The Travel Shop

03/04/2025

Only Fools & Horses. Curtesy of Our Elite Consortium and Explore. JTA & Mercury Lovely jubbly😅

03/04/2025

Love receiving proper travel docs. These from Vacations America are only for a small portion of an around the world trip. Well done Vacations to America xx

31/03/2025

Last week Simon was interviewed by Claire Brighton from ATAS all about his expedition voyage on board Quark Ultramarine. Grab a coffee (other drinks are available) and find out more about Expedition Cruising with Quark Expeditions.

Don't forget. on the 8th May we are hosting an Expedition Cruise event in store, with presentations from Quark and our trade partners Polar Routes. You will need to register to attend so please get in touch if you are interested!

01213778575, or email [email protected]

29/03/2025

Canadian Coastline, African Discovery and Indian Ocean Luxury.
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Email from The Travel Shop New Brunswick Canada, Africa, A Tale of Three Countries, Quark Savings & Mauritius Luxury Holiday Inspiration New Brunswick Canada Looking for a destination that has it all.

29/03/2025

Sutton Coldfield Mayor & Lady Mayoress. Helping with the regular litter pick in Wylde Green. Many thanks for helping out.

25/03/2025

25/03/2025

25/03/2025

Reduced Solo Supplement Offers!
Solo travellers, plan a dream holiday now on one of Star Clippers ships with a reduced single supplement of only 25%* on selected categories and sailings.

Call 01213778575 for more information, or email [email protected]

25/03/2025

Whales, Whales and more Whales! This expedition voyage has exceeded even the staffs expectations! Pretty much every zodiac excursion involved an interaction with at least one whale. Normally Humpbacks, but we also saw Orca and Minkie Whales. Also, Sei Whales welcomed us back into the Beagle Channel on our last afternoon...

With Quark Expeditions a zodiac excursion is a breeze. No worries about age or mobility, the staff are always there to lend a hand or 2 to make climbing aboard easy! And whichever expert you happen to have, you will most certainly learn something new every single time! Each zodiac cruise is very, very special.

Spot the couple of shots taken from our balcony!

24/03/2025

Buenos Aires... What a city!

Simon began and ended his epic trip with a stay in the capital of Argentina. Spending 2 nights in the vibrant Palermo district famed for eclectic restaurants and bars and quirky fashion stores and ended his trip with 3 nights in San Telmo, the oldest district of the city with cobbles streets, tango seemingly on every corner and it's fascinating Antique Market centred around Plaza Dorrego.

Special thanks goes to our close trade partners Latin Routes for being kind enough to organise a city tour with guide, where we explored Recoleta Cemetery, including the tomb of Eva Perón and the colourful La Boca area, home to Boca Juniors FC. As well as seeing the changing of the guard at the mausoleum of San Martin at the Buenos Aires Cathedral and the Casa Rosada.

We were also lucky enough to experience a tango show and on the final night, the most incredible meal at Fogón Asado. I have never experienced a meal like it, and can highly recommend it!

Thank you to Gaynor Latin-Routes Martin Johnson and all at Latin Routes!

To find out more of what Latin Routes offer, along with Polar experiences, please get in touch and don't forget about our upcoming in store event on 8th May with Quark Expeditions and Polar Routes!

22/03/2025

River & Ocean Cruise Special
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Email from The Travel Shop Douro & Salamanca River Cruise, Silversea Med Savings and Credit, Quark Expeditions Arctic Season is here! River & Ocean Cruise Special! Douro Valley & Salamanca River Crui

21/03/2025

Heathrow Airport is closed until midnight tonight. We will be checking as soon as we open for anyone travelling today and in the next couple of days and will be in touch in due course. Not much we can do as airlines will have significant backlogs and aircraft out of position, but rest assured we will be on top of it.

BBC News - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cly24zvvwxlt
Heathrow closed all day after nearby fire causes power outage - BBC News

A fire at an electrical substation has caused a "significant power outage" and the closure is expected to last until midnight.

17/03/2025

LIVE LIKE A LOCAL in 𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐂𝐄 🇮🇹
WITH DAY TRIPS TO VERONA & PADOVA
🏨 7 NIGHTS
✅ Centrally-Located Apartment in Venice - Live Like a Local
✈️ Return flights
🚂 Day trip to Verona by Rail
🚂 Day trip to Padova by Rail
🧳 Luggage Allowance*
🆘 24 hour contact for assistance.
✈️ Typicallys 24/7 complete flight disruption reprotection service, on ALL our holidays.
✨ Other dates, durations & departure airports are available

Depart Heathrow - (06/08/2025) - £1399 Per person

Depart Manchester - (14/08/2025) - £1399 Per person
Dont miss this great opertuninty to be in the heart of Venice.
call The Travel Shop 0121 3778575
email [email protected]

16/03/2025

8th March... A Sea Ice Landing!

A snowy, cold day literally at the bottom of the world... Perfect for a zodiac cruise for some Fur Seal spotting and the most amazing experience... Actually setting foot on a floating sheet of Sea Ice. Did you know that sea ice as thin as 35cm is perfectly safe to land on and walk on! This one, was at least 4 metres thick, so plenty safe enough!

15/03/2025

£399 EASTER CRUISE PRICE DROP ALERT

Easter Wonders: A Journey through France, Isles of Scilly & Ireland Prices from £399 per person only £57 pppn

17 April 2025

7 nights

Sail from London Tilbury

On board Ambience

Suite prices from £899 pp

Balcony cabin prices from £699 pp

Oceanview cabin prices from £499 pp

Inside cabin prices from £399 pp

(based on 2 share)

Solo Prices to:

Oceanview from £599

What better way to spend an Easter weekend sailing to Normandy where you’ll visit the inspiring village of Honfleur. This port’s Vieux Bassin (old harbour) has enchanted many artists over the years, including Monet, Boudin and Courbet to name a few. You’ll then sail to stunning St. Mary’s on the Isles of Scilly, which closely resembles a far-flung tropical destination and experience the relaxed Gaelic charm of Ireland’s Cobh before heading home.

Discover breathtaking ports; go on destination experiences, and dine on exceptional cuisine while enjoying each other’s company. These are the moments that make an Ambassador sailing so special, and you’re sure to create memories that will last a lifetime.
Call The Travel Shop 01213778575
Email [email protected]

15/03/2025

7th March... Walking with penguins below the Antarctic Circle!

Our furthest south point on this voyage.

Red Rock Ridge was our first destination with hundreds of Adelie penguins, who really do have no fear! Penguin highways and trying to keep to the 5 metre rule! Plus the obligatory photo with the Antarctica flag!

Then onto Stonington Island where there are 2 abandoned research stations. One from the U.S. and a British one... Spot the Branston Pickle!

13/03/2025

Thursday 6th March 2025... Crossing The Antarctic Circle.

As we left Brabant Island behind the plan changed from cruising down along the Antarctic Peninsular to a quicker, but more open water route straight down to the Antarctic Circle and beyond... A day at sea, but one with a real sense of excitement. Passing huge icebergs, many of them taller and much longer than Ultramarine and each fascinating and beautiful.
We crossed the Antarctic Circle just after 19:30 and oddly only ourselves and a few other people were in the Panorama Lounge and viewing deck to experience it! But we were so glad that we did... As we approached the imaginary line 2 large Humpbacks appeared as if to welcome us to this truly special part of the world!



Don't forget, we have an in-store Quark event in May. Contact the shop on 01213778575 if you are interested in attending! And feel free to share these posts with friends!

10/03/2025

Wednesday 5th March, Part 2...

After the adventures and encounters of the morning we were all very much exhilarated and to be honest a bit taken aback at all we had seen... Our plan was to head further south along Brabant Island as the weather was still fairly overcast, so we thought we had a couple of hours for a leisurely lunch and a bit of relaxation... During lunch the skies cleared into glorious sunshine and there was a buzz of activity on the ship... Helicopter Flight Seeing was a go!! The ship had done a quick U Turn and had positioned itself back where we began our day and within an hour we were in our flight suits and again, Seal Team A were first up.

A Helicopter Flight Seeing excursion is included with Ultramarine sailings which is completely unique in the exploration cruise market and what a joy it is! We had all already been weighed and pre departure our group of 6 were assigned seats in the aircraft. The Heli seats 8 plus the pilot, but having only 6 means everyone gets a window seat.

Jonny our pilot for the flight is ex special forces and has piloted both helicopters and other aircraft worldwide and he is simply excellent! The take off is fantastic as we launch from the rear Heli deck and fly low past the ship, over the Antarctic waters and across pristine snow covered peaks, through rocky outcrops banking sharply allowing some amazing videos and photos.

It's a 20 minute flight that seems to 'fly by' in seconds, but it is simply one of the best experiences of my life to add to what has to be one of the most amazing days I've ever experienced!

Heli landings are also offered during the voyage, these are at an extra cost and can be pre booked at the time you confirm your cruise, or at any point after... BUT, don't hang about as they sell out ridiculously quickly. There is an option onboard to be put into a lottery where if there is available space (and time) there may be a chance of getting a place on additional Heli Landings... It is $995 per person for this added excursion.