With just one more sleep to go…your first Christmas gift is here early! In this final 2023 edition of the Charitable Traveller Report, you’ll find the 20th edition of Charitable Traveller Magazine with fantastic articles, unbelievable travel deals, and a recap of how you made a difference this year!
P.S. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for your daily dose of travel inspiration!
I’d love to explore more of northern Europe this summer with my family as a change from heading to the Med – I was thinking we could get the Eurostar then pick up a hire car and head to perhaps the coast of Holland and Germany, but I don’t really know where to begin. What would you suggest? We’re a fairly active family with two young teens.
Alternatively, you can travel by train and really relax. The coastal towns of Scheveningen (accessed via The Hague by train) and Noordwijk (via Leiden by train) are perfect for a few days of cycling and water sports suitable for your young teens. Next, head towards Germany’s North Sea coast, driving or by train to Hamburg, Germany and onwards from there. Spend several days exploring the Frisian Islands, an archipelago that runs along the coast of the Netherlands, Germany and into Denmark, including the picturesque Sylt, known for its sandy beaches and thatched houses. Here, you can indulge in hiking, beach activities and experiencing the unique island culture. They’re a little challenging to visit by public transport, but it’s possible by bus and ferry, from ports such as Norddeich or Dagebüll. Whether you drive or take the train finish your trip with a few days in Hamburg, a city teeming with maritime history and attractions.
Let a travel agent help you with the planning, hotels, car rental and rail too because you’ll have the accountability and support that a travel professional can provide.
This is a feature from Issue 20 of Charitable Traveller.
Click to read more from this issue, or more from Ask the Expert
As soon as the festive season is over, the TV ads start encouraging people to book their annual holidays. So far, so good. I would also urge you to book early and pay a deposit to secure your 2024 holidays. But if this is all feeling a bit deja vu, here are a few ideas to get you excited about travelling again, about looking forward to a new adventure, somewhere different.
January is always a bit flat. How about heading to the Hagar Mountains in Ras Al Khaimah? This tiny emirate, about 45 minutes from Dubai, will surprise you. With five-star hotels and white sand beaches it is already a winner, but add a 1.75-mile zip line, a balloon flight over the mountains, a thrilling toboggan ride, nature reserves and excellent food and you can see why this is a great choice.
Does anyone like February, arguably the gloomiest month? You could escape to the Caribbean! But try a different island, like Dominica, with its vast rainforest, lakes, waterfalls, and fabulous hotels such as Secret Bay and Jungle Bay. Lots of great hiking and plenty of historical sites if you get tired of the beach! Wonderful seafood too.
March sometimes brings a promise of Spring, but in recent years we’ve had to wait a bit longer for the winter to end. So, you may be longing for sunshine by now. How about Cape Verde? This group of islands is only a few hours away by plane, but it has sunshine when we do not, and it now has some excellent hotels. I particularly like the traditional Hotel Morabeza, but to mention a few others, there is the adults-only Hotel Riu Cabo Verde and the Hotel Riu Palace Santa Maria.
By April, many people make the mistake of thinking that Greece, Cyprus and Croatia are hot, but you should really wait till next month if you like to bake in the sun. However, if you want to explore, hike, and see some amazing scenery, how about the Azores? Still very unspoilt, this group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean is perfect for island hopping, free diving, waterfalls, taking in the thermal waters and volcanic lakes and whale watching. It is easy to get around by car and a paradise for nature lovers.
May can be great in the UK so sunshine may not need to be a priority. How about soaking up some history and culture before the crowds arrive? I’d recommend a three-centre tour of Seville, Córdoba and Granada. Words cannot describe the beauty of the Alcazar in Seville, the Alhambra in Granada, and the Great Mosque of Córdoba. As well as these famous landmarks, the cities are charming, with cobbled streets, cafes and restaurants and there’s so much interesting history to learn about.
June is the last month for couples to get away before the school holidays arrive and families take over! Air fares are about to skyrocket so how about splashing out in a long-haul destination and exploring Vietnam and Cambodia? The Far East is relatively inexpensive right now and you will never forget your visit to Angkor Wat or the buzz of Ho Chi Minh City! Although some parts are rainy at this time, others are fine to visit, and you avoid the crowds. The countryside is lush and green, and it is still very warm.
July is when most families think of a longer holiday. Instead of bucket and spade, why not take the kids on safari? Witness the Great Migration in East Africa and the wonders of the Ngorongoro Crater and bring The Lion King to life with your children. They’ll never forget this! Here, you’ll find plenty of family-friendly safari lodges.
The family holiday period continues in August, of course. Did you know you can fly to Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada in just over 5 hours? Here you can explore stunning scenery, view icebergs and puffins, walk some of the trails in the national parks, and camp with the kids. This is another great choice for families.
For something very different in September, I’m going to suggest the Silk Route. This was actually a series of routes, exporting first silk but then all sorts of other goods from China right through to Europe. By September, the searing heat of the summer is over, temperatures are pleasant, and the colours of the deserts are stunning. The whole route would be a huge commitment, but you could focus on Central Asia, taking in primarily Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. It’s even possible to see the best of Uzbekistan in 11 days.
Many people avoid the Caribbean in October as there is a hurricane risk, although there are safe islands outside the hurricane belt. It is a great time to visit Mauritius, though, which is warm and dry at this time. Mauritius has so much to offer as well as the beach, such as visiting the national parks, an underwater waterfall, swimming with dolphins, and horse riding, to name but a few. It has hotels to suit every budget and taste. I like The Residence and Le Prince Maurice and the Saint Gerain but there are a number of fine hotel choices. For an extra treat, you can combine Mauritius with the wildlife of Madagascar!
From November to April is the best time to visit India. If you haven’t been, start with the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. India is vast and there are so many other areas to explore, such as Shimla, at the foot of the Himalayas, or stay in one of the national parks and try to spot a tiger. Kerala is quite different again and miles away from the fascinating but hectic lifestyle of the rest of India. It is known for its beauty and tranquillity, beaches and backwaters, hill stations and national parks.
And just like that, we are back to December! As well as the well-known Christmas markets, you could opt for Copenhagen, Denmark, Ljubljana in Slovenia, Gothenburg, Sweden, or Gdansk in Poland. Each one offers its own take on Christmas, with different traditions, foods, and gifts. So, maybe steer away from the predictable and you’ll be rewarded by a less commercialised, more traditional experience.
I hope you’ve been inspired by my ideas. I’m always ready to offer suggestions of places you might not have thought of, so do get in touch and start the year off with a bang!
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
Only one more sleep till Christmas now and you may have already had your fill of TV ads, Christmas music in shops and Christmas meals with the office or groups of friends. The Christmas build-up seems to come earlier and earlier these days. What can we learn from all this?
Well, as avid travellers, we could jump on the bandwagon and start thinking about Christmas 24? Have I gone mad? No, in fact, many of the world’s most desired resorts and villas get booked up a year in advance by repeat customers. As soon as they leave the resort for home, clients secure it for the following year. This is why some places never seem to be available over the festive period! Well, two can play at that game! Don’t forget that you can secure your booking with a deposit now and then you have about ten months till you need to pay the balance.
In addition, flights go on sale in early January, and you may never see these sale prices again. More than ever before, these genuine sale fares are to be snapped up. It is no longer a case of hedging your bets and waiting to see if prices come down later in the year. I’m prepared to stick my neck out and say that they will only go up.
The holiday season is always expensive, but leaving booking until the last minute makes it more so. So, be savvy and plan now.
Do you want to know how other nations celebrate Christmas?
Well, most Europeans have their big meal on Christmas Eve. Some have already had a celebration on December 6th, and some will have another on January 6th or 7th.
Although Turkey is traditional in the UK, it is not the case elsewhere. In the USA, they will have already had their Turkey meal on Thanksgiving, so they might opt for something else on the 25th. In Japan, it’s usually KFC for Christmas dinner! In the Nordic countries, it’s a hearty reindeer stew in Norway or a fishy feast in Sweden, never, ever forgetting the herring!
In Barbados, the table is not complete without Jug Jug, a dish inspired by the Scottish influence on the island combining pigeon peas, guinea corn flour, herbs, and salt.
Decorating is popular almost everywhere, with fake cobwebs in Ukraine (hoping they will turn to gold) but we all stand with them in wishing for the end of war this Christmas. In Germany, Saint Nicholas leaves coins in the shoes of good children and the Philippines holds a giant lantern festival in San Fernando. In Iceland, children put their shoes on the windowsill each night in the run-up to the big day and if they’re good, they find a candy in them the next morning, but if they’re naughty, it’s a rotten potato! In South Africa, traditional fir trees are decorated with handmade beads. And in Venezuela, it is traditional to head for the Christmas church service on rollerblades!
So, whether Christmas is celebrated for religious reasons or just to bring joy around the world, in the spirit of the movie Love Actually, it seems that Christmas is all about families and friends coming together to give thanks, eating together and spreading love.
Wishing our great big global family, a very happy Christmas and let’s never stop hoping and praying for Peace on Earth.
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
With the countdown to Christmas in full swing, we’ve made sure to pack this penultimate edition of the Charitable Traveller Report full of phenomenal travel deals which are too good to miss, inspiration from destinations all around the world, and the latest edition of Green Traveller magazine!
P.S. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for your daily dose of travel inspiration!
By the time you read this, we will be counting down the days till Christmas and most of us will have our decorations up and arrangements made for the big day.
But there may also be some of you out there whose plans have suddenly changed or who have decided you want to do something different over the festive season.
Availability will be tight, but I am hopeful I will be able to find you something last minute. If you can’t stand the cold and desperately seek some sun and warmth, we could look at the Caribbean, the Maldives, the Canaries, the Middle East, or the Far East.
How about a Christmas safari? We might just be able to pull this off in time.
If you’re worried that safari lodges and Caribbean hotels won’t be decorated for Christmas, think again! I’ve seen first-hand that the holidays are very much celebrated and I have seen some wonderfully creative Christmas trees!
Or if the cold doesn’t bother you, there is luxury skiing, visiting a Nordic winter wonderland or a European Christmas market. Also, what could be more festive than a trip to Vienna, Prague, or Budapest?
Of course, let’s not forget Australia and New Zealand, both of which will be enjoying their summer. If you like the idea of a shrimp barbecue on the beach on Christmas Day this may be for you!
If you want to get away over Christmas and New Year, the key is to enquire ASAP and be prepared to be flexible on dates and accommodation. This does not mean compromising on quality, though. Prices over Christmas are quite high, but if you are determined to get away, I am happy to make that wish come true.
Keen to book now? This 7 night winter sun escape in the Maldives will allow you to escape the chill, and see in the New Year in paradise:
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
If you’re looking for good news, fun, and cheer to brighten up the long winter days and nights, look no further! In this edition of the Charitable Traveller Report, you’ll discover our latest episode of the Travel Insider Podcast, a fantastic blog from Lizzi helping you to book ahead and save big, and great reads from Issue #19 of Charitable Traveller Magazine!
Plus, excellent escapes for winter 2023, exciting updates from Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, and inspiring news from the worlds of charity and travel!
P.S. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for your daily dose of travel inspiration!
I’ve been reading a lot in the travel press about how air fares are going to rise. It is not a question of if, but when. In fact, you may have been looking online yourselves and been surprised by the cost of flights to places you are used to travelling to. Have you asked yourselves whether this is just a passing glitch? Surely fares cannot have almost doubled in price? Perhaps you have decided to wait and see if they drop again? The bad news for travellers is that prices are definitely not predicted to drop.
There are several factors that affect the cost of air travel, including the rate of inflation. The high rate of inflation we are seeing at the moment might fluctuate very slightly but is unlikely to drop significantly. Then there is the high price of oil, linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine, and this does not seem likely to resolve itself any time soon, sadly. Airlines are also under great pressure to upgrade their planes to meet low emissions targets and there is an urgent need to fund research into sustainable fuel. We must, if we want to save our planet, stop polluting the atmosphere but all of this costs vast sums of money.
Ouch! Rising prices will affect us all. The good news is that it will hopefully make us think twice about how often we travel and how.
So my advice is, as always, to book well in advance to get the best airfares possible. You should, ideally, already be booking your 2024 holidays, including post-Christmas breaks, February and May half terms, Easter and summer holidays.
Did you know also that hotel contracts are negotiated well in advance and if you’re booking a package holiday (which I highly recommended) you’re much more likely to get a good rate now than if you wait until the last minute?
So, where to travel next year without breaking the bank? If you have the time to go long haul, the Far East is still very good value, so if you’re spending more on your airfare, you are saving significantly on your accommodation. Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos continue to fascinate even seasoned travellers. If you’ve visited the beaches of Thailand, I highly recommend taking a trip up to Chiang Mai, maybe on the scenic train, which takes between ten and thirteen hours but offers stunning scenery on route. Stay in the wonderful Four Seasons Resort or the Anantara.
Bangkok itself is awash with luxury hotels, such as the Mandarin Oriental and the Rosewood.
Even better news, flights within Thailand and to the neighbouring countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are inexpensive, and hotels are also relatively so compared to other countries, so you can make a longer holiday of it and push the boat out a bit on your accommodation.
So, while airfares remain high, the Far East is a good choice as the lower on-the-ground costs will balance out the overall price of your holiday.
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
As millions of shoppers prepare for thousands of deals this Black Friday, Charitable Travel reveals which specialist sites are offering free ways to donate to charity – helping consumers give back at the same time as grabbing a bargain!
As the British public tightens their belts and reprioritises where to spend their hard-earned cash, charities are beginning to suffer as donations reduce. Previous research conducted by Charitable Travel has shown that due to the cost-of-living crisis, 71% of people have cut back on charity donations.
The most popular ways to donate to charity are bucket collections (38%), sponsoring friends or family to do a challenge (34%) and 28% (regular direct debits). However, what many do not realise is that there are additional ways to donate to charity which can be incorporated into general living spending, which can help charities maintain some of their much-needed income and with no extra cost for the consumer.
Shop & Give initiatives are a free way to raise money for charity whilst shopping online and according to Charitable Travel, only 12% of people are aware of these. Known as affiliate marketing, websites directing customers to a retailer earn a small pay-per-click commission. This can be a small percentage of the total cost spent or a set amount for each referral. Although the figures are tiny (could be just 1p per click for example), they can soon build up. Shop & Give websites will collect this commission and donate much needed funds to good causes. And in the current climate, every little helps.
The top five Shop & Give websites to consider this Black Friday and throughout the whole year are:
Simply register for free, choose to support one of 40,000 UK charities and select over 6000 participating retailers from M&S, John Lewis, Currys, Argos, Apple, Ticketmaster, WHSmith to easyJet and even Dominos Pizza. By accessing the retailers’ website from the Give As You Live page the affiliate commission will be donated by the brand to your chosen charity. Give As You Live has now generated more that £21 million for worthy causes.
The social-enterprise travel agency with a ‘Travel For Good’ ethos enables customers to donate 5% of the cost of their holiday to a charity of their choice via a Just Giving partnership. The fully bonded, online travel agency books holidays from a wide range of big brands and smaller operators and airlines including easyJet Holidays, Intrepid Travel and G Adventures.
The UK’s biggest shopping charity site with over 2 million users generating more than £43 million for much needed causes, with a simple message ‘when you spend, brands donate’. Register for free, sign up to support your favourite cause and download their Donation Reminder plug-in for your desktop, which will alert you when donations from over 7000 brands are available whilst doing your online shopping. You can then track your donations via your online account.
Nectar Donate is a collaboration between Nectar and Crowdfunder, which allows consumers to donate their nectar points directly to a range of charities from the Nectar app. Each donation must be a minimum of 200 nectar points (which is the equivalent of £1). There are no hidden fees as part of the scheme and customers who donate will be updated on how the funds are used. Points can be earned online by shopping with a variety of well-known brands via the nectar.com portal.
Launched in 2006 the Giving Machine have raised over £1.9 million for over 9000 charities. Register for free online and choose up to four local or national good causes. Choose from hundreds of high street and big brand stores from The Body Shop to Ebay or Waitrose, click through to their website via an affiliate link and earn free donations from the brand to your selected charities. Giving Machine also offers discount codes, charity raffle tickets with great prizes and a £1 per week supporters lottery.
Melissa Tilling, Founder and Chief Executive at Charitable Travel, said:
“Every year, online shops pay millions in sales commissions to websites for affiliate marketing campaigns, but there is a way to shop smarter and direct this commission to charities, whose services are increasingly in demand given the current climate, but their donations from the public are falling. Shop & Give is a quick and easy way to incorporate charitable giving into your daily life and the more of us that do it, the bigger the difference we can make.
“At Charitable Travel we offer travellers the opportunity to donate a percentage of their holiday to charity for free, simply by booking a holiday. For a family of four – where the average cost of a holiday is £2,000 – a free donation of £100 would be made to a charity of their choice, ensuring that travel can be a force for good.
“To ensure we continue to provide support to our beloved charities we recommend supporting Shop & Give initiatives in addition to direct charitable donations, as charities need our help now more than ever before.”
Founded in April 2020, Charitable Travel operates the same as other high-end travel agencies, with one key difference. The social enterprise will donate 5% per cent of the cost of the holiday – usually charged to generate profit – to a charity of the customer’s choice, via a partnership with JustGiving. Charitable Travel’s mission is to make travel “a force for good.” Whether it’s a city break or a beach getaway, holidaymakers can rest assured that their booking supports good causes.
After shopping for bargains on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, don’t forget Tuesday 28th November 2023 is Giving Tuesday, the Global Day of Giving. A timely reminder that charities are in need of our help.
Inspired and ready to book your next getaway? Check out Charitable Travel’s fantastic range of travel deals!
Welcome to the Charitable Traveller Report! In this issue, you’ll find unforgettable hidden gems and off-the-beaten-path destinations with the latest edition of Charitable Traveller Magazine, fantastic tips and tricks for your next Australian trip from our luxury travel expert Lizzi, and special deals for the Algarve, Portugal, a self-driving Route 66 adventure in Illinois, and a week-long escape in sunny Aruba this Christmas!
P.S. Don’t forget to follow us on social media for your daily dose of travel inspiration!
If you think about travel to Australia, you may immediately picture backpacking students. Maybe you did this yourself on a gap year, or maybe one of your children did? Or you may associate travelling around Australia with hiring a giant motor home. These are just stereotypes. Not for you?
You may not necessarily think of Australia as a luxury destination, but I can assure you that a first-class experience is definitely possible Down Under.
So many of us in the UK have relatives living in Australia. Maybe they went out on a £10 ticket back in the 70’s or maybe they fell in love while touring round as a student and ending up marrying and staying. I know it is hard for relatives, especially grandparents when their families live so far away.
Lots of my more mature clients travel out to Australia every few years to visit family. Others may never have been and want to tick it off their list. It’s exciting, but a bit daunting travelling such a long way. How can it be made easier?
Firstly, let’s talk about getting there. Some of the best airlines fly there, such as Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar and British Airways. All have superb business class services, which makes the journey so much more comfortable. Next best would be premium economy. However, if you are concerned about the negative effect of upgraded seats on the environment, flying economy on Emirates is definitely no hardship at all! Break your journey in Dubai and again in Singapore and stay in one of the superb airport hotels.
So, on to luxury experiences in Australia itself. How about taking one of the iconic trains, such as the Ghan? I have been privileged to step on board and it’s very opulent and a wonderful experience. Or you could take a private helicopter tour over the Barrier Reef and the rainforest, or over the Blue Mountains? You could sail around Sydney Harbour on a private yacht or explore the Barrier Reef aboard a private catamaran.
Australia is famous for its wines, and you can visit vineyards and sample some of their finest, paired with exquisite fine dining whilst staying in magnificent hotels like the boutique Cape Lodge at Margaret River. Or stay on one of the islands such as Lord Howe, home to the modern Capella Lodge or the Hamilton Island Reef View Hotel on Hamilton Island. For a truly unique experience, how about staying in a luxury, safari-style tent overlooking Uluru (formerly Ayers Rock)?
Finally, a mention about culture in Australia. Australia has wonderful theatres, art galleries, music venues, historical monuments, and iconic sporting venues. A cultural experience can be combined with a stay in one of the countless luxury hotels on offer. For example, stay in the Four Seasons or the Park Hyatt in Sydney, both with magnificent views of the Sydney Opera House. Or in Melbourne, the Langham Hotel is just a stroll away from the National Gallery of Victoria, The Australian Ballet and Hamer Hall.
If you are as concerned as we are about the environment, there are plenty of eco luxury options for tours and accommodation. Please ask me when you enquire.
Feeling inspired? Book your next escape now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your dream trip!
On a recent European holiday, our return flight was cancelled while we were waiting to board the plane. At the time, the only guidance we were given by the airline ground staff was to go back through passport control, collect our bags and rebook our return flights on the airline’s app. We were left to find our own accommodation for the night and hope that the costs would be reimbursed.
Having rebooked seats on the next available flight, we then suffered the same fate and were left stranded in the airport at midnight for a second night in a row. We eventually flew home two and a half days after we’d originally planned, having paid through the nose for a flight with an alternative airline. We’ve always booked our travel independently as we tend to book with short notice and dislike the idea of traditional ‘package’ holidays, but this experience has made us think twice. How might our experience have been different if we’d booked with a travel agent and what would be the advantages of booking with a travel agent in future?
Melissa: In the unfortunate event of a flight cancellation, EU Regulation 261/2004 outlines your rights with the airline. You have three options to choose from: you may request a refund for your ticket, opt for a return flight to your original departure airport, or select a replacement flight to your final destination, provided the conditions match your initial booking.
If you book your arrangements through a travel agent and in turn through a tour operator we can support you, ensuring the airline honours their obligations. If your flight is cancelled at the last minute and you are stranded you’re entitled to complimentary drinks and meals, with the extent depending on the duration of the delay, free hotel accommodation for overnight delays, and transportation to and from the airport to your designated hotel.
It is true to say that the airline might not support you actually making these arrangements but your rights ensure you will be compensated so receipts and records are critical, and your travel agent and tour operator can support with these arrangements if you need that assistance. The idea of a ‘package holiday’ under that protected package does not mean the accommodation, travel and duration cannot be tailored to your needs, so forget the idea of a package meaning a fixed one week on a sun bed. Instead, regard ‘packages’ as entrusting your plans to a professional and then benefiting from the support of that professional when things go wrong, which they can even with the best planning in the world.
This is a feature from Issue 19 of Charitable Traveller. Click to read more from this issue.
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