Nickson Travel

17/06/2024

Travel tip incoming…

Whether you’re road-tripping through the US this summer or exploring the Côte d‘Azur, here are my top tips for making the most of Google Maps when you travel 🔎

➡️ Save Offline Maps: Before you go, download maps for your destination by tapping the location, choosing "Download," and voilà! You can now navigate without the internet.

➡️ Explore with Street View: Here‘s a cool trick! Drop the adorable yellow peg man on the map and virtually stroll through the streets. It‘s like being there already. Do this around your hotel to get familiar with nearby places.

➡️ Discover Nearby Places: This is one of my favourites! Use the "Explore" feature to find attractions, restaurants, bars, parks, you name it, all in your vicinity. It‘s like having a local guide right in your pocket!

Happy exploring, fellow adventurer 🌏

16/06/2024

In honour of Father’s Day, this is an ode to my late dad’s passion - rewilding and native species. Did you know he established a wildflower meadow I’m now lucky enough to take care of?

What has this got to do with travel you may ask…well here are some ways your travels can contribute to supporting rewilding and nature…

The first is by choosing your accommodation wisely. Pick a hotel that works with the natural habitat it’s in rather than against it - large landscaped manicured lawns are out, bee friendly native flowers are in!

If you’re visiting an area that is naturally dry, then thirsty non native plants are not the way to go. By choosing plants that are drought hardy, hotels can save an enormous amount of water.

Did they consider the plants on site when they constructed the hotel - were pre-existing trees built around, or felled?

Check out the hotel’s website and socials before you go - if it’s something they care about then most likely they will be shouting about it. If not, why not message them and ask? If nothing else it will flag it’s something tourists care about.

Secondly we have all heard of ‘carbon offsetting’ but did you know some schemes are not what they claim to be? Read more via my ‘Top Tips for Responsible Travel’ document, but the trend these days is to support rewilding projects as a far safer and more impactful option.

Luckily if you book through me you don’t need to worry about this, as every booking contributes to rewilding through my partnership with Mossy Earth.

Get in touch if you want to discuss how to make rewilding part of your travels, or general life! I always love to chat nature.

14/06/2024

13/06/2024

Just booked with a nifty little hack! Read on…

My clients saw an offer elsewhere for a similar trip to this and sent it my way. I suggested switching it to the G Adventures ‘Essential Vietnam and Cambodia’ tour which previous clients have loved and gives the trip extra community benefit.

We’ve packaged it up with flights and a month long gap at the end to add plans in later all with ABTA and ATOL protection but with today’s flight and tour prices.

Do you want a travel agent on your side to advise you the best way to book things for your particular circumstances?

Get in touch for a no obligation chat…
www.nicksontravel.co.uk/ContactUs

11/06/2024

Summer is here (despite the weather), and my plans are ready to go!

As a travel consultant, I’m always dreaming about the next adventure.

Here’s what‘s on my radar, both near and far:

🌼 Experiencing Swedish Midsommar celebrations on the tiny island of Käringön

😎 Hotel visits and in person training to expand my knowledge for you lovely folk

🌳 Trips to some of our favourite UK historic sites to soak up the culture and nature

😍 Most exciting of all, my trip to the Galapagos Islands which I can't quite believe is happening!

What’s on your summer list?

10/06/2024

My mission? Making your travel goals a reality.

Here’s how I do it:

✅ Getting to know you and understanding what you want from your trip

✅ Researching the best destinations, hotels, restaurants, tours and experiences that suit your taste

✅ Taking care of all the details, from booking the holiday to organising your documentation

✅ Levelling up the experience with my concierge service - I'll do the work, you make the memories

When you book your trip with me you can relax and know that you’ll be met with an experience that is true to you and how you like to travel.

So, are you ready to make this travel thing happen?

Book a call with me so we can get to know each other better!

09/06/2024

Yesterday was and this coming week is so what better subject to discuss this than refilling your reusable water bottles!

This week I enjoyed meeting up with some local businesses, including Thatcham Refillable, who introduced me to an app I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know about - Refill.

This incredibly useful resource pinpoints where you can refill your water bottle while out and about for free.

I’ve downloaded it and discovered there is very good coverage in my home town and around the UK, but also plenty abroad which is fantastic news for people on their travels.

If you’re a little wary of using tap water abroad, just take a Water-to-Go bottle and you can be safe in the knowledge any nasties will be filtered out (use my code nicksontravel for 20% off).

I’ll certainly be recommending my customers download the app if they’re visiting places covered, and I’m sure more and more destinations will be added over time.

Let me know if you use the Refill app, or if you plan to from now on in the comments!

06/06/2024

Just booked - Hurtigruten’s historic ‘The Svalbard Line’ voyage.

These lucky customers not only get to experience the trip of a lifetime, but with an early booking discount and onboard spend offer to boot.

Comment ‘Svalbard’ below if you’d like to find out more.

06/06/2024

Which type of road tripper are you?

The driver? You like to be leading the charge at the wheel.

The navigator? You’re the wingman or woman in the passenger seat directing the driver. Think Chewbacca!

The planner? You’re mapping out the route, the stops for snacks, the landmarks to see along the way.

The napper? Your head hits a pillow, and you’re dozing from the moment the car starts until you get to the destination.

I’m a combination of the navigator and the planner, big surprise in this career!

Which one are you? Or maybe you’re a combination of a few like me. Share with me in the comments.

05/06/2024

Hugely honoured to announce I’ve been shortlisted for the Sustainability Champion of the Year (Small Business) at the Travel Weekly UK Agent Achievement Awards!

This award is presented by Hurtigruten who as you hopefully know are a company I love.

I’m nominated alongside two incredible businesses I hugely admire, Earthwise Travel and Travel Matters - massive congratulations! 🥂

04/06/2024

Nobody talks about the customer service limbo you can end up in when you choose to book your trip yourself online.

There’s another way!

When you plan and book your holidays with me you’re not only getting a trip that’s customised to you, you’re also getting 10/10 customer service.

❌ No wait times if you need to call.

❌ No stress if travel plans need to change.

❌ No need to be passed around like a hot potato from the booking site’s customer service line to the airline and back to the booking site.

Customer service limbo just isn’t where you want to be when you find yourself in need of help on a getaway.

All it takes is a Whatsapp or an email, or head to the enquiry form on my website to tell me more about your plans!

Phone/Whatsapp: 07736 308877
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.nicksontravel.co.uk

03/06/2024

Today’s travel inspiration is brought to you by a stunning hotel in Crete.

Bookmark this for later if you’re thinking about getting away this summer📌

I’m working on an itinerary to Chania for clients who wanted to take a relaxing, switch off holiday to celebrate their engagement.

Here’s what I came up with for them:

👉 They’re staying at the Asterion Suites and Spa, which is perfect for them because it's designed for adults and a haven for tranquility.

👉 Set in an idyllic beachfront location, it boasts stunning views over the Aegean Sea, and is the ideal base for exploring Western Crete.

👉 Food lovers are in their element here, with a farm to table approach offering delicious Cretan fare mixed with international dishes, and of course plenty of delicious cocktails.

👉 My clients really just need to take some time to relax and disconnect from work calls, and this is the perfect place to do it.

👉 They’ll be relaxing, reading a good book by the pool, enjoying couples' massages, and really just taking a moment for themselves.

Can’t wait to see them off!

Tell me, would you take this trip?

02/06/2024

This is a question I’ve been asked many times about some of my favourite holiday souvenirs - a beach towel, some pottery, or even a nice dress. But are those items really from where we think they are?

This week’s is about one of the little things we can do on holiday to support the communities we’re visiting.

Thanks to factors such as foreign owned operators, airlines and hotels, as well as imported produce and food, tourism leakage is as high as 40% in India, 70% in Thailand and 80% in the Caribbean. What does this mean? That not enough money from the trips we take gets to the people whose homes we are visiting.

One of the easiest things we can do to improve this situation is to spend our money with local businesses, and even better on locally made products. This way not only are you supporting a local shopkeeper, but you’re also fuelling demand for locally made produce.

Result - more money in locals’ pockets so they directly benefit from tourism to their home, simple right?

Some tips on how to do this include…
- If you’re shopping for souvenirs check the label, it might be a traditional product but was it made locally?

- Look out for local family businesses, you probably love supporting small business at home (including mine, thank you!), so take those attitudes away with you. One of my favourites was Flakatoras Ceramics in Chania

- I got to see a pottery display and came back with some fabulous hand made napkin holders, win/win!

- Going on a cruise? Get off the beaten track and seek out local shops and experiences, you don’t always have to stick to the excursions.

- Research and pre-book local restaurants before you go - you’re far more likely to visit if you don’t have to make last minute plans.

Do you have any favourite locally made souvenirs from your trips, or more tips to support local when on holiday? Let me know in the comments…

29/05/2024

You forgot your headphones, left the book you planned to pack on the coffee table, and are sitting at your resort paranoid about leaving the hair dryer plugged in. Ugh, not so relaxing!

Here’s my day before travel checklist that I’ve perfected to make sure I don’t forget anything...

Start prepping a week before: I start setting things aside for my trip, but I hold off on packing until a day or two before, so I remember what’s in my suitcase. I also have a 'to pack' note on my phone I can add to wherever I am if inspiration strikes. This is especially useful as an aide when packing last minute in a rush (as per).

Do a round of editing: Right before I pack, I edit to make sure I’m packing what I’ll actually need. I also check the weather forecast where I’m headed to make sure I’m prepared - fingers crossed for no rain!

Carry-on check: I double- and triple-check my carry-on for my documents, my laptop, and my lip balm—basically everything I’ll need on the actual flight (dry lips on a ten-hour flight is the worst!).

Travel admin: I download airline apps, make sure I have a copy of my boarding pass, etc.

What's on your day before travel checklist?

Share yours in the comments below 👇

28/05/2024

There’s nothing worse than coming home from a holiday, scrolling on social media and realising you missed out on seeing or doing something.

But this, my friend, is where I can help.

I want you to imagine this: you‘re planning a bucket list trip, a once in a lifetime experience you know you won't be repeating.

Instead of relying on some random blog you can’t verify or scouring online reviews (which, unfortunately, can be biased!), you have access to ALL the insider tips and recommendations curated just for you.

I’m taking mental notes about you, your interests, how you like to travel, your budget and your timelines, and I’m giving you an itinerary that helps you make the most of your time because life is way too short to have regrets about your holiday.

Send me a message with that trip you’ve been thinking about, and let’s work together to make it happen.

27/05/2024

Hard working professionals who could use a week to escape the everyday, stressed out parents who could do with some relaxation time (with or without the kids), and anyone who wants to learn more about the world around them, this is for you!

5 star rated Travel Consultant here 🙋‍♀️

The quickest and least stressful way to get you to that dreamy getaway that allows you to kick back, reconnect and soak up new cultures, is to call in reinforcements!

My goal is to:

✅ Tailor your trip specifically to your tastes and travel style.
✅ Make your travel planning process super easy and personal.
✅ Plan and book the details so you don’t have to.

And I may be biased but travel is SO much better and easier when these things are taken care of for you.

When you’re ready to plan that trip, let’s connect. We can chat about your plans over a discovery call, and I’ll share my recommendations plus all of the ways I can elevate your next holiday.

Send me a Whatsapp on 07736 308877 see all the different ways of getting in touch via my website www.nicksontravel.co.uk

26/05/2024

I have a blog post for you this - a new little feature I'm working on for my website, but you have a sneak preview!

I wrote this back in 2021 based on my own experiences of most destinations, plus one that I wanted to have (I bet you can guess which!).

I wanted to share this again in case it inspired some of you to think of these destinations in a new way, or just to reinforce how inspiring they are.

I hope you enjoy - if you do, please sign up to my mailing list to be alerted when I write more.

https://nicksontravel.co.uk/FiveSustainableDestinations

23/05/2024

Happy !

One way you can ensure you have some happy turtles around you on your trip is looking for the Green Fins logo - check out this previous post for more info.

Do you like to snorkel or dive on holiday? If so this week's is for you.

I want to share a scheme that is a hugely useful for people who care about the health of coral reefs and how tourism affects them.

Green Fins members (dive centres, snorkelling centres, liveaboards) protect and conserve coral reefs by following environmental guidelines that promote a sustainable diving and snorkelling industry.

If you see your activity provider is a Green Fins member, you can be certain they follow a set of principles such not touching or anchoring on corals.

Want to check the Green Fins members around where you'll next be holidaying? You can search them here:
https://greenfins.net/

I know I'll be recommending Green Fins members to my customers from now on - will you be using this resource too?

22/05/2024

That summertime breeze in your hair, gin and tonic in the garden feeling 🍹(Ok maybe not so much today! 🌧️)

What’s on your summer to-do list? And what things are you looking forward to experiencing?

📝 On my list:

✅ Have a good old declutter

✅ Spend more time gardening

✅ Visit more English Heritage properties (my membership hasn't seen enough action this past year)

Share your summer to-do list with me in the comments.

21/05/2024

Have you ever wanted to visit Svalbard? I have some customers thinking of doing just that, so it was perfect timing Hurtigruten Expeditions have just released this Svalbard Expedition Guide.

This provides insights into the destination, landings, and wildlife in Svalbard. It also shows you how to experience an expedition there in true HX style - so inspiring!

If after watching this you want to visit Svalbard for yourself (how could you not), please get in touch to start planning your adventure:

📱 07736 308877
📧 [email protected]
💻 www.nicksontravel.co.uk



https://youtu.be/RxvuzocweVM?si=0Tun7KTZdHGt3uOS

20/05/2024

Happy World Bee Day! 🐝

Do you know what makes bees super happy? Lots of native planting!

Throwback to this post all about what Iberostar are doing to make their properties bee havens.

After a short Christmas break, is back.

Thanks to the large number of family holidays I've been researching recently, I thought it was a good time to highlight that old family favourite, the all inclusive.

I was asked to provide an agent's point of view on the question "Does all-inclusive value come at too high a price for the planet?" in this Travel Trade Gazette article a few months back - the answer isn't a simple yes or no.

Why not take a read and see what I and travel colleagues had to say on the matter:
https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/the-big-question-does-all-inclusive-value-come-at-too-high-a-price-for-the-planet-42637

(Photo of an Iberostar property's native species green space - little spoiler, they are one of the companies doing all inclusive right).

19/05/2024

This is the question every traveller has the opportunity to ask themselves.

Do you want your travels to have a positive or a negative impact on the destinations you are visiting, which after all are people’s homes?

I was reminded this week of the hugely powerful and inspiring documentary, ‘The Last Tourist,’ while chatting to another travel agent friend of mine. I thought for certain it should be the subject of this week’s - I couldn’t quite believe I hadn’t focussed on it before.

It explores how we, as travellers, have the opportunity to be the driving force that paves a new way to travel with more thought and care. A way that protects people, places and wildlife, that secures a positive future for destinations and host communities for generations to come.

I honestly believe that every traveller should watch as it’s so transformative in the most positive way. Talking about responsible travel doesn’t need to be a finger wagging exercise, and this most certainly isn’t - it’s full of hope about how we as travellers can be a positive force for change.

Without giving too much away, some examples include projects G Adventures have set up with local communities. In fact G Adventures’ founder, Bruce P**n Tip, is an Executive Producer of the documentary. I was lucky enough to hear him speak at the Travel Weekly UK Sustainability Summit last year and he was hugely inspiring.

The documentary is available on a number of platforms - I’d really encourage you to watch and be inspired before taking your next trip.

If you want a copy of my ‘Top Tips for Responsible Travel’ please reach out and I’ll send you the link, or you can get a copy by signing up to my mailing list.

17/05/2024

🇳🇴 Happy Norway Day! 🇳🇴

Constitution Day is the national day of Norway and is an official public holiday observed on the 17th May each year.

Norwegians will often celebrate with big parades, dress up in their favourite costumes, eat hot dogs, waffles and ice cream. Sounds good to me!

Gratulerer med dagen, Norge! 🎉

16/05/2024

Highlights of Albania – 16 Oct 2024, 4 nights from £1045pp with no single supplement.

Experience this four-night tour, to four fascinating cities. This short break shows you ancient, medieval, and modern Albania from a well-placed base in Durrës.

Get in touch for more information and a quote to suit your needs.