e d a t t h e S t N ic h o la s B a y H o t e l, s it u a t e d ju s t o u t s id e A g h io s N ik o la o s in C r e t e . W it h w o n d e r f u l v ie w s a c r o s s t h e b a y a n d a g o o d s e le c t io n o f r e s t a u r a n t s o v e r lo o k in g t h e b lu e s e a , t h is h o t e l is id y llic . T h e v illa g e o f D e ia in M a jo r c a h a s a lw a y s b e e n o n m y b u c k e t lis t a n d in A u g u s t w e s t a y e d a t t h e E s M o li, a t r a d it io n a l f a m ily r u n b o u t iq u e p r o p e r t y ju s t o u t s id e t h is b e a u t if u l v illa g e . W it h a g o o d c h o ic e o f e x c e lle n t r e s t a u r a n t s w it h in w a lk in g d is t a n c e , a b a c k d r o p o f t h e T r a m u n t a n a m o u n t a in s , t h e v illa g e o f D e ia is s t u n n in g . D in n e r a t t h e B e lm o n d L a R e s id e n c ia w a s a r e a l h ig h lig h t . In N o v e m b e r w e f le w t o B a r b a d o s , s t a y in g a t t h e F a ir m o n t R o y a l P a v ilio n s it u a t e d o n a b e a u t if u l b e a c h o n t h e W e s t C o a s t , a n d t h e n a t t h e m o r e t r a d it io n a l C o b b le r s C o v e a lit t le f u r t h e r n o r t h in S p e ig h t s t o w n . B o t h h o t e ls a r e e x t r e m e ly c o m f o r t a b le a n d w e ll lo c a t e d g iv in g p le n t y o f d in in g o p t io n s , r a n g in g f r o m f in e d in in g t o m o r e r e la x e d o p t io n s . B a r b a d o s is a ll a b o u t e a t in g o u t a n d t h e c h o ic e s a r e a m a z in g , f r o m f in e d in in g in t h e s p e c t a c u la r s e t t in g o f T h e C lif f a n d T id e s t o t h e m o r e r e la x e d s e t t in g a t L o n e s t a r a n d a f u n t im e a t L a C a b a n e f o r a r e a lly g r e a t b e a c h s id e lu n c h . I lo o k f o r w a r d t o w e lc o m in g m y c lie n t s in 2 0 2 0 a n d s h a r in g m y e x p e r ie n c e s .
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In s id e A s ia is a n a w a r d -w in n in g t r a v e l c o m p a n y t h a t o ff e r s u n iq u e g r o u p t o u r s , t a ilo r e d t r a v e l a n d c u lt u r a l e x p e r ie n c e s in J a p a n , V ie t n a m , C a m b o d ia , L a o s a n d B u r m a . O u r c u s t o m e r s t e ll u s t h a t o u r s e r v ic e a n d e x p e r t is e e x c e e d t h e ir e x p e c t a t io n s t im e a n d a g a in . T r a v e lle r s lo v e t h e in s ig h t , t h e e x p e r ie n c e s a n d t h e s e n s e o f a d v e n t u r e t h e y g e t f r o m o u r t o u r s , a s w e ll a s t h e c h a n c e t o s e e t h e c u lt u r e s a n d c u s t o m s o f o u r d e s t in a t io n c o u n t r ie s fo r t h e m s e lv e s . W e h e lp p e o p le w it h a p a s s io n fo r A s ia n c u lt u r e t o c o m b in e s o m e o f t h e w o r ld ’s b e s t lo c a t io n s w it h s o m e o f t h e m o s t u n u s u a l – r e s u lt in g in u n iq u e , e n jo y a b le a n d t r u ly m e m o r a b le h o lid a y s . X in C h a o ! M y n a m e is A n d r e w T a it a n d I h a v e s p e n t t h e la s t 1 2 y e a r s liv in g , b r e a t h in g a n d lo v in g A s ia . N o c o r n e r o f t h e w o r ld o ff e r s s u c h c o lo u r, s o u n d a n d v ib r a n c y o f life . A n d V ie t n a m is a d e s t in a t io n w h ic h e n c o m p a s s e s t h e b e s t o f w h a t A s ia h a s t o o ff e r. W h e t h e r y o u a r e c r u is in g t h r o u g h t h e p ic t u r e s q u e H a L o n g B a y , s t r o llin g t h r o u g h t h e p a la c e s o f Im p e r ia l H u e , o r c a t c h in g u p w it h a lo c a l in H a n o i o v e r a s t e a m in g b o w l o f P h o . V ie t n a m o ff e r s s o m e t h in g fo r e v e r y o n e . J o in m e a s I t a lk a b o u t t h is f a s c in a t in g n a t io n , f r o m it s b r e a t h -t a k in g m o u n t a in s a n d n a t io n a l p a r k s t o it s e le c t r ic m o d e r n c it ie s a n d a r g u a b ly t h e b e s t s t r e e t fo o d in t h e w o r ld . P lu s m o s t im p o r t a n t ly , s o m e o f t h e f r ie n d lie s t p e o p le y o u ’ll e v e r m e e t , t h e V ie t n a m e s e .
A m a W a t e r w a y s c o n s is t e n t ly le a d s t h e w a y in r iv e r c r u is in g w it h e n r ic h in g t h e m e c r u is e s ; a n e n h a n c e d a c t iv e d is c o v e r y p r o g r a m m e o ff e r in g h ik in g a n d b ik in g t o u r s ; a lu x u r y g o lf p r o g r a m m e ; a n d u n iq u e c o m p lim e n t a r y C h e f ’s T a b le a n d L a C h a în e d e R o t is s e u r s d in in g e x p e r ie n c e . A m a W a t e r w a y s b o a s t s t h e ‘h ig h e s t r a t e d fl e e t in E u r o p e ’, a s r a t e d b y t h e la t e s t B e r lit z G u id e t o R iv e r C r u is in g a n d r e a lly is a r iv e r c r u is e e x p e r ie n c e lik e n o o t h e r : t h e fi r s t r iv e r c r u is e c o m p a n y t o in t r o d u c e a n e x c lu s iv e t w in b a lc o n y d e s ig n in t h e m a jo r it y o f s t a t e r o o m s a n d n o w o ff e r in g t h e la t e s t in n o v a t io n in r iv e r c r u is in g w it h t h e d o u b le -w id t h A m a M a g n a s a ilin g t h e D a n u b e , w it h m o r e p e r s o n a l s p a c e a n d b o a s t in g t h e la r g e s t s u it e o n t h e r iv e r s a t 7 1 0 s q . f t . W it h c r u is e s t r a v e llin g t h r o u g h o u t E u r o p e , A f r ic a , V ie t n a m a n d C a m b o d ia , A m a W a t e r w a y s r e d e fi n e s lu x u r y r iv e r c r u is in g a n d g iv e s y o u t h e o p p o r t u n it y t o s e e t h e w o r ld in u n p a r a lle le d c o m fo r t . I’m M a r ia , a n d I’m v e r y m u c h lo o k in g fo r w a r d t o b e in g p a r t o f t h e H o lid a y S h o w t h is y e a r. I’v e w o r k e d w it h in t h e c r u is e in d u s t r y fo r 8 y e a r s a n d I c a n ’t w a it t o s h a r e a ll t h in g s A m a W a t e r w a y s a n d lu x u r y r iv e r c r u is in g w it h y o u . F r o m w in e c r u is e s t o h is t o r ic a l h ik e a n d b ik e t o u r s , I’ll b e t h e r e t o t e ll y o u a b o u t e v e r y t h in g A m a W a t e r w a y s h a s t o o ff e r a n d t a ilo r y o u r p e r fe c t t r ip ; w h e t h e r y o u ’r e in t o fo o d , w in e , W e lln e s s o r a ll o f t h e a b o v e !
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