Regular columnist Barbara was voted Most Helpful Travel Counsellor of the Year for two consecutive years.
Barbara.Charlton@
travelcounsellors.com T: 0845 0587 290
WISE COUNSEL: BARBARA CHARLTON Those special trips are so satisfying!
DESTINATION WEDDINGS I joined a lovely group of about 50 agents on a miserable evening last month to extend our knowledge on wedding destinations and properties that specialise in them. We were hosted by Debbie Walker from Destination Representation, who really got into the spirit of the event by dressing as a bride! I caught up with a number of agents
I knew and I would say that generally the mood is positive and everyone is enjoying being busy.
WHERE’S HOT RIGHT NOW? I have had a few RTW and Australia enquiries for this summer and for Christmas. Judging by how busy the specialist operators are, I’m not the only one. I do love putting together tailor-made trips because you always end up learning more with each one, as you do the homework for the clients and discover new things. It is always rewarding when a client
enjoyed a special trip so much that they want to return to a destination again, perhaps in a slightly different area. I arranged a 25th anniversary trip to Mauritius a few years ago, and the clients had a really fantastic trip. They now want to return to the Island, but to a different area and hotel, and I will strive to make sure that they have another great experience.
The Great Ocean Road: Australia is selling well for Barbara
Is it a coincidence that this month I will be going to Morocco, and I have suddenly had enquiries and bookings to the same country? I don’t think so, and love it or hate it, social media does generate enquiries and bookings if you use it in the right ways. I don’t ‘sell’ on Facebook, but I do talk about my own trips and occasionally mention important industry information.
"THE WORLD IS A BOOK AND THOSE WHO DO NOT TRAVEL READ
ONLY ONE PAGE" – ST. AUGUSTINE
Roger's winning secret...
My Best Secret winner this month is Roger Brown, who sent me an experience that I can relate to!
“We were at my cousin's house in Plettenberg, along the Garden Route, and we went to a local centre for injured big cats called Tenikwa. They are up on the plain at the top of the Tsitsikamma Mountains that overlook Plettenberg Bay. It's a charity that rescues and rehabilitates wildcats, of all kinds. “We took an adult cheetah for a walk, on a long lead with a minder. It was very stimulating; they are beautiful animals! "This picture would be even more impressive if it had sound. Every 100m or so the cheetah has a rest (they are the fastest animals in the world but they
cannot sustain it for long). So when they stop to rest the minder said to tickle it at the back of the head - I did and it was purring! It sounded as loud as a traction engine - the minder said it was just like any other happy cat! However, although cheetahs seem tame in such an environment they are still wild animals and you view a video fi rst advising what not to do – such as stare them in the eyes, or come up behind their head fast. " Barbara wrote: www
BEST KEPT SECRETS COMP Share your secret places with readers and win some delicious Hotel Chocolat goodies! Vanessa Sammut told me about her
honeymoon in Bali, where she stayed 'inland' rather than on the coast. She said: “It was a good decision as we had our own hotel minibus and were always one step ahead of the parties on coaches. " When we arrived for sunset at
WIN! Share your secrets for the chance to win goodies from Hotel Chocolat. Send Barbara your name, address and best-kept travel secret!
Tanah Lot, along with the hordes of other tourists, we both thought, ‘why are we here?’ "But our lovely guide coaxed us through the crowds, secured us a table and a drink and told us to wait. Despite the many tourists, it was beautiful and romantic and the photo I took that evening is still one of my favourite things. I would recommend anyone going to Bali to do the same.” Joe Sacco wrote to me to point out that clients in Havana, Cuba, should head to the municipal building and get one of the street photographers to take their photo. They will gladly oblige and then develop the pictures there and then using long-forgotten techniques! But who wins our choccies for this month? See opposite!
www.sellinglonghaul.com • March 2013 65
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