Diamond Travel

02/08/2024

This tour looks amazing and includes so much:

✈️ 25th November 2025 & 24th November 2026
📍Shanghai - Yangtze River - Chengdu - Xi’an - Beijing

📆 Tour dates available throughout 2024, 2025 & 2026
⭐️ City tours of Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing
⭐️ Embark on a four-night Yangtze River cruise and sail past the stunning Three Gorges
⭐️ Encounter China’s giant pandas with a visit to the Chengdu Panda Breeding Centre
⭐️ Enjoy a boat trip to the world’s largest stone-carved Buddhist statue in Leshan
⭐️ Uncover the 8,000 Terracotta Warriors buried beneath Xi’an
⭐️ Stroll along the Great Wall of China and visit the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Summer Palace
⭐️ Enjoy a fantastic Chinese acrobatic performance and Tang Dynasty show

For prices on other dates and other tours - call 01252519669 or send me a message

Olein at Diamond Travel is a Farnborough-based travel agent, with over 23 years of experience. Package holidays, multi-centre holidays, cruises, tours and so many types of holiday to suit your budget and requirements. www.diamondtravel.ltd.uk

02/08/2024

Regular followers will know that I love to suggest novels for travellers to read - to inspire them to travel or to bring back fond memories after travel.

- there are so many novels set in Paris! From the Hunchback of Notre Dame through to The Lost Dressmaker of Paris (published in 2023) - all are worth reading. The latter doesn't take you round Paris much, but you get the atmosphere of a city at war and then a city at peace.

Some more suggestions here - https://www.tripfiction.com/find-a-book/?location=Paris&bauthor=&genre=&btitle=&order=rating-l and here https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/866.Books_About_Paris

Also if you love old books - then make a visit to the Rive Gauche and stroll along the bouquinistes, stalls along the river with more books than anyone could ever read (although I'd love to try!). Especially busy at the weekend.

684 books based on 590 votes: Les Misérables by Victor Hugo, A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, The Count of ...

02/08/2024

All week, I've been looking at what you can do in Paris, mainly for adults. However it is also a good place to take children. Unlike many capital cities, this is a city where people live in the centre so has always been welcoming to families.

There are parks, many with playgrounds everywhere. I'd head to the Jardin du Luxembourg where you can sail little boats on the pond. You'll find puppet shows in many other parks as well. Plus restaurants, on the whole, will make families welcome.

Some museums have areas for children - with activity sheets and workshops. Head to the Cite des Sciences for more hands-on activity.

Obviously you can spend a couple of days at Disneyland Paris, either staying there or travelling out from the city. Travel a little further and you can explore Parc Asterix - meeting the characters from the comics. I'd advise a bit of reading up beforehand so you understand everything though.

However old you are, an ice-cream while walking along the river is a pleasure in the sunshine!

Call 01252519669 or send me a message to chat about your next holiday
Olein at Diamond Travel is a Farnborough-based travel agent, with over 23 years of experience. Package holidays, multi-centre holidays, cruises, tours and so many types of holiday to suit your budget and requirements. www.diamondtravel.ltd.uk

01/08/2024

In Paris alone, there are over 200 art galleries! These galleries vary in size and style but all share a love for the arts. Plus over 130 museums. You'll never fit in a visit to all of them in a long weekend - at one a day, that's nearly a year's worth of visits.

How to narrow it down, so you get the most cultural visit that is right for you? Decide whether you want contemporary/modern art or to look back at the greats from centuries past. Some are free, some fun, there are definitely some very weird ones!

When it comes to art - do you really want to see the Mona Lisa? Its small and always has a crowd of people in front of it. Go instead to the Picasso Museum and find out more about the iconic artist. I'd also head to the Musee d'Orsay which is housed in a former railway station - but a very elegant one. It focusses on Impressionist Art.

The Museum of Fairground Arts, or the Musée des Arts Forains is dedicated to objects linked to fairgrounds. The Museum of Perfume, or Musée du Parfum, has a collection of antique bottles, toiletries, and stills for steam distillation. The Museum of Counterfeiting or Musée de la Contrefaçon shows the counterfeit good alongside the original it aimed to copy.

However you want your culture fix - Paris won't let you down!!

31/07/2024

Now is a really good time to plan and book for 2025. This is a great offer for Turkey in April 2025.

Call 01252519669 or send me a message to chat about your next holiday
Olein at Diamond Travel is a Farnborough-based travel agent, with over 23 years of experience. Package holidays, multi-centre holidays, cruises, tours and so many types of holiday to suit your budget and requirements. www.diamondtravel.ltd.uk

31/07/2024

We all know France is the place to go for good food. However how to choose which restaurant in Paris. I've got a couple of recommendations:
Try to avoid the tourist areas and eat where the locals eat. The Canal-St-Martin area is growing in popularity. It has a reputation for lively nightlife as well, so good to check out https://parissecret.com/en/the-best-addresses-on-the-canal-saint-martin/
Belleville is a multi-cultural area of the capital and consequently you'll find lots of restaurants that reflect this. https://www.eater.com/24167440/belleville-paris-hot-neighborhood-dining-guide
Rue Mouffetard is a street full of market stalls selling delicious food but also loads of cafes and restaurants. https://www.rue-mouffetard.com/
For somewhere cheap (but these days full of tourists), Le Bouillon Chartier has 3 restaurants in Paris. Paper tablecloths where the waiters write down your order and race around delivering plates. Not a place to linger over a long lunch, but somewhere you can get a main course from just 7 euros. https://www.bouillon-chartier.com/en/the-concept/
For even more quirkiness, try Le Refuge des Fondues in Montmartres. There are only 2 items on the menu - a cheese fondue or a meat fondue. You sit on benches and wine is served in baby bottles to avoid spillage. It is fun, loud and a very social experience. https://www.lerefugedesfondus.com/

I was a student when I lived in Paris a very long time ago, but the restaurants that were good then (my last 3 suggestions) are still good now (and still cheap)!!

Do you have a favourite eating spot in Paris?

30/07/2024

The Eiffel Tower was the centrepiece of the opening ceremony of the Olympics last week. You can get a great view from the top of the Tower, but there are queues and it can get very crowded. Some alternatives for great views without the price tag:
- This might sound strange - but Galeries Lafayette is a famous shop in the centre of the city. Pause to admire the stained glass windows in the dome of the shop, but head to the top floor of the store. It has a rooftop garden where you can see brilliant views of the city. https://haussmann.galerieslafayette.com/en/the-terrace-at-galeries-lafayette/ Also nextdoor is the other big department store - Printemps and guess what, they have a rooftop open space as well!
- Another great view is from the front of the Sacre-Coeur. Full of buskers, round the corner from Montmartre and the Place du Tertre. Great for sunsets, but don't loiter in this area after dark.
- Other places that aren't free include the Arc de Triomphe and the Tour Montparnasse. The Arc will give you 350 degree views of the Grands Boulevards around it, with the crazy traffic. The Tour isn't the most attractive building but it is one of the tallest buildings in France, so you'll definitely have an incredible view.
- Another of my favourite places for views is the Pompidou Centre, a strange building but dedicated to art, so you'll always find interesting exhibitions there. Just follow the escalators on the outside of the building to the top, you'll see the view gradually revealed as you climb. https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/ Go at the weekend and watch the buskers in the square outside, there's entertainment all day and long into the evening.

There are also various parks in Butte Chaumont and Belleville, where you can find the Parisians at leisure also enjoying the view of their city.

Do you have a favourite viewpoint in Paris? Share it here!!

From the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre, enjoy the Galeries Lafayette rooftop with a panoramic view of Paris. A must-see for magnificent sunsets.

29/07/2024

The world is focussing on France, Paris in particular for the next few weeks during the Olympics. Despite the strange opening ceremony, there's a lot to love about Paris! Everyone knows the Eiffel Tower but over the next few days, I'm going to introduce you to some areas of the capital that you may not be so familiar with.

Paris is a city that people live in, not just a destination for loads of tourists - it has lots of little communities and local areas. Search out the local shopping streets near the big sights - you'll find restaurants that the local use, shops where you can buy ingredients for a picnic, baguettes from a local bakery, and so on. All at better prices than you'll find in the more touristy areas.

26/07/2024

Have you ever been to Aruba? It's an island off the coast of Venezuela. Over 90 nationalities call the island their home. Inhabited since 2500BC, the island has undergone many changes with the Spanish and Dutch ruling at different times. The island is now a constituent country of the Netherlands. You'll see traces of their past throughout the islands.

You can enjoy the beautiful white sand beaches around the island from a sunlounger or from kitesurfboard or a kayak. You can explore by foot or on horseback or by car. Two golf courses mean that you can get some lighter exercise!

An idea of prices is show on the offer below. Read more about why this should be your next Caribbean escape here https://www.aruba.com/

Call me on 01252519669 or send me a message to chat and book your next tropical holiday.

Olein at Diamond Travel is a Farnborough-based travel agent, with over 23 years of experience. Package holidays, multi-centre holidays, cruises, tours and so many types of holiday to suit your budget and requirements. www.diamondtravel.ltd.uk

25/07/2024

Do you enjoy walking? This looks to be a lovely trip.

🚶‍♀️Canary Islands Walking - Gran Canaria
📍Save £120pp
📍Sat 19th Oct Now £919pp Single supp +£180
📍8 Day Tour
The volcanic Gran Canaria offers far more than the beaches it is best known for. Staying in Aguimes and remote Aldea, discover dramatic landscapes, steep gorges, high peaks and semi-tropical valleys, exploring the Island on foot.

❤️Why we love this trip❤️
Roque Nublo - A distinctive rock formation and Gran Canaria's most famous landmark
Canarian cuisine and sangria - Dine alfresco in picturesque villages
Historic trails - Follow the network of 'caminos reales' to explore the mountainous interior

7 Nights accommodation and includes breakfast
Walking Grade - Moderate

To book or look at other walking holidays (of which I have loads), just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message

24/07/2024

LAST MINUTE 2024 SAILING
A DISNEY DREAM
3 NIGHTS FROM £879pp
Departs: 16 August 2024 - school holiday departure
Your holiday includes:
PLUS
• 3 night cruise on board Disney Dream including:
- Broadway-quality shows
- Disney Character meets
- Disney’s Oceaneer Kids Club, the Vibe for teens and Nemo’s Reef for children under 8
- Dedicated adult-only areas including nightclubs, bars and pubs
- Freshwater pools and waterslides at sea
- Exquisite dining options including upscale restaurants, casual dining, poolside snacks and 24-hour room service
Cruise itinerary: Southampton, UK – Zeebrugge (Brussels), Belgium – Southampton UK
Based on two adults and two children under 11 years old sharing. Staying in a Deluxe Oceanview Stateroom with restrictions.

To book or look at other dates, just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message.
Olein at Diamond Travel is a Farnborough-based travel agent, with over 23 years of experience. Package holidays, multi-centre holidays, cruises, tours and so many types of holiday to suit your budget and requirements. www.diamondtravel.ltd.uk

24/07/2024

Do you like travelling by train? There are some iconic rail routes around the world - the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada, the Orient-Express in Europe, the Ghan and Indian-Pacific in Australia and much more.

Which of these famous routes would you like to travel on? Or have you already experienced one or more - tell us more!

I can build a rail trip into an itinerary for you or make it the sole focus of your holiday. Let's create a holiday as unique as you are!

Olein at Diamond Travel is a Farnborough-based travel agent, with over 23 years of experience. Package holidays, multi-centre holidays, cruises, tours and so many types of holiday to suit your budget and requirements. www.diamondtravel.ltd.uk

24/07/2024

Another alcoholic drink day! Today is Tequila Day - loved for shots at the end of a messy night or in a cocktail. Here are some suggestions for your tequila!!

National Tequila Day will be observed on July 24.

22/07/2024

Today is Hammock Day - read more about this relaxing place to spend your holiday!!

Hammocks are associated with holidays, as they are relaxing places to enjoy a book or a cold drink on a hot day!

19/07/2024

🍁 9 Day Best of Eastern Canada 🍁
Offering the best of all things Eastern Canada, take in its cosmopolitan cities, French and British heritage, and majestic landscapes. See traditional Pow Wow dancing in Ottawa, watch the cascading waters of Niagara Falls, and stroll through meadows, rolling hills and farms of Quebéc’s Eastern Townships.
🍁 8 Nights from £3,299pp*
📅 Departing 27th September 2024
🗺️ Fly UK > Toronto – Niagara Falls – Toronto – Kingston – Ottawa – Quebéc City – Montreal – Toronto > Fly UK

-Tour Inclusions
🔸 Welcome Reception
🔸 8 Breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners
🔸 10% Tour Discount

-Sightseeing Highlights
📍 Explore UNESCO listed Quebéc City, Montréal, Oakville Hockey Academy, Sugar Shack
📍 Discover Toronto, Ottawa
📍 Visit Kingston, Niagara Falls, and Notre Dame de Montreal, the first neo-gothic church in Canada
📍 Cruise Niagara Falls and embark on an exhilarating boat ride to the base of Horseshoe Falls

✈️ London Gatwick from £3,369pp
(departures from other UK airports available)
🛏️ Price based on 2 adults sharing

Want to join this tour, look at other similar itineraries or just chat about your next holiday - call me on 01252519669 or send me a message

19/07/2024

I never really thought of Gran Canaria for a foodie holiday, but there's more to this island than sunbathing. There's a wine route which will take you across 52 wineries and much more. Gran Canaria has three Michelin-starred restaurants. Follow the locals to the farmers markets.

Read more here - https://www.sellingtravel.co.uk/gran-canaria-for-foodies

Have you been to Gran Canaria? Did you enjoy the food and wine as well as the sunshine?

Born out of the island’s origins as a significant Atlantic port, Gran Canaria is home to a diverse gastronomy scene and a melting pot of flavours. Here are six of the best foodie experiences to consider

18/07/2024

How does 2 weeks travelling around Mexico sound? Trying out local specialities, and tasting the food from the amazing street food vendors and even joining in with a Mexican cooking class?
For people who love adventure and food we have the perfect tour for you!
A Taste of Mexico - Markets and Mayan Sites
14 Day Tour only
Sat 12th Oct 2024 - Fri 25th Oct 2024
Save £120pp
Now £2155pp Single sup +£390pp
A 2-week adventure to discover one of the world's finest cuisines! You'll start in the Capital City trying some of the best street food that Mexico has to offer. Moving across the country, you'll sample some of the regional specialities, such as 'mole poblano' and 'nopal'. Discover the many ways that food plays a huge part in the local traditions, as well as the history behind this fascinating country.
Why we love this trip
• Mexican cooking class - Prepare a classic dish with a mother and son team, using a selection of fresh ingredients that you'll purchase from one the many local food markets.
• Street Food Tour - Sample the best of Mexico City's street food on a full day tour
• The Yucatan Peninsula - See how ceviche is prepared in Campeche, - the best place in Mexico to try this marinated fish dish

To book or find other foodie holidays, just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message

17/07/2024

Not booked anything yet for this summer? There's still plenty of offers available - just like this one below

To book or chat about other offers - just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message

17/07/2024

This is a mega Asia Explorer tour! 28 nights, with all tours listed included from just £3129 per person

We have Included All Airport & Internal Transfers, 4* Hotels as a Minimum with Breakfast Included throughout - Value for Money!

Highlights - 3 nights in Bangkok with Midnight food tuk tuk tour.
7 nights in Phuket with James Bond Island with Canoeing and Lunch by Speedboat
3 nights in Singapore with Singapore Walking Food Tour
3 nights in Ubud, Bali with Monkey Forest, Jungle Swing, Rice Terrace & Water Temple
4 nights in Seminyak, Bali
3 nights in Kuala Lumpur with City Tour Full Day 8 hours
5 nights in Langkawi with UNESCO Kilim Geopark Mangrove & Bat Cave

This tour can be amended to be fewer nights, other Asian destinations etc. Just so it can be perfect for you!

Call me on 01252519669 or send me a message. Prices based on May 2025 dates

16/07/2024

Today's Deal of the Day is to Japan. So many people want to see the Cherry Blossom in the springtime - this tour is perfectly timed for that.

Call me on 01252519669 or send me a message to take a holiday that ticks something off your bucket list!

16/07/2024

Some years ago, I was lucky enough to visit India - lots of delicious food here. The first photo is of my breakfast on train from Delhi to Chandigarh! Our meal at Wildflower Hall in Shimla was nothing short of spectacular - it was surprising and delicious all at the same time.

Returning to Delhi, we stopped at Moksha Spa Resort for a tour and lunch. This hotel is reached mainly by cable car across a ravine so your isolation and peace is complete. The food again was so good - we had a tasting menu of local food, with more types of bread that I could have imagined.

I was so surprised by the variety of food we had - spicy if you wanted, but always tasty.

If you're looking for a foodie trip of India, definitely call me - I can help you put a trip together!

12/07/2024

I loved watching the original Bergerac series, spotting familiar places. Looking forward to the new series. They are filming on the island this summer, so if you're there - you might be on screen when the series is released!!

Drumroll, please... 🥁 There’s a new detective in town 🔍 😍

Damien Molony, known for his roles in Derry Girls and Brassic, will be stepping into the iconic role of Jim Bergerac as a new series of the classic TV detective series is set to begin filming in Jersey this summer 🌞 🎬

The exciting reboot will showcase Jersey’s unique charm and picturesque landscapes as detective Jim Bergerac takes on an intriguing new case 🌊🏝️

Ready to discover all the juicy details about the cast, plot, release date and more?

Dive in ➡️ https://vj.je/a3fde984

11/07/2024

It's turning into a cocktail week - yesterday Pina Coladas and today is Mojito Day!

I remember being given a Mojito as we walked into our hotel in Cuba, after a long flight - it was a very welcome drink! Very refreshing.

Mojitos have been drunk for several centuries, in fact since the 16th century. Legend has it that Sir Francis Drake's crew suffered from various ailments, including scurvy and dysentery, during their expeditions. It is said that Drake's physician, who was familiar with the medicinal properties of mint, mixed mint leaves with aguardiente (a crude form of rum), lime juice, and sugar to create a refreshing and medicinal beverage that helped alleviate the crew's ailments. This concoction is considered one of the precursors to the modern Mojito.

Enjoy the sunshine today and celebrate England's victory last night with a delicious drink!

Mix this classic cocktail for a party using fresh mint, white rum, sugar, zesty lime and cooling soda water. Play with the quantities to suit your taste.

10/07/2024

It's Pina Colada Day - something we associate with sunshine, relaxed days and the sounds of waves on the beach. Well in a rainy, cold British summer, I think we need to keep those images in mind!

This popular cocktail made with rum, cream of coconut or coconut milk, and pineapple juice, usually served either blended or shaken with ice. It may be garnished with either a pineapple wedge, maraschino cherry, or both.

Personally I don't like mixing fruit or fruit juice with alcohol, but this is a tasty drink that I make an occasional exception for!

Cheers all and we'll drink to an England win tonight!

10/07/2024

A couple of great offers from one of my trusted suppliers. Just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message to start planning and booking your next holiday.

09/07/2024

Time for luxury this summer, somewhere where the weather is hot and dry maybe? Not like here :-(

𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥 𝐋𝐔𝐗𝐌𝐄 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞, 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐞
𝟕 𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 £𝟏,𝟓𝟒𝟗𝐩𝐩
Experience authentic hospitality on the water’s edge at this luxury resort ideally located on Crete’s stunning north coast. With a luxury, all-inclusive waterfront living concept, you can completely unwind.
𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥-𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞:
✨ 24-hour Whatsapp concierge
✨ Dining across seven restaurants
✨ Premium drinks including wine tasting at The Wine Library
✨ Mini-bar, snacks and afternoon tea
✨ Access to Poseidon Aqua Park
✨ Entertainment including the famous White Parties
✨ An array of activities including Pilates, yoga, inline skating, table tennis and more
✨ Also includes complimentary airport lounge passes, VIP airport assistance and private car transfers
Valid for departures 01 Sep - 31 Oct 2024. Based on two adults sharing a Guest Room.
Upgrade to a Swim Up White Room from £24pppn.
✈️ Direct flights from London Gatwick with easyJet from £1,549pp

Top reviews on Tripadvisor as well https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g11898603-d264587-Reviews-Grecotel_Luxme_White_Palace-Pigianos_Kampos_Rethymnon_Prefecture_Crete.html

Just call me on 01252519669 or send me a message to chat about your next holiday to Greece or anywhere in the world.