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Archives for June 2020

We chose Budapest for it's gothic architecture, and to experience new cultures and foods, which Budapest has plenty of.

By Sophie Ives

Why Budapest? 
We primarily chose Budapest as our destination for a variety of reasons. At the top of the list was for the city’s gothic architecture. We also both enjoy experiencing new cultures and new foods, something we heard Budapest had plenty of.

When to Visit?
We travelled in March. The weather was comfortable and warm, and we could get away with just wearing light jackets during the day. The temperature cooled at night but was never freezing. I would suggest visiting in the early spring months as the city was quiet.

How long to stay?
Our trip was for four days and we found this plentiful to see all the sights we were interested in and experience the city to its fullest. You could stay an extra day or longer, if you wanted to take it slower. With a strict itinerary you might even manage it in 3 days.

Getting around
Day to day exploring we did on foot, and it really allowed us to experience the city fully and find little gems hidden away. I recommend getting a local taxi to and from the airport, the prices are low and the airport itself is situated about half an hour outside of the city.

Our Highlights

Széchenyi Thermal Baths
The thermal baths were a definite highlight of from our trip, with 18 separate medicinal hot spring baths and 10 saunas it was hard to come away not relaxed. We did this towards the end of our trip and it certainly helped with some aching muscles! For the whole day it cost around 6800 HUF, the equivalent of about £18.

Shoes at the Danube
I feel that this is an important monument to see. It marks a spot where in 1944 during the second world war, Jewish nationals were executed by fascist militiamen on the bank of the Danube River. Cast iron moulds were placed where said Jewish nationals stood in 2005. There are many attractions around the city to visit in relation to this period of history such as memorials and the Holocaust Memorial Centre.

Labyrinth
For the minds of the more macabre, I highly recommend the Labyrinth that is situated at the top of Budapest, underneath Buda Castle. To get there the best mode of transport would be the tram, not only is it a fun, interesting way to get you up the cliff, but you get amazing views over the city as you go. The Labyrinth is an underground cave of tunnels and rooms and is supposedly where Dracula was imprisoned and tortured. It is dark and mysterious down there and special effects are used (fog machines and audio sound) so a phone torch will come in handy!

Food and Drink:
The food also didn’t disappoint. I would highly recommend indulging in the city’s traditional foods such as Goulash and Chimney cake. For decent prices and overall quality, you should research and look for small, local run restaurants and street stalls for the best experience.
For a slightly more upmarket meal, the Robinson Restaurant in the City Park is definitely worth a visit. The pricing is moderate, but the food is worth the slightly higher bill. One of the favourite things that we did was sitting outside next to the riverbank at the Anonymous Restaurant (situated next to Vajdahunyad Castle) and enjoy a glass of Hungary’s popular beer, Dreher.

Call us on 020 3092 1288 or email [email protected] to enquire about your own Hungarian adventure today! Don’t forget, book with Charitable Travel and 5% of your holiday price is donated to charity! Read more here.

By Antoaneta Blagoeva

Why Vienna?
We decided to travel to Vienna for a few reasons including its central location in Europe, which allows us to experience Central Europe’s beauty and culture at its finest. One of the main reasons we visited Vienna is because the capital was awarded in 2017 as the city with the highest quality of living. They have received that award for the eighth time in a row at that time. Vienna offers your usual urban flair, but it also gives you many opportunities to connect with nature by visiting the countless parks and recreational grounds. More than half the metropolitan area is green spaces and there are 280 imperial parks and gardens altogether gracing the cityscape. In addition to its luscious greenery, Vienna is home to some of the most beautiful historic buildings I have seen. In one city you will be witness to the brilliance of Art Nouveau, Gothic and Baroque style.

Best Time to Visit
As much as I love sunny and warm weather, I wouldn’t recommend visiting Vienna in June, July or August since some days were unbearable to walk around the city because of the hot weather. I believe the best time to visit is from September to October or April to May.

How Long to Visit for
Our trip was five nights and I think that is more than enough to explore the capital. I am certain with good organisation and itinerary, you can see the brilliance of the capital within a 4-day trip.

How to Get Around
One of the biggest advantages of Vienna is that it offers so much choice when it comes to public transportation. The capital has tram and subway lines that can take you to any of the tourist attractions. We tried both but preferred the subway since it would get too hot on tram with so many people crammed in the summer. However, on most days we would even walk to most places since our hotel was located close to the town centre.

My Vienna Highlights

Belvedere Palace
This is probably my favourite attraction in Vienna. It is a historic building complex consisting of two Baroque palaces – Upper and Lower Belvedere, the Orangery and the Palace Stables. The complex is set on the south-eastern edge of the city centre and was built with the sole purpose of being Prince Eugene of Savoy’s summer residence. It is so grand and magnificent, the grounds are set on a gentle gradient and adorned by tiered fountains, cascades, gardens and Baroque sculptures. We spend almost a whole day exploring the separate buildings, one of which included an art collection of the famous artist Gustav Klimt, and having a mini picnic near one of the fountains.

Hundertwasser House
The artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser believed in free architecture without specifications and straight lines. His vision has contributed to many buildings’ design and one of them is the splendid Hundertwasser House. I was in awe of this weird yet beautiful piece of art. I highly recommend it anyone visiting Vienna since you will probably not see anything like it anywhere else. Unfortunately, the attraction cannot be reached by subway but there is a tram stop very close by.

Hofburg
The Hofburg is located at the Heldenplatz and is rich of bourgeois history. The name Heldenplatz comes from the two majestic horseman monuments, one represents Erzherzog Karl and the other – Eugen von Savoyen. From the 13th century until 1918, the Hofburg palace was the main residence of the Habsburger, who were the emperor family in Vienna.  Since its initial construction in the 13th century, the palace has expanded into multiple attached buildings, which creates some form of a maze when you first enter. Currently the Hofburg is home to the Austrian Federal President and the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe.

Parliament Vienna
It is no surprise that this splendour building is at the top of my favourite things to see in Vienna. The building is so grand since it expands to 151 m long and 132 m wide and the biggest room, the pillars hall, is 1000 m2. At the time of construction, the Parliament is estimated to have cost 200 million Euro to build. As grand as the inside of the building is, the thing that caught my eye is the magnificent statue of Pallas Athene, which is located at the front of the Parliament in the middle of a fountain. Pallas Athene is the goddess of wisdom and in her right hand she holds a small figure of Nike, the goddess of victory, and in her left – a spear.

 

Charitable Travel donated £10 to Hope Against Cancer, in thanks for this blog post as per Antoaneta’s request.

Our founder and CEO, Melissa Tilling appears in TTG this week with a guest article!

You can read the article here!

By Robin Searle

Water aid charity Just a Drop and social enterprise Charitable Travel have extended the deadline for people to take part in the Just a Drop Dash – a fundraising initiative launched in partnership with Wendy Wu Tours.

The Just a Drop Dash encourages participants to run, walk, ramble or hop 100km – the same distance as a popular hiking route from Banteay Srei into the Phnom Kulen National Park in Cambodia, finishing at Angkor Wat.

Those who take part before August 31 and raise a minimum of £100 will be entered into a draw to win a holiday for two to Cambodia and Vietnam, courtesy of Charitable Travel and Wendy Wu Tours. Every additional £100 raised through JustGiving pages will qualify for an extra entry into the prize draw.

Read the full article on Travel Weekly here, or to read more about the Just a Drop Dash and Charitable Travel 100k Challenge, click here!

By Juliet Dennis

The Pacfic Asia Travel Association (Pata) UK & Ireland plans to target further expansion as it announces three new members.

The UK & Ireland arm of the association has announced the addition of new social enterprise and travel agency Charitable Travel; luxury hotel group Santrian Resorts and Villas in Indonesia; and Cape Panwa Hotel Phuket, Thailand. It now has 26 members.

UK & Ireland chairman Chris Crampton said: “We are delighted to welcome new members, especially during these uncertain times.

Read the full article in Travel Weekly here!

by Sophie Short.

A new type of travel business has launched – Charitable Travel is a social enterprise with the clear aim of ensuring travel is a force for good, helping holidaymakers combine their travel planning with support for charities in the UK and around the world.

Charitable Travel has a unique business model; the first nationally available Community Interest Company (CIC) social enterprise in the travel industry, it is a not-for-private-profit travel agency, which provides customers with the opportunity to book a holiday to anywhere in the world and donate a proportion of the holiday price to a UK registered charity of their choice through a platform partnership with JustGiving.

The concept is simple, Charitable Travel sacrifices travel agency commission. Therefore, when customers book a cruise or a holiday, they convert 5% of the total price of their trip into a donation to a charity of their choice through the dedicated JustGiving webpage. Empowering customers to share the pleasure that a holiday brings by supporting local communities both at home and abroad.

Read the full article on Social Enterprise Mark here!

The Black Travel Alliance is calling on travel brands and destinations to show support for Black Lives Matter beyond social media and work towards meaningful representation of Black voices.
 
As a 21st Century social enterprise we pledge to continue ensuring Charitable Travel is a diverse and accepting place of work. Alongside our ongoing effort to ensure our management and team and our marketing materials reflects that of the diverse UK community, our unique business model puts us in an ideal position to help BAME-beneficial charities, as well as charities that provide support and care to other marginalised groups within the UK.
 
When you book a holiday with Charitable Travel you can make a 5% donation to a charity of your choice through our dedicated @JustGiving website. Once you’ve done this, we discount your holiday price by 5% so your holiday and the donation combined hasn’t cost you anymore.
 
Our goal, through our unique method as a social enterprise travel agency, is to raise as much money as possible for as many charities as possible while helping our customers to have a much-needed holiday at the same time.
 
 
To talk to us about a partnership please email help@charitable.travel
 
To make a booking please email bookings@charitable.travel or call 020 3092 1288
 

“Malta seemed the perfect choice. Although I’d never been to the island before, I’d read an epic account of the siege of Malta in 1565 by Ottoman Turks.”

By Malcolm Davies

Why Malta? 

Where to go to celebrate a March birthday? With that question in mind I was looking for a quick and easy long weekend away, but also wanted to see some sun at the end of a gloomy UK winter. Malta seemed the perfect choice. Although I’d never been to the island before, I’d read an epic account of the siege of Malta in 1565 by Ottoman Turks as well as the inspiring story of Faith, Hope and Charity, three Gladiator biplanes which were for a time the sole aircraft defending the island during World War II. Knowing that these gripping historical dramas had played out on such a small Mediterranean island had definitely put Malta onto my destination wishlist and now was my chance.

Best Time to Visit

I visited in March which is a great time for warmer winter temperatures than home, but in fact Malta can be a year-round destination weather-wise. Winter is also a great time for off-season hotel rates, less crowds and even cheaper local bus fares, but if you want to include some beach time into your visit the Mediterranean starts warming up from late April onwards, and Malta boasts some very good beaches as well as the tempting turquoise waters of its famous Blue Lagoon.

How to get around

Malta and neighbouring Gozo are just small islands and the bus service will get you most everywhere. A flat fare or pass allows changes between routes too, so all is very convenient for the visitor. However, if you’re travelling with the family or in a group car rental may be a better option, but check that your accommodation offers parking arrangements. There’s also a great ferry service across the harbours, making visits to Valletta very practical if staying across the water from the capital.

My Malta Highlights

Valletta

The fortified Maltese capital of Valletta is a joy to wander and explore. This walled city was built on a peninsula by the Knights of St. John in the 1500’s, and we started our visit by following the walls around taking in the many fortresses, bastions and the sweeping views of the Grand Harbour. The Upper and Lower Barrakka Gardens are peaceful havens along the way where you can take a break from walking and enjoy a coffee under the trees.

St. John’s Co-Cathedral

I knew that religion played a big part in Malta’s history, but its simple exterior had not prepared me for the masterpiece of Baroque art which this cathedral contains within. Its richly decorated walls and soaring ceilings are a true wonder to see, and if you’re into art Caravaggio’s stunning masterpiece ‘The Beheading of St. John the Baptist’ is on display in the museum.

Fort St. Elmo and National War Museum

Being a history-buff I loved visiting this famous Valletta fort. Built by the Knights Hospitaller in its strategic position overlooking the entrances to both Valletta’s harbours, the Fort played a pivotal part in the island’s survival of the Turkish siege in 1565. Now beautifully restored, the fort is also home to the National War Museum which has a lot of great stories to tell from the many battles that have been fought over the island during the centuries. Also, if you make it here on a Sunday morning, there’s usually a colourful reenactment parade of the Knight’s Hospitaller processions.

The Siege Bell

I was very impressed by the Siege Bell War Memorial in Valletta not just for the history it commemorates, but for its commanding position overlooking the Grand Harbour entrance. This monument was inaugurated in 1992 on the 50th anniversary of the awarding of the George Cross of Bravery to the people of Malta. But you’ll need to cover your ears if you’re visiting at Noon when they ring the giant bell!

Mdina

If you’re looking for a trip out from Valletta, I can highly recommend the fortified town of Mdina set on a hilltop just 30 minutes bus ride away. It’s a small place filled with old sandstone buildings, leafy squares and churches, and after walking its bastion walls and exploring its narrow twisting streets it’s easy to find a coffee or lunch spot at one of the many cafes. This town is also known as ‘The Silent City’, and if you visit in the evening after most visitors have left you’ll have the place pretty much to yourself.

We’ve been featured in the Telegraph! Click the link below to read the full article!

Launching a business is a tricky process. It is not just a case of knowing your market, but also knowing the moment to unleash your plan on the public. When is the right time, and when is wrong? Many – even without a degree in economics – would say that setting up a travel project when a virus has shut down the planet probably comes under “wrong time”.

“Yes, some people have said to me, ‘what are you doing launching in the middle of a pandemic?’,” Melissa Tilling laughs. “I suppose it’s a good question – but, well, I think this is exactly the time that we should be launching. There might not be very much demand for travel right now, but we are going to be ready when the resurgence occurs. Not just to sell travel, but to help charities that have probably never needed help more.

Link to article on The Telegraph website here.

By Malcolm Davies

Why Albania? 

Albania was under a harsh communist dictatorship for decades with its borders firmly closed to foreign tourists. I remember years ago being close to its northern border on a beach in neighbouring Montenegro and being warned not to swim too close as the Albanian border guards were apt to fire warning shots at swimmers!  Perhaps as a place so ‘forbidden’ it piqued my interest to see behind its veil, and now that the country has fully opened up, I was more than ready to visit. But despite the easy flight links, Albania is still very much undiscovered by mainstream travellers, but if like me you choose to visit, you’ll find a wealth of natural beauty, historic cities, friendly, welcoming locals, and a land that’s easy to travel round with a little planning. 

 Best Time to Visit 

I’d recommend April to October as the ideal time, but try to avoid the late July and August peak period when expat Albanians return for their summer holidays filling most of the available hotel space. 

How long to visit? 

My 10-day visit was ample for an itinerary taking in the capital Tirana and the highlights of Southern Albania. 14 days would allow you to cover the mountainous Northern region too, or for a short break Tirana can be easily combined with the coastal city of Durres for some days by the sea. 

 How to get around 

I’d recommend hiring a car at Tirana. It’s inexpensive and the roads are good in general although there are some rougher tracks in the mountain areas. Look out for the old bunkers from the Cold War era that pockmark the landscape. 

 

My Albania Highlights 

Tirana 

Fast metamorphosing from a communist concrete jungle to a colourful bustling metropolis, Tirana makes a convenient first stop for most. Right from the start I was impressed by the expanse of Skanderbeg Square right in the heart of the city, and for a great view I climbed up to the small clock tower’s balcony at the corner. On the opposite side of the square is the National History Museum with a striking communist-era mural on its facade, and just a short walk away I found the first of the city’s two art galleries housed in former military bunkers. Known as Bunk’Art 1&2, these massive Cold War era underground structures were built for Albania’s political elite, but now showcase exhibitions of contemporary art but also tell the story of the country’s modern history. 

Berat 

Albania was ruled by the Ottoman Empire for centuries, and I’d read that the best place to see a perfectly preserved Ottoman town is at Berat, 97km south of Tirana. Known as the ‘City of a Thousand Windows’ for its hundreds of white Ottoman style houses with their many windows, this is a great place to wander its historic lanes that wind up to a 14th century castle overlooking the town and the river below. 

 Gjirokastra 

Still further to the south, the mountain town of Gjirokastra is another fine example of Ottoman architecture, and boasts even more castles, mosques and grand Ottoman mansions to discover. It’s a rewarding walk up to the dominating castle for the views of the town and also the valley floor. 

 Saranda 

I wanted to include a seaside stay as a stop on my Albanian travels, and made the right choice with the small coastal town of Saranda on its southern coast. There are plenty of sandy beaches to choose from as well as a good choice of small restaurants and a traditional promenade for a stroll. Just nearby are the natural crystal-clear water springs of the Blue Eye as well as the ancient Greek/Roman ruins of Butrint – both making ideal day trips out from Saranda. 

 The Albanian Riviera 

The coastline between Saranda and Vlore has been dubbed the ‘Albanian Riviera’, but despite the touristy name this rugged coastline is really worth exploring. Driving along its winding coastal road I discovered traditional villages along the way perched high above golden beaches, and at its northern end traversed the high zigzag Llogaraja Pass. Looking more daunting driving than it actually is, you’ll have fantastic views of the Ionian Sea along the way. 

If you would love to experience Malcolm and John’s Albania or book a different trip please contact Charitable Travel on 020 3092 1288 

Charitable Travel’s founder, Melissa Tilling’s interview with Women In Travel CIC for their segment, Inspirational Women In Travel.

This week for our Inspirational Women In Travel blog, we sat down to chat with Founder and CEO of Charitable Travel, Melissa Tilling. We wanted to get to know her, and understand the steps she has taken to be successful. Take a look at what she had to say!

1. What inspired you to work in the travel industry?

At school I wanted to be a teacher, architect or maybe an astronaut but the thought of the travel industry never crossed my mind, even at 16 years old when I went on my first holiday to Spain without my parents.

2. How did you begin working in the travel industry and what was your first role?

Having studied computer science and explored for a while on a sailing boat I ‘fell into travel’ applying for a temporary job, joined Intasun Holidays in 1987 selling holiday flight seats, and never looked back!

3. How did you get to where you are in your career today?

In general being in the right place at the right time – so maybe luck, but also making my own luck being powered along by an unwavering tenacity, a capacity for far too much hard work, saying ‘I can’ rather than ‘Can I’? getting involved and being thirsty to learn and a love of making something out of nothing.

4. What is your most memorable moment creating Charitable Travel?

That eureka moment in September last year when I finally joined all the dots in my thinking to create a unique model of social enterprise and giving that coupled travel and tourism with the ability to support myriad great causes.

5. You launched your new business in the middle of a pandemic, what drove you to do that?

I launched at probably the worst time our industry has ever seen driven by an unshakeable need to be ready deliver our social purpose, to help charities fundraise by capitalising on the undoubted post-lock-down bounce-back in travel demand when our unique method of customers giving at no extra cost when they book travel.

6. What has been the biggest challenge you’ve encountered with the creation of Charitable Travel, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge has been to launch a social enterprise of such complexity whilst ensuring it appears an effortless experience to customers and partners, with limited budget, drawing together a preparedness by business partners to join me in innovation for the sake of altruism.

7. Describe a typical day at work in 100 words?

At my desk by 7.30am because early is when I do my best work. Agreeing with the team the needs of the day. Drinking too much black coffee. Persuading my cats not to walk on my keyboard. Meeting charity and tourism partners and the media, these days by Zoom, to agree activity and action plans. Implementing our promotions and being all over social media driving home the message.

8. Which qualities were most important to you as a leader in pursuing this project?

Humility – no one owes us anything and we need to earn commitment, self-awareness – to know when I’m being too demanding, communication – at every encounter listen then speak then listen again; and realise the power and the danger of the written word especially on email; humour – laughing at myself and taking the joy from every moment; and tenacity – by the bucket load.

9. What would you say to aspiring women travel entrepreneurs?

Back yourself, you know you have reserves of strength and determination even when you feel weak. Be crystal clear about your vision, write it down and revisit that, and let that vision drive you forward BUT listen, remain humble, communicate, ask for help, learn and be prepared to evolve to maximise on new information and a changing environment.

10. What is your vision for the future of travel and tourism?

I believe the industry will evolve and become ever more thoughtful about the destinations, people and environment we depend on for our wanderlust. We are at a transitional time where the quest for holiday gratification at any expense will be overtaken by questioning the sustainability of the travel product we are both selling and buying and this will shape our choices.

11. How do you relax when not working?

I used to travel travel and travel again, now I am happy pottering about at home with not much to do. Loving my cats, holding my friends and family dear and experiencing that lifelong rollercoaster relationship with fitness and food, always trying to do better. Oh, I do like to strum a guitar now and again and have country music as a guilty pleasure.

To read the article on the Women In Travel website, click here.

Social Enterprise Travel Company Launches During Pride Month

A new type of travel business has officially launched during Pride Month – Charitable Travel is a social enterprise with the clear message that travel is a force for good. The unique business model is the first of its kind in the UK and is also the first to be operated by an openly transgender CEO.

Melissa Tilling, founder, and CEO of Charitable Travel, has enjoyed a 33-year career managing travel companies. Having transitioned in 2008 whilst a director of leading tour operator, Funway Holidays, Melissa is proof that being transgendered does not have to be a barrier and that a successful career is still possible.

Melissa Tilling commented “For me, Pride Month 2020 – when the parades are silenced by ‘lockdown’ – is a further chance to reflect, steel our determination and advance the acceptance and celebration of human diversity by standing up or ‘taking the knee’ to be counted.”

Tilling continued “Social enterprise Charitable Travel lends our support to charities doing great work fighting discrimination and supporting those oppressed. If you book your trip with Charitable Travel 5% of your holiday price can be donated to the charity of your choice at no extra cost, and there are so many great LGBT+ and human rights causes to help.”

Charitable Travel work with charities to fundraise by turning the holidays the charity supporter book in everyday life into valuable donations for the charity partner.

From upmarket, glamorous resort holidays to intimate LGBT+ friendly boutique properties around the world, Charitable Travel takes pride in helping the LGBT+ community with their travel plans and can create perfect, tailor-made holidays for all expectations and budgets. By doing so, travellers can proudly combine their domestic or overseas holiday planning with donating to a UK registered charity of their choice through a platform partnership with JustGiving.

“We applaud Charitable Travel for their launch and for their positive ethos. We greatly look forward to welcoming LGBT+ travellers visiting us through this travel social enterprise where they can combine their trip with charitable giving,” says Richard Gray, Senior Vice President of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Greater Fort Lauderdale is the LGBT+ capital of Florida and is one of the most progressive destinations in the US. We celebrate diversity and inclusion, each and every day, and we are proud to work with Charitable Travel – an esteemed travel partner who shares that same enthusiasm and warm embrace for our LGBT+ travellers.”

The ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, reflecting the human rights of LGBT+ people in Europe, has voted Malta the most LGBT+ friendly destination for five consecutive years. Natalie Swinburne, Trade Marketing Manager commented “Charitable Travel is admirable in helping customers support their favourite charity by simply making a booking. We would also like to congratulate the social enterprise for focusing on acceptance for Pride Month as this is greatly important to us. Malta has recently ranked 1st on the ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map for the fifth consecutive year and booking a trip to Malta offers the LGBT+ community the freedom to relax whilst feeling safe.”