Winter spring newsletter 2015 16

Winter / Spring Newsletter 2015/2016 Claydon

Elmswell

Hadleigh

Big enough to offer the world, small enough to care Inside this issue: Bridget loves sailing!?

In the news from 2015

Annette loves orphaned elephants Christmas dinner Clipper style

Fine dining on a train? Karin decides...

Only 3 hours to Malta?

Poor Anita has to visit Barbados

The Taj Mahal and more....

Sacha’s wedding in Mauritius?

Well what a different year this has been for Travel Stop!

Many of you who know us and our intrepid leader well, will be aware that on 30th August 2015, Bridget Keevil departed the UK for her mammoth challenge to sail 40,000 miles around the world as a crew member on the Clipper Round The World Race 2015/16.

At the time of this newsletter going to print, Bridget’s yacht Danang Vietnam has already crossed the Atlantic twice and is en-route to Australia.

And Bridget being Bridget, did not commit to participate in one leg of this journey (the choice was there), but instead chose to circumnavigate, taking her away from her ‘real life’ for eleven months.

But whilst Bridget sails the high seas, here at Travel Stop we are ‘holding the fort’, ensuring that we maintain the service and standards that Bridget has strived to provide for almost the last 25 years. On 22nd July 2016, coinciding with her return, Travel Stop will be celebrating it’s 25th anniversary, having achieved and accomplished many accolades and a reputation of which she is very proud.

We are sure that, whilst absent for the entire festive season and beyond, she would join us all in wishing all of our customers, old and new, the happiest of Christmases and the most prosperous new year.

If you would like to follow Bridget’s progress, you can do so via the Clipper website at http://clipperroundtheworld.com or keep up-to-date with her personal blogs at https://thefatbirdandtheboat.wordpress.com.

For those of you who do not know her, Bridget had never sailed before signing up and embarking upon this epic journey. She describes herself as short, overweight and unfit, middle-aged and un-athletic. You may therefore wonder why she would even consider undertaking such a feat. But what she may lack in physical stature, she certainly makes up for in mental strength and dogged determination.

She chose to swap her normal 5-star standard accommodation for a shared bunk and sleeping bag for eleven months. She had no doubt that she was going to struggle—and probably for the whole time. But she considered that her ‘self-inflicted’ struggle was nothing compared to the struggles that many people face, not of their own volition and often with no end in sight, on a daily basis. Therefore she has chosen to raise money for the very worthy ABTA Lifeline charity where every donation, however large or small, will help make the discomfort of her long eleven months worthwhile.

Should you wish to support her efforts, donations can be made via her JustGiving website at www.justgiving.com/ bridgetkeevil.

In the meantime, the teams at each of the three Travel Stop shops will continue to provide the service you have been used to and will look forward to each and every new enquiry we receive, with the aim of ensuring that every booking we make will be much more that just a holiday but a complete travel experience instead. We promise to go that extra mile.

Thank you for your continued custom and support.

Our news from 2015 In 2016, coinciding nicely with Bridget’s return in July, it will be 25 years since Travel Stop first opened its doors in the village of Elmswell in July 1991.

This quirky office, in the old waiting room on the railway station platform, is still ‘going strong’ and this year a member of the Elmswell team, Annette Ross, celebrated 20 years with our company. Many of you will know Annette from her many years service and, as always, she will be happy to share her experiences with you. During this year, she has been to India, Abu Dhabi and Sri Lanka and will be on a Crystal Cruise at the time you will be reading this newsletter!

It’s difficult to believe that our Hadleigh shop will have been open for two years this December. How time flies. But, looking back, all the hopes and aspirations for the shop and the potential we saw at the outset, have been right on track.

It was absolutely the right decision to open in this lovely market town and we have seen the business go from strength to strength. We have loved becoming part of Hadleigh’s local community and the surrounding villages.

We thank everyone for the support we have received and for making us so welcome in the town.

We are pleased to welcome a trainee to the Elmswell team - Elle Whitehurst joined Travel Stop in June and is currently receiving on-the-job training.

Our Claydon office, which opened in 1999, has grown considerably, and now has a complement of ten staff, with two new joiners this year. Sacha Hale and Hannah Main joined our Claydon team and Sacha has already visited Mauritius, whilst Hannah is due to visit Orlando and the Gulf Coast in December.

Anita, Karin and Helen have all experienced some lovely trips this year. Helen enjoyed a one-week cruise to the Norwegian Fjords on board the Celebrity Eclipse. This was followed by a trip to South Africa, taking in so many of the sights of this beautiful country.

Karin visited India earlier in the year, enjoying the Deccan Odyssey rail journey across the country, This was a wonderful trip where the noise, sights, and smells of this intriguing country were experienced first-hand. In total contrast, Karin then enjoyed a family holiday to Las Vegas.

Anita visited Barbados and St.Vincent in September, which was then followed by a short break to Disneyland Paris.

All the staff will be delighted to share their experiences with you, offering advice and making recommendations for any future holidays which may be in the planning. Please call in and see them anytime.

As hopefully you will see, Travel Stop is totally committed to ensuring our staff are well travelled. We all have a passion for travel and all love the industry we are in. This makes us passionate in helping our customers with their holiday arrangements and ensuring the best possible travelling experience, as we are all able to make recommendations from our first hand experiences.

We hope you enjoy reading the selection of staff blogs from some of our most recent trips, from both personal holidays and work related familiarisation trips.

Deccan Odyssey Luxury Rail Journey By Karin Henry In March this year, I joined the Deccan Odyssey Luxury Rail Journey from Delhi to Mumbai, as a guest of Travel 2 and Cox & Kings.

We enjoyed a very comfortable flight in Business Class with Jet Airways, experiencing attentive service from the excellent cabin crew.

Arrival in Delhi was just how I imagined it to be with all types of vehicles including tuk tuks, cycles, motorbikes, cars and lorries vying for their bit of the road! All with the odd cow wandering across it to add to the mayhem!

Following an overnight stay, we enjoyed a coach tour of the major sights of Delhi, before heading to the railway station to join the Deccan Odyssey for our 7 night journey to Mumbai.

We were greeted by the train crew, who were serving tea, with traditional music and dancing while we awaited the arrival of our train, feeling very excited about our forthcoming Indian adventure.

After putting on our not-very-flattering shoe covers we were able to go inside also. We had our pictures taken at various points, including the bench where Princess Diana was photographed, albeit we had to fight for a spot among the ever increasing crowd!

After lunch we made a visit to the Itmud-ud-Daullah and the impressive Agra Fort before returning to our train for dinner and drinks before another night being rocked to sleep by the movement of the train en route to Jaipur.

We arrived at the historic capital of Rajasthan, Jaipur, often called the Pink City, and headed to the Palace complex, still home to the current Maharaja, including its museum of the Maharajas’ lavish possessions.

After lunch we visited the magnificent palace of Amber Fort where we enjoyed an al fresco dinner at sunset and enjoyed the beautiful views from the top of the fort.

Next day, we reached Jodhpur, The Blue City, where we took a walking tour of the colourful Old Market. I loved this and it was a feast for the sight and senses. It made a lovely change from the palaces and forts and I would have liked to spend more time here, just taking it all in. We were then taken by tuk tuk to Merherangarh Fort, a hair-raising experience once we were out on the road, but great fun. And from here, fantastic city panoramic views.

The next morning we woke in Udaipur and after breakfast and another colourful red carpet greeting from the locals (we were getting used to this by now) we set off for the famous City Palace followed by a walk through the quaint streets of the Old City. We then took a boat cruise on Lake Pichola to take in the views of the most picturesque city in Rajasthan and the Taj Lake Palace Hotel, set on an island in the middle of the lake. A very romantic city and an ideal honeymoon destination.

Once on board we settled into our comfortable cabins, lacking in space but well equipped with an ensuite shower and toilet and a very attentive service from our cabin steward. A delicious dinner served in one of the two restaurants followed. The service was what you would normally expect on a cruise with fine dining cuisine, both international and Indian.

And so our journey began. Sleeping on a train, not a particularly smooth ride, was going to take some getting used to, along with the station announcements which can happen any time of the night!

We woke up at Rathambore, home of the Rathambore Tiger Reserve and after breakfast and a red carpet greeting from the locals, we boarded our safari vehicle for our first safari of the day to try and spot the elusive tigers. We spotted monkeys, antelopes and crocodiles but no tigers. After lunch, we headed off on another route but unfortunately still no luck with the tigers although we did spot a leopard, which apparently is very rare.

Another delicious dinner on board our train followed by drinks in the bar as we set off for Agra.

Upon arrival in Agra, and after breakfast and another red carpet greeting from the locals, we set off to visit the iconic Taj Mahal. It didn’t disappoint and there is something very magical about the setting and the building itself, which is amazing.

Today we arrived at the Royal city of Gaekwads, Vadodara.

We visited the Pavagadh Archaelogical Park, a World Heritage site, the Jami Masjid and the Maharaja Feteh Singh Museum.

Our final night on the train was enjoyed at a cocktail party, dressed in traditional Indian attire, where we joined together to eat drink and dance, joined by the train crew who had looked after us so well.

We arrived in Mumbai for a final sightseeing tour. Definitely a city of the haves and have nots, with nothing much in between. A modern city interspersed with huge slums, some right beside the runway. I also discovered that Mumbai has a beach!

Overall I had a fantastic trip which I can wholly recommend.

Abu Dhabi & Sri Lanka - By Annette Ross

This is a good point to start a tour in terms of position and it is a nice hotel.

As a guest of luxury tour operator If Only, I set off from Heathrow on a day flight to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airlines.

Service on board very friendly and efficient and seating fairly comfortable. In addition to Economy, Etihad also offer Business Class, First Class and their new Residence Class cabins.

The first stop on our tour (a must on any itinerary) was at the Pinnawala Elephant orphanage, a journey time of just under two and a half hours. Here we loved watching the elephants walk down to the river to bathe and play.

Next stop was Kandy (about one hour away depending on traffic) where, en-route, we visited a spice garden. In Kandy we stayed at the lovely Cinammon Citadel Hotel on the banks of the river. During a short tour of Kandy, we included a visit the Temple of the Tooth where ladies have to cover up and remove shoes. It was a bit busy to say the least and very noisy.

Our tour included a stop at Sigiriya Rock Fortress (considered the 8th wonder of the world) and gives the most amazing views. Built in the 5th century AD it boasts the world famous frescoes of women carved on sheer rock face.

We received a lovely warm greeting upon arrival at the gorgeous Ritz Carlton hotel in Abu Dhabi. This property is located alongside the waters of the Grand Canal and a private sandy beach and faces the famous mosque which we were later to visit. I had a lovely room overlooking the gardens and the pool. In the evenings at around 6pm, they have live performances by a pianist and an opera singer in the foyer, which I think is a nice touch.

They also have a complimentary boat that operates on the Grand Canal connecting to other hotels and souks on the opposite side of the canal. This runs every 20 minutes from 9am through to about 1am.

Abu Dhabi is home to Yas Waterworld - a must for any family staying in Abu Dhabi. This includes the 'Bandit Bomber', an interactive water roller coaster, and lots of slides of varying length and degrees in height, and a flow rider for those who wish to try their hand at surfing. And a visit to Ferrari World gives yet another taste of what is on offer in this destination.

A delicious lunch was enjoyed on the terrace at the Regis Hotel, overlooking the lovely beach. This property is in a lovely setting and the rooms are really nice and spacious.

After this whistle-stop tour of Abu Dhabi, we flew on to Sri Lanka the following day. We transferred to Negombo where we had a nights stay at the Jetwing Beach Hotel before commencing our short tour of Sri Lanka.

The views from here and at nearby Dambulla, a UNESCO W orld Heritage Site, are breathtaking.

We stopped for lunch at the Jetwing Vil Uyana Hotel in Sigiriya - a truly beautiful location, surrounded by water - a nature reserve with lots of wildlife - where bird watchers simply must stay! Here you must not be intimidated by creepy crawlies, and bear in mind you are in the tropics!

We enjoyed a night at the Heritance Kandalama - built into the Rock and blending in with its surroundings. Much better seen in the daylight as, at breakfast, the view over the lake is amazing and quite surreal.

Our journey then took us to the 'Tea Trails' high up in the hills set amongst the 'high level' tea plantations. This accommodation was in a private house with butler and beautiful gardens and stunning bedrooms. We stayed on an all inclusive basis - it was almost like having our own house party! Although a long journey to get there (up to 6 hours) and then a fairly long transfer back to the coast afterwards, it really was worth it.

Our final stop was at Cape Weligama - visiting the lovely town of Galle on the way. Only opened recently (August), it is made up of exclusive villas dotted around the resort and beautiful views overlooking the sea and beach and is a really stunning property.

We had a tour of Mount Lavinia on our way to Colombo and enjoyed a very nice high tea at Cinammon Lakeside Hotel in Columbo before returning home.

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MULTI CENTRES, SELF DRIVES, MOTORHOMES, RANCHING HOLIDAYS & MORE

Malta - By Alison Lee In April, I attended a short familiarisation trip to Malta, courtesy of Prestige Holidays and I am pleased to share with you my views on Malta as a holiday destination.

St John’s Cathedral epitomises the role of its original patron, the Knights of St John. The Cathedral also houses one of Europe’s most impressive and famous art works Caravaggio’s Beheading of St John the Baptist.

After a short flight with Air Malta from Heathrow we arrived in sunny Malta and quickly cleared passport control and baggage claim. Within an hour of landing we were enjoying a welcome drink at the Westin Dragonara, in the resort of St Julians and set on its own peninsula. The rooms were spacious and I had a lovely view of the swimming pool and sea. We were shown around the hotel and the various room types, including the suite where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie stayed. We enjoyed an evening meal in Quadro which is situated by the sea and the winner of a ‘Fine Dining’ award.

Next day, we made the short journey by ferry to Gozo, a pleasant crossing taking just 25 minutes. Upon arrival in Gozo, meaning ‘Joy’, we were met by our guide and were soon on our way to the Ggantija Temples, the oldest freestanding structures in the world comprising two Neolithic temples dating back to 3500BC. From here we visited the Grandmaster’s Palace a beautiful building which is the seat of the President of the Republic of Malta and also houses the Parliament. The highlight of the Grandmaster’s Palace are the Chamber rooms. The Throne Room shows all of Malta’s Governors to date and the Tapestry Chamber is adorned by the Gobelen Tapestries.

Before a short boat trip around the harbour, we had lunch at Ta’ Nenu Bakery, a Maltese bakery specialising in ftiras.

Ftira is like a ciabatta, and is the base then you can have a variety of toppings like a pizza.

From here, we proceeded to Dwejra to see The Azure Window, an impressive natural arch standing some twenty metres high, before visiting the Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz for lunch. The Kempinski is a lovely hotel which has a very nice feel about it and would make an ideal choice if wishing to stay in Gozo.

On our return journey to the ferry, we visited Ta Cenc Hotel, situation on a 150 acre estate with landscaped gardens. If you are looking to stay somewhere completely unique, then try one of their Trullo rooms. These detached bungalows were built in a round design, creating a distinctive and quirky layout that ensures they are popular hideaways for those guests looking for something truly out of the ordinary.

In the evening we were taken to Mdina – The Silent City.

Mdina was Malta’s first capital city during the period of the Knights of Malta. We visited the boutique hotel Xara Palace Relias & Chateaux, which is a 17th century palazzo and all the rooms have been individually designed with romantic décor, original paintings, antique tapestries and furnishings.

Next day we visited Valletta, Malta’s capital, where we visited the Hotel Grand Excelsior and Hotel Phoenicia. Both hotels are ideally situated within walking distance to Valletta and offer stunning views of the harbour.

Before leaving Malta, we visited the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in San Anton. Nestled amid lush greenery and landscaped gardens, this property is a secluded haven. This hotel, centrally located on the island, means everywhere is within easy reach and it offers complimentary courtesy transport daily to Valletta, Sliema, St Julian’s and the Royal Malta Golf Course.

Malta has something to offer everyone and with a flight time of approximately three hours, makes it an ideal destination for a short break.

MONACO IN STYLE with kirker holidays Monaco, what other destination conjures such an image of style, sophistication and glamour? There is no better way to arrive than by helicopter from Nice Heliport and with our amazing special offers you don’t have to blow the budget to do so.

Prices start from £419 per person for 3 nights in a 4* hotel including the “Passport to Monte-Carlo” - offering a significant saving of £290

Passport to Monaco In conjunction with our friends at the Monaco Government Tourism Authority, we are delighted to include the ‘Passport to Monte-Carlo’ for all Kirker clients visiting the principality.

what we include Price includes return flights, car transfer on arrival and helicopter transfer on departure, 3 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, the ‘Monaco passport’ giving complimentary entrance to a wide range of museums, Kirker’s Guide Notes to restaurants, museums and sightseeing and the services of the Kirker Concierge to book opera and concert tickets or a table for a delicious dinner.

The passport entitles Kirker clients to complimentary helicopter transfers from the heliport at Nice airport to Monaco. Free return helicopter transfers are included for winter departures from 1 November 2015 until 31 March 2016.

Our carefully selected range of hotels in Monaco includes:

The passport also entitles Kirker clients to complimentary entrance to a wide range of museums and attractions.

Columbus (4*); Metropole (5* Deluxe); De Paris (5* Deluxe); Hermitage (5* Deluxe); Port Palace (4* Deluxe) & Fairmont Monte Carlo (5* Superior)

VENICE SIMPLON-ORIENT-EXPRESS for discerning travellers

save over £500 per person We are delighted to offer new special prices for selected departures on the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express luxury train.

These offers allow clients to benefit from a saving of over £500 per person. A journey on this unique train is on every discerning traveller’s wish list - there is simply no better way to celebrate a special birthday or anniversary in style.

3 night holiday price from £2,254 per person; including 2 nights in a Venice hotel and 1 night in a private cabin on board the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

what we include

Fly to Venice and return by VSOE:

One night in a private cabin on board the Orient-Express with all meals (excluding drinks), one way flight between London and Venice, accommodation in Venice with breakfast, water taxi transfers, guaranteed entrance tickets to either the Doge’s Palace, Accademia or Guggenheim, our unique Venice Guide Notes and map and the services of the Kirker Concierge.

4 April or 18 April 2016 (book by 31 January 2016) 4 July or 13 October 2016 (book by 30 April 2016)

Opera tickets at La Fenice available on request.

Bridget’s Round the World Yacht Race in detail LEG 1 TRADE WINDS TO BRAZIL - Route: London, UK - Rio De Janeiro, Brazil 5,186 miles / 8,346 km - 30 days at sea LEG 2 STORMHOEK RACE TO THE CAPE OF STORMS - Route: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil - Cape Town, South Africa 3,417 miles / 5,499 km - 18 days at sea LEG 3 SOUTHERN OCEAN SLEIGH RIDE - Route: Cape Town, South Africa Albany, Western Australia 4,845 miles / 7,797 km - 26 days at sea LEG 4 A SECOND GREAT CAPE AND THREE OCEANS - Route: Albany, Western Australia – Sydney – Hobart – Whitsundays, Queensland 4,358 miles / 7,014 km - 29 days at sea

LEG 5 ASIA-PACIFIC CHALLENGE - Route: Whitsundays, Queensland Da Nang, Vietnam - Qingdao, China - 6,070 miles / 9,769 km - 48 days at sea LEG 6 CONQUER THE MIGHTY PACIFIC - Route: Qingdao, China - Seattle, USA 5,768 miles / 9,283 km - 30 days at sea LEG 7 AMERICA COAST TO COAST - Route: Seattle, USA - Panama - New York USA 6,185 miles / 9,954 km - 32 days at sea LEG 8 HOMECOMING - Route: East Coast USA - Derry-Londonderry - Den Helder - London 4,253 miles / 6,845 km 24 days at sea

You can follow Bridget’s progress via her blog at thefatbirdandtheboat.wordpress.com click on ‘Follow’ and you will get an email when a new post is online

A few choice quotes taken from Bridget’s Blog:-

Goodness knows what we all smell and look like. I got a full frontal wave last night without my foulies on and got soaked just before I was due to come off shift.

I did hear “your hair looks particularly good tonight” when I came downstairs. I don’t think it has looked particularly good since 30th August.

Spent most of the day bobbing around in the bay waiting in a queue for the petrol station. Must have had a special offer on!!

And let’s remember what she is doing this for ......

One of the main topics of conversation at this point in time is scabby bottoms. Most people have it, in some form or another. I am so lucky!!

Try cleaning your teeth at 45 degrees. You position your mouth over the sink to spit, get it lined up with the plug hole, and lo and behold it goes up the wall.

We had a crew briefing for all boats at 1.30pm where we learned all about the route to Cape Town – 60 feet waves and heavy oceans. Great. I preferred ignorance.

So many problems for short people. But the good thing is there is nothing to hit my head on – something that those even a little taller than me have issues with virtually on a daily basis.

www.justgiving.com/bridgetkeevil

India - By Annette Ross In March, I was thrilled to accept an invitation from Travelsphere to join them on a tour to India.

Flying with Jet Airways, we enjoyed Premier Class travel so were able to experience service of this up-graded cabin first hand. We certainly were very well cared for.

Upon arrival in Delhi, we made the short ten minute ride to the centre where we had our first taste of India. Our hotel greeted us with drinks and a bindi or tikka placed on our foreheads, before we then enjoyed a typical Indian buffet of vegetarian and meat dishes.

We met our Guide and headed off for a tour of New Delhi, visiting Qutub Minar and Humayun’s Tomb, two UNESCO World Heritage sites, learning the history of the Maharajas and Mughals, and how Hindu India was fought by and taken over by Muslim fighters, resulting in the mix of culture and religion in present day India.

The construction of this building started in 1631, taking 22 years to complete.

Our evening’s entertainment was the Mohabbat The Taj show, authentic Indian dancing in ornate costumes....a treat not to be missed.

Next day, we went to Fatehpur Sikri, the red sand stone city built by Emperor Akbar in 1569. Another amazing architectural build with lovely gardens. Journeying on to Bharatpur, we had lunch at the Laxmi Vilas Palace. This property is traditionally Indian and the extension which was added in 2008 is set in the same beautiful traditional decor.

We continued on to the ‘Pink City’, Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan and what a different city this was! So very different to Delhi & Agra - it was vibrant, colourful, exciting and certainly became the favourite of the group.

Returning to the hotel through the manic Delhi rush hour, was to be the scariest I have probably ever experienced!

The following day we visited Old Delhi to see the Red Fort, followed by an exhilarating ride through the streets of Old Delhi by 3-wheeler rickshaws. From here we visited Raj Ghat, the memorial site of Mahatma Gandhi and the place where he was cremated.

Saying goodbye to Delhi, we then made the 4 hour journey to Agra, transfixed with fabulous stories from our guide, soon realising how well connected he was with the past Maharajas and everyone we would meet was related to him one way or another.

The drive took us through the Indian countryside which looked very similar to the English landscape. There were different types of farming - potato, wheat, and due to the perfect soil, there were brick making companies where fields of bricks drying out and chimneys where they baked the bricks could be seen.

We were hosted for dinner at the Four Points by Sheraton, a new hotel boasting views of the Taj Mahal and from where we departed for our sunrise visit to the Taj Mahal the next morning. And what a way to start our day! Our first view of the beautiful monument was breathtaking.

We were able to go inside the Taj Mahal, something I wasn’t aware was possible.

We visited the Amber Fort, the history being amazing and it was easy to imagine the Marharaja and his court arriving here on the backs of elephants. The city was surrounded by a wall which looked similar to the Great Wall of China.

After leaving the Fort, we stopped to see the Jal Mahal (meaning the Water Palace) set in the middle of the Man Sagar Lake, with an added bonus of two elephants walking up to the side of us. Then on to the City Palace — still the official residence of the Maharaja- to visit the Museum with plenty of Rajasthani and Mughal art and treasures.

Later in the day, the city of Jaipur came to a standstill due to a procession for a Hindu festival Chaitra Navratri in honour of the Goddess Durga,. This meant we got the lovely added extra of watching the wide array of floats with different gods on board, marching bands, elephants, camels and we spent an hour amidst these celebrations.

Our last day in India was spent visiting the beautiful Birla Mandir Hindu Temple where we learned the traditions of the Hindus with their holy water and offerings.

It was a five hour trip back to Delhi for our last night, before our return flight the next day.

India was a wonderful experience and a destination to which I would recommend a visit.

Tips:  Security at hotels is similar to airports.  Public toilets will cost around 10 Rupees (10p) to use.

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Discover our 5-star collection, with 2016 cruises starting from just £1,495 per person On all Scenic river cruise holidays, all-inclusive means flights from the UK, luxurious accommodation on our space-ships, your transfers and tips, your exclusive excursions, all meals, premium branded beverages*, your own butler and laundry concierge are included.

We Sail | Rhine | Danube | Moselle | Rhône | Sâone | Seine | Douro | Russian Waterways Terms and Conditions: All prices are per person, twin share in GBP. £1,495 per person based on the Iconic Danube cruise departing 6, 11 and 18 April 2015. Prices based on lowest available cabin category subject to availability. Supplements apply for upgraded suites with balconies. Butler services vary. *All drinks are included on-board except for a very small number of rare, fine and vintage wines, champagnes and spirits. Laundry restrictions apply. Prices correct at time of going to print (August 2015). For full itineraries and booking conditions, please visit your agent.

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A view especially for you

While other operators offer a French Balcony, we bring the outdoors in with our Balcony Suites. At the touch of a button, our innovative open-air system’s window drops down to let the air in and unveil full panoramic views.

Your contemporary retreat

We offer a great choice of cabins, but regardless of where you stay, you’ll enjoy your own en-suite bathroom, hotel-style bed, flat screen TV, infotainment system, Wi-Fi and bottled water restocked daily.

Something you wouldn’t expect

We don’t aim to meet your expectations; we aim to surpass them. That’s why our deluxe ships boast a heated pool with a retractable roof and a bar so you can wake up and take an early morning dip before the day begins.

Unique on-board innovations

On selected evenings, the heated pool area is transformed into an oasis of entertainment. As the water disappears, a cinema screen showing a collection of classic and contemporary films is revealed.

Keeping glasses topped up

To accompany lunch and dinner, you’ll enjoy a carefully selected collection of red and white wines, beers and soft drinks, all of which are complimentary when you dine.

What’s more, coffee and tea is always free, so help yourself.

Ask about our latest offers today!

Terms and Conditions: £1,295 based on 8-day The Danube Explorer river cruise departing on 14th, 16th, 21st and 23rd April 2016. Prices are correct at time of going to print (August 2015). Supplements apply for upgraded accommodation and other dates. Single supplements available on request, please call for details. For full itineraries and booking conditions, please contact your agent.

‘Save The Date’ 2015 Tuesday 24th November 2015 Come and meet Wendy Wu, specialist operator to China and Japan, to discuss any plans you may have to this beautiful area of the world.

Drop into our Claydon office between 9.30am and 12 noon or our Hadleigh office between 1pm and 4pm

Tuesday 8th December 2015 Fundraising Coffee Morning in aid of ABTA Lifeline Join us and ‘Typically Italian’ for a latte or espresso at our Claydon office from 10.00 am to 2.00 pm or Drop in for a Prosecco and nibbles to our Hadleigh office to meet us and ‘Typically Italian’ between 4pm - 8pm.

Coincide your visit with Hadleigh’s late-night Christmas shopping.

2016 FORTHCOMING EVENTS 2016 Wednesday 13th January Wednesday 10th February Wednesday 9th March Wednesday 13th April Wednesday 11th May Wednesday 8th June Wednesday 13th July Saturday 30th July Wednesday 10th August Wednesday 14th September Friday 30th September Wednesday 12th October Wednesday 9th November December - date TBC

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Lunch Club - Tauck Tours Lunch Club - Seabourn Cruises Lunch Club - Mosaic Holidays Lunch Club - Collette Tours Lunch Club - Sandals Lunch Club - Typically Spain Lunch Club - China Links (Japan) Bridget’s arrival into London Lunch Club - Bridget’s homecoming!

Lunch Club - Captivating Cuba MacMillan Coffee Morning Lunch Club - Beachcomber TBC Lunch Club’s Christmas lunch

N.B Dates are subject to change upon final confirmation of presenters.

Travel Stop Lunch Club Our Travellers’ Lunch Club has now been running for over 10 years. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the event, Travel Stop holds a Lunch Club Presentation on the second Wednesday of every month which takes place at Hintlesham Golf Club.

A two-course lunch costs £14.95, and a three-course lunch costs £17.95 (includes coffee).

A 45-minute presentation is made prior to the lunch from our invited guest.

Information on the various presentations booked for 2016 is detailed on the previous page.

If any of the destinations listed are of specific interest, and you would like to attend, please call our Claydon office who will be happy to give you further details. You may come along to just one selected lunch or as many as you like, alone or with a companion. All new members will be very welcome.

Our Proposed Plans - your thoughts please!

We are very mindful of the fact that a mid-week lunch event does not suit everyone. Therefore, on the back of the success of our Lunch Club, we are considering launching a monthly Breakfast Club - to be held on the first Saturday morning of each month at the Claydon Country House Hotel. This will open up a further opportunity to meet with members of the Travel Stop team over coffee and croissants to discuss in a relaxed environment any travel ideas you are either contemplating or in the process of planning.

If you think this is something which may interest you, please email us on claydon@travel-stop.co.uk to indicate your interest or give us your opinion or feedback.

“TRIP”

(Travellers Reward Incentive Program)

You have helped us to grow with Travel Stop’s customer reward scheme Join the club and recommend a new customer and we will reward you with points when they book.

For example:An average family summer holiday will earn you 300 points.

A luxury India tour will earn you about 1000 points.

A Silversea cruise to the Caribbean will earn you about 1500 points.

Rewards start with a bottle of Jacobs Creek for 100 points afternoon tea at Hintlesham Hall for 175 points an airport lounge pass from 200 points a set lunch at Gordon Ramsey’s for 500 points and a spa day at Clarice House for 1000 points.

We have already rewarded customers with wine, champagne, afternoon teas, airport lounge passes, theatre tickets, holiday vouchers and weekends away in the UK.

Christmas Around The World Following Bridget’s route around the world, we bring to you some traditional Christmas dinners and desserts which will be served up in various countries over the festive season.

Savouring the Traditional Christmas Dinner in Brazil RIO DE JANEIRO - At first glance, visitors far from home will likely find themselves content with the familiar foods of a Brazilian Christmas feast, yet the holiday meal in this South American city incorporates additional regional flavours and ingredients that make the occasion deliciously unique.

Although centuries of immigration from Europe have imparted a certain influence on Ceia de Natal (Christmas Dinner), the tropical tastes and local customs bring some colour to the table.

Christmas Bread in Australia Christmas in Australia is in the middle of summer, therefore the usual Christmas meal is often salads and cold meats, while some of the older generation still have the traditional roast meats, baked vegetables and plum pudding.

The Christmas meal may either be taken in the middle of the day which is the hottest part of the day or in the cooler evening hours. With some families opting for a celebration meal as dinner on Christmas Eve. "Australian damper" is a traditional Australian bread, made without yeast, and commonly made on a campfire. It comes from the early settlers and those working in the outback in later years.

Damper Ingredients 2 cups flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups milk 1 teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon butter Method Sift the flour, sugar and salt into a container and then add the butter, add enough milk to make a manageable dough.

Shape into a flat ball and place on a greased and floured tray, bake for 25-30 minutes.

Serve hot...with lashings of butter, golden syrup or jam.

Apples in China!

Christmas Dinner in Brazil is often focused around a roast turkey, served on a plate with tropical fruit.

Following the country’s Iberian heritage, the Christmas meal is the focal point of festivities and is traditionally eaten late on Christmas Eve, either before or after a late night mass known as the Missa do Galo (Mass of the Rooster), named after the rooster that announces the coming of Christmas day.

The Traditional Christmas Dinner in Cape Town Travellers from the Northern Hemisphere may find their first African Christmas a little strange. There’s no snow, the days are long and warm and instead of huddling around fires and Christmas trees, Capetonians go into the outdoors to celebrate the season in the sunshine.

Christmas does however still come with crackers, paper hats and presents – along with roasted meats like turkey and gammon with all the trimmings – but it’s often served al fresco. Many Christmas lunches are cooked on the braai (barbeque). Popular choices for local Christmas Day braais include turkey, gammon or chicken smoked and slow cooked in the Weber (kettle braai) or crayfish tails, dorado or snoek on an open fire.

A tradition which is becoming rather popular in China is the giving of apples on Christmas Eve. Most stores in China will sell apples wrapped in colourful paper so people can buy them and give them as gifts. The reason behind this? The word for Christmas Eve in Chinese, 'Ping An Ye' sounds very similar to the Chinese word for apple, 'Ping Guo' and the two things were brought together.

Why not turn your apples into a impressive dessert and serve on Christmas Eve? Ingredients 4 eating apples, cored 2tbsp brown sugar 2tbsp raisins 25g butter 1tbsp cinnamon 200ml apple juice 1tbsp honey 200g blackberries 50g flaked almonds Method Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F/Gas mark 4) Cut the top off each apple (but do not discard) and core each fruit.

Put the raisins, sugar, butter, and cinnamon into a food processor and pulse several times, to produce a coarse, textured mixture.

Fill each apple cavity with the mixture and add the tops.

Arrange the apples in shallow oven-proof dish and pour over the apple juice.

Bake for 30 mins or until tender. Sprinkle over almonds and the blackberries and serve immediately piping hot.

Merry Christmas!

GET CLOSER TO NATURE AT ITS MOST BREATHTAKING

WINTER NORWAY

Discover magical Norway in winter with Hurtigruten and marvel at the dramatic and breathtaking scenery by day and the theatrical Northern Lights by night.

ARCTIC HIGHLIGHTS VOYAGE

Tromsø – Kirkenes – Tromsø | Selected dates: November 2015 – March 2016

5 days from

£749pp

including direct return flights and onboard drinks package

The Arctic Highlights voyage spends its entirety within the Arctic Circle giving you not only the best opportunity to see the Northern Lights, but also the chance to take part in some fantastic winter excursions whilst exploring the beauty of the rugged Norwegian landscape.

ARCTIC HIGHLIGHTS VOYAGE: New bookings only. Price based on two people travelling together sharing an unspecified inside cabin on half board basis. Price includes three night voyage and one night at a centrally located hotel in Tromsø (B&B). Other regional departures and extended itinerary available at a supplement.

All flights and flight-inclusive holidays featured are ATOL PROTECTED (ATOL 3584).

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ADVENTURE: Price based on two people traveling together sharing an inside cabin on full board basis. Price includes voyage on full boards basis, one hotel night in Santiago de Chile (B&B), transfers as applicable, return flights between Santiago and Punta Arenas. New bookings only.

ANTARCTICA

Antarctica – the coldest, driest, highest and cleanest continent on Earth. It’s teeming with life in particular, penguins, seals and whales. Explore with us.

SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ADVENTURE

Chile – Antarctica – Falkland Islands | MS Midnatsol | Departs: 1 March 2017

17 days from

£3,772pp

including full board

Discover the Chilean fjords before spending four days exploring Antarctica. Come ashore to meet penguins, have fun in kayaks or on hikes, then voyage on to the Falkland Islands. Learn about all the region has to offer through lectures and landings with our Expedition Team.

Recommended Hot-Spots!

Situated just south of the Florida Keys, Cuba is the largest island in the Caribbean. With miles of golden beaches, rich, colourful scenery, a proud cultural heritage, and a fantastic coral reef (second only in length to the Great Barrier Reef) this stunningly beautiful and exceptionally diverse country is becoming increasingly popular to visitors.

Whatever your reason for choosing this wonderful country, you couldn't have chosen a better time. Travel to Cuba is becoming increasingly popular and we recommend early booking. Cubans will ensure you a fantastic time here.

Cuba has a warm tropical climate and the best time to visit is from December to May.

Burma’s charm and mystery have captured the imagination of travellers for centuries and having been long considered a pariah state, it has recently emerged from decades of political isolation. The pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, gave her blessing to the return of responsible tourism to the country in 2010 and has since seen an influx of visitors.

A real treasure of exotic sites and experiences await where you will encounter a unique and unspoiled country unlike another. Whether it be from the vibrant city of Rangoon or from one of the elegant cruise ships sailing along the Irrawaddy from Mandalay, the scenery is spectacular.

Burma really is one of Southeast Asia’s hidden gems. The best time to visit Burma is during the dry season, which falls between October and May. Croatia - the newest star of the Med! Closer than you may think, Croatia is just a two-hour flight from the UK and has been gaining in popularity over the last few years - and continuing to do so.

A modern country, with an excellent road infrastructure, over 130 Blue Flag award winning beaches, safe drinking water (UNESCO puts Croatia’s drinking water as one of the best in Europe) and, with its close proximity to Italy, means great pasta, risotto and pizza!

However, early booking is recommended - Croatia sells out fast! With its great culture and heritage, and many summer festivals, it’s popular throughout the season.

April, May and October are often mild and sunny (good value and great for walkers), whilst July and August are very hot.

Canada - always popular and, being the second largest country on earth, how do you decide what to do! Come and talk to one of our team and we will be delighted to assist you with your plans.

From the stunning coastal scenery of Atlantic Canada to the Prairie Provinces, and from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, Canada really does have it all. Each area is unique and with its own charm. We are proud to say that many of our staff at Travel Stop have covered almost all areas of Canada so we have lots of first-hand experience when making recommendations or offering advice. So, whether it be skiing in the winter, the Rockies in the fall, or the beaches of Vancouver in the summer, you can visit throughout the year depending on what you like to do. From self-drives to coach tours, we can offer whatever appeals!

Once again, Travel Stop was proud to be the team travel agent for the 2015 World Transplant Games held, this year, in Argentina.

explosives, I will never forget the experience. The scene was set in a freezing shed somewhere in the suburbs of Mar Del Plata, with music pumping, people dancing and steaks barbecue-ing on a roughly 10ft wide grill out the back...mañana was a long way away. This for me summed up the games nicely, everyone involved was relaxed, chatty and just having fun!

We are thrilled to be involved with the inspiring athletes who are great ambassadors for our country and for UK sport. It also demonstrates the success of transplantation and the quality of life people can have after successful transplant.

Most importantly it highlights the need for people to discuss their wishes on organ donation with their families and sign the Organ Donation Register. www.organdonation.nhs.uk A report by Matthew Quinn, a participant at this year’s event.

After considerable commutes encompassing almost every route imaginable, the team arrived in Mar Del Plata, ready for the games. Our hotel; The Gran Provincial, or 'Pan's Labyrinth' as it shall now be known, was a huge seaside palace boasting nearly 500 rooms as well as a few massive reception and dining rooms, rivalling those found at Hogwarts school of witchcraft and wizardry.

The opening ceremony was a fantastic opportunity to experience some Argentinian culture (as well as reminding everyone of the spirit of the games!). After a 'short' wait, presumably courtesy of some "Mañana mañana" culture, we were treated to a history of The Tango...with some speeches and formalities, of course. Given that this was a sporting competition I should probably mention some sports...and medals. The GB & NI team performed outstandingly, as always, with a table topping 257 medal haul comprising of 128 Gold, 73 Silver and 56 Bronze. Athletics, swimming and cycling held the highest medal counts but the team performed right across the board with medals coming from a large variety of events such as badminton, golf, tennis, table tennis, squash, pétanque and bowling.

A special mention has to go to Lynne Holt and Barrie Laverick as well as the wider management and support workers (including captains, physios and doctors) within the wider team. As these were my first World Transplant Games, I have nothing to compare with, but from what I understand, these haven't been the easiest games to organise. However, they did a great job making sure we all got there in one piece, were entered in to our correct sports, and actually got to and from our sports! They were at all the sports venues, encouraging, supporting, sometimes ‘negotiating’ with the LOC, waving flags and cheering – assisted by all the GB supporters!

Many had pre and post Games tours organized by our team travel agent, Travel Stop, who ensured that all had an amazing experience.

The press generated by such a large and successful team, has increased awareness of the importance of donation and discussing our wishes now, with our families. All of us were able to attend, because a donor family said ‘yes’, and I hope we have all done them proud!

Matthew Quinn Heart Transplant Athlete

One set of medals I have not mentioned yet is those taken from Tejo. Tejo, for those who aren't familiar, is a Latin American 'pétanque style' game, played with pucks instead of balls. Although the Argentinean version unlike the Colombian did not include an interesting mix of beer and

L U X U RY H O L I DAY S S I N C E 19 74 From intimate paradise islands to family-friendly beach resorts, each ITC Luxury Travel hotel is handpicked by our team of expert staff to deliver the perfect luxury holiday. Thanks to more than forty years of experience, strong relationships with our suppliers, ATOL and ABTA protection, as well as a 24-hour emergency line, our clients enjoy their high-end holidays safe in the knowledge that their time and money is secure from the moment they make their booking.

ITC Luxury Travel is delighted to work with Travel Stop to create your very own, bespoke luxury holiday, and wherever you choose to travel, we look forward to exceeding your expectations.

CARIBBEAN • INDIAN OCEAN • EUROPE • ARABIAN GULF • ASIA • AFRICA • THE AMERICAS • AUSTRALASIA • SPORTS

Barbados & St Vincent - By Anita Crowson In September I visited Barbados and St Vincent courtesy of Sunset Faraway Holidays, Virgin Atlantic, Elegant Hotels and Harlequin Hotels and Resorts.

At check-in we were fortunate to be upgraded to Upper Class so our amazing experience started in the Virgin Club lounge at Gatwick Airport. What a wonderful way to start a holiday, and the service in Virgin Upper Class, as expected, was second to none.

Barbados The first part of our trip was a stay in Barbados, an island which has something for everyone. It really is an ’all round’ destination with a vast range of accommodation to suit all budgets.

St Vincent After a 45 minute flight from Barbados you will arrive in St Vincent in the Grenadines. Buccament Bay is the only all-inclusive resort on the beautiful southwest coast of St Vincent. The guest villas are absolutely stunning with a huge range of modern amenities ensuring your utmost comfort. With a selection of restaurants including ‘Jacks’ where I can honestly say that I had one of the best steaks I have ever had in the Caribbean. Safron, the Indian restaurant, and Bay Beach Club where you can enjoy casual à la carte all day dining, accompanied by tropical cocktails.

They also have a coffee, ice-cream and cake shop for those mid-morning or afternoon treats!

Elegant Resorts have two all-inclusive hotels - Turtle Beach, an all-suite hotel on the south coast, and Crystal Cove, on the west coast of the island.

Turtle Beach shares a lovely long soft-sand beach with other hotels on this beautiful stretch of coastline. Whilst the location is peaceful, the bars of St Lawrence Gap are only a fifteen minute walk away.

Crystal Cove, on the more gentle west coast, provides a more typical Caribbean experience. The rooms are located in brightly coloured cabana style buildings and has much more of a Caribbean feel. During the day, the hotel operates a water taxi between the hotels to offer you a change of scenery and, at no extra charge, you can also dine at the Turtle Beach property whilst on the all-inclusive basis.

Within the Elegant Resort properties is the Tamarind, a contemporary resort with a Mediterranean style and a laid back Caribbean feel - ideal for families and couples alike.

Next door is the famous ‘Daphne’s’ restaurant and on the other side of Daphne’s is the very unique 34-roomed adultonly hotel called ’The House’. This hotel is small and the communal areas have such a homely feel. It offers a full champagne breakfast every morning, afternoon tea at 4pm and canapés at 6.30pm.

The Colony Club is a family friendly hotel, offering a choice of four swimming pools, smart rooms, fantastic food and a range of activities near Holetown. Here, we tried our hand at ‘paddle boarding’ - stand up boards apparently offering a fun and relaxing way to play on the water. Wish I could agree! I guess in theory it could be right, but you have to manage to stay upright, paddle the board, and move forward at the same time - easier said than done!

I feel that Elegant have a hotel to suit everyone and the food and service in each hotel was amazing.

High profile sports stars regularly visit Buccament Bay to provide coaching for guests, usually at no extra charge.

They also have a performing arts school (normally in the school holidays).

The hotel offers a weekly sunset cruise (weather permitting) which we were lucky enough to do.

This was lovely with cocktails and canapés being served on board whilst awaiting the sunset. Unfortunately we missed out on the sunset as the heavens decided to open and give us a really heavy shower at this point! However I could certainly imagine how beautiful it would have been! For those of us who stayed out on deck during the shower, we were given an amazing show by dolphins alongside the boat - well worth getting a soaking for after all!

If you do leave the resort you’ll discover that St Vincent has lots to offer - La Soufrière volcano, the Darkview Falls and the Vermont Nature Trail are some of the most popular attractions, as is a visit to one to the film sets from Pirates of the Caribbean.

Two beautiful islands which I can highly recommend.

Mauritius (Beachcomber) - By Sacha Hale My journey started at Heathrow, where I boarded the plane for the 12-hour flight to Mauritius. Upon arrival, having flown overnight, we were then whisked away to the Yu Lounge a private Terminal which provides a VIP service, for a small additional cost, to both private jets and commercial aircrafts.

Here you can relax in comfort whilst the formalities of luggage collection, and immigration are dealt with in approximately 30 minutes, before you take your transfer to your hotel.

We then made the 15-minute journey to our first hotel. The Shandrani, a stunning all inclusive resort on the South East Coast of Mauritius, which faces the Blue Bay National Marine Park. Once we had been taken to our deluxe beachfront rooms, we met in teams for a treasure hunt style tour of the resort. We viewed all the different types of accommodation and I was immediately impressed by standard of fittings, and the spacious feel of them all. I must also add at this point that the food throughout all of Beachcombers Hotels is outstanding, with a wide choice to suit absolutely all tastes. It was amazing.

The Shandrani offers an All Inclusive package which extends to the variety of watersports offered at the resort.

The resort offers everything you could want from a holiday, catering for couples (especially Honeymooners) and families alike.

On our second day, we were taken to see some of the other attractions that the Island has in store for its visitors. We were divided into three groups, with some taking a tour of Bois Cheri Tea Factory and the sacred lake of Grand bassin, whilst another group went to the Casela Wildlife and Adventure Park and tried their hand at zip wires, which gave a stunning view of the gorges below. If you were brave enough to look that is ! My group also visited La Vanille, Reptile and Tortoise Park and met with the Giant Tortoises.

On our third day we were hosted by the staff at La Victoria, Le Canonnier and Le Mauricia, all fantastic hotels, again offering the range of services, Spa facilities and sporting activites for guests, whether they wish to relax or spend their time on more active pursuits. We tried our hands at archery before enjoying a very relaxing hand and arm spa treatment at Le Canonnier. The Spa has been built in and around a magnificent banyan tree, with its roots trailing from the branches until they touch the ground. After a lavish lobster dinner on the beach at Le Mauricia, we let off Chinese lanterns and then walked into the Grand Baie area in the evening to sample the night life at the Banana Bar. This area is definitely somewhere I would recommend for anyone who likes to enjoy the Island outside of the resort. I can also whole heartedly recommend the Pina Coladas.

Day Four took us to the Jewel in Beachcomber’s Crown, The Royal Palm. An absolutely amazing hotel where guests are treated rather aptly like royalty. The level of service towards their clients is absolutely second to none, and the well manicured gardens and facilities are stunning.

We were then transferred to our next hotel by helicopter! and had a wonderful journey (my first ever flight in a helicopter) taking in the beautiful scenery of the Island and the crystal clear waters of the Indian Ocean.

We landed on the helipad, situated within the championship 18 hole golf course at Le Paradis. And with its sister hotel Dinarobin just next door they are dominated by the iconic rock formation known as Le Morne Brabant. Guests are welcome to dine at any of the eight restaurants, with four at Le Paradis and four situated at Dinarobin.

After a tour of the two resorts we were taken by speed boat, out to a catamaran for a sunset boat trip. With music, champagne and a barbeque on board we had a magical evening, the pinnacle of which was a pod of dolphins who chose to swim along in front of the catamaran. It was a beautiful end to a day I will never forget.

Our penultimate day was spent being wedding planners for a couple, so that we could see first hand how a wedding is performed at Dinarobin. We were divided again into teams, and were taught how to make wedding bouquets and button holes, to ice and decorate a wedding cake, and to make a selection of canapes, for the evening reception.

The third group went on a speed boat tour of the coast, to view the nature sanctuary of Ile Aux Aigrettes, the pretty inland waterfalls, and the beautiful area of Ile Aux Cerfs, before we all met up at the next hotel, Trou Aux Biches.

That evening we dined in one of the luxurious villa suites, and were treated to a wonderful meal, prepared by the resort chefs. This catered service is available to anyone who would like to have a more intimate dining experience rather than eating in one of the six stunning restaurants.

The wedding turned out to be a staged wedding between two of the Beachcomber staff, (very amusing). But it certainly gave us an idea of the attention to detail and level of care that the staff at the resort put into every wedding. At all of Beachcomber resorts there will only ever be one wedding taking place on one day. This ensures that each couple’s day is especially for them, and that they have the undivided attention of the staff.

With its white sandy beaches, beautifully clear waters and the wonderful hospitality of the Mauritian people, and not forgetting the amazing food. I can honestly say that Mauritius has left me longing to go back…........................

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Christmas and New Year Opening Times 22 December - 9am - 5.30pm 23 December - 9am - 5.30pm 24 December - 9am - 1pm 25 December - Closed 26 December - Closed 27 December - Closed 28 December - Closed 29 December - 9am - 5:30pm 30 December - 9am - 5:30pm 31 December - 9am - 4pm 01 January - Closed 02 January - Open as usual

To celebrate the festive season the team at Travel Stop invite you to join them for sherry and a mince pie from Monday 21st to Thursday 24th December

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