Monthly Archives: March 2012

As dead as a dodo… or is it?

Fine white-sand beaches. Clear warm water. Tropical fish. These were all things I had expected on a recent trip to Mauritius. The dodo, however, was not on the list. Thinking about it now, of course I knew the dodo was Mauritian but, before I arrived, I hadn’t put two and two together – and therefore

Tech talk: Timelapse

Favoured by many filmmakers the world over, timelapse photography is an effective way of conveying the passage of time in a slick and stylish way. And, with modern developments in film and editing techniques, timelapse is now more exciting than ever. So…what is it? You know when you’re watching something highbrow – a nature programme,

Learning about red kites on a girlie weekend

Five best girlfriends, an introduction to red kites and a boutique hotel in the bucolic Chilterns. What more could you want for a good old weekend away?! We arrived in our gladrags to a puzzled reception.  ”Are you the walking group?” enquired the hotel manager, sounding sceptical.  “Hmm – well, we’ve booked a short-break package that

Promoting St Margaret’s on Pinterest

There can be no doubt which social-media platform is trending right now. (Photo of a sleepy local lane) Pinterest has, in the last two months, surged in popularity and public profile in a way I can only ever remember the social-media daddies – Facebook, Twitter, YouTube – doing previously.  In December, I asked a fairly

Where does the Spanish holiday rental guru love in Spain?

Guest blog by Claus Sorensen, founder of Spain Holiday, the number-one holiday-rental site for Spain. I have been living in Spain for the last 13 years and in that time have become a devout Hispanophile. To prove it, I even married a local Malagueña! Perhaps unsurprisingly, people are always asking me where I like to

The Greek Situation – seen through the eyes of an Athens resident (and archaeologist)

Guest blog by Heinrich Hall, a core tour leader for our client Peter Sommer Travels and resident of Athens, about the current Greek situation. Regarding the practicalities of travel in 2012, travellers should be encouraged to come to Greece if they are so inclined – the fact that the country’s situation may deter visitors is

The all-inclusive question

Listening to our client Noel Josephides (who spoke on behalf of the Association of Independent Tour Operators and his own company, Sunvil Holidays, about the Greek situation and its effect on current numbers of holidays booked) on BBC Radio 4’s You and Yours last week (24 February), I was surprised to hear the interviewer ask

The Artistic Doors of Funchal, Madeira

Guest blog by Oliver Broad, Chairman of AITO Specialist Travel Agents. Oliver recently travelled to the Portuguese island of Madeira to finalise plans for the AITO and AITO Agents combined overseas conference, being held on the island from 14-17 June 2012. During his trip, he was particularly fascinated by what local artists have done to doors in Madeira’s