The founder and CEO of Charitable Travel, Melissa Tilling, speaks to Truth Behind Travel Podcast host Dolores Semeraro about what encouraged her to launch a travel agency during the pandemic and why the timing couldn’t have been more perfect for Charitable Travel to be successful.
If you are not a beach person or a skier, where do you go in the winter if you are not attracted to the Canaries, The Middle East, the Maldives or the Alps? I have a great suggestion for those of you missing the freedom to explore the great outdoors.
Did you know that many parts of Arizona remain warm and sunny throughout the winter?
Yuma is known for its 310 sunny days a year, historic sites and thriving agriculture. Take a walk back in time by wandering through Castle Dome ghost town, then observe the multi-coloured fluorescent mineral wall inside the Hull Mine. Then there’s the Arizona Peace Trail which is a 750-mile loop trail system that provides spectacular views.
Sierra Vista is an ideal vacation spot for those that want to explore wildlife, particularly birds, international cuisine and the night sky. Nicknamed the hummingbird Capital of the US, Sierra Vista’s San Pedro National Riparian Conservation area boasts more than “300 species of birds” that had the same idea of migrating to Arizona to escape the cold!
Ajo offers a Sonoran Desert experience without the crowds. Once a former mining town, it is now built around nature and art. Explore the nature that surrounds Ajo on the mountain biking trails that weave through the Sonoran Desert. Metro Phoenix, aka the Valley of the Sun, is a paradise to experience in the winter due to its lively downtown, abundance of outdoor activities and mild weather.
You can have a “beach” day even in the winter by kayaking, canoeing, water skiing, wakeboarding and wake surfing in Lake Havasu. At Saguaro National Park, nature lovers can participate in many outdoor recreational activities including hiking, cycling, horseback riding, and camping.
Arizona has a plethora of luxury spa and golfing resorts, many centred around Scottsdale with names you will recognise, such as Four Seasons, Waldorf Astoria and Royal Palms.
Inspired and ready to book your luxury getaway? Lizzi’s luxury offer this week is a 13 night luxury stay in the Caribbean.
Enjoy a 14 night luxury self driving trip in Arizona from £4,859pp! Discover the wonders of Arizona on this two week self driving trip with incredible excursions including horse riding, hot air ballons, hiking and so much more. Includes return flights, car hire with a GPS, accommodation throughout your stay, ATOL protection, and a free £486 donation to the charity of your choice! Find out more here.
So, no need to pack the T-shirts and shorts away after all. Contact me for more information about a winter break in Arizona.
Feeling inspired? Book your next getaway now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream sailing expedition!
The founder and CEO of Charitable Travel, has been named one of three ‘Travel Heroes’ by Priority Pass, in their 30th anniversary celebrations!
“Each of our travel heroes has been recognised on their own merit for their outstanding contributions to the world of travel. When turning 30, we wanted to share our celebrations with our clients, partners and staff, but also a select group of individuals who have gone above and beyond to help the travel industry recover, be more accessible and be a force for good. The future of travel depends on collaboration and working through challenges as a collective, and Priority Pass remains committed to delivering seamless, premium airport experiences that allow travellers to love the whole journey.”
For those of you with good sea legs, I’m focusing on boats and ships this week. There are many ways to travel on the water, from giant cruise ships as big as small towns to magnificent sailing vessels, river cruises and expedition ships. Here are a few ideas:
If it’s an all-inclusive ship you’re after but don’t want climbing walls and kid’s clubs, I recommend the following cruise lines: Silversea cruises, Azamara, and Regent Seven Seas. Expect opulent cabins, the finest dining, spas, and luxurious toiletries. These days, around 500 passenger capacity is considered a small ship! Which ship you choose is important, so please ask me to help you find the right one for you.
Then there are large “yachts” as opposed to ships. SeaDream Yacht Club has much smaller vessels, with up to 56 couples on board. The relaxed ambience and highly personalised service, 5* gourmet al fresco dining will appeal to clients who like boutique hotels.
I’ve never actually experienced one of the great sailing yachts, but I’d like to. Star Clippers offers a real adventure on ships with 56000 feet of billowing sails. Best for people who love sailing, their Royal Clipper carries 227 “sailors” and is big enough to house three pools and all manner of creature comforts. Their Royal Clipper is the world’s biggest and most beautiful square-rigged ship.
For would be sailors who don’t know their starboard from their aft, it is also possible to hire a yacht to sail around the Caribbean or the Greek Islands. Luxury yachts come with a skipper, cook, and staff, too!
For the adventurous, the other option is an expedition ship. These are not cruise ships, but luxurious expedition ships that are small enough to go where the larger vessels cannot. They have floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views and you will be educated on board by naturalists and local experts. Aurora Expeditions offers life changing small-ship expeditions to Greenland, Iceland, Norway and its islands Svalbard and Jan Mayen, the Northwest Passage, the British Isles, Patagonia and Costa Rica. With an average of just 132 passengers, your shore excursions will allow you to have quality time to connect with nature.
Last but not least, I should mention River Cruises. Closer to home, there are fabulously relaxing voyages along the great rivers of Europe, such as the Danube and the Rhine. More than ever here, it is important to pick the right vessel, so please ask me which ones have been popular with my luxury clients. Further afield, there are wonderful epic journeys along the Mekong River in Vietnam and the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar, just to name a few.
Inspired and ready to book your luxury getaway? Lizzi’s luxury offer this week is a 13 night luxury stay in the Caribbean.
Enjoy a 13 night luxury stay in the Caribbean from £7,995pp! Enjoy the best of the Caribbean with 3 night stays at 5* hotels in Barbados and Antigua, along with an all-inclusive 7 night cruise onboard the luxurious SeaDream II Yacht. Includes return flights and transfers, B&B 5* stays in Antigua and Barbados, a luxurious 7 night cruise, ATOL protection, and a free £800 donation to the charity of your choice! Find out more here.
So, shipmates, if any of the above appeal to you, start practising your knots and contact me to arrange your next voyage!
Feeling inspired? Book your next luxury cruise now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream sailing expedition!
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