WEDDINGS & HONEYMOONS: Indian Ocean WISE COUNSEL: BARBARA CHARLTON
From dares to mayors
VOTED MOST HELPFUL TRAVEL COUNSELLOR OF THE YEAR FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS.
BARBARA.CHARLTON@
TRAVELCOUNSELLORS.COM T: 0845 0587 290
NEW FOR 2013 As a seasoned agent of 20 years it’s always exciting
to get a request for a destination you haven’t had before, and this month I had two! The fi rst was for Uzbekistan and the second was for Micronesia. Both required some ‘homework’ but it was interesting to learn about these less trodden paths. With technology so readily available such requests no longer strike terror in an agent’s heart!
ADVENTURE TRAVEL But one thing that certainly did terrify me was a short break in the UK, when I went to see my 69-year- old mother wing walking! I know adventure activities are all the rage these days but really! My brave mum was strapped onto the top wing of a bi-plane and then fl own around, up and down at speeds of 130 mph, without a helmet or parachute! Next year for her 70th she is planning micro-lighting. Clearly she is bang in tune with current travel trends!
WHATEVER NEXT? Health and safety rules didn’t stop my mum fulfi lling a dream but when you travel the world you do sometimes have to wonder at the crackers laws and customs you come across.
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SELLINGLONGHAUL.COM
Hot tips galore!
“Mauritius has some- thing for everyone – luxury, simplicity and great excursions – and new hotels there mean
Secret sensation: Elephants at Madikwe Game Reserve, SA
I recently heard of one in Dorset, Minnesota, whereby the town’s Mayor is selected by picking a name from a hat. Their latest choice is none other than a four-year-old boy – thankfully they say he is just a ‘fi gure-head’ and all the work is done by local businesses. Perhaps next year it will be one of our winning elephants above!
"ALL JOURNEYS HAVE SECRET DESTINATIONS OF WHICH THE TRAVELLER IS
UNAWARE" MARTIN BUBER
More best-kept secrets...
Winning secret It’s always lovely to get feedback from clients which you can then share to encourage further bookings. My winner this month is actually a client of mine. Kevin Pullen recently went on
honeymoon to South Africa and sent me the most amazing picture of elephants he saw on safari. It was his honeymoon, which included the malaria-free Madikwe Private Game Reserve in North West Province, on my recommendation. The couple had a truly memorable
time, not least because Kevin's wife has a real love of elephants.
Kevin told me: "‘Madikwe was absolutely brilliant. We are now both defi nitely sold on safaris and would like to go again. "The staff at our lodge were so attentive and genuinely warm and caring for their guests –we really didn't want to leave. "The wildlife was spectacular and we came back from each game drive on a real high. Jan's favourite moment was our last drive out into the bush, when we came across 25 to 30 elephants making their way to the water hole.
"Mine mine was getting up close to a
pride of four lions just before dusk – they walked within inches of our vehicle!" Kevin Pullen travelled with Africa Collection
Sweet treats
And here is this month's runner up, gleaned from personal experience. “ I recently returned from the Indaba trade show in South Africa and visited Plettenberg Bay prior to heading to Durban. We stopped at the Double Shot Café & Coffee Shop and had some genuinely awesome coffee and amazing chocolate cake made with kidney beans. "The owner is diabetic and has some unique recipes and as I am also diabetic anything chocolate that is diabetes- friendly sounds good to me. This is a real hidden gem.” James Westrip, Africa Collection
Share your secrets for the chance to win goodies from Hotel Chocolat. Send Barbara your name, address and best kept sales secret!
stunning offers” SHAFIQUE COCKAR, HEAD OF PRODUCT CONTRACTING & MARKETING ENCHANTING HOLIDAYS
“Suggest the Irawaddy river in Burma for ancient pagodas, temples and palaces in a land virtually
untouched by tourism” SARA MACEFIELD, TRAVEL WRITER
“You can't beat
Marrakech for a short
break.It’s only a short flight and is so colourful and alive with great cul- ture and good food”
NICKY SHAFE, MARKETING MANAGER FOR PRESTIGE HOLIDAYS
56 June 2013
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Win!
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