A statement from Virgin reads “We have fought hard for the right to fly short haul and take a strong challenge to British Airways within these shores. For 28 years both airlines have battled for customers all over the world and it has meant that British consumers have ultimately had some of the world’s best flying and lowest fares. This is the beginning of an exciting new era in Virgin Atlantic history and we now feel a responsibility to everyone that has supported us in this challenge. Your customers can look forward to a great short haul service with us but most importantly reap the benefits from the re-injection of vital competition we can provide on these routes.”

Specific details of routes will be announced in the next few months.

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As part of the Travel Trust Association Holidays4Travel also offers 100% protection on all holidays sold through these websites, due to the way client moneis are held in a trust account once paid. On top of this we are ATOL licenced to be able to legally package hotels and flights together for our clients – often saving lots of money! If you’re looking for a holiday let us know we’re more than happy to help.

Please visit the new sites at www.holidays4mexico.co.uk and www.holidays4tunisia.co.uk

These new websites compliment our already existing ones so let us know what you think!

Thanks

Emma

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Reindeer Lodge – our home for the night!

Despite it not being that far from me, I don’t ever recall having been to Whipsnade before. I’ve visited it’s sister zoo – London Zoo – many a time but although I knew the name hadn’t been to Whipsnade. We set off on a surprisingly easy journey up the M1 and arrived ready to clock in for our overnight stay. The experience actually allows you to spend the day at Whipsnade or London Zoo as part of the booking, as long as you’re at the Lookout Lodge reception by 5pm ish. Greeted by glasses of fizz (always a good way to start) we were introduced to our guides who were some of the most enthusiastic guides and keepers I have ever met, even admitting that they occasionally occupy themselves with ‘Plop Trumps’ in their spare time (don’t ask unless you want a full rundown on different types of animal poo!).

After our welcome we were given a chance to put our stuff down in our lodges, which friends say look like upturned boats, before being swiftly rounded up to start our visit. Pete the driver took us expertly past the huge Rhinos as they eyed us cautiously, past the herds of wild deer, antelope and camels, the largest cow in the world and dropped us off at the

The lions in daytime ‘sleep’ mode….

Lions for dinner, ahem. During the journey the guides (Nick and Louise) talked us expertedly through the different types of animals, asked questions and also explained the wealth of conservation work that ZSL does as owner of Whipsnaide and London Zoo. It was amazing information given by people who genuinely seem to love their job.

The adventure through the wilds of Africa and Asia left us hungry so the well timed evening meal was a welcome resbite. Usually in better weather a BBQ is cooked outside, but due to rain earlier on that day the food was served inside. The enthusiasm of the kitchen staff mirrored that of the guides and the food was hot, well prepared buffet style meat, veg and salad as well as some tempting deserts. After we’d eaten the zoo journey continued on foot as we were supplied with torchlights to help us see our way through the park.

It is quite an eerie feeling walking through a zoo at night, especially when you’re being watched on the sidelines by the plethora of ‘free-roaming’ animals who inhabit the zoo such as wallabys, deer and mara (very large rabbit things), so I was glad of the torchlight. Our guides expertly talked us through each animal as we wandered past hippos, very pink flamingoes, visited the tiger Ana and played with the lions. In case you’ve ever wondered, like me, if the animals in the zoo do come to life at night I can wholeheartedly assure you they do. The lions who had been lazing around earlier during the day looking like contented household cats now took on a whole new life of their own. Eyeing us up to see if anyone had a weakness (they took particular interest in a lady with a walking stick) they pounced on the glass and stalked us as we walked near to them. Despite being ‘fed’ lions who don’t need to hunt to survive, you could see in their wild eyes they’d be quite happy to do so just for the fun of it. In fact, the keepers advised us, Whipsnaide purposely locates animals that might pray on each other next to each other in some areas to provide enrichment and to keep them on their toes. The lions definately got ‘enrichment’ from our small lookout lodge group that night!

A Meerkat on lookout for anything threatening

High on the element of being so close to a skilled predator, we journeyed on through the zoo trying to be as quiet as possible, passing the moose, wolverines and wolves who eyed us and watched us carefully from the moonlit corners of their eyes in silence, the wolves slowly following us as we turned our backs and walked along the well fenced path. Dodging toads we carefully stepped along the path by torchlight as the occasional bat swooped through the air above us. We returned back to our lodge area safetly and stood to hear the wonderful sound of the lions and tiger roaring to each other under the night sky. Magical. After the excitement was over we bid each other goodnight and returned to our cosy lodges, hot chocolate and tea amenities waiting. I sat out on the small porch at the front for half an hour listening to the sights and sounds of the zoo at night before returning to the cosy beds.

In the morning we were woken sharply at 7am in order to pack and leave our lodges ready for the morning tour. Luckily it wasn’t raining and the view out over the Chiltern hills was nothing short of stunning. We climbed back into our truck again driven by Pete (when does this man sleep?!) and were taken on a tour around the zoo before it opened, expertedly commentated on by Catherine and supported by the keeper from the night before Rosie (she had stayed ‘on guard’ at the lodge area with us overnight). Breakfast was ready and waiting and was a full cooked hearty breakfast, just what we needed to set ourselves up for the day. After we’d eaten we were taken through the closed to the public zoo again by foot and by truck, stopping to feed various animals. The chimps in particular were very glad of a morning piece of orange or two, which Rosie had by the bucket load. The bears, which had spent most of the previous 24 hours sleeping, were encouraged to follow us and ‘work’ for their food a bit as we threw pieces of carrot and apple into their enclosure for them. Thankfully Rosie had the task of throwing the dead mice to the wolverines!

Wolverine looking cuddly (after his fill of dead mice)

We caught a glimpse of the Lynx and her babies that had been so elusive the day before and watched in wonder as the meerkats kept lookout for any birds or the occasional glider plane above and the baby wild boar ran keenly up to the fence for pieces of food.

I’ve always envisaged that a zoo comes to life at night, once all of the public leave, allowing the animals to be themselves without interruption and my experience at Whipsnaide certainly confirmed that thought. Whipsnade has arranged their lookout lodge experience with great thought, supported by guides who know their stuff and with minimal interruption but enough interaction with the animals. I’d definately recommend it.

Whipsnaide runs an extensive breeding and conservation programme – find out more here: http://www.zsl.org/conservation/

For more information on Lookout Lodge see here: http://www.zsl.org/shop/experiences/camping/index,260,ZI.html

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St Jean

St Jean Beach, St Barts, Caribbean

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Chillin' in the Galapagos!

photo credit: Audley travel – audleytravel.com (they also offer holidays to the Galapagos too!)

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Great Harbour - Jost Van Dyke, BVI's

Taken: April 14th 2012
Location: From the top of the hill (after a long hike up!) on Jost Van Dyke Island in the British Virgin Islands, Caribbean
View: Out across ‘Great Harbour’ in Jost Van Dyke, the largest settlement on the island.
About: Jost Van Dye is the smallest of the four ‘main’ British Virgin Islands and is very hilly. There is lots of wildlife here with coral reefs, plenty of fish, birds and flowers. A very green island! The permanent population is less than 200 people. Famous bars – Foxy’s Tamarind Bar and the Soggy Dollar !
More: Read more soon in my blog post about this island and others visited on my Seadream Cruise trip around the Caribbean.

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seadream yacht club

seadream in st.barts

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Are you missing out on holidays?

Despite over 45% of Brits seeing their annual leave as ‘vital’ only 75% of people actually use up all of their holiday allowance that they’re entitled to. According to recent research by Travelsupermarket, 25% of full time workers (from a poll of 2000) don’t take their full annual leave allowance, while 6% of those actually have 7 or more days owed to them by their employers when it expires. Being organised is the key to making sure that the leave doesn’t expire without it being used, demonstrated by the fact that 1 in 5 of British holidaymakers have already planned their annual leave around the numerous Bank Holidays coming up this year.

Are you guilty of losing your annual leave? Or are you organised and plan ahead?

My advise with Summer holidays for 2012 is to start now! There are some good bargains around at the moment if you book now. Although there may be some last minute holidays available later on in the year, unfortunately waiting until the last moment to book doesn’t guarantee you the best price anymore, especially as APD taxes rise and airline prices increase. Is it worth the risk? If you can’t find anything near to the time you risk spending a week in the UK and we all know how unpredictable the weather is here (I’m currently sitting writing this in 19C degrees in March, yes MARCH!). Don’t be one of the 25% who lose out, book your time off now and start researching your Summer holiday

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chichen-itza mexico

This structure is of particular importance today (20th March) as it’s the Spring Equinox which is one of the highlights of the calendar here. During this time, and only during this time, the alignment of the Sun casts a shadow of the feathered serpent god along the central steps of the monument. This design was planned by the Mayan civilisation and thousands of people visit this site in order to see it each year and to celebrate the Spring Equinox.

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Table Mountain South Africa - courtesy of the South African Tourism Board

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