Andara Travel

10/08/2024

Happy weekend! Hopefully it’s going to be a sunny one! ☀️

We have been busy sending our lovely clients on their holidays for the summer! It’s been a busy summer for us and our travellers! ✈️

We have also been making time to meet our tour operator and suppliers. This helps us strengthen and develop not only our relationships with our lovely clients but also our fabulous suppliers.

These relationships really help us design and craft your perfect holiday and enabling us to add in any extra special experiences 😍.

I have put a snapshot of the last few months of the work ( I promise it is work 🤣!) that we do meeting suppliers and reservation teams across the UK to ensure you have the very best holiday totally tailored for you.

You might recognise some of the names you have travelled with!

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

Sandra xx

11/07/2024

We have just spent a week on Hebridean Princess. Wow what an amazing bucket list experience this gorgeous little ship is 😍.

The food and service on board is the one of the best we have ever experienced on our travels.

She doesn’t have a ‘cruise’ feel, she feels more like a wonderful country house that can nestle into little coves and inlets. Her maximum capaticity is around 50 people.

We cruised from Oban around the Outer Hebrides and saw amazing wildlife - hundreds of puffins, birds, seals and a few dolphins! We also visited remote villages and castles.

The benefit of our cruise is that she stayed in uk waters for anyone who struggles to get travel insurance as it’s not needed. She does lots of other itineraries across the UK and Channel Islands. 🛳️⚓️

If Hebridean Princess is on your bucket list we would be delighted to share our experience with you !

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01/07/2024

Great day catching up with One&Only Resorts
Atlantis The Royal in London.

We had one to one meetings to learn about new properties One&Only Aesthesis Athens and One&Only Kéa Island - wow they look stunning!!

We also took the opportunity to meet with representatives from all their worldwide hotels including long time favourites such The One And Only Royal Mirage - Dubai.

One & only Gorillas nest in Rwanda is still on my bucket list!

The event was held in ‘Swingers’ in London - when we first got the invite we thought it was Spam 🤣 - it turned out to be a fabulous mini golf venue in the centre of London!

If you are interested in any of the One &Only properties or Atlantis the Royal we would love to share our personal experiences with you xx

&Onlyresorts

10/06/2024

We are so honoured to receive recognition as the leading national agency for Australia and New Zealand by our specialist partner Anzcro 🎉! We love both New Zealand and Australia and sending our clients to these incredible destinations 😍.

26/05/2024

Happy Bank Holiday!

I have just returned from the gorgeous Zoetry Marigot Bay in St Lucia ❤️.

It is a stunning resort for anyone looking to experience authentic Carribean as it’s unique in that it is All Inclusive but also has a public restaurant and bar in set in a stunning marina so you can eat and drink with the locals but it is covered by the all inclusive 🥂🥗⛵️.

We experienced yoga, kayaking, zip lining, paddleboarding, a sunset cruise and a trip to Castries for some market shopping.

If you are looking for an authentic Carribean experience in a stunning bay setting then this gorgeous hotel is for you!

I would love to share my experience with you! Please get in touch 01564 784550 or email [email protected]

Thank you to Tasha Smith Hic Alice Otton Hic for this amazing experience and fabulous hospitality I didn’t want to leave !

Sandra ###

12/05/2024

Dave has just returned from a short 6 day cruise around Sweden, Norway and Scotland with Ponant on their beautiful superyacht Le Bellot.

Ponant’s flagship is the amazing Commandant Charcot, the only luxury icebreaker in the world taking you to places in the Antarctic and the Arctic that no other passenger ship can.

We have seen a few ships in their fleet and if you interested in hearing more about these small intimate ships ( with outstanding food ) please do get in touch we would love to share our experience with you.

03/05/2024

Happy bank holiday to our Andara travellers!

We have started the bank holiday weekend in sunny Devon visiting an amazing new expedition ship .

Wow what a ship! has shown us today just because you are having an adventure doesn’t mean you have to compromise on luxury! The food is also incredible as is the range of dining options.

We have seen a huge increase in interest in both Antarctic and Artic itineraries and we have been booking cruises across a range of different ships and experiences.

If you are interested in seeing these remote and untouched regions of the world please do get in touch ! We have lots of hints and tips for you! 🐧 🐋 xx

11/04/2024

Happy Travel Thursday!

One of our lovely Andara travel customers has just returned from a family holiday visiting Singapore, Malaysia and Kula Lumpur for the Easter holidays and loved their trip 🥰!

It is such a great family holiday combination for an Easter break both for the weather and combining fun things to do in the city and relaxing beach stay ☀️.

They stayed at an Andara favourite The Datai Langkawi for their beach stay. They loved the wildlife there 🐒and did some great fun activities in the cities. They have kindly sent us some pictures to share with you and inspire you! ✈️###

28/03/2024

Happy Easter to all our Andara Travellers! 🐣

We are ending the month with more celebrations by being voted by one of our Luxury Tour operators, Carrier, as their Midlands Luxury Agent of the year!

We are so delighted and honoured to receive this prestigious award 🎉🥂😍.

Have a wonderful Easter break and wishing everyone Happy Easter ###

22/03/2024

We have been so blessed to spend a fabulous few days in Lake Como. What a really beautiful , stunning and peaceful place.

We were here with to see how group touring works both in Italy and beyond. We had experiences with various touring companies to have a ‘taster’ of their products. We did boat trips , walking tours , cycling tours , pasta making and wine tasting!

We would love to share our experiences with you!

14/03/2024

Wow !!! What an evening, thank you to all our fabulous Andara family, our longest established clients and suppliers who dropped in to celebrate our 10 th anniversary 🎉🥂at our little event. We are so blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. We love you all! ###

08/03/2024

Wonderful morning celebrating International Women’s Day with these amazing women (and Dave!)

We had a wonderful breakfast with Sales Managers from hotels within the exclusive Oetker Collection and caught up on news from these fabulous properties:

-The iconic Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes
-The stunning The Woodward Geneva set on Lake Geneva
- The stylish and unbelievably luxurious Hotel Le Bristol Paris

We can’t wait to send our customers to these exclusive properties and others within the very special Oetker Collection.

01/03/2024

We were so proud to be nominated for TTG Luxury Travel big idea of the year!

We have been curating luxury Switzerland trips by train to promote both the wealth of amazing luxury hotels in Switzerland in the summer and also to promote sustainable ways of travel.

We had a fabulous day with our industry colleagues celebrating travel in the amazing Raffles London at The OWO and all the fabulous achievements from everyone nominated!

28/02/2024

Happy Wednesday! One of our lovely Andara travellers is currently in Cape Town and has very kindly sent some pictures for us to share and brighten a gloomy day here! ### ✈️☀️🐘🦒

03/02/2024

Happy weekend!

We were delighted to be invited to Dubai last week with Private Luxury Events . The event was held at Atlantis The Royal ✈️☀️🏝️ .

WOW! It was a stunning hotel!!! We can’t recommend this gorgeous hotel enough! We spent 4 days meeting luxury travel suppliers from all over the world.

We updated our product knowledge with over 50 formal meetings and lots of informal networking ( we can now organise private dinners with an astronaut in Euston 🚀as well as setting up a private picnic in Central Park, New York! )We have also found fabulous new hotels in all corners of the world!

We took the opportunity to re-visit some of our favourite hotels in Dubai. Al Maha in the desert, which is a firm favourite with our Andara travellers and also to visit Bab Al Shams Desert Resort ( great family experience and amazing dinner under the stars) and the The Oberoi Beach Resort, Al Zorah( fantastic beach hotel , exceptional service ) for those who don’t want to feel like they are in Dubai but want a fly and flop.

We also visited / dined at Aura Skypool Dubai and TheAddress Beach .

If you would like to find out more or interested in the latest developments in Dubai or travel globally please do get in contact! 01564 784550

Sandra & Dave x

08/01/2024

Happy Monday!

We had a busy and fun weekend with our AITO association industry colleagues updating our travel knowledge for the year ahead.

We had 32 meetings over the weekend to learn about what’s new in travel for 2024! We discovered new destinations, hotels and experiences to share with you!

We also won the AITO All Stars Travel Agent of the year and Travel Agency with the largest percentage growth with AITO awards! 🎉🥂

We are beyond proud 🥰! Thank you AITO ❤️

We are looking forward to sharing our knowledge with you in the year ahead ✈️🏝️🚢⛩️🏔️🏯

01/01/2024

Happy New Year!!🎉🍾🥂

We have had a busy Christmas sending our Andara travellers on their exciting adventures!

Our most popular destinations this Christmas were: Thailand, New Zealand, Australia, Middle East and Lapland.

We have attached a small selection of photos from us and our Andara adventurers from 2023 ✈️ We hope they provide you with some inspiration for 2024 🏯🏝️🗽🗿⛩️🏔️!

Wishing everyone a fun and adventure filled 2024!

Love Dave, Sandra, Georgina and Carla ###

30/11/2023

We have just spend the last week in Japan discovering some of the lesser known areas of the country. It has been amazing and we can’t wait to share it all with you! If you are thinking about Japan we would love to share our experiences with you!

22/11/2023

We don’t normally promote offers but this one is too amazing to miss !!

We went on Explora I’s maiden voyage in the summer and were blown away. It is designed as a 5 star hotel at sea and is perfect for people looking to try a cruise for the first time! 🛳️

Their ships are mainly based in the Med for the summer and the Carribean for the winter.

We are very excited at these not seen before offers and are booking one for ourselves ! They also have some incredible last minute options to escape the cold and fly to the Caribbean over the next few weeks. ☀️✈️

If you are interested in hearing more about Explora please give us a call on 01564 784550 or email us on [email protected]

09/10/2023

We have just returned from our second visit to Qatar. It’s a perfect destination for some winter sunshine, amazing food and culture! ☀️

Qatar airways fly direct from London, Birmingham and Manchester.

We love this safe and welcoming destination! Please contact us if you would like any further information - we also watched the F1 Grand Prix there this weekend. We would be delighted to share our experience - it is scheduled for 1 December next year!

Contact us on 01564 784550

05/10/2023

We have returned from Crete and the stunning Elounda Beach Hotel & Villas and their sister property Elounda Bay Palace.

Wow!!! I stayed in their waterfront Junior Suite - it has to be one of my favourite rooms in the world!! I have taken a video if you have 2 minutes to watch it - it really was stunning and definately a bucket list room!

The beach is lovely and sheltered and the food was delicious!

The hotel is walking distance to the lovely town / village of Elounda and we took a trip to Spinalonga.

We would highly recommend a stay at this very welcoming and fabulous property!

Please contact us on 01564 784550 if you would like to find out more about this hotel or thinking about a holiday to Crete!

30/09/2023

We have been busy with our Andara customers looking for inspiration for next summer or a last minute blast of sunshine! ☀️

We have been very fortunate over the last few weeks to visit some of Europes most beautiful resorts - one of these has been Forte Village Resort in Sardinia.⛱️

This resort is perfect for families as the facilities it offers are amazing! There are football and tennis academies and all types of watersports. For younger children the children’s area is fabulous. I loved the Barbie house! ⚽️

For adults the wellness area and spa was so relaxing and fun! I loved the go karting experience and the food at all the many different restaurant choices was delicious!! 🧘🏻‍♀️

They are staying open for our October half term. They still have availability for families or a last minute break for adults! Due to our visit we will be able to offer you some value extras like your own private cinema experience!

We would also recommend combining your stay with a few nights in Cagliari for some city culture in their beautiful sister property Palazzo Doglio

If you would like to know more please get in touch! 01564 784550

Sandra ###

Half term offer!

Children stay free* over October Half Term plus 1 free academy for 1 child**
Prices from £7,079 per family
Based on 2 adults and 2 children sharing a Deluxe Family Bungalow for 7 nights on half board basis including return economy class flights from London Gatwick and private transfers. Saving up to £1,515 per family. Price based on 21 October 2023 departure.
Valid for travel completed between 21 and 29 October 2023.
*if sharing the room with the adults
**Academies include Tennis, Padel, Swimming, Go-karting and 50% off the Real Madrid Foundation Clinic.

05/09/2023

Fancy a private jet to the Maldives for New Year ? ✈️☀️We have just the opportunity for you!
One of our partner suppliers is offering this once in a lifetime trip!

03/09/2023

Happy Sunday! The sun is finally shining ☀️!

Tonight at 8 on BBC2 is one of our Andara favourite hotels - Ceylon Tea Trails - Sri Lanka 😍! We are excited to watch it and reminisce about our stay here!

Monica and Rob travel to the highlands of Sri Lanka and discover Ceylon Tea Trails.

01/09/2023

The Venice Simplon-Orient express is ceasing to operate between Venice and London in 2024 . We have this very rare opportunity due to a late cancellation for a vacancy in October. Please call us on 01564 784550 if you are interested and we would be delighted to give you the details! Xx

25/08/2023

Another post!

We forgot to mention Jane McDonald is in Japan this evening on Channel 5 at 9 pm.

She is starting in Tokyo this evening and attends a Sumo match and tries some of Japans amazing food as well as visiting some beautiful Shinto shrines. This should be wonderfully nostalgic for our many customers who have been to Japan. It will also give a great insight to anyone thinking of travelling!

We are destination experts for Japan please do get in touch 01564 784550 if you are inspired to go!

25/08/2023

Happy bank holiday!

One of our Andara customers is out in Borneo at the moment and sent this fabulous picture to us for us to share! We have seen a huge increase in interest in Bali and Borneo this year. If you would like some advice about travelling in this region - amazing scenery including volcanos, culture and orangutang’s please do give us a call on 01564 784550.

We are off now until Tuesday - enjoy the weekend! ☀️

Sandra, Dave & Georgina xx

02/08/2023

We are currently on Explora I’s maiden voyage! Wow what a fabulous luxury ship! We have been blown away by it’s relaxed and small boutique feel. The food onboard has been amazing.

We are on board until the 8 th August if anyone wants to message and ask any questions. We are also happy to video call you from the ship to show you around 😃.

We highly recommend this all inclusive ship if you are looking for a small ship with amazing food. It feels more like a luxury hotel than a ship 😍. If you haven’t cruised before this would be an ideal ship to try!

As we are on their maiden voyage we have some really great exclusive offers for a limited time! We would love to hear from you and share our experience!

23/05/2023

Our first onboard visit to see for ourselves an expedition ship! We were delighted to visit Swan Hellenic Vega today.

Really impressed! Very comfortable luxury expedition ship to see the Artic and Antarctic. We wanted to stow away!! There are still some last minute availability in the Artic this summer! We would recommend this if you have been thinking about it !

We met their expedition leader who has skied across both North and South Poles. He has plenty of stories to share. 😃

Please get in touch if you would like to know more, we have access to some great rates for you! 01564 784550 ⚓️

Sandra & Dave x

13/04/2023

We hope you have all had a lovely Easter break!

We have seen a massive rise in people wanting to experience adventure again! With China opening it's doors the world really does feel open again!

One of our preferred partners, Cox and Kings, has made this video of adventure travel for us to share with you - I hope this inspires you! How many of these places have you been to? - between us we have visited all but 4 of the destinations shown!

Sandra & Dave x