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 Caribbean, 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 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 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, London 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 France. 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 coach trip 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 Budapest, 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
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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 Manchester, 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, Birmingham home-from-home & Southampton 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 Lisbon, 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 Hungary’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 Bordeaux 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. Switzerland 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, VIENNA, 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. Bratislava 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 cruise ship. 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, Rome 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 Munich or Brussels, 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 Berlin, 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 Germany • 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 Czech Republic • Entrance to Hradcany Castle and St Vitus’ Cathedral
Cruise REGENSBURG Slovakia River Danube END Days 4-11 DURNSTEIN VIENNA PASSAU Munich BRATISLAVA LINZ EMMERSDORF HOW TO For more information or to book, please By Ship 1 Nights in hotel 1 Nights on ship 7 Budapest ZürichBy Rail Austria 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 Paris, 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 Milan’s massive Romanesque Venice, 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 Amsterdam 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.