2019 Issue 1 TravellerThe Silver SEE CAMBODIA AND VIETNAM CRUISING Ocean, River and Tall Ship Sailing JAN LEEMING Tours Croatia

ALSO INSIDE... Train Journeys, Touring Namibia, and much more!

JOHN ANGELA SUCHET RIPPON to cruise relaxing the Danube in Corfu

Brought to you by your accredited Silver Travel Advisor CONTENTS

Launching our 2020 boutique cruise collection

Our 2020 itineraries are now on What’s more, from 2020 both ships sale for our luxurious boutique ship will include an unlimited selection Spirit of Discovery, and her even of drinks on board, along with a newer sister Spirit of Adventure. chauffeur service up to 250 miles From Arctic expeditions to each way†, speciality dining, Greenland and Svalbard to cruises gratuities, free Wi-Fi and more. to the Amalfi Coast, the USA and Book through your travel the , it’s our most agent today. exciting collection ever.

Cruise with no Dine in fi ve world-class Sail all inclusive Guaranteed by more than 999 restaurants at no in 2020 our Price Promise other guests extra charge

All inclusive cruises include selected wines at lunch and dinner, Saga house-branded spirits, cocktails containing house-branded spirits, draught beer and lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks. †Private chauffeur service up to 75 miles each way or shared chauffeur service from 76-250 miles. Please call for further details. Saga’s holidays and cruises are exclusively for the over 50s (but a travelling companion can be 40+). Saga Holidays is a trading name of ST&H Ltd (registration no. 2174052). ST&H Ltd and Saga Cruises Ltd (registration no. 3267858) are subsidiaries of ST&H Group Ltd (registration no. 0720588). All three companies are registered in and Wales. Registered Offi ce: Enbrook Park, Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE. With respect to general insurance products sold in the UK, ST&H Ltd is an appointed representative of Saga Services Limited, registered in England and Wales (company no. 732602), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial 2Conduct Authority. NTA-SC1154. Launching our 2020 WELCOME boutique cruise collection to your Silver Traveller

Our 2020 itineraries are now on What’s more, from 2020 both ships Or perhaps we should be calling this your this edition is our first that has sale for our luxurious boutique ship will include an unlimited selection been created exclusively for Gold Traveller as we are thrilled to have distribution by the Advantage Spirit of Discovery, and her even of drinks on board, along with a recently been awarded the accolade of Travel Partnership’s network newer sister Spirit of Adventure. chauffeur service up to 250 miles Best Travel Reviews website at the of independent travel agents From Arctic expeditions to each way†, speciality dining, prestigious 2018 British Travel Awards. across the UK. It seems rather Greenland and Svalbard to cruises gratuities, free Wi-Fi and more. fitting with our goal of providing What makes this award so special is that it’s a quality information to our to the Amalfi Coast, the USA and Book through your travel consumer vote which determines the winner, and we readers, as I firmly believe that the Caribbean, it’s our most are grateful to all Silver Travellers who voted in their Advantage’s local travel agents agent today. exciting collection ever. thousands for their favourite travel reviews site. This can offer the personal service means a great deal to the dedicated team here at and trust that we know is so Silver Towers, and is a real endorsement of our work to important, as well as having the passion and knowledge provide high quality travel information and advice which to recommend and book the right holiday for you. can be trusted. Despite these changes, some things remain constant, It really does not seem possible that we are now 8 and our ethos and aim to offer friendly personal service years old. The time has flown by since the early days and high-quality information is the same as it was when a team of two were hunched over a laptop on a when we first started Silver Travel Advisor. We’re still a kitchen table wondering if an idea just might have legs! relatively small team, aged from 57 to 83 years young Since then we have grown a little with 100,000 (gently maturing like fine wine), and we’re united in members now registered as Silver Travellers, and over our belief that travel should be accessible to all. And 150,000 contributions. We’ve introduced a research and whatever we can do to make that happen, from finding training division, and our annual Silver Travel Awards are the trip of a lifetime around the world to a short break by now a fixed diary date in the calendar, with the voting the seaside, we are here to help. for the 2019 awards starting on March 1st. Check www.silvertraveladvisor.com for details of the Enjoy your Silver Traveller, and amazing location for our glittering ceremony (and here’s to the next 8 years! how you can attend), as well as our fabulous celebrity Best wishes presenter who is a national treasure and has earned huge respect for her tireless work to support older people. Our Silver Traveller magazine has also grown, both in size and stature, and I’m delighted to announce that Debbie Marshall

THE SILVER TRAVELLER is brought to you by Ship Visits Coordinator:...... Peter Godliman Silver Travel Advisor Silver Travel Book Club Editor.....Andrew Morris Advisors:...... Alan Fairfax, Chrissy Nason, www.silvertraveladvisor.com Steve Aldridge, David Powell, [email protected] Dinah Holland, David Graham, Sally Dowling, Peter Lynch, Cruise with no Dine in five world-class Managing Director: ...... Debbie Marshall Steve Newman, Petra Shepherd, Sail all inclusive Guaranteed by Creative & Communications Director:...... Jennie Carr Gillian Thornton more than 999 restaurants at no in 2020 our Price Promise IT Director: ...... Taki Sirianos Research & Training: ...... Jane Silk other guests extra charge Partnerships and Promotions Director:.... Gill Haynes Patron: ...... John Carter Head of Partnerships (non-cruise):...... Lynn Scrivener Designed by: ...... www.vertigodesign.co.uk News Editor: ...... Roger Bray Silver Travel Advisor Ltd. is a UK registered company (no. 7408308), Social Media Managers: ...... Carole Tidball, Steve Newman c/o Age UK, Tavis House, 1-6 Tavistock Square, WC1H 9NA. Forum Moderators:...... Alan Fairfax, Steve Aldridge, Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of the information and advertisements in the All inclusive cruises include selected wines at lunch and dinner, Saga house-branded spirits, cocktails containing house-branded spirits, draught beer and David Emerson magazine, the publishers cannot accept any liability for errors or the result of the use of the information. lager, non-alcoholic cocktails, all mixers and soft drinks. †Private chauffeur service up to 75 miles each way or shared chauffeur service from 76-250 miles. Please call for further details. Saga’s holidays and cruises are exclusively for the over 50s (but a travelling companion can be 40+). Saga Holidays is a trading name of ST&H Ltd (registration no. 2174052). ST&H Ltd and Saga Cruises Ltd (registration no. 3267858) are subsidiaries of ST&H Group Ltd (registration no. 0720588). All three companies are registered in England and Wales. Registered Offi ce: Enbrook Park, Sandgate, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3SE. With respect to general insurance products sold in the UK, ST&H Ltd is an appointed representative of Saga Services Limited, registered in England and Wales (company no. 732602), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. NTA-SC1154. 3 CONTENTS Highlights of your Silver Traveller

Pages 6-9 UK & Channel Islands Page 36 Expedition Cruises

Page 6 Page 37 Tall Ship Cruises Visit Guernsey and Jersey Page 38-40 Single Travel

Page 8 Page 38 Castles on the Border Jan Leeming Tours Croatia

Pages 10-16 Europe Page 40 China for one? Page 13 A weekend in Lausanne

Page 41 Accessible Travel Page 15 Relaxing in Corfu - Page 42-46 Faraway and Exotic Angela Rippon enjoys R&R in Avlake Page 42 Solange Hando experiences a grand Pages 17-20 Rail tour of Namibia

Page 21 Cycling and E-bikes Page 43 Pages 22-23 General Travel See Cambodia and Vietnam Page 24 European Cruises

Pages 25-31 River Cruises Pages 47-51 Escorted Touring

Page 28 Page 47 John Suchet Tour South America to cruise the Danube

Page 50 Page 30 Penny Smith Just the right ingredients perfectly escorted

Pages 32-35 Ocean Cruises Page 52 Celebrity Spotlight

Page 32 Page 53 Silver Travel Book Club and TV The Canary Islands for Winter Sun Page 54 Meet the Team

4 WHAT IS SILVER TRAVEL ADVISOR? What is Silver Travel Advisor?

Silver Travel Advisor is an award-winning travel reviews, information and advice website, especially for more mature travellers. On it, you will find a wealth of articles about where to go, where to stay and where to avoid, backed by personal service Highlights from a veteran team of travel industry professionals, some of whom are retired and work on a voluntary basis. Their backgrounds are diverse, but they are all united by a passion for travel, and their aim is to curate the very best independent guidance and of your Silver Traveller recommendations that can be trusted.

So if you would like to contribute reviews about your own travels and holidays, find out more about new destinations, enjoy our magazine or ask a question or two, this is exactly the place for you!

Happy Silver Travelling.

Book your holiday with confidence We have recently joined forces with Advantage Travel Partnership, the UK’s largest consortium for independent travel agents, to help provide you with trusted recommendations of who to book your travel with. Our recent research has highlighted how much our members use high street travel agents to book their holidays, so our partnership with Advantage is very appropriate. There are over 350 travel agency businesses who are part of the Advantage Travel Silver Travel Advisor encourages the exchange of Partnership, spread across the length and opinions by its community of 100,000 members, breadth of the UK. known as Silver Travellers, through the website Member agencies offer you a wider range of www.silvertraveladvisor.com, where there are many products and services than many other larger, thousands of reviews and a friendly forum, as well as non-independent, travel companies and provide regular newsletters and social media posts on a lively unbiased advice with personal service to help Facebook page. select the right holiday for you. It’s completely free to become a member, and each Booking with one of the Advantage month there is the opportunity to join in a prize draw associated agencies also means your money for holidays in the UK and abroad, as well as frequent is financially secure, the service you receive light-hearted competitions. is exemplary, and you enjoy Every year the Silver Travel Awards celebrate exceptional value for money. the very best in travel for the over 50s, and voting commences on March 1st for the 2019 awards which will be held in June. The free Silver Traveller magazine is full of articles about locations around the world from travel writer and celebrity contributors. The magazine also highlights recommended partner companies who can be trusted to provide high levels of service and quality, many of which have been road-tested by Silver Travel writers, and are available to book with your local travel agent.

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 5 UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS 10 Reasons to Visit Guernsey 3. Enjoy the freshest of seafood at one of the many restaurants along the harbour at St. Peter Port, as well as a wealth of local produce. 4. Sample fresh “hedge veg” from honesty boxes along the roadside – take your pick! 5. Live life at a slower pace – the speed limit is only 35mph. 6. Visit Hauteville House where Victor Hugo lived for 15 years during his exile from . 7. Marvel at the Little Chapel, decorated entirely from pieces of broken tiles. 8. Walk out to 12th century Castle Cornet, which has protected the island through the ages, and Lily James and Michiel Huisman in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society put your hands over your ears for the noon day cannon! 9. Visit any of the 27 beautiful sandy beaches. Debbie Marshall shares her top tips 10. Walk one of the easy marked trails or use the 1. Don’t use the J word (Jersey)! Guernsey has its fabulous coastal bus service which goes all the own charm, its own history and there’s plenty to way around the island. see and do for a week’s holiday or a shorter stay. 2. Visit the Underground Hospital and the other SILVER FACTS sites which recall the German occupation during Read Debbie's full article at World War 2, brought to life in the book and silvertraveladvisor.com/guernsey- movie – The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel advantage. Pie Society.

reason to visit an island famous as the location for the BBC detective series Bergerac. Largest of the Channel Islands, Jersey offers a beguiling blend of beautiful beaches and scenic walking trails, gourmet restaurants, retail therapy and outdoor activities. Jersey I booked a stay at Hotel Cristina which enjoys panoramic views over St Aubin’s Bay, just a short takes to island life…night and day! Gillian Thornton drive from Jersey’s only town, St Helier. Here I admired the smart new marina and toured the newly restored Georgian mansion at 16 New Street. I loved revisiting old favourites too such as Gerald Durrell’s famous zoo, Corbière Lighthouse, and Jersey’s many heritage sites. And now I have a new favourite, the magical ’ve never been one for assignations in car parks, but Full Moon Walk. Can’t I an al fresco late-night rendezvous was the start of an wait to do it again! unforgettable adventure in Jersey. I was taking part in the Full Moon Walk, a guided moonlight ramble across the sea bed when the tide is at its monthly low. SILVER FACTS Look into rock pools; see your moon shadow; and Let your local travel agent arrange your holiday maybe spot the luminous glow of hidden sea worms. to the Channel Islands. Contact them today. Run by Jersey Walk Adventures, it is just one great

6 UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS 10 Reasons to Visit Guernsey Easy coach tour to a well-loved seaside resort Glynis Sullivan takes a trip to Eastbourne and has a super time! lpha – let’s call it Alfa - in the Greek Alphabet A is the first letter, well, Accommodation, Leisure, Friendship and Accessibility come first in my ‘Alfa’ - bet too. Alfa encompasses all these attributes. The talk on the coach is “Where have you been to with Alfa?” and “Where have you booked for your next tour?”. These conversations start on the coach before you set off on your trip, so friendships begin to build as you start your tour. Alfa Holidays have excellent, convenient pick up areas and that is what people love about this coach company. Less mobile passengers are able to put a wheelchair in the hold of the coach and patience is shown when entering and leaving the coach by fellow travellers. Many senior travellers are finding that they Battle, Hastings, Rye and Brighton. If you wish to go can take three or four tours with Alfa for holidays on the tours that is fine and a day out to all these lovely around the UK throughout the year without ‘breaking places is a treat, otherwise you are free to entertain the bank’. yourself. Our hotel in Eastbourne was the Queens, a large Victorian building situated by Eastbourne Pier, a well- located hotel near to the beach and bus stops that can SILVER FACTS take you around the area or a short walk to the town To read the full article about Glynis' trip, go to centre with a wealth of shops and theatre. Included silvertraveladvisor.com/Eastbourne-advantage. in the price are organised day trips to places such as

To The Edinburgh Tattoo and Pitlochery Glynis Sullivan, a dedicated Silver Traveller, took the high road to Scotland on a Shearings Holidays escorted coach tour. She writes:

Held at the historic Castle, the Tattoo is a spectacular display by servicemen and women from all over the world. The massed pipe band started the proceedings and passed the baton to pipers from Jordan, then on to those from Nepal with dancers joining them. Scottish sword dancers showed their skills and later dancers from New Zealand swelled the ranks. The lighting and the graphics pulled the event together and the finale was the lone piper high up on the castle walls. The Shearings coaches were waiting to take us back to Pitlochry. It was a late night but well worth missing a little beauty sleep to see this spectacular event.

e visited Scotland this year, staying in SILVER FACTS W charming Pitlochery, with a number of excursions included too. Shearing Holidays offers a wide range of Going to Edinburgh is a great experience, but holidays in the UK and abroad. Speak to going to the Tattoo when the Edinburgh Fringe is your local travel agent to find out more. on is amazing and was a big draw for this particular Contact details are on the back of the tour. From shortbread biscuits through to Tam magazine. O’Shanters, all Scottish life is present!

7 UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS

Castles on the Border - reivers beware!

Northumberland conjures up a slightly mystical Arthur is buried here, in a cave at Sewingshields: there air, it’s a coastal county steeped in history, on can be no greater historical accolade surely. Nearby is Cragside. Built in the Victorian era by industrialist the English/Scottish border, where a touch William Armstrong, it was the first home in the of lawlessness and lack of submission has world to be lit by hydroelectricity, a testament to the encouraged the building of castles and fortress- technological advances of the era. like houses from Norman times, Alnwick Castle It would be easy to spend many days here being a prime example. exploring, including Bamburgh Castle, which appears almost impregnable, perched right on coast and which ts recently restored extraordinary garden is a is often used in historical films. What must also be Itestament to the determination and dedication recommended is the stunning coastline, a designated of the local aristocracy. Fortified peles and bastle AONB, offering miles of pristine beaches, glorious houses from the Middle Ages are prime examples of walking and superb countryside. how the local families, the reivers (cattle rustlers and general troublemakers) with names such as Robson, Charlton, Graham and Armstrong, took great care of their livestock, which lived on the ground floor of these solid buildings, to prevent their rivals stealing the cattle. Northumberland has always had strong and ancient links with Christianity, St Bede, St Aidan and St Cuthbert are all celebrated here. As our wonderful reviewer Eleanor Wasley reports, ‘A visit to Lindisfarne, Holy Island, across the causeway still brings a tingle to the spine. Stand in the ruins of the abbey and admire the spirit of these early saints. The Lindisfarne Gospels date from the 8th century. Now in the British Museum, they are one of the earliest surviving copies of the Bible and the illustrations are truly mind blowing. Northumbrian dialect, with its characteristic lilt and SILVER FACTS many words not found elsewhere in the English language, is a direct descendent of those times.’ Read Eleanor's full highly informative article silvertraveladvisor.com/Northumberland. The Romans have left their mark here too: Hadrian’s Wall, begun in 122AD, was a thriving frontier, with Or call us today for a travel quote - our number is milecastles and forts leaving the region in no doubt as on the back cover. to who was in charge! Local legend has it that King

8 UK AND CHANNEL ISLAND HOLIDAYS Great British Breaks mini guide Are you looking for ideas on Great British Breaks holidays here in Great Britain? Great British Breaks: A Guide for the Silver Traveller Our mini guide has it covered! Escorted tours & coach tours Great Britain is a wonderful place to travel around by coach, whether you Just Go Holidays – partner with the take a traditional trip, staying at one National Trust to bring you historical hotel and enjoying daily excursions, insights and unique visits. or join a small mini-bus tour, moving www.justgoholidays.com around the country, taking in sites or call 08432 244 222 along the way. Both have much to RHS Garden Holidays – British Welcome to the Silver recommend them, and both offer ou can take a to visit iconic seaside self-catering and escorted tours or gardens at their finest, with the tour managers and guides, as well Travel Advisor Mini Guide experts. Heavenly horticulture. activities aplenty! We all know that as experienced drivers, so you can www.rhs.org.uk/shop/rhs-garden- to Great British Breaks fabulous weather and continual totally relax. sunshine cannot be guaranteed, holidays We have heard from so many of you Alfa Travel – for trips offering however there is so much to do, it Shearings Holidays – coach tours of resorts, offering daily excursions, staying at a local who are fed up with negotiating excellent value, many pick up points really doesn’t matter! And a Great renown, with excellent excursions airports and all that it entails. and friendly hotels. Y British quality is to be stoic – who has and exciting evening entertainment. Standing in yet another queue far www.alfatravel.co.uk not taken a picnic on a windy beach Premium luxury Grand Tourer trips too early in the morning or late at or call 01257 248000 or walked in the forest on a chilly available. night, shoes off, hanging onto your Collette – small group tours, covering hotel. Or maybe tour the counties visiting historic trousers that are rendered beltless, August day? Somehow an ice cream, www.shearings.com fish and chips or afternoon tea taste London plus the length and breadth or call 0844 824 6351 whilst struggling to get your tablet of Great Britain. so much better after a bit of real Tauck Tours – very personal journeys and/or kindle out of your hand www.gocollette.com weather. around the iconic sites, major cities baggage and simultaneously filling or call 0800 804 8705 the rather too small plastic bag with So read on, and find just how many and glorious countryside. houses and charming gardens, with expert guides. Cox & Kings – high quality escorted fiddly liquidy things and make-up. interesting holidays you can take. www.tauck.co.uk Look out for the*, it shows the small groups or private tours across or call 0800 810 8020 This is where a holiday in Great the nation. www.coxandkings.co.uk company offers permanent special Trafalgar – interesting GB-wide Britain comes into its own! Just take or call 020 3773 8947 a look through this mini guide to find offers to members of the Silver Travel and long, itinerariesIdeas withfor specialist holidays and short-breaks around the If a country or city hotel takes your fancy, there are some seriously good holiday options: Club, for more information go to Grand UK Holidays – especially for guides, travelling in small groups. page 10. hotel stays, coastal and river cruises, those over 55, sociable and great fun. www.trafalgar.com/ukcountryside, cities and coast of Great Britain Happy Great British Breaks! Turkey and tinsel too.* or call 0800 533 5619 www.grandukholidays.com or call 01603 619933 *Special offers for Silver Travel Club properties just for adults, with glorious grounds or www.silvertraveladvisor.com members, see page 10. you’ll maybe head for the city and the delights the arts Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com and culture bring. Self-catering options work well, especially for larger SILVER FACTS groups and those who want to take pets too. Fresh air and the countryside are a tonic we all enjoy. All our mini guides, including Great British And of course, for walking and cycling there Breaks, can be requested by typing the title into are many opportunities, in guided groups or the search box on our website. independently. Activities such as photography, • Solo Silver Traveller dancing, yoga and jazz are all on offer as well. • Great British Accessible Attractions One of the most popular ways to see Great Britain • Great British Days Out with the Grandchildren is from the sea on a cruise, nd you can take in various • Great British Free Days out Scottish or Channel islands, as well as the Isles of • Great British Gardens Scilly. River and waterway cruises are a fun option • The Silver Travellers' Guide to Gatwick Airport too that guarantee a gentle potter.

Hidden England by Gillian Thornton It’s surprising how many beautiful and fascinating places we all pass by without realising as we hurry to our next destination. o in a bid to make us turn off the fast lane, eight S historic sites have joined together as ‘Hidden England’, crossing the county boundaries of Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, Cambridgeshire and Rutland. Most are within an hour’s drive of each other, so you can easily visit two or three in a day. I stayed at Barnsdale Lodge Hotel close to picturesque Rutland Water, one of four comfortable partner hotels. Hidden England includes two magnificent churches – Lincoln Cathedral with its Gothic architecture and soaring towers, and Peterborough Cathedral, last resting place of Tudor queen Catherine of Aragon. There’s more Tudor splendour at Burghley House on the edge of Stamford, home to William Cecil, High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I; at Grimsthorpe Castle, built for a visit by Henry VIII; and Doddington Hall with its replica Elizabethan garden. Tour 12 acres of restored wilderness at Easton Walled Gardens; climb the tour at Rockingham Castle for views over five counties; and wander through the SILVER FACTS 19th century state rooms at Belvoir Castle. Hidden Visit www.hiddenengland.org to find out more maybe, but all well worth discovering!

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 9 EUROPE Lakes and Mountains in Slovenia Wordsmith, Kay Wiseman, takes a trip to Slovenia and reports on her most enjoyable stay at Lake Bled. rriving from the airport, we are immediately A transported into alpine villages and meadows filled with wild flowers. Sitting snugly at the base of the Julian Alps, Lake Bled can only be described as chocolate box beautiful. The surrounding mountains and spruce trees are mirrored in the lake and seemingly floating in the centre, is the only island in Slovenia. Bled island. I love finding out how people live in different There’s a harsh winter climate in the Julian Alps, countries and so wandered off to look around a which leads to snow melts in the mountains, in turn local village. Photographers and artists will feel their creating sparkling waterfalls and dramatic gorges. creativity tingle walking past alpine farm houses with Vintgar Gorge cuts deep between the hills. The neatly stacked wood piles and hay racks. Just above boarded Tourist Trail allows us to take an exhilarating the village, you reach open pasturelands full of wild walk alongside the tumbling waterfalls, rapids and flowers and looking like an impressionist’s painting. It swirling pot holes with steep beech forest above us. is a beautiful part of the world. Jaka Azerman, Director For a real treat, we had dinner on the terrace of of the local tourist board, said “We live in paradise Castle Bled, which is lit up and looks every bit like a here”. I agree with him. Disney fairy castle. The food is exquisite and wine buffs tantalised their noses with the local Slovenian wines. I just enjoyed the taste! The younger members SILVER FACTS of our group declared this was the perfect proposal To find out more about visiting Slovenia, contact venue. It is indeed the most romantic spot I have ever your local independent travel agent today seen.

Would our teeth or fangs begin Cosmos coaches to grow – who knew, but it was one of the in Transylvania highlights on this Cosmos and the Balkans Transylvania and Balkans Glynis Sullivan and husband, Trevor, tour. The Castle’s ‘secret’ always game for an interesting, new staircase is journey, travelled to a region that’s how Dracula gaining wide interest. supposedly crept down to irst , which has a surprise around every his guests in the corner. Beautiful buildings and so much to F bedroom below do. The first afternoon was free and we visited the his to drink their famous Széchenyi thermal bath spa, what a treat, blood. Well, it watching the older residents playing chess by the certainly scared side of the pools and people taking advantage of me! the many warm pools, filled by natural springs. A couple of days later, Rila Monastery in Bulgaria was another stunning surprise, full of colourful frescoes SILVER FACTS and founded by a hermit in 927AD. The excitement was building as we approached Find out about escorted hoildays in Europe and the world-famous Bran Castle, would we see the beyod by contacting your local travel agent. ghost of Dracula, would we have our neck bitten?

10 EUROPE

Medical condition experts We compare insurers Specialist cruise DISCOVER THE BEAUTIFUL cover PearlISLAND of the Adriatic OF CORSICAOver 50s specialists Tales are often told of tiny coves, where pine trees grow almost to the water’s edge, of warm rocks to lie on and sands that almost melt away in shallow FOR 10% * DISCOUNT water to the Holidayshorizon. This isjust Croatia, like where they islands used to be – perfect from start toQUOTE finish SILV10 abound, each one somehow more tempting than the Discount applies to last. Where cosmopolitan style, with a hint of lingering Total Premium nostalgia, is part of the culture and present in towns and cities. Dubrovnik and Split have endless charm OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK and history. Croatia is the ideal place to enjoy a villa holiday, whether you’re keen to explore the rural Call FREE from Mobiles & Landlines interior as well as the enticing coastline. 0800 804 7063

SILVER FACTS Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. *No Age Limit applies to single trip policies only. Terms apply. Cvvillas.com offer exceptional properties in Justtravelcover.com is a trading name of Just Insurance Agents Limited, Victoria House, Sunderland, SR1 2QF Croatia and much of Europe

River cruising with Fred. Olsen Step aboard Brabant, Fred. Olsen’s dedicated river cruising boat. Built in 2006, this elegant and • comfortableFly direct vessel from is inStansted, keeping with , the British style of our ocean-going• 7, 10, cruise 11 ships. & 14-night Brabant’s holidays available, bright and spacious public areas and 79 well-equipped rooms and suites, spread across four decks, provideHeathrow, the intimate, home-from-home & feel which Fred. Olsen’s guestsplus already short know breaks and love.

• ToHand-picked book using your hotels, discount apartments code STC10 calland the Silver Travel• Tailor-made, Advisor member self-drive, twin and multi- bookingvillas with hotline private 0800 0355pools 108 or visit www.fredolsencruises.com/silver-travel-club centre holidays

*All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s (FOCL) standard terms & conditions, available on our website & on request. All prices quoted under the Silver Travel Club members discount offer are •exclusive All packages to qualifying members include & their travelling either companions car only, membershire mustor quote their discount• Resortcode at time of representatives booking. Membership discounts cannot on be hand applied retrospectively. 7 days Bookings must be made via the booking hotline number 0800 0355 108. Proof of membership will be required at the time of booking. Offers cannot be extended to any unrelated third party, are subject to availability & may be withdrawn or amended at any time without prior notice. From time to time FOCL may run special offers which cannot be combined with this discount, including selectedresort group traveltransfers deals. All guests booked under this scheme are requested to refrain from disclosing the a fareweek paid whilst on board. Offer is for first-time cruisers with Fred. Olsen only. Fred. Olsen Oceans members are entitled to a 5% Silver Travel Club discount subject to the same terms & conditions, to be applied after the standard Oceans discount, where applicable. In this instance, Oceans Terms & Conditions apply. Flights are excluded from any discounts. Offer ends 30/06/2019. E&OE.

FOC443981_Silver_Travel_Club_River_Ad_W.C.22.10.18_FV.indd 1 01/11/2018 10:25 VisitBook www.silvertraveladvisor.com today with your for travel local reviews traveland information agent 11

18C058 Advantage Silver Surfer Advert.indd 1 08/11/2018 12:51 EUROPE Caminhando - that’s Portuguese for walking! Sally Dowling strides out around Our days were spent sampling a new itinerary for 2019 centred around , including the historical the Lisbon coast city and UNESCO heritage site of Sintra, with its unique palaces and castles and glorious gardens. Moving onto the coastal town of Sesimbra, we hiked along the dramatic coastline of the beautiful Arrabida National Park. Late September is a perfect time of year to enjoy a walking holiday in Portugal and we were blessed with blue skies and long sunny days. Hotels and transport were arranged by Explore, and our guide, the remarkable Frank, helped the group choose restaurants or café for meals, as well as ensuring we never got lost. His knowledge of the area was outstanding. This trip was a perfect combination of city, country and coast. espite being a keen walker, I had never joined a Dguided walking tour so when Explore invited me to SILVER FACTS join a small group trip to Portugal I was very excited. To book an Explore holiday call your local Explore are activity holiday specialists and have some independent travel agent today. great itineraries all over the world, with walks and To read Sally's full article visit activities graded for suitability. I found them pretty silvertraveladvisor.com/portugal-explore- accurately measured. As a keen walker of average advantage. fitness, this trip, classed as ‘moderate’, suited me fine. WELL WORTH A WEEKEND ’s second city, Debrecen Undiscovered Debrecen is in the east of the country (two hours’ drive from Budapest). t offers an alternative destination to explore and I learn a little bit more about Hungarian culture. The city is small by UK standards, a population of around 200,000, but has plenty of attractions to keep you busy for a few days. It has several excellent museums, including the Déri Museum, best known for the monumental paintings of the Christ Trilogy; great restaurants, go to Ikon for a real taste of modern Hungarian cuisine; thermal spas, try the Aquaticum Mediterranean Spa and Water Park; and the unique Great Forest, an actual forest in the city that comes alive during the summer with lively bars and eating places. The Flower Carnival in August is a visual treat, expect to be entranced. Hortobágy National Park, Hungary’s first and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is easily reached from Debrecen as is, further afield, the Tokaj-Hegyalja Wine Region, where the world’s first vineyard classification SILVER FACTS system was born in 1772, ahead in France. For more information about visiting Hungary There are numerous specialist wineries to visit, many speak to your local independent travel agent with outstanding tasting sessions, excellent dining and today. accommodation in converted buildings.

12 EUROPE A weekend Exclusive North in Lausanne Iceland Arctic By Debbie Marshall Experience Direct from your local airport

+ Direct flights departing from 10.12.18 - 15.03.19 + 3 or 4 nights accommodation + 20kg hold luggage & 5kg hand luggage + Resort airport transfers + SearchSea for the Northern Lights tour + Lake Myvatn - Land of Fire and Ice full day tour

have always had something of a love affair with ISwitzerland since my first brief visit in the late 1980s. I can recall with total clarity my first view of the mountains across the lake, and couldn’t believe that anywhere could be so beautiful and tranquil. This was a long way from the home counties! Since then I have discovered the city centres of Geneva and Zurich, the ski resorts of Valais and the Bernese Oberland, and the palm trees of Lugano. captivates me like no other place. Yet Lausanne has always been something of a transitory acquaintance. An exit on the autoroute, a stop on the train, but never a place to linger. Yet with its lakeside location surrounded by mountains, from Olympic connections and a reputation for wonderful £499pp culture and cuisine, I always knew it held the or book now with £49pp deposit* ingredients for a perfect city break. The pace of life is tranquil, the views are incredible and the climate is benign. The Swiss are so civilised See your local Travel Agent for and friendly. Cars stop to let you cross, the waiters are smiling and the shop assistants are genuinely pleased more information to see you. Find out more about Debbie’s weekend break in Lausanne on www.silvertraveladvisor.com by typing Lausanne into the search box

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 13 EUROPE PRAGUE, , BUDAPEST perfectly preserved cities of romance, rich in history and diverse in culture. Five star hotels. All perfect locations - three nights in each. Prague will capture your hearts. In Vienna, we had a ball. And Budapest? It's truly magnificent. The food is superb, including the best ice cream this side of Italy. Extraordinary castles, wonderful palaces, amazing cathedrals. The crown jewels. A madcap restaurant. was a revelation. Gyor even more so. A sensational Strauss concert in Vienna. An almost private classical recital in a candlelit monastery too. Street theatre. Tram rides, boat trips, river cruises, walks with witty and knowledgeable guides. Wine tasting, a brewery visit. Exquisite art. Big skies, an ever present sun. Stunning gardens. Thermal baths. Trafalgar. Simply the best. Just turn up and they do the rest. Read Dave’s fabulous blogs about this trip at Dave Harcombe, our travelling www.silvertraveladvisor.com, type Trafalgar into the pharmacist, goes right to the heart search box. of three cities in Europe. SILVER FACTS five star road trip with a multi award winning To find the best tour for you, speak to your Atravel company, Trafalgar. With a cast of forty local travel agent. eight, a pot pourri of nationalities and the best driver Contact details are on the back cover. and tour director in the world. Ten days. Three The Glorious AZORES Steve Newman, our Social Media Manager, visited The Azores. He revelled in the climate, scenery and wildlife.

ut quite simply, the Azores are stunning. Only a from the hillside above Oporto and dropped here. three and a half hour flight from the UK, the nine P The islands offer amazing walking on clifftop islands that rise from the middle of the Atlantic are paths or looking down on tree lined lakes that fill old bathed in the warmth of the Gulf Stream and so have volcanic craters. They are also a popular destination good weather all year around. for cycling and one of the world’s best destinations for An autonomous region of Portugal, the islands are whale watching. A magnificent holiday choice. characterized by dramatic landscapes, fishing villages, To read Steve’s longer article, type Azores in the green pastures and hedgerows of blue hydrangeas search box at www.silvertraveladvisor.com but each one is totally different. The people are so friendly and food so cheap: I frequently ate for under 12 Euros with wine. SILVER FACTS Ponta Delgada on Sao Miguel, the main island, has For expert advice on hoildays to The Azores mosaic patterned pavements and squares and white speak to your local travel agent. colonial buildings that seem to have been plucked

14 EUROPE Relaxing in Corfu Angela Rippon enjoys R&R in Avlaki

hen I was a young reporter in the Westcountry, home each evening lit by the fireflies dancing in the WI was sent to Jersey to make a film about the hedgerows. And yes – one evening we did have wonderful Zoo that conservationist and broadcaster a takeaway to curl up and watch a DVD of Shirley Gerald Durrell had established on the island. Valentine. In preparation for meeting the great man himself, The keen swimmers in our sextet voted the bay the and learning more about his passion for animals, I best open water swimming experience ever. Whilst read the glorious account of his childhood on the we hedonists enjoyed almost daily pampering from island of Corfu in his book My Family and other visiting beauticians. Animals and was totally captivated. I could smell the I went trekking through the wooded hills with a local scent of pine; hear the endless song of the cicadas; riding school. And I appreciated again how the young feel the sun on my back; and share the wonder of a Durrell fell in love ten-year-old boy at the discovery of an Island rich with this place as in flora and fauna, which was his playground. His we wound our way book turned the island of Corfu into a “must visit” along trails flanked destination for thousands of holidaymakers. Me by banks of shrubs amongst them. and wild flowers It’s been many years since I made a trip to that alive with butterflies particular Greek Island. So when I was given the and bees. opportunity of returning earlier this year, I jumped For a whole week, at the chance. And so did five of my closest women we were lotus eaters. friends who couldn’t bear the thought of me being When we left, we there on my own! Six women sharing a house for a each had the start of week – now there’s a challenge. But it turned out to be an early tan, some a blast. truly fun memories. The villa was fabulous. Tucked into a hillside at And the real test of one end of the glorious bay that is Avlaki, our view a great holiday? We skimmed over the villa’s infinity pool to give an were all still talking uninterrupted panorama of the curved bay and crystal to each other. turquoise sea that was virtually our own private beach. Two shore side restaurants offered a choice of SILVER FACTS international cuisine in one, traditional home cooked For the best advice on booking a villa holiday Greek in the other. Every dinner was eaten watching speak to your local independent travel agent the sky painted with stunning sunsets, against the today. chorus of frogs from the nearby lake. Our walk

15 EUROPE Andrew Morris visits Chernobyl thirty years on 81 year-old Ivan Semenyuk needs a - at 01:23 on 26th April, 1986 - reactor number 4 at the nearby nuclear plant exploded. stick to help him walk these days. You need an authorised guide to visit the strictly controlled Exclusion Zone, and over two days you e stoops will be shown sites that provide a snapshot of a a little and H place frozen in time and giving a real sense of life struggles to pick under Soviet control. up the logs from A ‘Special Zone’ exists around the nuclear the wood store reactors, but we got surprisingly close to number 4. outside his humble Encased in a concrete sarcophagus since the end home, especially of 1986, it was protected anew a couple of years in the depths of a ago by a French-designed stainless steel outer Ukrainian winter. shell, 10 years in the making, the largest movable Inside, we help him structure ever made and hopefully capable of light the stove and containing Chernobyl’s nuclear contamination for settle back to hear another 100 years. his story. Because Ivan is still living in the village of SILVER FACTS Paryshyv, deep To arrange for a fascinating visit to this within the official remarkable place speak to your local travel Exclusion Zone of today. Chernobyl, where

Winter Adventure in Romania Andrew Morris took Explore's Winter Adventure in Romania tour which provides the perfect introduction to this fascinating country - its interesting past; wildlife; spectacular landscapes; and fun activities.

ndrew visited the capital city of Bucharest to Aunderstand the impact of crazed Communist leader, Ceausescu in the 1970s and 1980s, and enjoyed the charming old town that survived his megalomania. Andrew joined a wildlife expert to track deer, wolves, lynx and bears, in the Carpathian mountains and then took a cable car up to Balea Lac, high in the Sighisoara, a most attractive mediaeval town and Fagaras mountains of Transylvania, for snow-shoeing birthplace of infamous Vlad the Impaler; and Viscri, a and a gentle spot of ice-tubing. proudly preserved traditional Saxon village. He travelled to intriguing towns and villages with a knowledgeable local guide, who told the story of Romania’s rich history and heritage with humour SILVER FACTS and insight: Brasov, where Germans first arrived in For the best touring option for you speak to your the mid 12th century; Bran, famous for its castle, local travel agent today. and inspiration for Bram Stoker’s home of Dracula;

16 RAIL Andrew Morris visits NORWAY’S coast, country Chernobyl thirty years on and cities by rail Gillian Thornton takes a Scandinavian break, by train, twisting and turning along the track.

any holidaymakers only admire Norway’s Mspectacular mountain scenery at fjord level from the deck of a . But a rail break provides a whole new perspective, as I discovered on a week- long escorted trip with Great Rail Journeys, which began by the water in Bergen and finished at the harbour in Oslo, with a 12-mile ride on the famous Flåm scenic railway, which delivered us far inland to the furthest tip of pretty Aurlandsfjord. But first Bergen, where the waterside Hotel Clarion Admiral is one of three choices offered by GRJ. Across the harbour, the painted wooden facades of the UNESCO-listed Bryggen are reminders of Bergen’s importance as a port from the Middle Ages to the 17th century. Visit the Hanseatic Museum in an atmospheric wooden merchant’s house, and the narrow alleys lined with boutiques where dried cod and other staple goods were once traded. Bergen also boasts an excellent collection of art museums, including works by Munch, and some seriously good restaurants. The must-do view is the panoramic terrace on Mt Floyen, gateway to a network of upland walking trails or take the funicular quayside delivered us on cue for an afternoon cruise upwards. excursion, before overnighting in the historic Freitheim Hopping on the Bergen-Oslo railway next day, I hotel – a 19th century farm that began to host British watched the scenery change as the carriages wound salmon fishermen. Take the daily free tour for the full steadily up past small farms nestled in rugged valleys. story. At Myrdal, we changed onto the Flamsbana, opened Picking up the mainline again, we sliced through 75 years ago to replace horse-drawn traffic. the spectacular and sparsely populated interior to Today it’s one of the world’s most picturesque Oslo, where the Thon Hotel Opera occupies pole routes twisting steeply - and ingeniously – down position between station and harbour. Take a walk on from Myrdal to the fjord at Flam. A short walk to the the sloping white roof of the eye-catching new Opera House opposite, shaped like a glacier. Norway’s capital has museums to many of its famous countrymen and events, from Munch and Ibsen to Thor Heyerdahl’s Kon-Tiki expedition and polar exploration on board the Fram. I found it humbling to stand in the Viking Ship Museum beside four huge vessels excavated in the 1890s, complete with intricate artefacts. But even more so to discover the Vigeland Sculpture Park with its 600 beautiful human figures from babies to the elderly. A moving end to an unforgettable rail trip.

SILVER FACTS Your local travel agent can tailor make a rail journey to your individual requirements. Contact them today for details. For more information on travel to Norway visit www.visitnorway.com.

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 17 RAIL Take to the Tracks iven just how much time can be spent shuffling Gthrough security at airports, hopping on a train to start your holiday seems a marvellous plan, and it’s possible to get to the most interesting places, Moscow, or Zagreb, for a tailor made short break, or for a longer wander around Europe as Rail Passes for seniors offer remarkably good value options. There’s a real sense of being a true traveller as you head for a change of train (which will be on time) and a quick snack, in or , surrounded by city life and bustle. It’s that authentic experience we all crave. Canada is one country which has train travel seriously sorted out! Jacqueline Jeynes took the with a curtain very much like the US trains in the Rocky Mountaineer and writes, ‘We had the luxury thirties. The important thing is all the bed linen is of enjoying the Gold Leaf service, comfortable fresh and third class is near the buffet car.’ Top tips roomy seats allocated on the top deck of the indeed! And undoubtedly authentic in every way. sightseeing carriage, the dome. This is a family-run company that has customer service down to a fine art. There is no doubt this is luxury travel, flawlessly SILVER FACTS organised.’ Your local travel agent will help you plan your If you fancy an exotic journey whilst in Thailand, route and can assist with booking all your Steve Francis’ journey on the night train from travel. Give them a call and start planning that Bangkok to Chiang Mai, might be worth considering. adventure today. He travels third class aircon, sleeping in ‘bunk beds

Railways of an island by Alan Fairfax

ention the Isle of Man and immediately visions of via large brass handles outside the carriage, and the M T.T. Racing, banking and finance come to mind, windows are operated by a leather strap. The fire is but there is far more to this island. well alight, steam is up and with a long blast on the The Manx Electric Railway built between 1893 whistle we slowly roll out of the station. and 1899 operates from Derby Castle affording Enjoy the Isle of Man, with its historic trains, great trains to the village of Laxey in the east and the town museums and beautiful beaches, excellent restaurants of Ramsey in the north. Boarding the Laxey bound and sensibly priced accommodation – it’s rather a treat! train, is like stepping back in time, with open sided carriages built in the late 1800s with their wooden slatted seats and high roofs in pristine condition. SILVER FACTS We take the steam train too from Douglas to Port Speak to your local travel agent to discover Erin, which began service in 1874. The original more rail holiday options carriages have doors that are locked and unlocked

18 EUROPEAN HOLIDAYS

IMPERIAL CITIES & FIVE-STAR DANUBE CRUISE

This magnifi cent cruise experience sees you begin It’s all included in the price your adventure by uncovering the unparalleled . . . and it’s exclusive to Great Rail Journeys beauty of three of Europe’s Imperial cities. • Escorted by a UK Tour Manager from London to Starting in , you continue to Prague and embarkation, and from disembarkation back to Budapest, enjoying excellent accommodation and London guided tours in each one before embarking on a • Exclusive meeting point at our dedicated spectacular 7-night fi ve-star cruise on the blue Departure Offi ce in St Pancras Danube, exploring its glorious destinations and its • All rail and coach travel throughout your tour and a musical heritage. fully escorted return journey by rail back to London

1 BERLIN • 4 nights’ hotel accommodation and 7-night cruise Cologne on board the Amadeus Queen 11 breakfasts, TO/FROM BRUSSELS Germany 6 lunches and 11 dinners 1 Railways of an island by Alan Fairfax COLOGNE River Rhine Belgium FRANKFURT Czech • Flexible Excursions - Choice of two in selected ports PRAGUE 2 Prague Republic Luxembourg • Entrance to Hradcany Castle and St Vitus’ Cathedral

Cruise REGENSBURG River Danube END Days 4-11 DURNSTEIN VIENNA PASSAU Munich BRATISLAVA EMMERSDORF HOW TO For more information or to book, please By Ship 1 Nights in hotel 1 Nights on ship 7 Budapest ZürichBy Rail START By Coach Austria BUDAPEST Hungary BOOK contact your local Travel Agent Switzerland

12 Days from £2,195 pp | Departures between 6th May and 22nd September 2019

Book with 100% confi dence, fl ight-inclusive holidays are ATOL protected, non fl ight-inclusive holidays are protected by ABTA. Dates and prices are subject to availability. Prices shown are per person, based on 2 people sharing. Prices may change prior to and after publication. Itinerary may differ depending on the departure date you choose. Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.comTerms and conditions apply. Please for call travel for further reviews details. Calls and will beinformation recorded. 19

0696 GRJ Advantage Trade AD NOV18.indd 1 15/11/2018 12:19 RAIL went speedily through Kent, diving under the channel, and on to , where we grabbed a glass of wine in a street cafe before the high speed TGV left for Switzerland. Our Hotel du Theatre, in the atmospheric cobbled streets of Zurich’s old town Niederdorf, was just a five minutes’ walk from the station. Next morning, we were travelling south and just beyond Lake Zurich the Alps appeared, sharp snow-capped peaks fringed with bright green valleys and dotted with black and white cows – wearing bells. Several tunnels and bridges later the train descended to Lake Lugano, and then Lake Como – marking our crossing into Italy. The train rolled into ’s massive Romanesque , via Paris station, where there was a moment to peek outside and sip a real Italian coffee. The afternoon train raced and Zurich east across rich farmland, with glimpses of the Italian Alps on the horizon. Silver Travel Advisor’s rail guru, Journey’s end was in sight as we crossed the Peter Lynch journeys to Venice, in his lagoon to Venice’s Santa Lucia station. A cruise down the Grand Canal on a vaporetto, past tantalisingly own inimitable style. illuminated windows of palazzos, and we were at our f you mention travelling from London to Venice by hotel – The Giorgione. Itrain everybody assumes it will be on the iconic Orient Express, which still runs a weekly scheduled service between March and November to Venice. SILVER FACTS But this is not the only option: I booked a train Peter's full article can be read at and accommodation package using regular trains silvertraveladvisor.com, type in Venice departing hourly from London. into the search box. We boarded a Eurostar at St Pancras station, then

Discover Europe And Beyond By Rail Unparalleled service, incredible travel experiences and the very best value—all inspired by you. For the finest independent tailor-made rail holidays, book with your local travel agent.

20 CYCLING & E-BIKES E bikes are easy, efficient and energy-saving! Jennie Carr explains

Silver Travel Advisor’s Chrissy Nason tests an e-bike in the UK with Inghams. You can read her article by typing “Box Hill” into the search box on www.silvertraveladvisor.com.

gentle purr began behind me and Ingrid, aged 82, through its paces and go off piste to explore some of A confidently pedalled past, a politely pleased smile the castles and monasteries on high. Now the power on her face. She had, of course, made use of her mode really came into its own. Not from a standing e-bike’s electric-assist mode to cruise quietly by on a start - getting the thing going up a steep hill is a gradual incline that was, I admit, challenging my inner challenge unless you can take a run at it, and with a thighs! We were cycling in Italy, along the River Po. proper hill you are peddling hard. But you do get up No matter what anyone tells you, donning lycra and a it. And that is the advantage. I think it means I could snazzy helmet do not make the lumps and bumps of now tackle almost a cycling holiday any easier. A bit more pre-holiday anything. Not the pedalling practice might have been in order, however Alps, perhaps but I help was at hand. could tackle nearly all If you fancy a trip by bike, and there’s much to cycling jaunts, and recommend it, a leisurely pace, being part of the how liberating is that! countryside, feeling good about the exercise, I now There will, of see no reason to puff or pant when e-bikes are course, be purists available on almost every cycling holiday and on many amongst you who are river cruises for active land excursions. Yes, they are horrified at this heresy, slightly heavier to start with, however once you get however I urge you going, the extra weight is forgotten and you no longer to try the e-bike just break into even the lightest sweat, as hills are tackled once – you’ll never with relative ease. look back! Ingrid and Judith Holder loves e-biking! Comedy writer, Judith Holder told me, ‘E bikes are Judith didn’t. incredibly easy to use. There are 4 modes. First you can use it just as a bike with no power, second one SILVER FACTS is ‘eco’ which gives you a little boost and gets your speed up, third is ‘power’ which means oh yes, you There are a number of travel providers offering really do get some speed up, and the fourth is ‘sport’ cycling hoildays near and far for all abilities. which sends you up hills like Chris Frome.’ To find out more, call your local travel agent On her recent trip along the Danube, she reports today. Contact details are on the back cover. thus: on Day Three I thought I’d really put the bike

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 21 GENERAL TRAVEL Building a better world as you travel The Planeterra Foundation is a non-profit partner of G Adventures: established in 2003 by founder, Bruce Poon Tip, it was created so the travel industry could give back to local communities. Using the annual contribution from G Adventures to cover operating and project administration costs, Planeterra spends 100% of its donations on projects in social enterprise, healthcare, education and conservation. From Iceland to Sri Lanka, Brazil to Uganda, with 17 new partnerships announced in 2018, Planeterra now has 68 project partners in 41 countries around the world to which it has contributed millions of pounds. Here are projects you might visit on a Empowering Women - G Adventures trip: Maasai Clean Cookstoves in Tanzania Planeterra helped to create a community tour, which generates an income for their partners at the Maasai Stoves & Solar Project. This visit is led by the all-women engineer team and takes travellers to experience the difference in air quality that a clean cookstove makes to a boma (homestead). The tour pays for the cost of a new stove, which once installed, removes 90% of indoor smoke pollution. The entire boma also receives solar power, increasing security and safety. Through a training course, the Maasai women become experts in stove and solar panel installation. So far, the project has trained 75 New Paths for Youth - women and installed 750 stoves in over sixty Maasai Bike with Purpose in Belize areas across the Serengeti and has expanded into This project aims to provide youth on Caye Caulker neighbouring Uganda. with training for future employment in island tourism and conservation science. It is a social enterprise, Conserving Cultures - giving students from Caye Caulker’s Ocean Academy Jukil Lodge in Bolivia the chance to practice guiding skills while giving Beginning in June visiting travellers a unique experience. Planeterra 2016, Planeterra and provided funds to buy bikes and other materials for a G Adventures, with the student-led bicycle island tour. This activity is included help of sponsor Live Out for over 2,500 G Adventures travellers and bike rentals There, began funding the are available for everyone, with proceeds funding construction and upgrade educational programmes at Ocean Academy. of Jukil Community Lodge, which is seen by the village as a way to rescue their indigenous culture and provide training and meaningful work for their young people. Visitors to the Lodge learn about the local agricultural practices, including quinoa production, and take a walk guided by a local to the sacred Jukil mountaintop.

SILVER FACTS

Read more about these projects at planeterra.org.

22 GENERAL TRAVEL Building a better world as you travel

HOLIDAY HICCUPS Judith Holder shares her thoughts. Bad food on holiday is a serious blow for me now. We’ve all been to hotels where much of breakfast is s older travellers we taken by the “we’ve smuggled out a sandwich for A have our upsides – if lunch” brigade. You know who you are. But recently we’re delighted with the I went to a hotel which was so devoid of decent food holiday, generally we are that people were taking food IN. That’s a bad look, pretty good at telling people, wouldn’t you say? we’re really interested in Then there are the small niggles, there’s a sun- the local cathedral, and lounger war going on (and inevitably, once one let’s face it, we represent a person does it you’re all at it), the beach is a bus huge section of the holiday ride away, you’d forgotten how annoying sand is, the market. heat brings you out in a rash, and there’s a hen party Essentially, we know what down the corridor. I can sympathise, holiday hiccups we want, we don’t suffer are seriously annoying. Unless you’ve chosen to go fools gladly, and if need be, camping of course, foolhardy and I hope you know we can be black belt complainers. Sometimes I have what you are up against, or you are brave enough to been known to change rooms three times. Just saying. go skiing, in which case you are probably lucky to get The complication for me is that as I get older I need home at all. to take a little bubble of my normal routine with me –my case is full of tea bags (tragic I know, but frankly I am past caring) and a travel kettle – oh yes, you can scoff but kettles in hotel rooms are not standard especially in Third World countries like France and Germany (what is it with nations who don’t have kettles, hello?). There are limits, for instance I draw the line at slippers, but don’t think it hasn’t occurred to me. We’ve all had bad holidays. Top of my list would be a week in Portugal out of season when it rained so much I needed a change of clothes after walking from my room to breakfast, and the beach disappeared in a storm. After a week of that, your normal routine at home feels like bliss. This has its own upside because Judith writes a blog Greypride, co-writes a lot of your relief and joy to be back home is immense and comedy with Jenny Éclair and podcasts with her under you actually don’t want another holiday for ages. the banner of Older and Wider.

23 EUROPEAN CRUISE THE WONDERS OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS with Saga

Rainbow colours leap across the sky dancing to a silent orchestra and a choir of oohs and aahs from the deck of Saga Pearl II, as travelling pharmacist, Dave Harcombe watches the sky whilst cruising. bove our heads the magical Aurora Borealis A(Northern Lights) are treating us to something so very special. They are all around the ship - a full 360 degree panoramic view. And for once majestic Saga Pearl II is an insignificant bystander in this wonderful 3D display. A delicious tingle goes down my back and my hairs stand up. Like most things in life, it starts slowly. Finger-like plumes emerge from nowhere and gradually pick up tempo and imagination. Extraordinary shapes, beautifully un-choreographed. It's like a giant spotlight shining into the sky with its beam dancing across the celestial spaces. "Look at me" it proclaims, "I can do this ... and this ... and this". And a spectacular 3D display begins - mesmerising, teasing and leading us in a merry dance. A slow waltz, then a quick step. Freestyle too. Constantly moving, disappearing, then reappearing often with increased intensity and boldness. Above and around our heads. You want to reach out and caress it. Swirling and skipping. Green curtains ripple privileged to be part of it. I have waited almost 60 across the sky - tinged at the lower edge with red. years to see this phenomenon and we are in luck. Colours jump and leap. A gigantic firework display all These ‘swords in heaven’ or ‘candle dragons’ are for us. It's like an artist painting an abstract work of art magnetic particles of pure joy. at breakneck speed. As day turns into night searching for ‘the lights’ It's minus 10 on deck. The frosty air is pummelling becomes almost an obsession. Thermal jacket, gloves, our faces. But the intense cold is suddenly forgotten vests, hats all laid out on our beds for quick access. as this natural antidepressant instantly lifts our mood. Fingers crossed for clear, starry nights as we follow We can smell the sea. We inhale the icy fresh air. A the routes of the Vikings. shooting star cuts through a night full of twinkling stars. A perfectly clear sky. Ghosts of seafaring Viking warriors, fisherman and oil workers glide across the SILVER FACTS water, silhouetted under a full moon. To find out more about Saga's full range of cruise Across the next four nights the lights keep coming options speak to your local travel agent. - like invaders from a distant galaxy- and we are so

24 FARAWAY & EXOTIC 2020 Europe & Russia River Cruising Out Now

A river cruise with APT is the most relaxing and stylish way to discover Europe’s waterways. Enjoy ever-changing views, exceptional dining and stylish surroundings aboard your river ship. On shore, enjoy carefully-crafted excursions led by local guides who will bring the history and culture of each destination to life.

So much is included: BOOK EARLY & SAVE Return flights from the UK

Artist Impression Unique cultural experiences European Gems in towns, villages and cities 15 Day Essential river cruise | Budapest to Excursions & Insider experiences Cruise through Europe’s heartland and discover the charming towns, historic cities and cultural gems that line the banks of the Danube, Main and Rhine Rivers on this 15 day Essential river cruise. 15 days from only £2,095* per person Complimentary soft drink, Departures from April 2020 to October 2020 beer and local wine with lunch and dinner on board† NEW FOR 2020 Onboard Bicycles Contemporary River Ship Cruise Director and Custom-designed for Europe’s waterways, Local Guides this vessel features modern decor and spacious public areas. Stylish accommodation Prepare to be wowed by the ship’s state-of-the-art facilities, including Sun Deck with heated whirlpool, roof-top All tipping and port charges Garden Terrace and bar, Vista Lounge that opens out to a spacious verandah and Overseas Transfers the relaxed pub atmosphere of McGeary’s Bar. Artist Impression

EUROPE | RUSSIA | VIETNAM & CAMBODIA | CHINA

6781 *Prices are per person, twin share and include saving where applicable. Solo supplements apply. Valid on new bookings up to 30 March 2019 or until sold out. Subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Not combinable with any other offer unless specified. European Gems (EUTCR15F): Price For friendlybased adviceon travel from in E cabin your on local 6 April travel 2020 expertson a Classic call River us todayShip. A non-refundable- our number's deposit on theof £500 back per page person is due within 7 days of booking, full payment due 100 days prior to departure. †Regional wine, beer and soft drink served with lunch and dinner. Prices correct at time of publication. For25 full terms & conditions please refer to the APT River Cruise 1st Edition 2020 brochure. UK1368 ABTA No.V9080 RIVER CRUISE At the helm of Avalon Waterways Pam Hoffee, Managing Director of Avalon Waterways, talked to Jennie Carr.

River cruising is becoming ever more popular, what do you think makes it so attractive as a holiday? River cruising is the world’s fastest-growing travel style for several reasons. When you take a river cruise, you visit dozens of destinations by way of a luxury, floating boutique hotel, which means you only have to unpack and pack once. That is its number 1 appeal. It also appeals to travellers interested in getting off the-beaten-path, with itineraries that feature a good mix of large cities, small towns and villages which are at the heart of the country and provide authentic, insightful experiences. Onboard dining is another reason people love river cruising, with much else included, so travellers know the cost of their trip upfront. Do you have plans for any new river cruises, on waterways we might not expect, somewhere What is it about Avalon that makes a cruise with unusual? you so special? In 2019, we have expanded our Mekong River cruises Avalon Waterways appeals to travellers interested in with a new, Suite Ship – the Avalon Saigon. Travellers choices. Whether people want to enjoy a guided city cruise through narrow passageways on intimate, walking tour, join a cooking class or paddle a canoe, 36-passenger ships to get close to the sights, cultures, our Choice selections of Classic, Discovery and Active and traditions of Vietnam and Cambodia, visiting excursions offer a wide range of possibilities, which areas virtually untouched by tourists. allows guests to decide what suits their particular We have also introduced the Ganges River for 2019. interests and passions. And we’re giving travellers our most dynamic When guests prefer to explore alone, we offer “Special Interest” cruises to date, from beer and wine recommendations and information with our new to history, music and Christmas cruises, inviting them Adventure Center and AvalonGO mobile app. to explore their hobbies and passions. And 2019 gives Finally, with Avalon, there’s only one point-of-view history buffs a unique opportunity to pay tribute to – the suite view. For the first time, in 2019, the entire and remember WWII on Normandy’s Beaches on the fleet is completely comprised of Suite Ships®, each 75th Anniversary. featuring Panorama Suites with the widest opening windows in river cruising, the industry’s only Open-Air Balcony and an inviting bed facing the ever-changing SILVER FACTS scenery. Read the full article at silvertraveladvisor.com/ pam-avalon-advantage. How do Avalon look after single travellers? To find out more about Avalon Waterways Avalon Waterways has waived the single supplement cruising holidays contact your local travel agent for solo travellers on several departures throughout today. the year. Up to 10 percent of our guests cruise alone.

26 FARAWAY & EXOTIC

SMALL DETAILS. BIG DIFFERENCE.

OPEN-AIR BALCONIES, EVEN MORE LUXURY PRIVATE HOME WITH BEDS FACING THE VIEW INCLUDED IN THE PRICE PICK-UP SERVICE See the world go by from your bed. Full board dining with wine and beer, We’ll take you to and from the All of our suite staterooms o er gratuities, return fl ights, transfers and airport so you can relax from the stunning views. excursions. No hidden fees. moment you close your front door.

or more information contact our local travel aent

We are a memberVisit www.silvertraveladvisor.com of ABTA and our fl ight-inclusive holidays for travel are protected reviews by and the informationATOL scheme. ABTA No.V3031 27 RIVER CRUISE

Bar du Leopard on board Uniworld’s Maria Theresa

Indeed, as a nineteen year old, Beethoven sailed on a yacht with the Bonn Orchestra on the Rhine and Main John Suchet to a prince’s country residence, and on the journey he had to work his passage as a menial kitchen hand.

to cruise the Danube It's well known that river cruising is rather a lovely way to travel, great After such a wonderful evening comfort, small ships and plenty hosting the Silver Travel Awards of being looked after! The Uniworld ships look really in July 2018, John told Jennie Carr luxurious, with beautiful staterooms. about his travel plans in 2019. I know we are promised superb dining, with wonderful We were delighted to have you hosting the Awards wines. All this whilst earlier this year, what better way could there be travelling through of celebrating that undeniable link between music Europe for eight and travel, with Classic FM and Silver Travel days, from Budapest Advisor. You’re off on a Uniworld river cruise next to Passau, with year, where will you be going? And what music will Linz and this journey evoke for you? thrown in for good I’m off on an Enchanting Danube cruise, which is at measure too – a the western end of the river, as it flows through Vienna. musical feast. It’ll You have an outstanding musical tradition there. Three be like being in a Strausses and Schubert were totally Viennese, and fabulous floating Beethoven, Brahms and Mozart all worked and lived hotel! I can’t wait, in the city. It positively oozes music. Despite the especially as we’re fact that the Viennese Waltz is so closely linked with visiting Vienna, Johann Strauss, he famously couldn’t dance, and which is undoubtedly, what’s more, neither can I! my favourite city. I’ll have the opportunity to What particularly appeals to you about river give a couple of talks on cruising? Is it the ability to link places you visit the ship too, something I to former times, and thus understand more about always enjoy. history? There’s also a realisation, once you’re on a European river, that these were and are the arteries of the continent, linking many countries in SILVER FACTS a way we don’t experience in Britain. Find out more about Uniworld and other river I like the idea that there’s always something new to cruise operators by calling your local travel agent. see and you cruise through historical cities and towns. Contact details are on the back cover. It’s something I have wanted to do for ages. Many Read the full article about John at of these places have musical connections, and the silvertraveladvisor.com/John-Suchet- musicians of the day would have travelled along these Uniworld-Advantage. very waterways to reach the various princely courts.

28 FARAWAY & EXOTIC

Europeanith redRivers lsen 2019

Sail the breath taking Danube; savour the highlights of the heart of Europe on a journey through the spell bounding Moselle, Rhine and Main Valleys; enjoy a taster cruise to Amsterdam when the tulips are in full flourish; and much more. Now Fred. Olsen’s experience and knowledge has been applied to a new programme of tempting river cruises.

ere is a selection of cruises we ave to offer in 01...

iver anube and lorin te Scenic Scenic elits of te omantic ine Cit iscover oselle alle oselle alle oselle arvels

8 nights • Brabant • Sails from 7 nights • Brabant • Sails from 7 nights • Brabant • Sails from 7 nights • Brabant • Sails from Budapest to Nuremburg Dusseldorf to Basel Basel to Dusseldorf Basel to Dusseldorf 22nd May 2019 6th June 2019 13th June 2019 27th June 2019 17th September 2019 4th July 2019 11th July 2019 25th July 2019 1st August 2019 8th August 2019 from only 1 from only 1 from only 1 from only 1

To book or or more inormation contact your local Advantae Travel

Information shown is correct at time of going to press (Feb 2019). Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy, subject to availability. Fares are capacity controlled and may change at any time. Call for latest prices. Fares shown are based on fly cruises, which include return flights from/to a London airport based on economy class as arranged by FOCL, and transfers to/from the boat. Flights will be any London airport to a relevant destination airport; this will be dependent on the airline operations. Flights may be with any scheduled airline. TheFor airline friendly carrier andadvice route from will not your be availablelocal travel until approximatelyexperts call 10 us months today prior - our to yournumber's return date, on the when back airline page schedules are published. Please see full terms and conditions for more information. Should you wish to make your own way to join the boat; the cruise-only option is 29 available on all Fred. Olsen river cruises and a deduction will be made to the price. You will also need to arrange your own transfers to/from the boat. E&OE.

FOC454023_Advantage_Silver_Surfer_Magazine_A4_Ad WC.18.02.19_FV.indd 1 22/02/2019 12:35 RIVER CRUISE Slow-boating in French style a full-size fridge-freezer, a proper shower with glass doors and a full-height master cabin. Plus two bikes for exploring, safely stowed on the top-deck. Off the main tourist-trails, the pretty riverside villages, mini-chateaux and towns welcome visitors with open, flower-filled arms. Slow-lane life is wonderfully friendly! I had some trepidation about the series of locks on the river. However, Nicols gave us a full explanation of how everything works set of instructions before we set off. After one or two locks, we relaxed: we could do this – and so, I’m sure, could you! Rather than stay at a marina, we choose to fly- camp at unspoilt ‘nature moorings’ most evenings, Gill Haynes left Silver Towers for a simply tying up at the side of the river. One night, we watched two coypus, looking like week of meandering. beavers that have run into a wall, rummaging among he kingfisher catapulted across the river like the lily pads at the water's edge. And the river is T an azure ball-bearing, landed on a branch then jumping with fish. No wonder that, like us, the ricocheted back to the other bank again. kingfishers love it! It was one of many sightings of birds and wildlife that reminded us we were on slow-time now, driving ourselves down the River Saône in Eastern France SILVER FACTS at a little over walking pace. And onboard, we were Your local travel agent can help find the best surprised by the space on the beautifully designed slow-boating holiday for you. Call them today. and equipped boat. Our immaculate Quattro S had

Just the right ingredients! Take a large converted barge, many bicycles water, gently exercised, watching the world go by (some electric), an international group of before you moor up for the evening and a pleasant passengers of all ages, great Italian food, a stroll in a pretty town. hilarious, charming crew and two expert We saw the iconic sights of Venice, they can guides for a week of cycling along the hardly be bettered, stopped by a beach on The mighty river Po. Jennie Carr reports. Lido, ate picnics in tiny villages, visited churches, palaces and a fish market, sat in an ancient bell tower and had cheese with wine for elevenses. And then Mantua as the finale, first seen from the river late afternoon and then explored – a jewel in Italy’s gem-studded crown. This holiday was fantastically organised, full of interest and never exhausting. The cycle trails were mainly car-free and gloriously flat. Lycra is not compulsory and the pace of cycling easily achievable. If you can ride a bike and like being on the water too, it’s unbeatable!

SILVER FACTS With so many cruising styles and optons tarting in Venice, finishing in Mantua, this is a available, your local travel agent will help you Smost relaxing way to immerse yourself in the make the right choice. delights of Italy. Think of leisurely afternoons on the

30 SINGLE TRAVEL Slow-boating in French style moments

Dutch Waterways and Tulips A Danube Waltz 6 days from £849pp* 8 days from £1,399pp** Save up to £300pp on river cruises Save up to £200pp Save up to £300pp Includes all meals & 3 excursions Includes all meals & 4 excursions My best moment was sitting quietly by my Juliet Departs 1, 6 and 18 April 2019 Departs May - October 2019 balcony, reading my book. My fi rst ‘toe dip’ into river cruising - it will not be my last.

The Titan difference

•VIP door-to-door travel service† •Fly from an airport ‡ • Multi-award winning near you •Expertly designed escorted • Exceptional value holidays • Guaranteed departures For more information about Titan river cruises please contact your local Advantage travel agent

*Lead in price and biggest saving based on 6 April 2019 departure in a cat. 1 cabin. **Lead in price and biggest saving based on 6 October 2019 departure in cat. D cabin. †Mainland UK only. ‡Subject to availability at time of booking. Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information 31

006076-TT Advantage Silver Travel Advisor.indd 1 08/11/2018 15:25 OCEAN CRUISES The Canary Islands

Alan Fairfax, our cruise guru, for Winter Sun sails to warmer climes.

inter approaches, the days get colder, thoughts Wturn to winter holidays and warm sunshine, but where do you find it? Answer, a cruise to the Canary Islands. 2pm on a chilly Autumn afternoon sees me boarding MV Columbus, flagship of Cruise and Maritime Voyages at Tilbury for such a cruise. First port, Amsterdam, a half day stop to embark passengers and explore the city followed by three relaxing sea days to . Time to enjoy the onboard activities, lectures, films, line dancing, craft classes, production shows, classical recitals, Next day, Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, a beautiful and much more. The days become warmer, many port with numerous palm trees as the name suggests. sunbathe on the comfortable loungers. The days pass quickly and soon we are in Tenerife, Food is an important element of any cruise and an island of silver sand beaches, hot sunshine, lively Columbus does not disappoint. The Waterfront resorts and banana plantations and of course Mount Restaurant operating at breakfast, lunch and dinner Teide, Spain’s highest peak set in the Teide National served by waiters from menus offering numerous Park. choices. Speciality restaurants, Fusion, for those Time to head north to Madeira and Funchal, a delicious Indian dishes served by staff in authentic delightful town basking in the sunshine with much costume and The Grill for mouth-watering steaks. For to see and a popular cruise port. Ascend to Monte something a little less formal, the Plantation Buffet Municipal Park by cable car and descend in one of the with its large alfresco terrace, on sea days spoil famous wicker taboggans. Last port of call, Leixöes, yourself with breakfast in bed. Remember the saying Portugal, a small town immersed in history set on a ‘Come on as passengers, go off as cargo’. large golden sand beach where it is still 24C before Choose from a wide range of well-appointed cabins, two sailing days back to Tilbury. 150 having been allocated to solo travellers. In Gibraltar the mercury is touching 26C, the sun shines from an azure blue sky. Board the cable car to SILVER FACTS the summit, take in spectacular views including the To enquire about or book your next ocean Spanish mainland, be amused by the famous Barbary cruise, contact your local travel agent today. Apes. One more day at sea in the sun, then we arrive Read Alan's complete article at in Arrecife, capital of Lanzarote, an island with a silvertraveladvisor.com/CMV-canaries- desert like climate making it popular with tourists advantage. especially in the winter.

32 RIVER CRUISING

Britain’s leading independent cruise line Welcome to our world of cruises!

Worldwide Cruise Collection 2019/20 • Traditional British cruise experience • Six smaller to mid-sized cruise ships Columbus • Sailing from 14 ports throughout the UK and Ireland • Great deals for singles and groups • Excellent service from a friendly crew Magellan • 95% of guests rate us excellent or good • Over 200 year round cruises

INNE W R

AWARDS Marco Polo 2018 B e e s in t Cruise L

Astoria

Astor

Vasco da Gama

Norwegian Fjords - Baltic Cities - British Isles - Iceland - Northern Lights - Canary Islands & Madeira European Cities - Scottish Isles - River Seine - Spain & Portugal - Greenland - Canada Round the World Cruise - World Cruise Sectors - African & Indian Ocean - Caribbean & Mexico Trans Panama -Voyages to/from & New Zealand - Christmas & New Year and Festive Breaks

For more information please see your local travel agent

Subject to availability.For friendly Terms & adviceconditions from apply. Offeredyour localfor sale travelin the UK experts by South Quay call Travel us today & Leisure - Ltdour trading number's as Cruise on & Maritime the back Voyages. page ABTA V9945. ATOL 4619. 33 4712

4712 Advantage a4 +3mm bleed.indd 1 07/11/2018 10:44 OCEAN CRUISES guide and small group, whilst partaking in all the top-notch facilities the Fred. Olsen ships have to offer – superb food, leisure pools and jacuzzis, lounges and bars, fitness centre and wellbeing spa, and a library. Your own floating hotel indeed! As one tour leader says, ‘I look forward to swopping my boots for dance shoes at the end of the day’. Many of the islands and highlands of Britain are best reached by ship: on a cruise you can reach a variety of coastal regions that would take days to reach by road. And it’s possible to ‘hop’ across to Ireland easily too. Indeed, it’s the perfect way to visit several islands in one trip, to sample a range of scenery and different walks – the Canary Islands are so varied with green valleys, barren volcanic mountains as well as golden, black and red beaches. Further afield, the Caribbean islands offer glorious hikes and great wildlife spotting whilst the islands Cruise and walk of the Indian Ocean are exotic with ancient forests, - ideal for the active traveller! unique flora like Coco de Mer and jaw-dropping views. Boots and boats – a winning combination! Is this for walkers who’d like a cruise? Or cruisers who like to walk? SILVER FACTS hat is for certain is, that on a Cruise & Walk WHoliday you’ll explore well beyond that which To find out more about active cruise options fellow passengers do. Indeed, you might be envied contact your local travel agent today. by some. Ramblers, in association with Fred. Olsen Read Steve Newman's full review at Cruise Lines, take full advantage of the new daily silvertraveladvisor.com/cruise-and-walk- destinations ships, by exploring coasts, countryside advantage. or cities on foot. You’ll benefit from a dedicated tour Best of Balmoral What a great time was had by our members on-board Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ Balmoral when she came into .

he thirty strong group had a guided tour of the ship member on the visit, wrote to tell us ‘We were treated T looking at the accommodation and recreational to a very informative day visit. We parted company areas then sat down to a wonderful buffet lunch. The with much to digest regarding cruising.’ ship had just returned from the Norwegian fjords and Our ship visits are becoming ever more popular as was about to depart to Sweden that afternoon with you can explore ships before you actually cruise and the tide. there’s bound to be one near you. So do go onto the Hosted by our own Steve Newman, the service and Silver Travel Advisor website, search for Ship Visits welcome from the Fred. Olsen staff was exceptional. and book up early before they all go! Even to the point where Keith Norman, Fred. Olsen’s Business Development Manager, suggested this great photo call! SILVER FACTS The group had a short but fascinating presentation To find out more about ship visits, about the company’s sailings from Rosyth this year. speak to your local travel agent or visit and their brand new river cruise holidays on the lovely silvertraveladvisor.com. 150 passenger Brabant which are selling fast. Lottie, a

34 RIVER CRUISING

Around the world Join Black Watch for 109 nights of incredible global exploration

Up to £600pp FREE On Board Spend*

8th Jan 2020 • 108 nights • Sails from Southampton Portuguese, Canarian and Around the World Black Watch • W2102 Caribbean delights will start your journey in style. Enjoy a full day to explore Havana – perhaps via classic car – before Black Watch cruises the unforgettable Panama Canal. An array of idyllic South Pacific islands will then compete for your attention. Immerse yourself in the paradise of Bora Bora, Fiji and more. Two nights in Sydney – home to the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House – kicks off your ‘Down Under’ discovery, which takes in Tasmania and too. Room Type Prices from An overnight stay in vibrant (Two sharing) per person is sandwiched Interior £10,799pp between culture-rich Indonesian islands. Sailing the Ocean View £12,499pp Suez Canal is sure to live long in the memory, but not before Balcony £19,499pp you’ll have spent time exploring India and Jordan, where the Suite £20,199pp highlights include the Taj Mahal, Petra and bustling Mumbai. Single £18,299pp

For more information or to book, please visit or contact your local Advantage travel agent

Prices are correct at the time of going to print, but are capacity controlled and may change at any time. Call for the latest prices. Fares are per person, based on twin occupancy of the lead-in twin room, subject to availability.Visit Prices www.silvertraveladvisor.com are based on standard occupancy. O for ers travel may be amendedreviews or and withdrawn information at any time without prior notice, are subject to availability & cannot be applied retrospectively. All bookings are subject to Fred. Olsen’s standard terms & conditions, available on their website & on request. Some 35 ports may be at anchor, intermediate days are at sea. FOCL reserve the right to amend itineraries for operational reasons. On Board Spend is per person, non-refundable and non-transferable. No cash alternative will be given for unused spend. On board spend amount varies dependent on room grade. E&OE

FOC454011_FP_W2102_SilverSurfer_Magazine_A4_Ad_WC_18.02.19_FV.indd 1 22/02/2019 15:45 OCEAN CRUISES

A VESSEL FOR ADVENTURERS Pat Richardson recalls her time at the christening of Hurtigruten's ship, MS Spitsbergen.

have been a guest at the christening of a least two founded in 1893 by Richard With, to provide a regular I dozen ships, but this one was different. For a start, scheduled service carrying post, produce and people it took place north of the Arctic Circle at Svolvaer in to coastal communities in northern Norway between Norway’s Lofoten Islands. And, whilst each of the Tromso and Kirkenes. others was either a river or an ocean cruise ship, this Today, this service continues; one of Hurtigruten’s was Hurtigruten’s latest, and they don’t call them ships leaves Bergen every day of the year, to make the cruise ships. (More about that in a moment.) The 11-day voyage to Kirkenes and back. It also carries ship’s godmother, Cecilie Skog, was different, too. A leisure passengers, who appreciate the opportunity to dainty, cover-girl pretty, 41-year-old, she is the first see Norway’s beautiful coastal scenery, and to get a woman to have been to both the North and South flavour of local life. Poles and climbed the ‘Seven Summits’ – the highest Hurtigruten offers itineraries to Iceland, Greenland, mountain on each of the seven continents. Who better Spitsbergen, and Antarctica and along South indeed? America’s coasts plus Arctic Canada and the As for the Spitsbergen, formerly a Portuguese car Amazon. For this, they need more ships, hence: MS ferry, Hurtigruten’s extensive refit has created a stylish Spitsbergen. In addition, the company plans to vessel with spacious public rooms, inviting cabins, a construct up to four new explorer ships. And on their gym, sauna and outdoor hot-tubs. In addition, her hull traditional Norwegian coastal voyages, as well as was reinforced to ice class standards. After touring city walks and scenic drives, a range of adventurous the ship with her captain, I joined an excited crowd excursions such as dog-sledding, snowmobiling, in Svolvaer’s town square to watch the dockside mountain hiking, kayaking and RIB safaris are being ceremony on a big screen; followed by a rock offered. concert live on stage. As the temperature dropped Read about Pat’s recent voyage on our website, – something that July’s midnight sun did not do - I type Hurtigruten in the search box at was welcomed into the VIP tent for refreshments, and www.silvertraveladvisor.com spoke to the delightfully unassuming Cecilie Skog. Have you heard of Hurtigruten? We used to know SILVER FACTS it as ‘The Norwegian Coastal Voyage’. It’s still going Discover more about expedition cruising by strong, but has reverted to its original Norwegian speaking to your local travel agent. name: Hurtigruten – meaning ‘fast route’. It was

36 TALL SHIP CRUISES

Tall-ship sailing in perfect locations

The Royal Clipper – The Windward Islands of convertible in Havana, and indulged in a city tour as its passenger. Other excursions included meeting the Caribbean, Debbie Marshall sets sail. stingrays off Grand Cayman, a raft trip along Jamaica’s Martha Brae, and a visit to the unspoilt still want to enjoy sailing but not with all that Cuban islands of Cayo Largo, where a fantastic beach Iresponsibility.” George (aged 65) explained why he barbecue was laid on by the crew. had the Star Clippers bug. He had captained many a The ship itself is glorious: it recreates the golden small yacht in the past and still wanted to travel by sail age of sail for seasoned seafarers, combined with power. His wife, however, preferred luxury holidays plenty of home comforts for modern day landlubbers. with a little pampering in the sun. The two had found Activities onboard are understated, but that’s all part the perfect solution to ensure marital harmony for their of the Star Clippers’ allure. In addition to watersports, golden years. the most exciting activity is climbing the rigging to the January is the perfect time to escape from the UK crow’s nest! And at night, after a mean cocktail in the with a direct flight to and join the Royal alfresco Tropical Bar, the crew point out constellations Clipper. What a welcoming ship it is, by far the most made up of the improbably bright stars in the darkest elegant and photogenic in the port, a vision of beauty of skies. No wonder so many passengers travel this with comfort and charm in equal measures. way time and again. Rising early to enjoy the sunrise with a dazzling display of oranges and pinks over the hills of the islands, accompanied by the water performance of the flying fish and the birds swooping to catch them. Then with appetites likewise awakened, it was time for a fabulous buffet breakfast. During the day the ship called in at a different island:- St. Lucia, , Antigua, St Kitts, Iles des Saintes and Martinique, and a range of excursions were on offer. Each evening, the perfection of the setting sun before dinner, cocktail in hand, and enjoying the atmospheric Sailaway, memories were made to last a lifetime. Stars, cars and mojito bars are all part of a captivating Cuban cruise Jeannine Williamson took huge pleasure in her cruise on the Star Flyer, calling at Havana, small Cuban islands in the Canarreos archipelago, the SILVER FACTS Caymans and Jamaica ending in Cienfuegos. She For cruise details contact your local travel agent. couldn’t resist the lure of a bright pink Cadillac

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 37 SINGLE TRAVEL Jan Leeming Tours Croatia

Jan Leeming tours Croatia

s one of Just You’s most popular destinations I Awas so excited to be heading to Croatia, a region with an abundance of history, culture and beauty. Arriving at dusk, it was not until the morning that we were taken aback by the magnificence of Croatia - a mountainous country clinging to a sea dotted with islands. Our first trip was to Zadar, located on Croatia’s Dalmatian coast, where after the World War II clear up, a Roman Forum was discovered in front of the 9th Century Pre-Romanesque Church of St. Donatus, which itself has been constructed using much ‘debris’ from Roman times. Recycling is timeless! The Sea Organ of Zadar, a construction of pipes under the sea where wind and waves play a somewhat haunting tune, is a truly captivating experience. Krka National Park was our next port of call, with its Jan by Plitvice Lake spectacular major waterfall, surrounded by little ones all around. in the 6th century and with a fascinating history. For me, one of the best things about travelling with Back in the 14th century, it became one of the most Just You is spending time with like-minded people important mercantile and maritime centres on the and it was wonderful walking through the park sharing Mediterranean. stories with my new friends. Our Tour Manager, Alen, A real highlight was sailing to the islands of Brac kept the group entertained throughout with his wealth and Hvar, where we had a brief stop in one of the of historical information. smallest natural harbours you are ever likely to Twenty years ago I visited Split and was keen to encounter. In true Just You adventurous spirit, some see the Diocletian Palace of us were determined to get our swimsuits wet, so I again. Since then, much Jan at Zadar Cathedral can now say I’ve swum in the Adriatic. more of the Palace has Our final day was spent in Mostar, it was here in been excavated and our the 1990’s during the Bosnian War the historic Stari guide took us on a walk Most Bridge was blown up. It was re-built with local through the ‘subterranean’ materials using Ottoman construction techniques, rooms. stones from local quarries and original material The panoramic views recovered by Hungarian army divers from the river. from the belfry of the An uplifting end to a wonderful trip! Cathedral of St. Domnius were breath-taking, if you climbed 366 steps, which SILVER FACTS I determinedly did, with pride in my success. Just You offer tours for single travellers, with a balance between guided and independent travel, Reaching the half-way under the friendly watch of a tour manager. point of the tour, we were No single supplements are added. off to Dubrovnik, founded

38 SINGLE TRAVEL

Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information 39 SINGLE TRAVEL Away with the Single Supplement

t Silver Towers, we are and shared dining to settle online silvertraveladvisor.com/ Amuch heartened to find you in. And river cruises now solo-silver-traveller. that many of our partners are often remove supplements on reducing or doing away with the their voyages too, be sure to single supplement. From river read our monthly special offers and ocean cruises, to lakes newsletter (register here to and mountains stays, beach receive it silvertraveladvisor. holidays and special interest com/users/sign_up) and check trips and escorted tours, those the website too. travelling alone, for whatever Escorted tour companies, reason, are now being offered Shearings, Saga, Grand UK, choices that are as good as Wendy Wu Tours and Cox those for couples, groups and & Kings all have dedicated families. programmes if you’re travelling Not only are the specialist by yourself. And Jules Verne singles holiday providers such and Explore often make no as Solos Holidays, Just You, single supplement offers too. Travel One and One Traveller In fact, there’s every reason offering excellent holidays, but to travel how and where you cruise lines such as Cruise & like, should you be just one! Maritime Voyages and Fred. Our very popular mini guide Olsen Cruise Lines are ensuring for the Solo Silver Traveller, up to 150 single cabins on their sponsored by Solos Holidays, ships, with welcome parties can be ordered by post or read

China for one? Why not join a group tour? f your answers is yes, then China must surely be I at the top of your list, with Shanghai, Beijing, the Terracotta Warriors, Giant Pandas and river cruises through stunning gorges. Not forgetting the breath- taking Great Wall of course. Wendy Wu Tours have specialised in tours to China for years, and now there are trips specifically for single travellers, accompanied by National Escorts, who are the experts on their home country. They organise all the logistics, so you can thoroughly enjoy your holiday. You’ll be shown the authentic China, joining a group on your adventures, so you have others with whom to share your daily experiences and friendly mealtimes. Each traveller has their own room, with no single supplement, giving you space for relaxation when you want it. All airfares, local transport, excursion and entrance costs, visas for UK and EU passport holders and most meals are included in the cost too, so there’s very little extra to worry about. Cathy Bartrop of Travel Guru TV, Gill Haynes from And as Asia specialists, Wendy Wu Tours offer single Silver Travel Advisor and Wendy Wu herself traveller tours to Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia and India too. Would you like to visit an exciting destination, with so many sights to see - modern cities SILVER FACTS with historic quarters, remarkable antiquities, For more single travel options speak to your enchanting wildlife of the larger variety and local travel agent. peaceful countryside?

40 ACCESSIBLE TRAVEL The high road, the low road, the ocean wave, a city hotel, a country getaway….you decide!

couple of clicks on the Silver Travel themed weekends, accessible excursions and AAdvisor website will bring you to this page entertainment in the evenings, you’ll have the best silvertraveladvisor.com/find-a-holiday/holiday- time. Carers are welcome and they’ll be supported by type/accessible-holidays, which is filled with ideas trained volunteers. Discounts and possible funding for anyone who has limited mobility or disability and available. wants to travel. You’ll find ocean cruising companies, For those living with dementia and their families, escorted tour operators, hotel stays at home and getting in touch with nature has proved to be very overseas, campsites in Europe and cabins in UK beneficial and a peaceful way to spend time together. forests, fully equipped with hoists for the hot tub too, Dementia Adventure have designed small group as well as the specialists below. Request our mini holidays around the UK that do this very thing. Their guide on Accessible Travel and Attractions by post, or expertise and research contribute to making certain read it online, at silvertraveladvisor.com/accessible- the holidays are totally appropriate for everyone. In holidays-and-attractions partnership with Personal Touch Holidays, breaks in Award-winning Enable Holidays provide a Portugal will be offered from 2019. complete package for those with limited mobility, with It is all very well finding a cruise ship or hotel that adapted transfers from the airport to your destination fulfils all your requests, however the question ‘How do and carefully audited accommodation so you we get there?’ often arises. Driving Miss Daisy has exactly know what to expect. Ramps, lifts, flat-floor the answer, with vehicles adapted for wheelchairs and bathrooms, raised beds and more are all on their well-trained, DBS checked companion drivers, perfect checklist, so you can travel with confidence. Try India, for journeys to cruise terminals or hotels, as well as USA, Vietnam, Mexico and Europe for starters. trips to family and friends. Now partnered with Enable A trip to Crete, a beach in the Canaries, sightseeing Holidays and Limitless Travel as well as Silver Travel in Amsterdam and a tour of North Wales – all these are Advisor, this highly professional, friendly service is the happily sorted by Limitless Travel who take escorted ideal solution. groups, which everyone can join, to disability-friendly hotels, with qualified care staff on hand to help with simple tasks. Fuller care packages are available to SILVER FACTS ensure you have everything as you need for a fabulous Your local independent travel agent can help holiday. organise all types of travel, making the booking Revitalise have purpose-built accommodation process simple and stress free. near Southampton, Southport and near Epping Forest Call your travel agent today. Contact details are so you can be sure to stay somewhere that’s well on the back cover. designed for whatever you need. Offering wonderful

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 41 FARAWAY & EXOTIC

An extraordinary country where memories are made the world's oldest desert and has the highest dunes. Solange Hando experiences a grand So we were up soon after dawn when the sun lit up tour of Namibia the slopes, all shades of orange, pink and red, and we ordered by the Atlantic in southern Africa, Namibia started to climb the 'Big Daddy'. But what was that? A Bis roughly three times the size of the UK but with sandstorm out of nowhere? We slid down to the white just 2.6 million people, nature takes your breath away. clay pan, the Deadvlei sprinkled with skeleton trees. The Constitution ensures protection of the wild life and This was nature in the raw. diverse landscape from mountains and canyons to Later, after cruising with the seals in Walvis Bay, deserts and national parks. we drove north across gravel plains framed by the Heading south from the capital, our first stop was highest mountains on the way to Twyfelfontein. With on the edge of the Kalahari where we enjoyed a its prehistoric rock engravings listed by Unesco and sundowner safari among weaver birds, ostriches and Living Museum of Damara Culture, we loved it. But I bouncing springboks. Then there was a long drive could hardly wait for the great Etosha National Park through the steppes to the deep south and the Fish and nearby reserves where wild life reigns supreme. River Canyon, the greatest in Africa. Stretching 160 We had seen plenty along the way, including leopards km, up to 27 wide, you cannot see it all but the ridge and desert lions, but this was truly special with so offers spectacular views over dramatic rocks and cliffs many zebras, antelopes, elephants, hyenas, rhinos, and the tiny river far below. Wild flowers splashed cheetahs, giraffes and more gathering around the colour here and there and back in our thatched waterholes. Safaris were full of fun but most magical 'village', we gazed at a magnificent sunset over the was the softly lit waterhole in Okaukuejo rest camp vast pristine land. where we watched in silence under a starlit sky. Next? To the Namib Desert on the western side, bumping on gravel roads over the Tsaris mountains SILVER FACTS and down to the 'Desert Quiver Camp' where a long-horned oryx grazed by my hut. As with most To find out more about exploring Namibia, speak accommodation on the tour, this was out in the to your local travel agent. wilderness and full of character. Namib, they say, is

42 FARAWAY & EXOTIC See Cambodia and Vietnam from a relaxed perspective Silver Travellers take time out of their travels to relax aboard a river cruise on Asia’s iconic Mekong River, on Selective Asia’s award-winning tailor-made itineraries.

ietnam and Cambodia evoke the thrill of new keen to continue your journey from Ho Chi Minh City Vadventures, and conjure visions of tropical when you disembark, you can travel north to explore landscapes, ruined jungle temples, and cities beautiful Hoi An, discover the backwaters of iconic vibrant with sound and colour. From exploring newly Halong Bay, or venture up into the less trodden roads discovered sights to taking tea with the locals, these of Ha Giang and Sapa. destinations keep on surprising and delighting visitors at every bend in the road. So if you want to take a break from wandering the grounds of Angkor Wat and tasting fragrant treats in bustling street markets, add a river cruise to your itinerary and enjoy a laid-back pace for a while… The majestic Mekong ties these neighbouring countries together, flowing right across Cambodia into the southern tip of Vietnam, where the lush Mekong Delta unwinds into the South China Sea. A number of stylish riverboats ply these waters, on cruises ranging from 3-10 days, offering the opportunity to relax while you explore. The rush of reaching A from B as fast as you can gives way to the sput-sput of sampans motoring past, and the chop of their bow-waves against the hull. Looking to the banks, you might spot farmers planting rice, or see a gleaming golden temple emerge as you round the riverbend. Elsewhere, jungle MORE INFO stretches right to the water’s edge, giving cover to Your local travel agent can help tailor your own creatures that venture down to drink and bathe. South East Asia adventure, to include tours, Combine Cambodia and Vietnam’s intoxicating hotels, transport and even visas. Call them today. history and culture with some relaxing downtime on Contact detals are on the back cover. the water to enrich your overall experience. If you’re

43 FARAWAY & EXOTIC

Immerse yourself in Culture, History & Natural Beauty across the Globe with Shearings...

There’s so much more to Shearings Land’s End up to John o’ Groats: Or why not try a relaxing river cruise than traditional seaside holidays, the extreme northwest point of the and sail along some of the world’s though of course, if that’s what British mainland. This is just one of most stunning scenery? Your views you’re after, they’ve certainly got Shearings’ Grand Tourer premium will constantly change as you travel, plenty of great ones! holidays, specially curated to offer truly stopping at fascinating ports of call unforgettable holiday experiences. along the way. River cruises are However, if you want to experience a essentially escorted tours on the water! little bit more from your next holiday, The new 2019 Shearings Worldwide Also, your accommodation travels do consider one of Shearings’ award- programme includes a whole host of with you, which means you need only winning escorted tours or river cruises! exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences, unpack your cases once! We’ve even They have all been meticulously such as Wings over the West – which teamed up with premiumriver cruise planned by Shearings’ team of holiday offers a taste of the high life (literally!), specialists A-Rosa to offer our widest experts, who are constantly seeking giving you the chance to fly by private collection of river cruises yet. the best hotels and ships, including jet, taking in breathtaking views welcoming exclusively-chartered Whichever Shearings escorted tour or vessels, friendly family-run river cruise you choose, you’ll find it properties and popular chain so easy to explore and enjoy yourself, hotels, all sharing Shearings’ with all your transport, sightseeing unwavering commitment to excursions and accommodation high quality and superb service. planned for you by Shearings They’ve also handpicked the best visitor attractions including Find your perfect holiday experience must-see iconic landmarks and today, visit your local travel agent. enchanting hidden treasures off the beaten path.

There are so many amazing destinations just waiting to be explored of awe-inspiring desert landscapes on Shearings escorted tours! For including the Grand Canyon an example, in the UK, you could take a Monument Valley – absolutely captivating escorted tour travelling from unforgettable, and probably not what the extreme southwest point of you’d expect from Shearings! 44

SILVER TRAVELLER MAG_NOV18.indd 1 15/11/2018 10:12 FARAWAY & EXOTIC Time to Taste the Best There’s little doubt that food is the heartbeat of many areas, with regional wines being an ideal accompaniment. nsight Vacations, passionate about premium Iescorted tours, are keen to offer their guests truly authentic tastes in all their destinations, be it Europe, America or Canada – something rather special and a little out of the ordinary! In Puglia, you’ll meet a local wine merchant and find out more about the hearty rich reds produced here. And for personally recommended restaurants that you might a Farm-to-Table experience, meet the farmers and otherwise miss, try a marvellous Irish beef and growers, then enjoy a family meal, for which the Guinness stew in an intimate Killarney eaterie for a Grandmother has handmade your pasta course in genuine flavour of Ireland. time-honoured fashion. And going one step further, right to the heart and On a Californian tour, the Winelands, the biggest soul of a place, Dine-at-Home takes you to the home grape-growing region outside Europe, offer great of a local foodie, found through EatWith. You cannot wine tasting excursions with personal excursions get much closer to speciality dishes, which your host given by producers. A visit to the famous Farmers’ will prepare, whilst explaining the ingredients and Market in Los Angeles is an absolute must for their use, before you all sit and eat together. Immerse yourself in Culture, History & Natural Beauty anyone interested in food, fabulous for gourmet grocers, unique ice creams and artisan bakers is an SILVER FACTS across the Globe with Shearings... absolute must for anyone interested in food. To enquire about the right foodie holiday for A great alternative to sometimes samey hotel you, speak to your local travel agent today. There’s so much more to Shearings Land’s End up to John o’ Groats: Or why not try a relaxing river cruise fare, is the Dine-Around option, which finds smaller, than traditional seaside holidays, the extreme northwest point of the and sail along some of the world’s though of course, if that’s what British mainland. This is just one of most stunning scenery? Your views you’re after, they’ve certainly got Shearings’ Grand Tourer premium will constantly change as you travel, plenty of great ones! holidays, specially curated to offer truly stopping at fascinating ports of call Amazing Alaska unforgettable holiday experiences. along the way. River cruises are t’s dramatic and exciting in Alaska, with midnight However, if you want to experience a essentially escorted tours on the water! sun in summer and little light in winter. The largest little bit more from your next holiday, I The new 2019 Shearings Worldwide Also, your accommodation travels state in the USA, with Denali, the highest mountain do consider one of Shearings’ award- programme includes a whole host of with you, which means you need only in North America, and eight outstanding National winning escorted tours or river cruises! exciting once-in-a-lifetime experiences, unpack your cases once! We’ve even Parks to explore. Alaska is the perfect place to They have all been meticulously such as Wings over the West – which teamed up with premiumriver cruise watch humpback whales, see bears standing in the planned by Shearings’ team of holiday offers a taste of the high life (literally!), specialists A-Rosa to offer our widest river feeding on salmon and wonder at icebergs and experts, who are constantly seeking glaciers. Nature unabashed is the feature here, there’s giving you the chance to fly by private collection of river cruises yet. the best hotels and ships, including little that’s tamed and why should it be? You can sail jet, taking in breathtaking views welcoming exclusively-chartered Whichever Shearings escorted tour or on small ship cruises, getting up close to the marine life or take to the highways on a self-drive holiday or vessels, friendly family-run river cruise you choose, you’ll find it Madagascar magic properties and popular chain truly relax on a superb train especially designed for so easy to explore and enjoy yourself, luxuriating in the dramatic views. adagascar conjures up images of island life, with hotels, all sharing Shearings’ with all your transport, sightseeing Mvirgin jungle at its centre full of the secretive unwavering commitment to For more information about travelling to these excursions and accommodation lemurs. It’s bursting with unique, often endangered, high quality and superb service. destinations contact your local travel agent. planned for you by Shearings flora and fauna, so much so that it’s often called the They’ve also handpicked the island continent. Technically part of Africa, its ancient forests, wide savannahs and hidden rivers are home best visitor attractions including Find your perfect holiday experience to tribes, still living as their ancestors did, and having must-see iconic landmarks and today, visit your local travel agent. enchanting hidden treasures off limited contact with Westerners. Undiscovered the beaten path. Destinations take travellers on treks, river journeys and drives to find extraordinary hidden treasures and whilst the accommodation is simple, the journey There are so many amazing sometimes challenging, the adventures will never be destinations just waiting to be explored of awe-inspiring desert landscapes forgotten, the memories sublime. on Shearings escorted tours! For including the Grand Canyon an For more information about travelling to these example, in the UK, you could take a Monument Valley – absolutely destinations contact your local travel agent. captivating escorted tour travelling from unforgettable, and probably not what the extreme southwest point of you’d expect from Shearings! For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 45

SILVER TRAVELLER MAG_NOV18.indd 1 15/11/2018 10:12 SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB Unforgettable New Zealand holidays

21 DAY NEW ZEALAND 18 DAY NEW ZEALAND

GRAND EXPLORER FROM PANORAMA FROM SELFDRIVE £ * COACH TOUR £4,105^ 3per,235 person per person

INCLUDES: HIGHLIGHTS: • Milford Sound Scenic Cruise • World famous TranzAlpine • 20 nights accommodation in the • Water taxi transfers to • Historic Bay of Islands train journey style of your choice Kenepuru Sound • Thermal wonderland of Rotorua • TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak • 18 days car rental including full • Kaikōura Whale Watch Cruise • Napier, the Art Deco capital Cruise and Dinner insurance, unlimited kms and GPS • Entry to Hanmer Springs Thermal of the world Reserve and Pools • Entry to Matakohe Kauri Museum • Wellington, the nation’s capital INCLUSIONS: • Waipoua Forest Twilight Encounter • Monarch Wildlife cruise, Dunedin • World Heritage listed Mt Cook • 17 nights premium hotel • Cape Brett and Hole in the • Taieri Gorge Railway National Park accommodation Rock Cruise • Milford Sound Nature Cruise • Dunedin, the Edinburgh of the South • Full breakfast daily, 1 lunch and • Guided tour of the Hobbiton including picnic lunch • Fiordland National Park 15 dinners Movie Set • World-Heritage Westland • Spectacular Southern Lakes region National Park • Travel by 5-star luxury touring vehicle • Māori cultural experience with • West Coast Glacier region traditional hangi • Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers • All sightseeing, excursions and entrance fees as shown • Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve • Award-winning TranzAlpine train FEATURED EXPERIENCES: • Complimentary airport transfers • Locally guided Art Deco walk journey through the Southern Alps • Authentic Māori Village, Hangi and on arrival and departure • Airport transfer on departure • Scenic Interislander Cruise Cultural Performance

The Australasia Holiday Specialists Book with your local travel agent. 46 *Terms and conditions: Prices are per person, twin share. Prices were correct at the time of submission but are subject to change without notice. Price excludes international and domestic airfares + airport taxes. *Self-Drive Package: Advertised price is based on travel in November 2019. Car hire excess conditions apply. Car parking fees may apply in come locations. ^Coach Tour Package: Advertised price for tours departing 2019/2020 season. Single share options are available at an additional cost. A deposit of £200 is required within 10 days of booking confi rmation. Full payment is required within 60 days of tour departure. Please enquire for more information. ESCORTED TOURING Unforgettable New Zealandholidays Brazil – abundant diversity in one country Rio de Janiero, the extraordinary Amazon 21 DAY NEW ZEALAND 18 DAY NEW ZEALAND basin, the Pantanal and the Iguazu Falls GRAND EXPLORER PANORAMA are all unique, and just some of the reasons FROM FROM travellers are finding Brazil an exciting, * ^ SELFDRIVE £ COACH TOUR £4,105 rewarding place to visit. 3per,235 person per person he cultural diversity of its people – African, TAmazonian Indian, Portuguese and other Europeans – create a rich national heritage seen in the music of Salvador Da Bahia, the colonial architecture in São Luís and Olinda and Carnival in Rio, with its Christian roots that has incorporated music and dance from across all ethnic groups, the Pantanal is just the place. You can explore on samba-reggae for example. foot, by boat or on horseback! And perhaps most For wildlife and geography, Brazil is in a class of excitingly, there‘s the opportunity to search for its own. The coastline boasts wonderful beaches jaguars whilst visiting an ecotourism project. and Iguazu Falls are almost beyond compare A cruise down the Amazon, through lush vegetation, spanning both Brazil and Argentina, take a takes you to a special environment – monkeys INCLUDES: HIGHLIGHTS: • Milford Sound Scenic Cruise helicopter ride to truly appreciate them. If you want swinging through the trees, parrots swooping • World famous TranzAlpine • 20 nights accommodation in the • Water taxi transfers to • Historic Bay of Islands to visit a remarkable savannah and wetland area across the horizon and a cacophony of sounds that train journey style of your choice Kenepuru Sound • Thermal wonderland of Rotorua deep in the interior bursting with birds and wildlife, hint at hidden creatures. Prepare to be amazed! • TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak • 18 days car rental including full • Kaikōura Whale Watch Cruise • Napier, the Art Deco capital Cruise and Dinner insurance, unlimited kms and GPS • Entry to Hanmer Springs Thermal of the world Reserve and Pools • Entry to Matakohe Kauri Museum • Wellington, the nation’s capital INCLUSIONS: Exhilarating and unique experiences available include: • Waipoua Forest Twilight Encounter • Monarch Wildlife cruise, Dunedin • World Heritage listed Mt Cook • 17 nights premium hotel • Cape Brett and Hole in the • Taieri Gorge Railway National Park Tour South America • A visit to Peru’s Palomino Islands, surrounded by accommodation Rock Cruise • Milford Sound Nature Cruise • Dunedin, the Edinburgh of the South rocky islets, natural caves and an abundance of • Full breakfast daily, 1 lunch and • Guided tour of the Hobbiton including picnic lunch • Fiordland National Park wildlife – spot thousands of sea lions. 15 dinners - exotic and entertaining! Movie Set • World-Heritage Westland • Spectacular Southern Lakes region • A 2-day pass to the 15th century, mystical Machu National Park • Travel by 5-star luxury touring vehicle • Māori cultural experience with • West Coast Glacier region traditional hangi • Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers • All sightseeing, excursions Picchu, the Incan citadel in the Peruvian Andes. and entrance fees as shown • Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Reserve • Award-winning TranzAlpine train • A professional, sultry salsa show in Cali, Colombia, FEATURED EXPERIENCES: • Complimentary airport transfers • Locally guided Art Deco walk journey through the Southern Alps famed for its dancing schools. • Authentic Māori Village, Hangi and on arrival and departure • Airport transfer on departure • Scenic Interislander Cruise Cultural Performance • A full day Glacier Cruise in Puerto Natales, on the edge of the Parque Nacional Torres, Patagonia • A full day visit to the uniquely forested Victoria Island in Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina • An Argentine wine and cooking master-class in Maipu, surrounded by vineyards and fabulous restaurants • Visit a local Amazon tribe, Caboclos, in Brazil to learn about traditional Amer-Indian life • Visit both sides of the majestic, breath-taking Iguazu Falls in Argentina and Brazil • Explore the Monteverde Cloudforest Reserve, replete with rare birds, in eco-friendly Costa Rica After 20 years of mastering touring through Asia, Wendy Wu Tours launched their new programme to South America. It features SILVER FACTS escorted tours, with many added extras Speak to your local travel agent for advice on for great value, to Argentina, Brazil, Chile, selecting the best South America tour for you. The Australasia Colombia, Peru, Costa Rica and Panama. Holiday Specialists Book with your local travel agent. 47 *Terms and conditions: Prices are per person, twin share. Prices were correct at the time of submission but are subject to change without notice. Price excludes international and domestic airfares + airport taxes. *Self-Drive Package: Advertised price is based on travel in November 2019. Car hire excess conditions apply. Car parking fees may apply in come locations. ^Coach Tour Package: Advertised price for tours departing 2019/2020 season. Single share options are available at an additional cost. A deposit of £200 is required within 10 days of booking confirmation. Full payment is required within 60 days of tour departure. Please enquire for more information. OCEAN CRUISES

ExtraordinaryTOURS to Japan Discover incredible Japan and experience vibrant, futuristic metropolises, delicious cuisine and spectacular scenery. From iconic Mt Fuji, tranquil temples and picturesque old towns to the bold and bright Tokyo, Himeji Castle and bowing deer of Nara - Japan is a dream destination waiting to be explored.

TAKE ME THERE Japan Uncovered 17 days from £6,490pp

✅ Visit the Snow Monkeys ✅ Admire delightful Kyoto ✅ Reflect in Hiroshima & Miyajima

BOOK NOW CONTACT48 YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT ESCORTED TOURING California and the Golden West back, quaint towns, a dramatic coastline and fast- moving, movie-star cities. And this where the success of an escorted coach tour comes in – you sit back and totally Extraordinary relax, able to really absorb the amazing views, TOURS whilst your driver does the hard work. One traveller reports: Ernest was a very friendly, good, steady driver with excellent knowledge that he shared about points of interest on each journey. At every hotel, he would explain all the information we needed to know - room numbers, arrangements for the luggage, dining times and alternative local to Japan places to eat. And of course, with everything taken care of, Discover incredible Japan and experience vibrant, his outstanding American region really is a you’ll be ready to enjoy the experiences on offer futuristic metropolises, delicious T‘must-do’ for any Silver Traveller, however once you reach each destination! As our reviewer there are long distances to cover, especially put it, ‘we could almost have left our brains at cuisine and spectacular scenery. if your plans include trendy Los Angeles, San home, we didn't have to think about anything, it From iconic Mt Fuji, tranquil temples and Diego, artistic Sedona, the breath-taking Grand was so well organised’. All the better to really get the best from your holiday. picturesque old towns to the bold and bright Canyon, remarkable Las Vegas, San Francisco and pretty Carmel. It may seem an ambitious itinerary, Tokyo, Himeji Castle and bowing deer of Nara - however why not see as much as you can on one SILVER FACTS trip? You’ll immerse yourself in true West Coast Japan is a dream destination waiting to be For advice on the best tour for you, call your explored. and desert life, which is about as different to the local travel agent today. Contact details are on UK as you can get – magnificent rock formations, the back cover. state-of-the-art themed hotels and casinos, laid-

The Italian Lakes Retired deputy headteacher, Ian Lumsden travelled by coach to and around the Italian Lakes. He revelled in the trip. Here he reports on the stay at Lake Garda . TAKE ME THERE t the top of the lake, surrounded by mountains, A Riva del Garda is very much a family resort Japan Uncovered situated in a genuinely exquisite position. The sheer 17 days from £6,490pp cliffs, which rise from the lake, are of white limestone with verdant woodlands where the trees can cling on. The Grand Hotel is in the centre of the most ✅ Visit the Snow Monkeys important square, the huge Museo Civico to one side forming part of the harbour. It was splendid, our room ✅ Admire delightful Kyoto swish and modern. After a fine breakfast, we headed ✅ Reflect in Hiroshima & for the ferry across the water. Lakeside Limone has a reputation for the longevity of its inhabitants. Whether Miyajima this is due to fish, tomatoes, olive oil, Vespas, tobacco or its famous lemons, I don't know. The lake's waters are clear turquoise, the fish huge and one can see why the place is packed. We found a table in the sun and I fed the fish. I drink tea with lemon. The freshness was unmistakable.’ SILVER FACTS Ian also visited Stresa by Lake Maggiore, Isola For advice on the best tour for you, call your Bella, the Borromean Islands, Lake Lugano, Lake local travel agent today. Contact details are on Como, Verona, Milan and Lake Orta along with several the back cover. BOOK NOW with palaces and other islands on this tour. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL TRAVEL AGENT For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 49 ESCORTED TOURING

Penny Smith perfectly escorted

Penny told Jennie Carr all about her recent trip, ‘Beyond the Golden Triangle’, where she reached parts of India others might not get to. s you might imagine, this lively broadcaster loves rippling muscles, moving softly on paddy-paws, she Ato travel and her latest journey took her to India was struck by how magnificent yet vulnerable they to Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore National Park, Talabgoan appeared. And it was to see these amazing beasts and Jaipur. So a trip of definite contrasts with tuk- that prompted Penny to travel in May, when it is very tuks, tigers (note the plural) and the Taj Mahal. It’s hot. However, sightings are more likely at this time, Penny’s third trip to India and yet there’s always with less vegetation growing and less water available. more to experience. This time she chose to travel We talked about the extraordinary hotel at in an escorted group, with Jonny, the tour manager Talabgaon Castle, visited by The Queen and Prince in charge of the logistics, and Luv, their wonderful, Philip in their youth local guide. It makes the journey that bit easier and as guests of the removes any vulnerability you might feel in such a Maharani and different culture, Penny said, whilst ensuring that you Maharaja. It’s a place really do get to see a great deal, as well as accessing of bright colours and places the individual won’t find. Local knowledge is a blue glass against marvellous thing! the flat dusty earth, a Take the trip to the workshops where inlaid marble traditional home, with is prepared, an incredible feat of craftmanship, by modern comforts in the direct descendants of those who worked on the the bedrooms and romantic Taj Mahal. Penny felt thrilled to have seen bathrooms. It was, both these places, the former adding so much insight she told me, ideal to the latter. for relaxing after the We touched on the subject of food, which Penny National Park safaris, freely admitted to loving, Indian food, she said, must with time to catch her be tried in India, calling it a thing of joy and beauty. breath before heading Especially the mattar paneer (spicy peas and cheese), on to Jaipur and Delhi. the sambar soup and the okra and the cauliflower and …..everything! Her ‘wow’ moment came in Ranthambore National SILVER FACTS Park on an early morning drive when Penny and her Your local travel agent will help you select the group saw tigers, almost invisible, blending in with the right India tour, and arrange everything for you. red brown earth and grasses. Powerful, graceful with

50 ESCORTED TOURING

New experiences with Cosmos - Penny Smith perfectly escorted MEET GILES HAWKE Giles is the CEO of Cosmos and talks to Jennie Carr about touring and adventure holidays, changes in travel and the challenges ahead.

ith a foot in both camps, Giles is the ideal person adventures? Borneo for the orangutan visits, Jordan, Wask at about the difference between touring and Israel, Lourdes for religious tours, South America right cruising. He admits there certainly is one, with touring down to the tip of Patagonia and Iceland. And he holidays offering more time at destinations, allowing says, some are wanting bolder adventures – Iran and customers to travel deep into a country’s culture, Palestine for example. Cosmos treads a careful line with local guides providing unique knowledge and here, between fulfilling requests and sticking closely to arranging priority access to museums and art galleries the FCO advice. - it’s the VIP experience in a group. For older visitors, Giles is absolutely clear that the most significant there’s the joy of a tour director who covertly manages developments in travel are the rise of the no frills logistics and hosts the holiday, which adds security airlines, which has opened up the world at a very and confidence, should a trip to new places be a reasonable cost, and technology in cruise ships, slight concern. Giles points out that as most touring which has allowed ships to become vastly bigger, with travellers are not heading for a sunbed, rather places extraordinary facilities and for cruises to become more of interest, cooler spring or autumn weather is often affordable. better as it means a less crowded, more personal trip Challenges ahead may include over-tourism, he all round. forecasts. There will be restrictions on numbers of I’m interested in the second ‘A’ of ATAS visitors in certain destinations, Venice for sure. The (Association of Touring and Adventure Suppliers), reason for travelling to which Giles chairs. Rather than Benedict Allen style a beautiful place can be daring feats, Cosmos provides adventures which instantly removed if all you create a gentle adrenalin boost and are jolly good see are coachloads of other fun. Guests do something different to their normal tourists. Tours to the far daily life: experiencing new cultures, cooking and reaches of Chile will ensure, eating with a local family, even leisurely white-water for now at least, that Giles’ rafting. The emphasis is on what you do when you guests should not suffer arrive at the destination: in France picking grapes, this fate. shopping in food markets and then helping to create a gastronomic meal. Customers, Giles stresses, are SILVER FACTS experience hungry and this is where touring scores so highly – it is indeed an experience from start to finish. Your local travel agent will be able to recommend Where I ask, are these folks wanting to go on their the right tour and cultural adventure for you.

51 CELEBRITY SPOTLIGHT SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB AND TV Travels with my Grandfather Winston Churchill - Celia Sandys talks to Jennie Carr Her first trip with him was aged sixteen, as she was an available grandchild of the right age. They were guests of Aristotle Onassis and his wife on his incredible yacht sailing in the Mediterranean. Fellow guests were Maria Callas and her husband. And it was on this voyage that two marriages ended and a love affair began. What an extraordinary trip for the little-travelled young Celia to experience! She recalled her grandfather asking her to describe what she could see from the cabin windows each morning, particularly the colours. So very important to the artist he was. Many of her memories of Winston Churchill are from Winston and Celia 1962 his country home, Chartwell, in a domestic setting, where his grandchildren had little notion of the public f you’re travelling to or through London with TAUCK, figure he was, but rather saw him as a benign figure Iyou may well have the pleasure of meeting Celia whom they rather took for granted. Feeding the fish Sandys, one of their ambassadors, at a dinner or and visiting the animals were simple pleasures they all presentation where she tells tales of her grandfather enjoyed together here. that cannot be found in the history books. Celia is Celia also accompanied him on painting trips, one of Winston Churchill’s grandchildren and she where he enjoyed the Mediterranean sun in Monte spent many holidays with him, in the last five years Carlo staying at the Hotel de Paris. These were of his life. She has also written five books about her peaceful trips, with drives in the country and picnics; grandfather, including one on his early life and one on Celia adored having her grandfather to herself. his travels. Painting was a great solace for him and his favourite leisure activity, which he began in 1915 and continued Celia Sandys for the rest of his life, apart from a break during the Second World War. At this time he painted just one picture of sunset over Marrakech, which currently belongs to Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. Quite where it will end up, who knows. Courage is the quality Celia said Winston Churchill would most want to be remembered for. It was this which allowed him to defy everyone during the Second World War and to convince the nation that they would win the war in the end. Meeting Celia Sandys is a fascinating experience; her insights into her remarkable grandfather are warm, amusing and give a rare opportunity to learn about the more private moments of this great statesman. Her recollections are a graciously fitting tribute to him.

One of Churchill’s homes

52 SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB AND TV

witnessed what it was like for Elena Gorokhova to Travels with my Grandfather grow up in the Soviet Union before the fall of the Iron Curtain. All thanks to the magic of literature and Travelling through our partnership with TripFiction. - Celia Sandys talks to Jennie Carr Each month we give away copies of the chosen Winston Churchill book to those Silver Travellers who leave the most entertaining memories of the destination on either as you read the website Forum thread, or on our Facebook page. And some months we link the Holiday Prize Draw with the Book of the Month to create a winning combination in interesting locations. Travel and books: what a perfect double act for Silver Travellers, whether on location or in your armchair at home! he Silver Travel Book Club - your Book Club - is T into its second year already. How time flies when you’re travelling through the pages of a book. SILVER FACTS In recent months we have travelled through To find out more go to France on a road trip with author Ben Hatch, www.silvertraveladvisor.com and type Book walked the length of Spain with Laurie Lee, become Club into the search box. alarmed in Central America with Maile Meloy, and

Silver Travel TV Travel Insurance Tips Can I travel abroad without seeing Our TV Channel is the best place to get a up close a doctor first? view of what to expect on your holiday. Take a few minutes’ look at video clips of destinations If you’re fit and healthy and travelling in Western around the world, and in the UK as well, so you Europe you can go on holiday without seeing a can book with confidence. And also enjoy a sneak doctor. However, if you have a pre-existing medical preview! Find out about staying on the Norfolk condition, are unfit, have had a major illness or Broads, cruising in the Norwegian Fjords or walking in had major surgery in the last 2 years you should the UK, there’s plenty more too! see your doctor before travelling. Some countries Visit www.youtube.com/user/silvertraveladvisor recommend extra vaccinations for certain ages as well.

Watch broadcaster, John Carter, on Silver Travel TV. Can I get travel insurance with a pre-existing health condition? This depends on the severity of your condition, but if the insurance company considers it is a greater risk to insure you to travel and therefore charges extra, then you really not take the chance of going on holiday without proper medical coverage. If they think it is a risk, so should you. I am holidaying in the UK, is there a need for insurance? If you get sick, no matter what the circumstances, you can go to an NHS hospital. But travel insurance is not just about health, it also protects you if you have to cancel the holiday, if your camera is stolen and so much more.

For friendly advice from your local travel experts call us today - our number's on the back page 53 MEET THE TEAM Our Contributors North, south, east or west our writers will be somewhere about, keen to explore the latest destinations, as well as old favourites. All aged over 50, they have a wealth of travel writing experience and many diverse interests, from wildlife safaris through luxury cruising and self- drive boating to gentle walking and cycling almost anywhere around the globe. They’re here to share all this with you! For more articles, type their name into the search box at Personalised holidays, silvertraveladvisor.com. Jennie Carr – Editor Steve Newman A keen traveller, Jennie’s notable Steve has walked with penguins, tailor-made for you moments include hill climbing in swum with sea lions and crossed Gocek & Kalkan in Turkey and two the deserts and mountain of treks in the Namibian desert. the world. He is also a keen birdwatcher. Sally Dowling Sally is an award winning writer Peter Lynch and seasoned traveller who has Once a Biology teacher, now a only recently discovered the travel writer and author, with a delights of cruising. keen interest in wildlife. An expert on rail journeys. Alan Fairfax A passionate ‘cruise ship’ expert Pat Richardson An award-winning UK-based and travel writer, with over 100 freelance travel writer who writes Classic Collection Holidays is a leading independent cruises under his belt, and Alan is mainly about cruises. She also also a moderator on our friendly specialist tour operator providing 4H & 5H luxury gives talks on travel and travel Forum. writing. hotel holidays to sophisticated destinations Solange Hando Ian Lumsden Solange loves exploring the world. A retired deputy head teacher, with She is an award-winning travel a wonderful sense of humour, who writer and member of the British loves to dance, walk and travel, Guild of Travel Writers. often at the same time!

Gill Haynes Andrew Morris After 30 years in the cruise Andrew is the Editor of the Silver industry, Gill still loves life on (and Travel Book Club and makes below) the waterline. But her new literary recommendations to favourite destination is Namibia. our members to enhance the enjoyment of their travels. Judith Holder As the TV producer responsible for Kay Wiseman the hit series Grumpy Old Women, Kay is a travelling wordsmith who Judith has written six books. has now retired to Devon where she continues to enjoy travelling Glynis Sullivan and writing in equal measures. She A regular contributor to Silver is an experienced solo traveller. Travel Advisor, Glynis loves to Spain I Balearic Islands I Canary Islands I Portugal I Madeira I Italy travel with her husband Trevor, Dave Harcombe Our travelling pharmacist, Dave Croatia I Gibraltar I Malta I Greece I Cyprus I Turkey I Croatia and is always ready to pack her has a wealth of experience from bag! Morocco I Egypt I Caribbean I Bermuda I Cities I Lakes & Mountains many years dispensing both medicine and sound advice with Gillian Thornton She has travelled to Finland and his dry northern sense of humour. Oman, Florida and , but FLY FROM PRIVATE YOUR she also loves Britain. 'I never TRANSFERS LOCAL INCLUDED mind where I go,' she says. AIRPORT

54

Advantage travel generic_210x297.indd 1 06/11/2018 17:19 SILVER TRAVEL BOOK CLUB AND TV

Personalised holidays, tailor-made for you

Classic Collection Holidays is a leading independent specialist tour operator providing 4H & 5H luxury hotel holidays to sophisticated destinations

Spain I Balearic Islands I Canary Islands I Portugal I Madeira I Italy Croatia I Gibraltar I Malta I Greece I Cyprus I Turkey I Croatia Morocco I Egypt I Caribbean I Bermuda I Cities I Lakes & Mountains

FLY FROM PRIVATE YOUR TRANSFERS LOCAL INCLUDED AIRPORT

Visit www.silvertraveladvisor.com for travel reviews and information 55

Advantage travel generic_210x297.indd 1 06/11/2018 17:19 Why book with your local independent travel agent?

Our extensive travel knowledge and expert advice will ensure peace of mind and a holiday tailored to your individual requirements.

As an independent travel agent, we have the benefit of being able to research and book your holiday using the widest range of travel providers. You can be assured that we will recommend options that are best suited to your budget, travel needs, and desires so you can embark on your next trip confident it will live up to your expectations.

We offer a friendly convenient service, and value for money.

To find out more, please contact us today.

Home of Cruise Select 01234 326758 [email protected] www.cruiseselect.co.uk www.selecttravelholidays.co.uk