Starstruck: Holidays with Celestial Celebrities

Sky Bar: You may spot the John Lewis man

They say that the best things in life are free and one of the great free shows is in the sky above us. If your idea of seeing stars is waking up after a night on the Blue Nuns then there is a whole new world awaiting you.  

However, for anyone who has sat out in the garden at night getting a stiff neck whilst waiting for clouds to clear (ok, only me then) will appreciate that you may have to travel to somewhere with better conditions to observe the night sky. Here are some suggestions.

Teide: Clear with a chance of meatballs

TENERIFE's temperate climate makes it a great place to visit at any time of the year and you can get close to nature by cycling, hiking & whale watching. 

To get even closer, join one of the evening excursions to Mt Teide National Park including sunset, dinner with wine & a guide to the world above by an astronomer. Away from the resort hotel lights you will be able to enjoy a spectacular panorama from a height of 2,000m. As long as it’s not cloudy!

GET THERE: High standard hotels are located in the Costa Adeje area, located 30mins from Tenerife South Airport. Night Excursions to Teide include hotel pick ups. 

Chocsta Rica : Milky Way, Galaxy, Mars

If you prefer your stars with more active volcanoes then head to COSTA RICA. La Fortuna de San Carlos, located 3 hours from capital San Jose is the gateway to El Arenal Volcano, one of the country’s most active and surrounded by cloud forest. 

The area also attracts stargazers from around the world for the dry season views of the Milky Way Galaxy. Enjoy wildlife trips into the rainforests before choosing a beach on the Pacific or Caribbean coast to relax.   

GET THERE: Fly direct to San Jose from Gatwick or via Madrid. Plan a multi-centre trip to include the rainforests, beaches and El Arenal volcano where Dry Season is December-April.

Enlightening: Lapland’s Northern Soul

Of course, you can see stars anywhere in the World if the weather is clear but for something really special, head up to the Arctic Circle into LAPLAND for a chance to see the Northern Lights. 

Late November to mid-February is the season and post-Christmas tends to see clearer skies. Take a 3-4 night activity package to Levi Fell including ski clothing, snowmobiling and an expedition into the dark to (hopefully) see the Aurora Borealis.


GET THERE: Lapland packages to Levi Fell include flights to Kittila from Gatwick, Manchester & Birmingham. Warm clothing is included - you’ll need it!

Total Eclipse: Turn around bright eyes

There are some natural events that are even rarer but follow a timetable. This year -on August 21st to be precise- there will be a total solar eclipse right across central states of the USA. 

You can experience the path of totality in South Carolina, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, Wyoming, Nebraska, Idaho & Oregon. Perfect for a road trip to these less visited states at your own pace. Although it is a long way to go to see something you can’t actually look at!


GET THERE: Take an open jaw flight into one state and out of another. Hire a camper van for the authentic experience to keep costs down and remember to check your time zone!
   
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For information about visiting any of these destinations or to find your ideal nature experience, get in touch and I’ll put together some ideas for you.

David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 7 May 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

t: 020 8123 2569

***

All of my Latest Offers are on Facebook

Twitter: @eyelinetravel

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 

For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 

Latest Thailand Offers

Twitter: @bouthaique

For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

Latest Lakes & Mountains Offers
Twitter:@alpineweekender

For Lakes & Mountains Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk

EyeLine Travel is an Explorer Travel Franchise owned & operated by David Sutherland 

All Holidays that I arrange are ABTA (L3832) Bonded and ATOL Protected

Mayday: May the First be with you

Bank Holidays: who needs to go abroad?

May Day. The start of May. Or an emergency situation. The beginning of May marks the official beginning of the Summer holiday season as the final Ski Resorts close and we get a double dose of Bank Holidays, complete with traditional weather. 

May is however one of the best months to go away and if you can do so at short notice, bargains await. Why? Because it’s off peak - half term excepted - and the weather makes it a perfect month to visit beaches, mountains or cities. So, it’s time to declare an emergency holiday.

Itsy bitsy, teeny weeny, lovely Santorini

The GREEK ISLANDS are enjoying an upsurge in popularity this year with the locals now concerned about the UK’s financial future instead. Whether you are into island hopping or all inclusive flopping, there is plenty to enjoy without the crowds. 

Corfu & Halkidiki have new properties to show off whilst crowd favourites Kefalonia and Santorini are much more enjoyable. A May visit will let you enjoy the Greek hospitality and even the occasional strike can be managed better outside of peak time.


GET THERE: A full summer flight schedule is operating from across the UK to the Greek islands for single or multi-centre holidays. Expect temperatures in the mid 20s.

Dubai: a desert-ed wilderness no more

DUBAI is a force of nature that just keeps on growing and creating things that just shouldn’t happen in a desert. It is sold as a warm weather year round destination but the facts are it gets very hot in mid-summer.

May is more or less the last month to visit before the summer heat turns the beaches into magma and there are plenty of luxury hotels that are keen to fill their rooms with discount packages. It may be a marmite destination but there is so much going on that you will not get bored. Just remember to stay out if the midday sun!

GET THERE: Dubai is served by multiple flights per day from across the UK, most of them Emirates’ A380s so getting a seat is not difficult. Expect temperatures in the mid-30s.

Zermatt: on the piste in the summer

THE ALPS may not seem an obvious destination on the surface of it. Principally because that surface of snow is no longer there. But gone are the days when Europe’s ski resorts packed up for the summer and left the mountains to the farmers. 

Come the start of May, the skis and snowboards in the sports shops are replaced by mountain bikes and hiking boots. The lift systems keep going and you can hike, bike, zipline, parapente, rock climb amongst other activities before eating hearty local food & collapsing into the spa. 

GET THERE: Travel to Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia or France to experience a whole new side to the Alps. Expect temperatures in low 20s & cool evenings.

Koh Samui: Mae Day at Mae Nam Beach

THAILAND is just coming to the end of the hot & dry season and is off peak. Less severe than the monsoons in India, Andaman (West coast) resorts such as Phuket and Krabi stay open all year and there are some great. 

Alternatively, head to Gulf (East coast) island Koh Samui which enjoys opposite seasons peaking with European school holidaymakers from June onwards, so beat the crowds and smugly enjoy the beaches.

GET THERE: There are several year round daily flight options from the UK to Bangkok and Samui is a 1h onward flight. Expect temperatures in the upper 20s (mid 20s at night!)

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I can arrange holidays to all of the above destinations - ask me my recommendations as I have been to all of these countries. Contact the emergency 'need a holiday’ line today!

David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 1 May 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

t: 020 8123 2569

***

All of my Latest Offers are on Facebook

Follow on Twitter: @eyelinetravel

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 

For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 

Latest Thailand Offers

Follow on Twitter: @bouthaique

For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

Latest Lakes & Mountains Offers
Follow on Twitter:@alpineweekender

For Lakes & Mountains Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk

EyeLine Travel is an Explorer Travel Franchise owned & operated by David Sutherland 

All Holidays that I arrange are ABTA (L3832) Bonded and ATOL Protected

General Direction: Vote with your Feet & enjoy the Results

Vote: Leave the Country

So it’s time to celebrate the joyous news that there will be a UK General Election on 8 June17. Now voting is very important to ensure your voice is heard and the result will be relevant to everybody. But the build up...?  Frankly, it’s mostly unimportant people saying irrelevant things on TV, radio and through your letterbox. Time to press the escape button. 

My favourite election was in 2011 having voted (postal) before going on holiday. I watched the results at a civilised time in a pool villa on Gili Trawangan. Dimbleby by the Sea. The Bali Sea. Good choice as this was the Coalition year so I could go to the beach in-between nothing happening. 

So my tip for this year’s election is to 1) Register for a Postal Vote 2) Vote 3) Go away. As a bonus, holidays will be cheaper as demand falls during an election - those leaflets don’t deliver themselves! 

Party Pool-itical Abroad-cast

THAILAND is one of my favourite destinations and May/June is dry season on the Gulf (West) coast. That makes Koh Samui perfect for a shoulder season boutique hotel with a pool villa before the European school holiday influx begins. 

For ultimate relaxation, the North East of the island has some of the best hotels but you are close enough to local bars and restaurants to get the best of all worlds. Wifi will allow you to keep in touch with as much or as little as you wish mid-morning on results day.

VOTE THAILAND: One stop flights reach Samui via Bangkok then it’s about 15mins by road to most hotels. Relax on the beach, in your own pool or in the Spa. Tough on the causes of choice!

Target Seats: on Air Mauritius

MAURITIUS is one of the Indian Ocean’s surprise packages. With a population of over one million & some big industries, this is not a small tourist only island but it does have some amazing beaches (and clothing outlet shops) and you don’t even have to be on a Honeymoon to come here. 

May marks the beginning of Winter - which is still better than any summer  we can expect in the UK (i.e. mid 20s & less chance of rain than the Maldives). This means it is low season and bargains can be found in the luxury hotel market. 

VOTE MAURITIUS: Fly direct from Heathrow or Gatwick or via Dubai to Port Louis. The best hotels are on the north west coast where your 'to do list' will be very straightforward!

Lake Louise: Tactical Boating

CANADA is celebrating its 150th birthday this year and is fast becoming the region’s Panic Room. If you like wildlife and the great outdoors then head to Alberta as May marks the beginning of the Summer season.

You will need to save up for a big trip on the Rocky Mountaineer train but a self drive trip into the Rockies from Calgary is flexible and affordable. Visit Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper National Park - without being eaten by a bear. Continue on to Vancouver and add a whale watching trip if time permits.

VOTE CANADA: Fly direct to Calgary and return from Vancouver. Pick up a hire car and explore. Bring warm clothes, a sense of adventure & a good camera. Don’t leave food in the car!

Exit Nepals: Yes, we Cann-apurna

NEPAL is probably your best bet for avoiding all of the build up to election day. May-June marks a weather window for summiting Mt Everest which means it’s ideal for trekking elsewhere in the country. 

The Annapurna region is best suited to a short trip (i.e. 2 weeks) with mixed ability routes (and easier to adjust to altitudes) accessible from lakeside town Pokhara via a short, hair-raising flight. Recover afterwards with beer, wifi & a Yak steak in legendary bar Rum Doodle in Kathmandu.

VOTE NEPAL: Fly to Kathmandu with a one stop flight. Exciting domestic flights will take you to Pokhara and to trekking trail heads. Wifi works in Kathmandu - if the power does.

***
I can arrange holidays to all of the above destinations - ask me my recommendations as I have been to all of these countries. And can’t wait to go again! But Vote before you go!

David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 23 April 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

t: 020 8123 2569

***

All of my Latest Offers are on Facebook

Follow on Twitter: @eyelinetravel

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 

For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 

Latest Thailand Offers

Follow on Twitter: @bouthaique

For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

Latest Ski & Board Offers
Follow on Twitter:@alpineweekender

For Ski and Snowboard Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk

EyeLine Travel is an Explorer Travel Franchise owned & operated by David Sutherland 

All Holidays that I arrange are ABTA (L3832) Bonded and ATOL Protected

Many Happy Returns: Celebrating the Golden Oldies!

Summer: now available with sun

Having just celebrated my own birthday, I have been thinking about the concept of age providing wisdom & experience. Case unproven from my point of view but in the travel industry that may well be the case as longevity is a precious commodity. 

The way we take holidays has changed beyond recognition and continues to evolve. Modern aeroplanes with Wifi and on demand films whisk us around the globe for ever lower prices whilst short haul travel is taken for granted in the same way you hop on a bus or train. Without the comfort.

Our industry body ABTA was established in 1950 and has outlasted Laker, British Caledonian, Air Europe, Dan Air, Intasun, Lunn Poly, Hoverspeed and many more. So this week, let’s have a look at some of the industry veterans that must be doing something right. 

Monarch: All aboard the Ibiza night flight

Last week was the 49th birthday of Monarch Airlines. That is quite some achievement in an airline industry that has no place for sentimentality and where your competitors sell tickets to places you have never heard of for £1. 

What is their secret? Reinvention. Form is temporary but class is permanent and today's Monarch is a scheduled low cost short haul airline and was the World’s most punctual in this category in 2016. With expansion on the horizon, Monarch is showing these upstarts how it should be done!

GET ON BOARD: Monarch fly European leisure routes from Gatwick, Manchester, Luton, Birmingham and Leeds. Next year will see new Boeing 737 Max’s joining the fleet 

Qantas: Loading chicken, beef & a lot of wine

Flights to Australia are about to get quicker with new Qantas non-stop flights between London and Perth next year to be followed by a 20 hour non stop to Sydney. If you think that’s long, the Kangaroo route to Sydney officially started 70 years ago in 1947 and took 4 days (including 2 overnight hotels). 

Jet services started in 1959 with the journey time reduced to under 35 hours (with 8 stops). It’s still a long way but much quicker & more comfortable these days. 

GET ON BOARD: Today Qantas operates the Kangaroo route with A380s flying to Sydney with one stop in Dubai, taking around 24 hours in total. Non-stop 787s to Perth start in March18.

Cunard: Fun; as long as the stabilisers are on

Of course before aeroplanes, long haul travel was by boat - so you needed a bit more time off work for that summer trip to Orlando! This year, Cunard will have been operating the North Atlantic shipping route for 177 years. 

With a rich history of luxury ships, Cunard is today the only regular Transatlantic operator with the sumptuous Queen Mary2 sailing between Southampton and New York in a leisurely 7 days.



GET ON BOARD: Queen Mary2 has 24 Transatlantic crossings in 2017 - you can fly/cruise in either direction or relax on a return journey - with no luggage restrictions!

Cook It: 7 nights in Magaluf from 3 Shillings

The package holiday concept can be traced back 176 years when a group of people wanted to escape Leicester. The organiser arranged trips within the UK before venturing overseas in 1855 and then going global.

Mr Thomas Cook eventually set up Thomas Cook and Sons in 1871 and the rest, as they say is history. These days Thomas Cook is a pan-European operator with its own hotels and airlines. Fortunately for the people of Leicester, they can now travel all around the World!

GET ON BOARD: Thomas Cook specialises in both short and long haul package holidays departing from across the UK using their in-house airline which is growing its long haul routes. 

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I can arrange holidays with all of the above companies - ask me my recommendations. I am looking forward to EyeLine Travel celebrating 175 years in business - in 2190.

David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 9 April 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

t: 020 8123 2569

***

All of my Latest Offers are on Facebook

Follow on Twitter: @eyelinetravel

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 

For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 

Latest Thailand Offers

Follow on Twitter: @bouthaique

For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

Latest Ski & Board Offers
Follow on Twitter:@alpineweekender

For Ski and Snowboard Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk

EyeLine Travel is an Explorer Travel Franchise owned & operated by David Sutherland

Fool Me Once a Year? Shame on You April!

April Ha Has: But Springfield is real

Another year, another April Fool’s Day. The Travel Industry seems to have plenty of time on its hands to come up with ideas such as a cruise ship with a real snow ski slope on top, an Uber app for long tail boats in Thailand and convertible touring coaches complete with deck chairs and a hot tub! 

However some ideas from the file marked ‘Fool’ such as paying for food & drink on British Airways' flights, putting valuable electronics in your hold luggage and Southend Airport being in London are in fact genuine. Let’s look at some more.

Batman. And Robin your lap top.

Airports are humourless places these days but there are a few places that can raise a smile. There’s a Moron (MXV) in Mongolia, a Ponce (PSE) in Puerto Rico and an Ogle (OGL) in Guyana. There’s a Mafia (MAF) in Tanzania, a Useless Loop (USL) in Australia and a Luton (LTN) in London. 

But my favourite is Batman (BAL) in Turkey. Yes, really! Although even the caped crusader will have to pack his laptop & tablet in the hold for the flight home.

Gone to the dogs. Or inside one.

Unusual hotels around the world include a converted Boeing 727 up a tree in a Costa Rican jungle, Tree houses that resemble flying saucers in northern Sweden and an upside down ‘design’ hotel in Amsterdam. 

There are hotels made out of ice (Finland), Salt (Bolivia) and orange (Easy Hotel). But the winner of the ‘it seemed a good idea at the time’ hotel has to be the Dog Bark Inn, Idaho. Classy. Presumably you have to get into a plastic bag when you leave..

Rules for fools. Pay attention!

When you do head overseas on holiday, there may be local regulations of which you are unaware that could catch you out. Such as the ban on electronic cigarettes in Thailand (tobacco is fine though..) and the ban on all clothing in Austrian saunas. 

It is illegal to chew gum in Singapore as it is to run out of fuel on a German Autobahn. Flushing the toilet after 10pm in parts of Switzerland is forbidden as is eating potent smelling Durian fruit on public transport in many parts of Asia. You have been warned!

Car Henge. Hopefully with bypass as well?

If you really want to experience something different on holiday then you could always choose tourist attractions with a difference that missed the shortlist for the Seven Wonders (by some distance).

You can visit the 'member’s only' Phallus museum in Reykjavik, Iceland, get rodented at the Rat Temple in Deshnok, India and be bowled over by the toilet museum in Kitakyushu, Japan. But a special mention for the people of Nebraska who had some free time and decided to create Car Henge. Nebraska at it’s finest!


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David Sutherland, EyeLine Travel, Crawley; 2 April 2017
e: david@eyelinetravel.co.uk

t: 020 8123 2569

***

All of my Latest Offers are on Facebook

Follow on Twitter: @eyelinetravel

Standard low cost packages are bookable through my multi destination EyeLine Travel website. 

For tailor made packages or just for some information, please Contact me and I will do the hard work for you. 

Latest Thailand Offers
Follow on Twitter: @bouthaique

For holidays to Thailand, please visit: http://boutiquethailand.co.uk

Latest Ski & Board Offers
Follow on Twitter:@alpineweekender

For Ski and Snowboard Short Breaks, visit http://alpineweekender.co.uk

EyeLine Travel is an Explorer Travel Franchise owned & operated by David Sutherland