Adventure

December 19, 2014

Having arrived in Windhoek, we were driven to a hotel to pick up our Land Rover Defender 110. I had huge trepidation, as I knew we were about to be tested in small sand dunes to see that we could handle the car.

On one hand I was glad that they held such safety measures but on the other hand, I had not done so well back on the Land Rover test in England. I was nicknamed ‘the throttle junkie’ and the name has stuck ever since! We managed to pass with flying colours though and we had no problems on our trip at all.

So this was our vehicle for the next 3 weeks. We were to sleep above the car in our tent, which we folded out. Namibia is one of the safest countries to travel in but felt even more assured with our satellite phone.

With a land surface area of 318,261 sq. miles and a population of around 2.3 million people, Namibia is the least densely populated country in the world. It is one of the last great wilderness places in Africa. In certain parts, you are more likely to see wildlife and dramatic scenery than people. Namibia is mostly desert terrain. This seemingly inhospitable environment is not as barren as you might expect.

This was a trip of a lifetime and we will never forget it. It was a most fantastic adventure. We saw many animals, stayed in some mesmerizing places, ate glorious food, met some extraordinary people and laughed our hearts out!

Our favourite camp:

Our favourite Lodge:

We felt like Robinson Crusoe here!

Some of our favourite animals on our trip:

Gliding over Victoria Falls:

If you would more information about this trip or something similar then please do get in touch.

I couldn’t possibly put up all the information and photos on such a great country but hope it gives you a flavour of what this trip entailed.

I would be glad to help you find the perfect trip! It is great for groups or families alike and Namibia is one of the safest countries in Africa.

Lis van Lynden Email: [email protected]

Elite Travel Consultant Phone: 02076101982/07825441212

December 15, 2014

The team had a huge amount of fun on Friday 11th December, taking part in Save The Children’s Christmas Jumper Day

For every member of staff, their children, spouses and pets Haslemere Travel has donated £2 each to this wonderful cause.

At the time of print this initiative had raised over half a million pounds!!!! And rising! If you would like to support our fundraising activity please text TEAMHASTRAV to 70050 to donate £2.

Please scroll down for our ‘Rouges Gallery’

Howard, Prue (Save The Children), Andrew, Aurelia, Chelsea, Gemma, Terry & Annie

Susie & Pickles

Joan – aka ‘Frosty’

Howard & Aurelia

Amy, Jamie & Santa

Aurelia & Chelsea

Beena

Katy & family

Lis

Cat

August 22, 2014

Paradis hotel is widely regarded as one of the premier resorts on the island and has an enviable position at the tip of the stunning Le Morne peninsula surrounded by 5kms of beautiful beach.

Luxurious and spacious accommodation is spread out along these inviting sands, there’s a choice of eight restaurants (four of which are located along the beach at Dinarobin), a free children’s club, a Spa By Clarins, a whole host of free land and water sports including the superb 18-hole Paradis Golf Course.

Paradis Hotel & Golf Club is the perfect Mauritius hotel if you are looking for beachfront luxury with a choice of outstanding facilities and dining.

7 nights in a Junior Suite
Return flights with Emirates
FREE upgrade to Full Board Plus
FREE land & water sports
Private airport transfers in Mauritius
Travelling in June 2015

Cost per person sharing from £1787.00 – SAVE £497 per person

For further details, please call one of our Indian Ocean Experts on 01428 658777

August 21, 2014

Le Mauricia hotel is set in a lively location, a short walk along the beach to the centre of the bustling village of Grand Baie. This gives guests the very best of both worlds, as you can make the most of the excellent facilities offered by Le Mauricia itself or get out and enjoy the shops, nightlife and restaurants found in Grand Baie.

All of the rooms face the sea, except the superb Family Apartments which are located in a ‘family village’ area within the gardens. For honeymooners there’s also a choice of three honeymoon suites which come with their own plunge pools.

If you are after a Mauritius hotel with a relaxed, fun atmosphere Le Mauricia is a great option.

7 nights in a Standard 1^st Floor Room
Return flights with Emirates
Half Board
FREE land & water sports
Return airport transfers in Mauritius
Travelling between 01 and 19 December 2014

Cost per person sharing from £1334.00 – SAVE £222 per person

For further details on this hotel and a quotation for your chosen dates please call us on 01428 658777

August 20, 2014

Royal Palm Marrakech is located just 7 miles from the centre of Marrakech so guests have easy access to the excitement of the city yet far away enough to escape when you need to.

Royal Palm Marrakech is situated within a vast 231 hectare estate planted with age old olive trees and features a magnificent 18-hole golf course. The hotel’s stunning setting overlooking the spectacular Atlas Mountains coupled with the luxury accommodation and fine dining make this the perfect base for your Morocco holiday.

3 nights in a Junior Suite
Bed & breakfast
Private airport transfers in Marrakech
Travelling in June 2015

Cost per person sharing from £542.00 – SAVE £105 per person

To find out more about this hotel or to check availability and rates please call us on 01428 658 777.

May 23, 2014

My husband and I set off after our honeymoon, ditched our jobs and went travelling. We were so so lucky to be able to do this, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. To be free from constraints and travel where we liked opened up a world of opportunities. We stayed everywhere from 5* hotels (to get some washing done!) to motels we stumbled on by the side of the road, but everywhere had it’s story and usually lots of friendly locals.

We started off in Canada and Alaska, first taking the Rocky Mountaineer through the stunning Rocky mountains. Panoramic windows, and interesting fellow passengers made the journey pass quickly. I would thoroughly recommend upgrading to Gold leaf service if at all possible, the views are what brings people to the train, and the floor to ceiling windows available in Gold leaf made the very most of these and worth every penny of the upgrade.

There are lots of things you can do along the way. Here are a few of my recommendations for the stops along the way;

1. Calgary

Calgary is a bit of a quiet city apart from when the massive Calgary Stampede is on in July. However some interesting bits of street art to explore, and worth going up the Calgary towers to soak up the views as the gateway to the Rocky Mountains.

2. Banff

A stay in the Fairmont Banff hotel is definitely worth it. Go for a walk in the woods (take advice and stick to the paths, bears are around and are a danger so don’t be too blasé). Take a day trip to the Bow River and take a leisurely float along it or go for the adrenaline rush and go white water rafting in Horseshoe canyon. Take a stroll downtown, though mostly it is tourist shops, it is nice to see the history of the settlement. Head for the Banff Gondola just outside of Banff (most hotels have a courtesy shuttle) to get some spectacular views of the Rockies from the most amazing vantage point.

Some tours include a trip to the Icefields pathway at another point, but if yours doesn’t, Banff is a good place to take a tour from to see it. Definitely worth the trip for a chance to see some amazing glaciers up close and have the chance to walk on them.

If you aren’t combining Canada with an Alaskan cruise, or you do not have the opportunity for a bear spotting excursion whilst on the cruise, Banff is a great place to visit the Grizzly bear sanctuary. A full day tour incorporates time to see the bears in their natural surroundings and watch them catch salmon in the rivers and play. The full day tour also incorporates a trip up the Banff gondola as mentioned above and well worth the visit.

You may get the opportunity to see bears from your coach whilst travelling around the Rockies, but it is something special to be able to see them in the wild, and definitely something I would highly recommend for any Canada and/or Alaska itinerary.

3. Lake Louise

The Fairmont Lake Louise is situated right on the shores of the Lake and provides stunning views from their rooms, again in my opinion, worth the stay. A stroll around the shore of the lake is a relaxing way to spend some time if the weather is nice, though you cannot get all the way around. The Lake Louise gondola is also good for great views back down over the lake and the classic photo of the lake and hotel is taken from the top. There is also a chance to see bears on the gondola ride up. In the winter this is the ski slopes, but in the summer there is the chance to hike around some of the area at the top. Do take insect repellant though, the mosquitos here are pretty vicious!

4. Vancouver

Vancouver is one of my favorite cities I have visited. Maybe it is the outdoor lifestyle there and the ease of getting around. There was lots of things to see and do. Often a trip on the Rocky Mountaineer stops here for 1-2 days before connecting to a cruise. We decided to stay an extra few days and explored a little bit more of the area. It was easy to hire a car and we drove up the coast (and manage a bit of scuba diving in one of the bays!).

Stanley Park, just north of the city is a beautiful open area, 400 hectares of open parkland which helps Vancouver attain the balance of city and rural identity. Granville Island is also worth a visit, mainly for the massive public market which sells everything and anything and has an impressive array of fresh food making a trip definitely worthwhile!

In downtown Vancouver either a guided or self guided tour around the historic Gastown is also recommended. It provides an insight into the history of the city as well as some beautiful sites, such as the Gastown steam clock.

If you have a free afternoon why not take a boat trip around the harbour, or a seaplane trip to see a bit more of the surrounding natural beauty. If you don’t have time to add Vancouver Island onto your trip there are a good few day tours that can give you a taster of the beautiful island from Vancouver as well.

6. Ketchican

Ketchican is quite a small town and easy to walk around to take in the shops, the river which in season is full of salmon and the nearby forests. There are a fair number of tourists shops, and the lumberjack show. I have been to the show as we didn’t have anything else to do in the afternoon, but you can buy tickets at the shop if you decide you want to do this last minute. It’s a little kitsch and cheesy, but not bad if there is nothing else you fancy. Lots of chainsaws and axe throwing by men in checked shirts and dungarees!

Crab is obviously big in Alaska and there are some lovely places to see and eat it, if you like seafood, I do highly recommend it somewhere on your Alaskan adventure.

Seeing the Fjords is a nice way to spend some time, they expand for miles and miles and it is a great way to get a further appreciation of the rugged and remote Alaskan landscape. Wilderness explorer tours are often quite good as you might get the chance to see wales, eagles, and if you are really lucky, bears.

Ketchican is renowned for its rainfall, it has 300 days of rain per year. There is a rainforest near town which you can go and explore yourself if you would prefer to take things a little easier and spend some time by yourselves.

7. Juneau

Juneau is set in a lovely inlet, and very picturesque. The views from the top of the Mendenhall tramway are pretty nice, you can also go up this yourselves and buy your tickets just for the tramway at the bottom. In my opinion there isn’t much need for a guided tour of the area, there are information boards and signposts for the walks at the top of the tramway so very easy to do independently if it does take your fancy.

The Mendenhall Glacier is quite nice, it isn’t as big as some of the ones you can see in Glacier bay, but you can get quite close to it, or even helicopter onto it, if this appeals. Graham and I did the canoe adventure, which did require some effort, but meant we got pretty close to it in a very small boat! Also there were lots of small icebergs in the water we canoed around which were very pretty. Tracy Arm is also a good option for getting up close and personal with both wildlife and Glaciers.

8. Skagway

Skagway has a huge history with the goldrush. Again quite an easy town to wander around, some old bars (which used to be more like brothels at the height of the rush – especially the Red Onion Salloon which isn’t a bad place for a pub lunch if you are at a loose end) and shops to see. This is also the departure point for the White Rail Pass. This takes you up into the more remote Yukon where the goldrush really took place and shows how the men and gold used to travel.

9. Sitka

Sitka is a lovely quiet stop at the end of some of the cruises of the Inside Passage. A Russian feel in it’s architecture with a lot of the churches very similar to those we saw whilst travelling along the Trans-Siberian railway. A lot of the activities here are based on the water such as the wildlife cruise that we went on. This is one of the best places to see Sea Otters, and they are worth the trip. Very cute and playful, they are often found in colonies just outside the harbour. Cruises leave every day, usually twice per day and take you around a lot of the little inlets around Sitka. The water and the surrounding mountains are a beautiful combination, and the chance to spot wales, bears, otters and eagles is one not to be missed in my opinion.

10. The AlCan Highway

The AlCan highway runs from Fairbanks to Dawsons Creek through some gorgeous rural countryside. It is littered with gold rush towns and steeped in history. My husband and I rode the road on a two up Honda Goldwing, a great way to experience the road and it’s surroundings. For those that enjoy an adventure with a difference, this is a great option. There are a number of tours that can take you to really experience the remote parts of Alaska and Canada.

The road itself can be a little bit bumpy, although mostly tarmac, the permafrost means that there is often ice weaves in the road to contend with, but don’t let this put you off. The scenery is like no where else I have seen, great expanses of sky, golden leaved trees and wildlife so close at the side of the road. Towns along the way greet you with open arms and friendly hospitality. The people along the way that you meet in this part of the world are special, most have a story and everyone is so pleased to welcome you to their stop for however long you have to enjoy it.

Towns such as Whitehorse, Watsons Bay and Dawsons Creek have history both past and present associated with Gold mining and a lot of tours will include a visit to see the modern day gold mining process in action. There are also some great natural springs along the way, well worth a visit. After hours on the road it is great to be able to stop and wander along the boardwalk to find totally natural springs that you can dip in. There are some commercial ventures offering hot spring experiences, but just south Liard there is the luxury of totally free and natural ones which for me made them even more special.

There are also some unusual sites along the way. Staying in an old RAF base in Watson’s Lake and it’s signpost forest were two of the highlights!

Someone said to us whilst in Alaska that people should only visit Alaska when they are older. A funny statement you might think, but his reasoning was that you would never find anywhere better. People often ask me where my favourite place I have been is. I do often come back to say Alaska. I have had many great experiences travelling, and seen some stunning places, yet nowhere seems to beat the amazing time and scenery that we saw in Alaska, it still has a very special place in my heart and I would highly recommend a Canada and Alaska itinerary to anyone, and an Alaskan explorer itinerary for those who maybe have a little more time to explore the more remote internal parts of the country.

If you would like any more information on the trips mentioned or would like to chat to me about any of your travel dreams, please do not hesitate to get in contact. I would love to talk more about travels and help make your travel dreams come true. [email protected] or 07966 898910

May 21, 2014

Once again, Haslemere Travel was proud to host this year’s Surrey Young Superstars Awards on May 9^th, which rewarded 14 deserving young children, aged from 9 to 19 years-old, from all areas of Surrey.

The special trophies and certificates were presented by national treasure and Surrey resident, actress Dame Penelope Keith at a special awards ceremony at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, attended by Lesley Myles, Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, the mayors of Guildford, Godalming and Haslemere, as well as friends and family of the winners.

Launched in 2012, this year we were delighted to organize these awards in partnership with the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, as well as raise awareness of a local charity, Challengers.

The 2014 Group Fundraising Superstars were Beatrice St Pier, Sophie Rodriguez, Maddy Nugent, Lottie Wood, Ariane Boulanger and Jenny Glover.

Pupils from Barrow Hills School, Witley, aged between 9 and 13 years of age, they recently raised £4,000 for facilities for St Benedict’s Primary School in Burkhina Faso, West Africa. Entirely initiated by the girls themselves, they held a ‘Just for Girls Day’ at school in support of the girls in Africa and a farmers market, where they sold homemade produce.

Our 2014 Individual Fundraising Superstar (13-19 years)was Lauren Hillman. This 13 year-old winner from Worplesdon, Surrey was galvanized to raise funds after a very close family friend was diagnosed with a rare brain tumour and subsequently suffered life-threatening illnesses. She launched, promoted and organized a talent competition for children aged 3-18.

The evening raised an impressive £2,000.

The Individual Fundraising Superstar (5-12 years)was Ronan Lenane.

Inspired by the tragic loss of a friend’s father who died in the care of the Princess Alice Hospice, this 10 year-old pupil from Cranmore School, West Horsley raised more than £300 singlehandedly, by combining his love of photography with the aim to sell calendars to raise funds for the hospice.

Joint winners of Caring Superstar 2014 were sisters Jay and Robyn Parsons. Aged only 13 and 16, the girls currently care for their mother, who is often bed-bound with a debilitating illness. The girls willingly do all the shopping, housework and cooking for their mother, fitting all of this around a busy school and college life respectively.

We introduced a new category, Courageous Superstar this year and the judges chose two joint winners. The first winner, Oli Nuttall was nominated by his schoolteacher at Aldro School, Shackleford, having bravely faced a plane crash, following a catastrophic engine failure. The skills of the pilot saved their lives and Oli was airlifted to Birmingham Children’s Hospital. Unconscious for the first 24 hours, the medical team worked on his many injuries, which included broken bones and serious lacerations to the face. Everyone has been astounded by his amazing response to this horrendous experience. Just a month after the accident, Oli was back at school in a wheelchair for lessons. His courage and determination to “get back to normal” has been an inspiration to all.

The second Courageous Superstar winner, Alex Perryer, is a brave young girl from Guildford who sadly woke one morning at the age of 9 and couldn’t move her arm. Overnight she was fighting for her life and facing life-threatening illnesses. She has since endured countless surgery, agonizing tests and procedures, lost the sight in both eyes and learnt to talk and walk again. She has done all of this without complaint. She is in and out of hospital, but has never accepted her fate and continues her hobbies as much as she can. The family friends who nominated her described her as ‘the bravest girl they know’.

The final category, Volunteering Superstar, was won by Diccon James.

As soon as this 19 year-old winner was old enough to do so, he qualified as a theatre chaperone and has spent much of his time helping out at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre. Despite studying hard for his A’Levels, he has chaperoned the child performers at many shows and even after his London commute for his foundation course, still gives his free time during the evening to supporting young performers.

The top award of the day, Superstar of the Year (chosen from among the category winners by the judges) was awarded to Lauren Hillman.

Congratulations to all our worthy winners.

Please keep your eyes peeled for details of Surrey Young Superstars 2015 and how to enter or nominate.

May 1, 2014

We are thrilled to announce that Haslemere Travel has been instrumental in raising funds for the £10m purchase of the Anthony Van Dyck self-portrait appeal, led by the National Portrait Gallery and the Art Fund, which was successfully concluded today (May 1st 2014).

The £10m target was reached with the help of a major public appeal, which saw 10,000 individuals donating more than £1.4m. Surrey-based, luxury travel business Haslemere Travel, in association with luxury tour operator Kirker Holidays, donated a luxury holiday prize to Antwerp, Van Dyck’s birthplace, to encourage entries for the Art Fund’s Text & Donate fundraising campaign to buy the self-portrait.

More than 2,216 people entered the week-long Text & Donate Antwerp competition and the lucky winner is now planning his weekend break for two to Antwerp, to be taken later this year, with Haslemere Travel.

Painted shortly before the Flemish artist died in 1641, it has been called “one of the finest and most important self-portraits” in British art. Painted only months before he died aged 42, it is housed in an elaborate, Italianate-English frame with a sunflower motif associated with the artist.

The self-portrait had been sold abroad in 2013 before a temporary export ban was imposed. It was then offered to the National Portrait Gallery for £10m, a reduction on the original price of £12.5m.

That sum has now been raised, including a £500,000 grant from the Art Fund and £700,000 from the National Portrait Gallery’s own budget. The self-portrait will be on view at the National Portrait Gallery in London until the end of August, before embarking on a three-year national tour, starting in 2015.

“It is acknowledged that Van Dyck is one of the greatest artists to have worked in Britain, no other artist has had such a dramatic impact on British portraiture and our Haslemere-based company is immensely proud to have played its part in saving this painting for the nation,” said Gemma Antrobus, managing director, Haslemere Travel.

Photo caption: Gemma Antrobus, managing director, Haslemere Travel, pictured at the National Portrait Gallery with the Van Dyck self-portrait

April 22, 2014

When Di and Andrew heard that Sanctuary lodges had taken over the management of a game reserve on the coast of Tanzania, just north of Dar Es Salam, they immediately started to plan their second trip to Tanzania to incorporate Saadani and Zanzibar.

If you are a wild life lover but also crave the sea this has to be one of the most unique national parks in the world, where else can you have an early morning game drive and then take a dip in the ocean to cool off?

Saadani is just a 15-minute light aircraft flight from either Dar or Zanzibar. Coastal Aviation provide a very efficient network around the country and our flight in a Cessna Caravan bought us into landing strip just a few minutes’ drive from Saadani Safari Lodge. This is a lovely rustic property situated on a wonderful deserted sandy beach on the Indian Ocean. With just 11 comfortable thatched cottages, some with outdoor showers and a honeymoon suite (complete with private pool) – this was our home for the next 4 nights of relaxed recuperation and game viewing.

The lodge has two freshwater pools, one overlooking the ocean and one hidden among the shade of the palm trees. The library area with oodles of seating areas also has a bar where you meet prior to planned excursions such as guided walks and game viewing: it is also the wifi area! A look out viewing platform over a seasonal water hole provides the perfect setting for a sundowner and the main bar and restaurant area ensure you have lots of space and privacy.

The real surprise and the true attraction of this very unusual property is the short drive from the lodge into the Saadani National Park, 1000 square kilometres of diverse landscape encompassing the historic triangle of Bagamoyo, Pangani and Zanzibar; the history and culture of this Swahili coastline dates back over 2000 years to the days when Persian merchants controlled the gold trade. Historically this was an area rich with prawns and lobster, a doubtful involvement in the slave trade and ivory poaching and more recent dependence on salt mining

The National Park boasts herds of giraffe, elephants, buffalo, lion and leopard, bushbuck, wildebeest, baboons and monkeys, whilst the adjoining Wami River is home to increasing pods of hippopotomi and crocodiles, along with a quite astonishing variety of birdlife.

Di and I stayed for 2 nights at the Saadani River Lodge, and this was a treat not to be missed. The Lodge has 12 stilted luxurious suites, all with outdoor showers, linked to all areas of the camp via a long wooden platform high above the ground to keep you safe from the hippos and crocs. Rare Colobus monkeys and abundant birdlife can be seen from all areas of the cam. This is a true bird watchers paradise, with a quite astonishing variety of birds: kingfishers, bee-eaters, herons, lilac breasted rollers, cormorant, fish eagles, stork, ibis, egret, weaver birds, pelicans, african eagles, bateleur, sandpiper, plovers and curlew….our favourites were the bright yellow weaver birds popping out of their round nests all along the river, the beautiful mangrove and malachite kingfishers and the white fronted bee-eaters.

In spite of many other previous African experiences, this was a truly wonderful experience and something really special – not least that your game viewing is unhindered by any other vehicle so unlike most other areas of Africa. The variety of animals in the National Park and the bird life on the river, all enhanced by the spectacular light that shone over the plains and the water in the early morning and late afternoon sun, the delicious food and charming and knowledgeable staff, are all memories that will not fade away; we will return very soon.

To find out more about Tanzania, Zanzibar or Saadani please do visit the office or call us on 01428 648777

March 27, 2014

I was the kind of ‘mum to be’ who loved to travel, and thought that having a child would not stop me doing this. I know a lot of friends didn’t fall into the same category and the thought of travelling with a young child (or 2) filled them with terror. I actually found travelling with Jamie pretty easy once I got into the routine of it, and my little boy is now, at the tender age of 2, as much of a jet setter as his mum and dad, having been to at least 10 different countries and on too many flights to start to count (well over 100!).

So if you do fancy taking your little one abroad, why not. In my experience, a change of scene is often exciting for a little one, and they adapt amazingly well to time changes, and changes in routine for a holiday.

Here are my top 12 tips for travelling with a little one;

1. Deciding on where to go

Do you enjoy flying? If so, the world really is your oyster in terms of where to go. If not, I would recommend travelling on a short haul flight to minimise the extra stress on you from the flight. Young babies (those that can’t crawl) are pretty easy to take on a plane. Make sure you have something to give them for take off and landing – a breastfeed or a bottle, or some water to sip at and they will take the rest in their stride. You can carry any necessary feeds on the plane with you through security, just make sure you take an extra few in case of delays. Take a couple of toys, but most of the time other passengers, air crew or looking out the window will be enough to keep them happy through the flight. We took Jamie to Australia when he was 19 months old. The flight was actually not too bad, we had a number of toys, requested a bulk head seat so he had some room to play, had enough snacks and kept him napping when needed. It passed remarkably uneventfully, despite the worried looks of our fellow passengers when we first got on!

2. Flight timings

Think about the timing of your flights as best you can. Try not to have unnecessarily long layovers if you do not need them. Early morning flights might not be best for a toddler if you have to wake them at 3am to get them to the airport (but would be ok with a baby as they are likely to fall back asleep easier). Also consider your landing time. I try and time it so we can get to the hotel before bedtime (local time). Jamie often needs at least an hour to explore a new place before he will even consider going to bed. So if I have a choice, I will time it to land around 4pm local time to allow us to get our luggage and in the car to get to the hotel in time for bed at 7ish.

3. Take some familiar things

Take some familiar things from home to help your little one settle into a new place. We always take a duvet and pillow from Jamie’s cot, as well as him comforters when we travel. Especially if we are going to more than one place. The familiar smells and feel of home comforts may help them settle in an unfamiliar surrounding

4. Take things for the plane

Take a small backpack, or trunki, for your little one for the plane, whatever their age. For older children, squirrel away a toy somewhere they won’t find it before holidays, or buy them a new one, and some sticker books or aqua doodle and bring this out once the plane is in the air. The novelty will keep them entertained for a good while. An iPad has been our savior on long haul flights, loaded up with toddler friendly games and downloaded cartoons. Also pack lots of snacks, great for keeping little ones occupied in that annoying time when you are sat on the ground waiting to take off and nothing is happening. Raisins take time to eat but are small to pack, easy to hand and great to have a few stashed away for emergencies!

5. Which hotel to pick

Does the hotel you are staying in cater for young children? Do they have a bath in the room? Do they have a separate early dining option for younger guests? Can they provide high chairs? Some hotels are absolutely amazing at catering for babies, toddlers and children. This makes a huge difference to your holiday. I will never forget staying at The Four Seasons hotel in Boston when Jamie was 5 months old. I was expressing milk and needed somewhere to store it among other things. When we checked in, they offered us an upgrade so we could have more space for the cot in the room, the cot was already in the room with appropriate bedding and a welcome pack for Jamie that included baby bathing products, a few nappies, wipes, a book and a cuddly toy for him, a really nice touch. Minutes later, without even asking, the porter had brought up a fridge to the room. They didn’t know I needed this, but as the mini bar wasn’t a fridge, they had thought I might need one with a baby. It made the whole stay very memorable and very easy. Compare this with the Marriot in Sharm El Sheik, who put us in a room on the second floor with no lift access with Jamie at 4 months old. I had to bump Jamie up and down in the buggy every day to get anywhere, which wasn’t so easy (although if staff were around they were very helpful), but they didn’t have any available accessible rooms, despite knowing we had a baby with us. A travel agent will know the best hotels for small children, and often this can be worth it’s weight in gold to ask and recommend to you to make your holiday easy and stress free.

6. Enquire about hotel room configurations

If you are staying as a larger family in a hotel, what are the room configurations? Can you have interconnecting rooms, or rooms next to one another, or would a suite be better value for your family with some roll out beds?

7. Car Seats

Does your transfer from the airport offer a car seat appropriate for your child? When Jamie was a baby we often took his maxi-cosi seat with us, and the pram base. This provided his transport whilst we were on holiday, was pretty easy to carry around, but also safely mean we could take him in any car. Once he was in his toddler seat, this became more of a problem. But there are companies that offer transfers with toddlers or children who can supply car seats, it is worth looking these out as carrying a toddler seat as part of your luggage can be a pain as it is bulky and unwieldy to manage. If you do prefer to take your own however, there are car seat covers on wheels that can be used and are definitely a life saver for trying to get them through an airport with the rest of your luggage!

8. Kids clubs

Do you want somewhere with a kids club? A lot of hotels now offer kids clubs, although hours for this may vary. They are often run by British staff and will provide a great place for children to meet and play with others whilst giving you the time and space to relax completely on holiday as well. Bigger hotel chains, such as Radisson Blu often offer their own clubs, and family orientated holidays such as Mark Warner offer both summer and ski holidays with childcare options.

9. Babysitting services

If you don’t need a kids club during the day, do you want somewhere with a babysitting service for the evening. How will you eat dinner if you put your toddler to bed. Most of us don’t want to spend all of a 2 week holiday eating room service whilst our little ones sleep, with the lights and TV down low. It might be ok for 1 night stopover, but probably not relaxing for a 1-2 week holiday. Again big hotels will often have a link with an external agency they use for babysitters. These often need to be booked in advance so worth thinking about before the day you need them. Others have staff onsite who can babysit. When we stayed in Vanuatu, it was the women from the village over the road who babysat for us. They loved children, and were always waving and smiling at Jamie during the day. The hotel arranged them for us, and I had no worries about how they would cope should they need to do anything. When I looked like I was trying to explain what to do if Jamie woke up, they looked at me to say, we have lots and lots of children in the village and are very happy with them so please don’t worry. And I really didn’t. If you are going on holiday with a baby, you know them best. Do they sleep well in a buggy, through noise? If so the above might not matter. Jamie, once he got to sleep, stayed asleep through everything. We took him on a diving trip to Sharm at 4 months old, and the rest of the club thought we must have drugged him (we honestly didn’t!) as he was always asleep when they saw him. We took him out with us in the evening to the restaurants, we knew he would stay asleep and when he would likely wake for a feed, so could time dinner and drinks around this, allowing us both to go out and meet with our friends. We carried this on when we took him to the loudest Japanese restaurant I have ever been in in New York, the fellow diners did look at us as though we were crazy bringing a sleeping baby into the place, but when he slept through the entire meal and didn’t disturb anyone, they were much more accepting of our policy of bringing Jamie with us when he was younger!

10. Taking someone with you

Can you travel with family or friends who can give you a helping hand with the extra bits of luggage, or offer to help out for a few hours a day? Or if finances stretch, why not think about employing a nanny to take on holiday with you? This may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but this is your holiday as well. Having someone you trust and who is very happy with children can mean you can also do a few adult things on holiday as well. My husband and I enjoy scuba diving, and having someone with us allows us the flexibility to go to places we might not go otherwise, and do things together that we wouldn’t without someone else around. We have had holidays with parents, which can also allow you some flexibility to do these things, some by ourselves (we dived on separate days, which was fine but we didn’t have much time during the day together), and with a nanny. All can work really well, and means we can take Jamie to places that do not offer fixed childcare. There are specific agencies that cater just for holiday nannies, which we tend to use, so that you know you have someone who is used to travelling and also who is happy caring for your children in a foreign environment. We use www.mytravellingnanny.co.uk

11. Think apartments.

Some resorts offer apartment style accommodation as well as hotel rooms or otherwise look into short term apartment lets. We travelled for 6 weeks around Australia with Jamie when he was 19 months old. We travelled with another couple, so for us it was also more cost effective to book 2 bedroom apartments than stay in hotels. Even just having a small kitchenette means that you can have breakfast or other meals in your room more easily with a little one, and have a little bit more space rather than being all in one small bedroom for your whole holiday.

12. Do not overpack!

Ok, you do need to take more when taking a little one on holiday, and it doesn’t seem to matter if you are going for a weekend or a 6 week trip, the amount of luggage still seems to be the same (clothes take up very little space!). Although you don’t want to have to traipse to find the shops every day, most places have somewhere you can buy nappies, swim nappies, wipes, sunscreen and food for babies and toddlers. Ask your travel agent or hotel before you go as this can save a lot of room and weight on packing. Do you have access to a washing machine? This can save on packing enough clothes for a baby for 2 weeks….. Invest in some Milton sterilising tablets if you are taking baby bottles, you can usually ask for an ice bucket, or sterilise in your hotel room sink and therefore need to take a lot less bottes (which take up a lot of room in hand luggage!). Most places stock baby food/pouches so there is no need to take any more than you might need for the flight. Some hotels also offer a kids concierge service, that can provide you with all the bits and pieces you need waiting for you in your room when you arrive, it really is worth asking.

I hope you will find these helpful. A lot of the information has been gained from my personal experiences of travelling to many different places with Jamie, from 1^st world hotels to remote beach huts and both long and short haul destinations. If you would like to talk through any more tips and advice or to book a special family holiday, whether it be on or off the beaten track, why not give me a call on 0131 2370970 or drop me an email at [email protected], I’d be only too pleased to help.

December 13, 2013

IN SEARCH OF SURREY’S YOUNG SUPERSTARS!

This year we have joined together with top Surrey venue, the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre to organise the second Surrey Young Superstars Awards, which will include a new Courageous Superstar category, to spotlight the many achievements of young people in the county.

The ground-breaking awards, supported by Surrey Life and A+ magazine, as well as SATRO, also seek to raise awareness of Haslemere Travel’s chosen charity, Guildford-based Challengers, which provides inclusive play and leisure for disabled children and young people in Surrey.

Launched last year, the 2013 Surrey Young Superstars awards rewarded and showcased young people’s efforts and honoured them for their hard work and achievements in Surrey. The awards culminated in a glittering awards ceremony hosted by top comedian Rob Brydon.

The awards event for all 2014 prizewinners will take place on May 9th 2014 at Guildford’s Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Mill Studio. Award categories, include:

* Caring Superstar  * Volunteering Superstar  * Business Superstar
* Sporting Superstar  *Fundraising Superstar (5-12 years)
* Fundraising Superstar (13-19) * Courageous Superstar

The new category, Courageous Superstar, will seek to reward a young person who has overcome adversity, be that illness, disability or disadvantage, to achieve and exceed their goals with a positive and inspiring attitude on those around them.

Judged by the panel of organisers and sponsors, the winner of the top award, Superstar of the Year, will receive four tickets to the popular Yvonne Arnaud Christmas pantomime in 2014, in addition to an award trophy and certificate.

“These awards will once again seek to be a wonderful showcase for young people in Surrey, to demonstrate their ambition and be honoured for their bravery and hard work,” said Gemma Antrobus, managing director of Haslemere Travel.

Madeleine Coleman, Funding Executive at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre said: “We are delighted to be a partner with Haslemere Travel for the Surrey Young Superstars event. To acknowledge and reward young people for their kind acts of volunteering, fundraising and charity initiatives in the local community is very important to the Theatre.”

Awards nomination forms : SYS 2014 Info & SYS 2014 Entry Criteria

The entry date has now passed and judging has taken place. We look forward to seeing the winners at the awards ceremony in May 2014.

October 11, 2013

Having visited Marrakech in Morrocco on a number of occasions, Gemma was delighted to have the opportunity to visit Morocco’s third largest city, Fez, in late September.

Fez at night

Fez is an exceptionally traditional city and whilst it welcomes tourists and visitors with open arms it does not compromise on its traditional heritage and culture.

The city has two old medinas, the larger of the which is Fes el Baliand and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With over 9000 streets, it is believed to be one of the world’s largest car-free urban areas. Al-Qarawiyyin, founded in AD 859, is the oldest continuously functioning madrasa in the world. The city has been called the “Mecca of the West” and the “Athens of Africa”.

Fez medina When visiting Fez you must take a guided walking tour around the medina where you can wander with the local people many of whom are buying their meat and vegetables in the market. Others are making their way to places of worship for prayer time and others just passing them time and relaxing outside their humble homes.

Shopping for traditional Moroccan crafts is exciting. You will not find shops or souks selling tourist trinkets, instead women weave elaborate carpets by hand, men stand behind huge looms, creating wondrous fabrics, materials are dyed in large vats in the street and down every tiny alleyway you will find lanterns and brass wear of all shapes and sizes.

This imperial city of Fez is the capital of traditional Moroccan culture. A cradle of knowledge, for which its superb medersas are a flamboyant symbol. A medersa is a school where the Koran is taught along with all the classic subject of learning: mathematics, grammar, history, astronomy, medicine… In Morocco, and especially in Fès, medersas have the important role of integrating students from other regions. Generally they are built around a central courtyard with a fountain. Classes are held under the sumptuous arcades bordering it. Many are still active, but it is a wonderful experience to visit some of the fabulous buildings now standing vacant.

The al-Karaouine mosque was founded by Fatima al-Fihri in 859 with an associated school (Medersa), which subsequently became one of the leading spiritual and educational centers of the historic Muslim world. It was incorporated into Morocco’s modern state university system in 1963 and is the oldest existing and continually operating educational institution in the world according to UNESCO and Guinness World Records. The mosque can accommodate 22,000 worshipers and is recognised as the largest in Africa.

The gorgeous Riad Fes (a member of Relais & Chateaux) was Gemma’s home for four days. Situated within the walls of the medina, the 30 room property is made up of 5 Riad’s joined together, all providing their own unique marbled and mosaic interiors. A wealth of art, artefacts and antiques adorn the Riad and each bedroom has its own individual charm and decor.

Gastronomy is at the heart of the Riad and 3 night Gourmet packages are offered as well as individual Moroccan cooking classes. Guests join the chef for a shopping trip to the souk where they purchase the fresh ingredients for their meal and then spend a few hours in the main kitchen preparing a starter, main course and dessert. Gemma and her family enjoyed making their evening meal and had lots of fun learning the various techniques used in the preparation of traditional Moroccan fare.

After a hard days shopping in the souk and cooking in the kitchen, why not indulge yourself with a Hammam and massage at Riad Fez luxurious spa? Or sip on a cocktail whilst relaxing by the pool. The peace and tranquility is astounding, especially considering you are in the heart of a medina with 9,000 streets.

Fez truly does take you on a journey back in time and is perfect for a long weekend or as part of a larger tour of Morocco, also staying in Casablanca, Rabat and Marrakech.

For further details, or to plan your own unique adventure in Fez, please do not hesitate to contact us on 01428 658777.

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