Copenhagen Canal Quayside

What a privilege to visit Copenhagen. I hadn't discovered a new city since 2019 and when you are in my industry, that's quite a long time. The joy of packing the suitcase and heading off to investigate a new country filled me with such joy. A flight to Copenhagen is super quick with a very straight forward transfer from the Danish airport to the city centre. A civilized flight mid morning allowed us to be in the city mid afternoon with time to jump on some bikes and adventure around.  Our base for the next couple of days was the iconic hotel D’Angleterre - a beauty of a property if I have ever seen one. Central, grand, homely, not stuffy - its staff oozed welcome with friendly engaging smiles and caring attitudes - oh and I should add home to the Michelin star restaurant Marchal.  

Karen outside the Hotel D’Angleterre, Copenhagen

Photo by Febiyan

I had been curious to visit Copenhagen and Denmark overall - my knowledge of the country was somewhat limited - think Lego, Carlsberg lager and the Nordi series on Netflix The Bridge!! I love a Scandi thriller! Incidentally that bridge, over 8 kms long, links Denmark to Sweden allowing many Swedes and Danes easy access to live and work in both countries. Back to my curiosity of the country - I had heard good things about the Danes and their way of life, their attitude to community and happiness. You are probably well acquainted by the term Hygge - meaning connection, coziness and enjoying the simple pleasures of life with those you love.

The City of Happiness

Did you know that there is the Research Institute of Happiness headed up by Meik Wiking? The organization is an independent think tank exploring why some societies are happier than others. Their mission is to inform decision makers of the causes and effects of human happiness, making well-being part of the public policy debate, and improving quality of life for everyone on the planet. They partner with cities, governments and organisations to set the agenda to improve quality of life. With so much care in a society it’s obvious that its citizens would find suitable ways to look after their environment too, which is reflected in their living choices and behaviour - the Danes are leading in sustainability especially with building infrastructure and how it affects their environment. Another fun fact I learnt is the new cable, 760kms long - yes you read that correctly (the world's longest high voltage cable) is being laid under the sea between Denmark and the UK which is going to supply us with renewable energy from the Danes wind farms  - how cool is that? A great scheme that will help the environment and help us Brits come away from fossil fuels.

Karen in Christianhavn

Copenhagen really is a beautiful city -  full of eco-friendly buildings using renewable energy initiatives - green roofing, solar, rainwater harvesting systems, urban gardens and green space galore. I thought most novel is the waste plant which has a secondary function of offering a ski slope - a truly innovative and pioneering idea. On the subject of cleaner living - did you know that 9 out of 10 Danes own a bicycle? And 26% of families living with two children in the city of Copenhagen own a cargo bike. Londoner’s - we could do so much better than we do and take a leaf out of the Copenhagener’s book and come away from our dirty polluting cars.

The Hotel D’Angleterre offers their guests bikes for free so it was a pleasure to pedal off and meander around the city on the generously wide bike lanes. One unique cycle super highway crosses the canal. We had to wait as the bridge closed for the cyclists and was raised in order to let a tall ship pass along the canal. It was an awesome sight! 

The bicycle super highways of Copenhagen, by Aurora Ferreira

What else are the Danes doing right, you may ask - well free education for students, free health care, low criminality and a general good work/life balance. It's that feeling of Hygge again. So with the backdrop of understanding why Denmark had drawn me in, let me highlight a few experiences I tried when in the capital of happiness. 

I biked to the picturesque district of Christianshavn. An idyllic place to immerse yourself in the pretty and colourful neighbourhood which is made up of small islands.

The beautiful canals of Copenhagen

I participated in a sea plane excursion, boarding close to the Little Mermaid - it was a 20 minute excursion over the harbour, allowing fantastic views of Copenhagen and beyond. The sea plane excursion with Nordic Seaplanes was followed by a boat ride with Hey Captain- a more intimate boat excursion where you can talk with the captain offering a very personal way to cruise the canals.

Photo by Rolands Varsbergs

100% take a  guided food tour. Danish food wasn't particularly known globally until a new wave of chefs brought restaurants like Noma into international attention. Joining a Food Tour Copenhagen you’ll meet the  locals and be given local insight. There is so much diversity in Copenhagen’s food scene.   In 2021 14 of Copenhagen's restaurants had 23 Micheln stars between them!  I was fortunate to visit La Glace - the oldest patisserie in Denmark, Aamanns 1921 a famous Danish restaurant and the food markets at Tovehallerne.

Time in Copenhagen would not be complete without a visit to Tivoil Gardens, the oldest theme park in the world. 

My last evening was spent at the Balthazar champagne bar where they are renowned for their signature champagne cocktails - I had a Downton Abbey - very in keeping with the release of the new Downton Abbey movie recently released!

Swimming at Islands Brugge, Copenhagen

Swimming at Islands Brugge, Copenhagen

I could have done with a few more hours in this glorious capital - my last morning I headed to the area called Islands Brygge - which translates as Iceland’s Quay - a gorgeous stretch of waterfront where outdoor bathing and swimmers gather all year round. It was a magical experience for me.

 Karen travelled in April 2022 to Copenhagen in the company of Flospitality and stayed at D'Angleterre Hotel.  

For many of us our first real taste of freedom was when our parents allowed us to explore the area we grew up in unaccompanied on a bike.

A friend and I were recently reminiscing about the joy of getting around under teenage pedal power. Our memories had a powerful common thread, even though our actual experiences were wildly different. He grew up in Delhi, whereas I grew up in rural Sussex but the joy of unconstrained whizzing about was no different.

Sadly as we get older the car often becomes our default mode of transport. At first it's aspirational; then it wins out on comfort and convenience and eventually we just stop thinking about it; the car is simply how we get about.

Traveling to new places gives us an exciting opportunity to break away from the dominance of the car. We can re-discover the childlike joy of exploring somewhere at a slower pace with fewer barriers between us and the new environment we find ourselves in. Who knows, we may even decide it's worth trying when we get back home.

It is important to note that cycling as part of a holiday doesn't mean you have to commit to a cycling holiday! A few years ago I was staying at the wonderful Hotel Portixol on the Bay of Palma. I was delighted to discover a rack of bikes sat outside the hotel for the use of guests. A 10-minute ride beside the sea took us into the heart of the city. Along the way we discovered delightful beachside cafes invisible from the road.

Cycling can, of course, sit at the heart of a trip. Along with a group of friends, and some strangers, I cycled the C2C route from Whitehaven in Cumbria to Tynemouth. We passed through the northern Lake District before climbing the Pennines and descending into County Durham and then Northumberland. There was a great sense of achievement from having travelled 140 miles under our own power and a genuine feeling of having connected with the beautiful landscape that surrounded us.

In my experience one of the great joys of travelling by bike is that you can always find a way of justifying a tasty treat you stumble across at a refreshment stop. Surely you burned enough calories to warrant a pudding! Working in France in my twenties, the 30km pedal along Brittany’s winding lanes to Cancale allowed me to indulge my desire for a weekly Plateau de Fruits de Mer washed down with local Cider. When us cyclists promote the health benefits of our transport of choice (which are undeniable) we may sometimes overlook these excesses!

There are now thousands of exciting bike routes and trips all around the world. Without exception they allow travellers to engage with their destination in a way that is hard to imagine when sitting in a car. These trips also reduce the environmental impact of tourists on their host destination and make it more likely we will spend money with smaller businesses rooted in the local community. You may travel at a slower pace but you'll get more smiles per mile.

Excitingly, e-bikes are making active travel more and more accessible in destinations around the world. Cycling, whether at home or on holiday, should not be the preserve of lycra clad enthusiasts. E-bikes can usually be rented for short or long periods and are a fantastic way of getting about. Importantly they allow people of varying levels of ability and fitness to enjoy exploring together.

Throughout the period of the Covid-19 pandemic there has been enormous investment in cycling infrastructure as people have chosen active travel. IT has, and continues to be, a period of great change. In towns and cities around the globe it is now easier and safer than ever before to travel by bike.

There is, however, one aspect of cycling infrastructure that is often overlooked; bike security. This is a problem that needs solving in order to give more people the confidence to use bicycles for everyday journeys as well as pedal powered exploration. Hudjo plans to play a key role in tackling this issue.

Chris Thompson is a former tour operator, a travel industry consultant and Co-Founder of bike parking App Hudjo. Find out more at www.hudjo.com

“Why?” The most asked question since the pandemic.

Why now? Why me? Why did it happen? If you were asking that kind of question when the pandemic hit then likely you are fortunate enough to have something that you valued too much to lose. Jobs, families and health were the first things that we all tried to protect, and as time wore on we started to consider the importance we attached to everything we held dear. Our newsfeeds filled up with harsh realities surfacing in the world – the state of our planet, discriminations, inequalities and more. Anger spilled onto the streets and we marched as we saw the domino effect of political and institutional corruption globally making us feel robbed of our freedoms. In the West we value our freedom but we also have a voice we can use to create our choices. In other parts of the world such as Sri Lanka, many are not so lucky, they are so beaten down they have no voice and wouldn’t even know where to start to bring about change.

Staff at Kalukanda House

One of the questions I asked myself during lockdown was “What is my Why?”

I am a first generation British Sri Lankan woman born and raised mostly in London to an inscrutably strict father whose single driving focus was education. I always thought him far too strict but I came to understand his “why”. Aged 13, he became the head of a large family of younger siblings and with my grandfather lost at war and no income my grandmother wanted him to leave school and take a job in the local shop. Dreaming of a career in medicine, my father convinced his mother to let him study and eventually he went to university and fulfilled his dream to be a Doctor. That drive to self-improvement and change through education never left him. Educating his daughters to high standards, when I graduated my traditional Sri Lankan father then suggested an arranged marriage. My education had empowered me to say no and to live my life making my own decisions – I had a freedom of choice and a voice to use.

The fire in my belly to be an independent woman was bought into sharp contrast with the reality of many women in Sri Lanka to this day who live in poor communities.

Sri Lanka is a beautiful tropical island globally loved as a holiday destination. Now boasting one of the 7 wonders of the world, Boutique hotels and villas such as mine dot the island and travellers can spend their time immersing themselves in culture and sunning themselves under palm trees. I was surprised at the lack of visible women in front of house positions, or running businesses and I became aware of the stark difference in confidence between some of the local women and myself. Finding the charity Their Future Today was a serendipitous moment. Set up after the 2004 tsunami, TFT has organically grown from supporting victims lost to that disaster to setting up projects that pro-actively support those getting lost in the murky underbelly of poverty and abuse.

Breaking the ground

Within the poorest communities there are tragically too many instances of sexual abuse and abandonment of women and young girls. TFT provides advocacy and vital support to get these women and girls out to a place of safety - an important job completed; preservation of life. But what kind of life does anybody have if they remain in a cycle of poverty? Saving someone from a situation is simply the start of the journey, empowering them to stand on their own two feet is critical to continued success.

So TFT set up the Heartbeat Centre, a safe house to save women and girls to keep them out of abusive institutions. The Heartbeat Centre provides safe shelter, Pro-bono legal services by an all female group of lawyers and education to help these marginalised people to build a better life. The girls who arrive at the centre are ghostly versions of themselves, their innocence gone and spirits squashed with no hope of a life beyond destitution. In one situation a young girl had been adopted when her parents split up, her abusive mother returned to reclaim her and then treated her so badly that the youngster poisoned herself. Presumed dead she was lying in a mortuary when someone saw her moving and she was revived, only to be inexplicably put in prison. Sent to an institution rife with abuse, she ran away and eventually found herself at the Heartbeat Centre. Despite being scarred physically and emotionally, the care and love she now receives is building her self worth. For the first time in her life she sees options and wants to train to be in the police. Other victims are all from similarly torrid backgrounds and shown a lifeline to dream of an independent life and many want to become nurses, lawyers, in the police; inspired by the individuals who saved them.

House Mothers

Without an education and without space from a bad situation we cannot see a way out. There is no freedom to dream of change let alone make steps towards it.

Covid19 has left a beautiful island that survives on tourism with too many people who can’t work or feed their families and TFT funds have been diverted to organise urgent food parcels for them. A desperate situation creates rising abuse (just as we saw in the UK during lockdown) and without help we relegate a generation to destitution and desperate choices. If we give them a lifeline they could break the cycle of poverty and become Sri Lanka’s motivated future lawyers, medics, scientists and teachers. Gender equality and independence in one smart move.

The ability to empower women and girls to fulfil their own dreams and support themselves is my Why. These marginalised youngsters and women can be moved from accepting a terrible fate handed to them through no fault of their own to becoming empowered and asking themselves the question “why don’t I change this?. Ultimately I hope I can encourage women into careers in design, architecture and hospitality – “why not dream bigger?” Assisting TFT financially though contributions from bookings and sitting on the board of trustees is the first step for me.

While we in the West plan holidays to idyllic islands like Sri Lanka we must now consider how to travel consciously, educate ourselves on the whole culture and support local communities. This charity thinks beyond preservation of life and proactively creates change by providing opportunity for a sustainable future through education and empowerment of those vulnerable and lost members of society who have no voice.

This guest blog is written by Dee Gibson, Founder of Kalukanda House

I have travelled to almost 40 countries on several continents. And the more I travel, the more I understand and appreciate the country I was born in and its people. 

I was born in Romania, I’ve been living in Romania about 40 years now, I’ve lived through communism here, I witnessed its transition period to democracy and the open market, I’ve known its hopes and its problems. And I wish I could share all this with you.   

Romania is and has always been a borderland of Europe, always at the frontiers of the big Empires. Romans, Dacians, Turks, Greeks, Hungarians, Germans, Jewish, Russians, Szeklers, Ukrainians, Serbs, they have all had their part in creating and defining our culture. Today this cultural mosaic is easily distinguishable in the traditional architecture, the traditional handcrafts, the music and costumes, cuisine and even people’s spirit.The best keeper of these influences and traditions is the Romanian village. So different from one province to another, but so unitary in spirit, the village has survived the communist efforts to destroy it and also the brutal penetration of what is often called the "Western capitalism", which here has taken the form of the unconscious break of a rather rich past. The Romanian village has survived and still is an island of tranquility, conscience, cheerfulness, modesty, community, and joie de vivre.

 Discovering the different regions of Romania means discovering the country’s rich history and specific character. 

 Transylvania - a land of myths and legends that inspired Bram Stoker’s famous Dracula novel, with its medieval picturesque cities and villages, fortified churches, specific landscapes seems an important model for future productive and sustainable farming in Europe. His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Wales discovered this jewel after the fall of communism, appreciated it to its high value and has tried to help the local communities preserve their wealth. 

 Moldova, the center of Romanian spirituality, houses the highest concentration of monasteries, and monks and nuns in the Orthodox world after that of Mount Athos. The painted monasteries in Bucovina are an example of high value late medieval art.  

 Maramures with its wooden civilisation, a remote region in the high north-west of the country is still preserving a traditional way of life, combined in a specific way with modern influences, creating a contrast worth studying. William Blake discovered Maramures in the 90s and wrote the great novel “Along the Enchanted Way” based on his experiences here.  

 Dobrogea region, home of many Oriental influences, is the entrance gate to the Black Sea and the Danube Delta.  The Danube Delta, an UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1997 is Europe’s largest wetland. Located in the south-eastern part of Romania, it offers from April to September the possibility of observing more than 150 species of birds in their habitat.  Each outing on the great lakes, on the intricate network of the canals or large reed beds, in the willow and poplar forests, on shallow waters or salt marshes, is an occasion for new observations and discoveries.

 And then there are The Carpathians, which cover one third of the Romanian territory. Although not very high (2,544m – in Fagaras Massif), they are extremely diverse.  The flora of the Carpathians includes more than 1,350 species, among which many endemic. Intact forest habitats and the low degree of anthropogenic fragmentation of areas inhabited by large carnivores, made possible the existence of 2,750 wolves, 6,000 brown bears and 1,800 lynx in the Carpathians.  About 50% of the population of large carnivores in Europe is in Romanian Carpathians. From spring to late autumn, Romanian Carpathians are offering excellent opportunities to observe and photograph large carnivores. 

The Carpathians create a wonderful scenery, with green valleys nestled between foothills ascending to wild crags or precipitous gorges.  The altitude villages encountered on the way, the small summer lodges built for the time of the hay harvest, the secret shepherds` paths through forests and meadows will bring a unique, pastoral fragrance to your travelling experience. 

 Come and see for yourself and let me guide you in a slow travel experience allowing you to discover the traditional and worth preserving part of Romania!   

A guest blog written by Adina Camara, a managing partner of a tour company Explore Romania 

The travel landscape is forever changing - and now even more so than ever.  Last year has been tough for many, but we are still here to help you every step of the way. We really enjoy putting your dream holidays together and truly believe that there was no better time to book with a travel agent for your peace of mind. We are the ones keeping on top of all your travel arrangements - be it the updates on travel corridors, entry requirements or any schedule changes your booking might experience. Your booking is secure with us and your money is safe - all our holidays are protected under the holiday package regulations, meaning that if your holiday can't go ahead due to COVID restrictions you will have a chance to either postpone your holiday or get a refund. 

 We care for our clients. Unlike bigger online booking platforms, we are always on hand and you do not need to hold for hours on end to talk to a human being. 

Travel advisors have taken on a much more complex role these days and provide a multitude of services - we make your travel dreams come true, provide an expert concierge service, and fix any issue that may arise. And more importantly we know you and your families and provide personalised service. 

 Most of the time booking with a travel advisor costs the same as booking direct - and often we have access to exclusive deals not available to direct clients. We have personal relationships with hoteliers around the world. We will get you VIPed, for us you are not just a number!

It is important to bear in mind that these advantages are not only reserved for high end clients. We do not just know what the best hotel is, we know what the best hotel is for you and your budget and can help you find the right fit, saving a lot of precious time in the process. Our combined destination knowledge is unparalleled. It is a one stop shop for any occasion - a honeymoon, family holiday, bucket list adventure or a special event that requires meticulous planning.

 We are presenting you with the gift of “experiential travel,” suggesting places, guides and experiences that most people would never have imagined in the first place.

So we have a favour to ask - consider us when booking your next holiday. You’re supporting a small business, and small businesses are the heart and soul of your community.

Images by:

Simon Migaj @simonmigaj on Unsplash

Chris Lawton @chrislawton on Unsplash

Amy Hirschi @amihirschi on Unsplash

As Travel Matters comes to the end of 2020 and continues to operate into our third decade, I look at our vision and mission with a sense of renewed purpose. At the beginning of the year, I signed a declaration “Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency.” This commitment remains as true today as it did in January, despite this challenging year of global pandemic.

The Vision

We curate and sell bespoke holidays and experiences around the world. We have a responsibility to create memorable travel experiences in a world where local communities and our planet can co- exist and flourish. We are dedicated to show how travel, when done right, can impact the world in a positive manner and can break down barriers. We aim to help protect the destinations we send travellers to and endeavour to engage our clients, industry wide connections and employees through our Make Travel Matter campaign.

Travel Matters acknowledges that climate change is real and there is a climate emergency. We recognise we have to act now to address this crisis in our third decade of trading. We pledge to work with our suppliers by collaborating to help build a new, regenerative tourism industry that engages our clients.

The Mission

We are dedicated to show how travel, when done right, can impact the world in a positive manner using tourism as a force for good. We are passionate about travelling and aim to share how we care for our planet and people through our work.

How we operate a travel company & address our carbon footprint + reduction in the work place:
We use Ecotricity as our energy provider using 100% renewable energy.
Use energy efficient light bulbs and turn off electrical devices when not in use.

Minimise our water use.
We recycle.
We use our own re useable bottles.
We cycle and walk to work or take public transport.

We put a reminder in our email signatures.
Use FSC-certified or recycled paper in the office and replace direct marketing with e-marketing.
Use the Ecosia Web Browser.

We facilitate team meetings and external meetings via conference call at every possible opportunity to reduce the need for physical travel.

We operate a remote working policy where possible.

With our partners:

Develop our partnership with Jump, engaging travel companies to embrace sustainability.

Continue supporting the Travel Foundation, as part of their role in the Future for Tourism Coalition.

Plant trees for every holiday booked through our partnership with Trees for Cities.

Support Climate Perks, the scheme for employers who grant additional days to staff to enable them to travel on holiday overland, without ‘losing’ leave days for the travel time.

We encourage the offsetting of carbon emissions for flights through Flightnook, who have an online emissions calculator.

We choose carefully our specialist suppliers and partners, some as AITO members who share the values that we do and pledge to protect the environment, respect local cultures, traditions, religions and built heritage, benefit local communities – both economically and socially, conserve natural resources from office to destination and minimise pollution through noise, waste disposal and congestion.

We favour partnering with community-owned/managed lodges or hotels, where our clients can have a meaningful impact on the local community.

In our client’s journey and holiday planning experience:

We encourage clients to use the train to reach destinations instead of flying as well as booking car hire or trains to travel between destinations.

We provide information about which airlines and routes are most efficient.

We encourage travellers by advocating the pack for a purpose initiative – taking small essentials that help the local communities they visit.

We believe cultural immersion and experiencing a new way of life transforms the guest.

We provide tips and ideas of how to support programmes and organisations that are working to protect the welfare, culture and environment within the destinations.

We encourage the support of the local communities by buying local, eating local food and drinking local brands as well as supporting local traditional artisans for their locally made products. We want to help keep traditional crafts alive, while also supporting small, independent business owners and artists.

Our Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency Plan

As Travel Matters heads into its 3rd decade and develops as a company, we aim to keep sustainability and responsible tourism at the heart of our business model. We have a responsibility to promote sustainable travel where possible and help protect the destinations, landscapes and habitats our customers love to visit.

Through our communications on social media, blogs, interviews and our conversations with our clients, our Make Travel Matter campaign raises awareness of how tourism can and should have a positive impact, as well as highlighting the negative impact of the climate crisis. We promote ideas around conservation & regeneration as well as helping travellers consider how to give back in meaningful ways, ensuring local communities, destinations and the environment benefit.

We aim to encourage clients and partners to take measures to monitor and reduce carbon through the development of our Jump partnership; an engagement programme that boosts sustainability and wellbeing.

We continue to explore partnerships which complement and align with our values and offer services which support Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency. We agree with the principles of the Future for Tourism Coalition.

We will continue to advocate for system change in travel, particularly in aviation as we learn more about carbon levy proposals for frequent flyer programmes as we aim to create a low carbon future.

We commit to reviewing, monitoring and reducing our own carbon impacts, both personally and professionally. Our partnership with Trees for Cities will continue as we pledge to have a tree planted on each holiday sold.

We are committed to collaborate with the Tourism Declares community, through learning and sharing better practice collectively.

Images by:

Scott Evans @scottsweb on Unsplash

Andreea-Maria Juganaru @andreeajuganaru on Unsplash

Tourists often visit a destination to seek authenticity - something that is genuine and original, to escape from their daily lives. The demand for real and authentic culture can have both positive and negative impacts on the destination.

Think of a time when you travelled abroad and saw a cultural event or activity. Was it authentic? Did you believe the locals genuinely carry out this practice? Or was it simply a performance that was staged for Travellers? This is the concept of Staged Authenticity. One of our Travel Writers, Sophie, visited Morocco to explore its thriving cultural heritage and discovered there could be a negative cultural impact of tourism to these performances.

With foreign influence and the development of Mass Tourism, Moroccans have started to lose their identity and have seen their culture diminish in order to suit the Western traveller, causing some negative socio-cultural impacts as locals copy and adopt tourists’ behaviour patterns & culture. Many Moroccans, especially the younger generation, have started to move out of their homes and migrate from rural to urban areas, developed by Mass Tourism, with the hope of a better job and the demonstrated Western lifestyle.

Staged Authenticity is a common concern in this destination!

Let’s take the example of my group trip to Morocco, which included a visit to a local village in Imlil (Atlas Mountains). A Berber welcomed us to his home, wearing his traditional white ceremonial dress, which is worn for special occasions for their Tea Ceremony. The owner demonstrated the Tea Ceremony and offered mint tea to everyone, a traditional welcoming gift to relatives and friends. Visitors may have been excited to see a local home & meet a villager and have the perception of going ‘behind the scenes’ and away from the touristic city-centre of Marrakesh. However, if the Tea Ceremony is a Moroccan tradition and the attire is typically worn for special events, do you think the experience was authentic? Should this practice be solely exclusive to residents? I came to the conclusion that The Tea Ceremony could have been staged authenticity, since it is developed by the demand for what is perceived as authentic and visitors having a desire to see the daily lives of natives.

Responsible Tourism shouldn’t mean you must question every aspect of your trip. It’s time to consider if your encounters with a local is a genuine engagement, or just a staged superficial one. Culture is ever changing, and tourism brings a renewal and preservation of cultural activities and traditions, as well as an increase in locals’ pride and confidence in their culture. Responsible Tourism is concerned with immersing yourself in a local culture, and sharing experiences and stories between the host and the guest. Locals build pride by sharing their cultural experiences and values, and travellers in return gain that authentic experience, but not necessarily from a traditional practice that is staged for the viewers in a resort or in tourist hotspots.

Next time you are planning a trip abroad, think responsibly and consider staying in local hotels or village houses, and eating out in local restaurants. Be culturally sensitive and encourage respect and interactions between travellers and hosts.

We’re on a mission to promote Responsible & Sustainable Tourism, so we love to discover amazing destinations that are in line with the way we think. If you’re hungry for some travel motivation and need some inspiration, we’re always here to help so don’t be afraid to make an enquiry!

(Sophie travelled to Morocco in March 2019)

Our world is being shaken. Writing personally, Covid 19 has given me the chance to reflect on my actions, goals and ambitions, questioning my individual place and role in society. Adding to the pandemic fear, there are the demonstrations and protests around the globe, speaking out against racial inequality with the Black Lives Matter Campaign. Both have impacted society in a great wave, fuelling a sense of social discomfort and pain.

As an owner of an established travel business, I've certainly wrestled with thoughts and unanswered questions about the future, especially the industry I only really know - travel & tourism. On the environmental impact, realising the stark reality of the negative impacts of tourism, I signed a declaration Tourism Declares a Climate Emergency at the start of 2020. Bitter sweet that a global pandemic has brought the travel and tourism industry to a virtual standstill, with lack of demand for airlines, cruise lines, hotels, railways, car rental companies, tour operators and travel agencies like Travel Matters, my business.

Travel Matters - established 21 years

On the social impact, I am reminded of the International Institute For Peace Through Tourism (IIPT) a not for profit organisation dedicated to fostering and facilitating tourism initiatives which contribute to international understanding and cooperation. A movement to preserve heritage, create poverty reduction and heal the wounds of conflict through initiatives to help bring about a peaceful and sustainable world.

As I see the world opening up again to the movement of people, I realise that I have my greatest opportunity to do things better. To use common sense, to be responsible and mindful when I travel, respecting the host communities I visit, remembering that it’s their environment, their destination I pass through, sensitive to the land & nature around me, enhancing my knowledge of other countries and cultures. This code of conduct and awareness should apply to how I live at home as well as when I travel. The Make Travel Matter campaign was created to help with those tips and ideas. It’s a campaign that I have wanted to share with everyone who knows me personally, as well as those who I have not met.  

Women heading off to pick tea

Early in 2020, Travel Matters partnered with Jump, the UK’s leading supplier of employee engagement programmes that drive sustainable behaviours within a range of industries. From corporate employers to university students, Jump has a proven record of 15.2 million positive actions recorded. By promoting Jump within the travel industry, we’d love to drive positive change across the entire sector. As part of our Make Travel Matter campaign, we’re actively encouraging other industry partners and travel companies to look at their impact, producing a chain effect in the travel sector. A focus on behavioural change is the main ambition of this initiative. The travel sector, pre covid 19 employed over 300 million people globally. As a result of the coronavirus pandemic, the global travel and tourism market is predicted to see a loss of over 100 million jobs worldwide in 2020 alone. It’s utterly devasting, however, I cannot give up hope.

Travel Matters partnership with Jump

What else can we do at Travel Matters? We’ll continue to engage with travellers who are keen to broaden their perspective, venture to new places, connect with new people, learn about different cultures and heritage as well as build international relationships. We know all too well that nothing changes the way you view your own life experience like seeing the way other people live. Your visit to a destination can provide an important source of income and sometimes the most important stream of revenue in many countries and regions around the world. Tourism creates many job opportunities and we can’t forget that.

In conclusion, despite the setbacks, doubts and fears, I’m persevering in my role within the travel industry as a business owner, keen to be a kind global citizen, eager to participate in IIPT’s vision of the travel and tourism industry – to become the world's first global peace industry; sharing the belief that every traveller is potentially an "Ambassador for Peace.”

Karen Simmonds is the owner of Travel Matters

I've been to over 120 countries, trying to visit at least 4 new countries every year and have ticked off nearly every corner of the globe.  However, there's been one country that's been on my wish list for over 30 years, from when I lived in Hong Kong back in the 80s. Back then it was only possible to visit Myanmar or Burma as it was then for a week and at that point, there were too many other easier and more accessible Asian countries I wanted to explore. Then followed a decade-long tourism boycott but the desire never went away. Finally this November I got to experience what is easily one for the most beautiful and untouched countries in Asia and set out to find out if Rudyard Kipling's famous quote "This is Burma and it will be quite unlike any land you know about" still held true. Myanmar is full of old empire opulence, grand pagodas, natural wonders and a predominantly Buddhist population renowned for its friendliness and hospitality, eager to share their ancient customs. There are a dozen or so absolute must-do highlights including The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Mandalay, a cruise down the Irrawaddy, Bagan and it's temples and sparkling  Inle Lake. All of which I did and have no hesitation in recommending. However, I travelled with Experience Travel Group who create personalised, distinctive and experience-based holidays and therefore I also got to also discover a side of Myanmar that few tourists ever do, seeing the cultural highlights with a twist. Better facilities and infrastructure within the country means that it is easier now to visit more places. I also genuinely feel that one can visit the country and support hugely deserving individuals and private companies with minimal support to the military regime. 

Here are a few of my favourite places and experiences.

Petra posing by the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon (Rangoon)

The giant Shewedagon Pagoda is Myanmar's gold-plated showpiece and the most sacred Buddhist site in the country (Buddha's hair is said to be buried inside it). The brilliant, golden pagoda (the oldest in the world) standing close to 110m high and covered in gold leaf and 4,531 diamonds are visible from all over Yangon with sunset the perfect time to visit.   

On my visit the stupa glowed in warm orange light, the air was heavy with the scent of flowers and incense and the shuffling crowds flowed as one around the pagoda. I got to have my photo taken by one of the professional photographers that hang around the pagoda before joining devotees taking part in a lamp-lighting ceremony, where hundreds of oil lamps are lit each evening to bring good luck. A magical start to my visit. I'd been recommended to keep Shewdagon Pagoda to the end of my trip as once you've seen it, no other pagoda can possibly compare. However, patience not being my strongest virtue and itching to get up close, I was straight there on the first night. 

All smiles after taking a balloon trip over the temples in Bagan

Bagan, located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, monuments and ruins in the world, over 2000 in total with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.   

Balloons over Bagan, a long standing hot air balloon operator, takes passengers in complete safety and comfort high above the region for 45 minutes. Seeing the thousands of ancient temples spreading across the plains, appearing through the mist as the sun rises is undoubtedly one of Myanmar's most impressive sites and not to be missed. The flights only operate in the dry season between October and March. Taking a balloon ride has long been top of my bucket list. I'd been saving up to do one on a milestone birthday, but no friends or family got the hint! On the Bagan balloon ride I really did feel as though I was in some kind of a dream - the gentle floating sensation, the views, the silence and then the thrilling landing, skimming the rice fields, waving at the farmers metres below us, before landing on a sandbank. Out of the blue a table is set up, champagne and eats materialise and no-one can stop smiling.  

Smiling local at Kyun Thiri island on a rural excursion

When in Bagan you should allow at least a couple of days to also walk, cycle, take a horse and cart or electric motorbike to explore the temples including the impressive temples of Ananda and  Dhammayangyi, the largest temple Shwezigon and the tallest Thatbyinnyu. However, when all the temples (not to mention the crowds) get all a bit too much Experience Travel Group offers a unique rural excursion to Kyun Thiri Island.  The 1,300 mile long Irrawaddy (navigable all the way from Yangon to Bhamo, near the Chinese border) is one of the world's most fabled rivers. To get to the island involved a short boat trip across the Irrawaddy before arriving at the island, just a rustic wooden jetty and a series of muddy steps up a bank before you arrive at the village. This is a totally authentic experience, you'll see no mass tourist boats, just yourself and a guide. I spent the morning with the people of the island, learning about their unique agricultural way of life and being blown away by the friendliness of the welcome and willingness to be photographed.   

A bullock cart on the trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake

Located in Myanmar's north-eastern Shan State, Kalaw is an old hill station with a welcome cooler climate. To fully appreciate the charms of rural Myanmar, I trekked over the rolling hills from Kalaw to nearby Inle Lake staying in monasteries, being lulled to sleep by chanting monks. With Lin Lin my guide, Tun Tun my porter and Nye Nye the cook we walked for five or six hours a day enjoying the bucolic landscape, reminiscent of Tuscany. We watched the farmers planting, tending and harvesting their crops, chillies, corn and rice. I got to help harvest the rice, holding the stems then cutting the crop with a sickle. I have to admit rather unsuccessfully but at least it caused endless merriment to the bemused ladies taking a break from their work. The women mostly wear traditional dress, turbans on their heads, folded like a towel for shade or wiping away sweat and then often with a bamboo hat on top. The men mostly wear football shirts! This isn't a challenging hard core hike, more of an interesting agricultural experience. However, the gentle pace, the pastoral landscapes, the fresh food bought and cooked for lunch and dinner, the lack of crowds (particularly any other westerners), the beaming smiles from everyone we encountered made this one of the most memorable treks I've ever done and the perfect digital detox.

Intha fisherman showing off his one legged rowing skills on Inle Lake

A photo of the Intha fisherman with their unusual one legged rowing technique, hooking a leg around a long oar to scull across glassy blue Inle Lake is perhaps Myanmar's most iconic image and used to sell the country worldwide. The best way to explore Inle Lake is on a day trip, slicing through the waters on a long tailed boat.  Tours include visits to fishing villages with their houses built on stilts and silk weaving and cheroot rolling industries. Stops are also made to watch blacksmiths and silversmiths at work and to see the floating market that moves between the area's villages on a five day rota. Inle Lake didn't disappoint and there were unmissable photo opportunities at every turn. I was also excited to hear that  Balloons over Bagan have  recently launched a ballooning experience over the Lake  and another extraordinary way to experience one of Myanmar's most scenic attractions.    Breakfast is taken next to one of the beautiful Shan villages wherever the balloon lands.

Getting off the beaten track, visiting a Kayan tribe village

Closed for over half a century and only recently opened to visitors, Kayah state is home to nine distinct ethnic groups, which diversified and evolved from Karen culture.  The biggest groups are the Kayah, Kayan, Bre, Lahta, and Yinbaw. Many tribes still practice their indigenous customs, handed down for centuries and dress in their traditional costumes including wearing heavy brass neck rings. Never one to miss a chance to dress up, I got to feel the weight of the brass rings by trying on just a couple.

Ngapali Beach

For those who follow me on social media will know how much of an aquaphile I am. There's nothing I like more than being by the water, on the water or more importantly in the water. No trip therefore would be complete without giving a rundown of a few of my favourite swimming pools and swimming spots. After touring Myanmar's main sites, laid back Ngapali Beach is the place to relax and enjoy a spectacular sunset from a practically empty palm fringed golden sand beach, untroubled by touts. Unlike some resorts in neighbouring Thailand, Ngapali is still relatively unspoilt with just a small number of beach front hotels. I stayed at Sandoway Resort and enjoyed the balmy blue waters of the Bay of Bengal, took a boat trip for a spot of snorkelling and visited the traditional fishing villages that line the coast.

Infinity pool heaven at Inle Lake View Resort and Spa

The Inle Lake View Resort and Spa is the only deluxe boutique hotel of international standard on the shores of Inle Lake with an infinity heated swimming pool with views out across the lake that got the big thumbs up from me. It was a super social pool as most guests are out and about during the day on excursions but happy to meet up in the pool or adjoining jacuzzi at the end of the day, to watch the sunset and swap tales of this magnificent country. 

To find out more about Myanmar visit https://www.tourismmyanmar.org/

Petra visited Myanmar in December 2019. If you would like to know more about this destination, don’t hesitate to give us a call or to send us an email.

Madagascar is a strong contender for offering the most distinctive wildlife holidays on the planet. The island separated from the African mainland some 165 million years ago and much of its fauna and flora have evolved in a unique way - an astonishing 80% is endemic. Madagascar’s almost bizarre array of wildlife echoes the 88 million years the island spent in isolation. Evolution got to work to produce some spectacular species and the island is now one of the most biodiverse regions in the world. It’s so unique that the country is sometimes called the eighth continent. The blog post below belongs to our guest writer and beloved client, Sarah Mortimer.

You’ve heard the one about an elephant making a trunk call..? Well, now I have seen lemurs in Madagascar in full talk-back mode!

Walking quietly through the rainforest of Andasibe National Park we and our tour guides were on the lookout for some of the island’s many indigenous species that make Madagascar such a treasure trove of flora and fauna: chameleons, birds, butterflies and any number (and, it seems no exact number established, such is the range of species and sub-species) of lemur.

The birds are beautiful, the chameleons extraordinary, the landscapes amazing… but my own particular quest was to see – and hear – the indri lemurs.

The biggest of the lemur family, with sticky-out ears, a rotund bottom with barely visible tail, these black and white animals look more like a teddy bear – and every bit as cute. But it is their ‘song’ that enchants me: a haunting wailing sound more akin to whale-song in its tuneful cry than a call of the canopy. But having heard their siren call from afar early that morning I was desperate to see these songsters.

Our guide located a small group of these characterful little beings, and I watched them with delight. Then, right there, miles away from urban life and so deep in the Madagascan (I love the ‘taste’ of that word – as much as the taste of their chocolate!) forest, 21st-century phone-tech came in to play.  Our guide took his mobile phone from his pocket, googled YouTube, and relayed a sound recording of an Indri group’s calls. In response to that recording, our own little troop raised their heads, opened their mouths, and sang their baleful siren song to claim loudly (actually, very loudly) that this patch was theirs! I was entranced by this concert performance, albeit prompted by a degree of manipulation – courtesy of Messrs Apple, Google, and YouTube. But our gang didn’t seem too perturbed: they simply rang out their peal of territorial calls.

So…maybe there IS an argument for phones in the forest – but for appropriate on-line connection only. Ocado is a step too far…

Sarah Mortimer visited Madagascar in October 2019. If you’d like to hear more about our trips to the African continent, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) is the only UK charity focussed solely on the conservation of one of the most unique and ecologically important, but vulnerable, areas in the world. With over 20 years of experience, they partner with Ecuadorian authorities, NGOs, local communities and leading researchers to support impactful science, conservation and education programmes across the Archipelago. The Galapagos Islands is a volcanic archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. It's considered one of the world's foremost destinations for wildlife-viewing. The incredible diversity of wildlife found in Galapagos is what makes this volcanic archipelago so very special. The Islands are situated at the meeting point of several large oceanic currents, giving them a truly unique array of habitats and an eclectic mix of wildlife.

Further to our partnership with GCT, we’re now helping in recommending this absolutely unique, edifying cruise trip. In June 2020, there will be running a bespoke Galapagos Conservation Trust (GCT) cruise, offering you the perfect way to see the Archipelago in a comfortable, intimate and sustainable manner, with a group of only 15 people.

Accompanied by a GCT staff member throughout the trip, you will have exclusive opportunities to visit projects funded and delivered by GCT. You will also meet passionate conservationists working on the Islands. What’s more, you can travel in the knowledge that your trip will be directly supporting the conservation and sustainability of the Archipelago.

Watch giant tortoises in the wild and meet the scientists working to protect them.

Swim and snorkel with beautiful reef fish, turtles, rays and endangered Galapagos penguins.

Breathtaking encounters with pink flamingos, blue-footed boobies, waved albatross, pelicans, sea lions, finches, terns and more.

Visit a world-leading restoration project on Floreana island. You will meet scientists working to restore the island and reintroduce locally extinct species, and of course calling at Floreana’s famous Post Office Bay.

Be thoroughly spoilt, with delicious food and attentive staff on board Beluga, a ‘Superior First Class’ motor yacht owned by Enchanted Expeditions, a respected Galapagos company.

Meet with conservationists working to protect Galapagos marine life, including endangered sharks and the magnificent whale shark.

Explore the historical city of Quito.

For pricing and detailed itineraries, you can simply get in touch and we’ll send you the complete guide.

If you are after a restful holiday in the Caribbean but also don’t want to feel like you are stranded on an island with nothing to do then Jamaica should be on the cards. It is the third largest island in the Caribbean and offers rich history as well as varied landscape.

Jamaica - rich in heritage & history

Being a larger island, it is ideal for twin centre holidays. What I liked most about Jamaica is its lush natural beauty. You get beautiful white sandy beaches, as well as dramatic cliffs of Negril and then within only a short drive into the interior you are surrounded by verdant hilly countryside with colourful local villages. Do not think that Jamaica is only about the beach, there are beautiful waterfalls, spectacular Blue Mountains, Appleton Estate rum distillery, a world famous Blue Mountain coffee plantation as well as world class snorkelling and diving.

Maryna by a rum shack

We started off our trip with a direct BA flight from Gatwick to Kingston. Upon arrival we picked up our car for a week and headed towards Ocho Rios, a port town on the north coast of Jamaica. A former fishing village, which is now a resort town with a busy bay beach lined with hotels. We have visited two properties whilst in Ocho Rios, Couples Tower Isle as well as Jamaica Inn. Couples Tower Isle is an all-inclusive adults-only resort and what we liked most is the intimate picturesque setting, friendly service and fresh good quality food. We also enjoyed the fact that almost all water sports and excursions were included in the package, even snorkelling boat trips and diving.

Sunset over Jamaican sea

Jamaica Inn needs no introduction as it often gets voted as one of the best hotels in the world. This luxurious boutique hotel has been second home to numerous celebrities as well as weary travellers, who come to completely unwind in the hotels peaceful and classy setting. We particularly liked their over the water suites and very private cottages with direct sea access. 

The surrounding parish of Saint Ann is home to rainforest, rivers and waterfalls with Dunn’s river waterfalls being the most famous. I have seen plenty of waterfalls during my travels but never did I see one falling directly into the sea. Why not reward yourself with a dip in the sea after climbing the waterfall?

Dunns River Falls, Jamaica

Our next stop was Montego Bay, the main tourist area of Jamaica boasting of world-class hotels and wide sandy beaches. Our main aim was visiting the Luminescent Lagoon in Falmouth about an hour away from MoBay. At night, the lagoon sparkles and glistens when disturbed, as microscopic organisms produce an eerie glow, reflecting the outlines of fish and other objects in the water. The Luminous Lagoon is said to be the largest and most brilliant of four in the world, a fact that continually attracts and awes visitors and scientists from around the world. 

Unfortunately, the glow wasn’t too strong when we went as it depends on many factors, like brightness of the sun during the day and presence of the moon, but we were told that it was much stronger the day before. I guess we will need to come again!

Typical Jamaican house.

After Montego Bay we continued on to Negril, or the Capital of Casual as it is known. Even with only one pair of shorts and two t-shirts you will never feel underdressed! When most people think of Jamaica they most probably have an image of Negril in their heads – a place that is relaxed, laid back and vibrant with reggae playing on the background. As opposed to Montego Bay, Negril is mostly about small family owned hotels and we stayed in one of those, a luxury boutique hotel called Sandy Haven. It is located on the famous 7 mile beach and what we liked is that we were located in the epicentre of the action yet the hotel itself felt like a peaceful refuge. The pool and the garden area felt like haven indeed combined with one of their delicious rum punches – we were told that the secret was mixing 7 different rums for each mile of the beach. Sandy Haven is an excellent choice for those who want to feel like they are actually in Jamaica and are not shy to have a friendly banter with local beach vendors selling coconuts, fruit and traditional patties. It is in a fantastic location for long beach walks and numerous local beach bars, why not stop in one of them for a drink of Red Stripe and a grilled lobster meal?

Room at Sandy Haven, Jamaica

After Negril we were heading back to Kingston with a stop at the Appleton Estate on route for the tour of the distillery and some rum tasting. The drive to the Appleton estate is very enjoyable and goes through beautiful countryside with quaint villages. The estate itself is beautiful and we enjoyed learning about its history and tasting different types of rum.

Three hours later we arrived at our final destination – Strawberry Hill Jamaica Luxury Hotel. With its cluster of cosy and private Post-Plantation cottages, vivid tropical gardens and Infinity swimming pool, the hotel without a doubt was a highlight of our trip. It is no wonder that Strawberry Hill was selected by The New York Times as one of the “1,000 Places To See Before You Die.” Strawberry Hill is steeped in history and its restaurant and the lounge area are full of interesting artefacts.

Strawberry Hill, Jamaica

If you fly to Kingston, I can definitely recommend staying a couple of night at the Strawberry Hill before flying back. Not only is the setting spectacular and peaceful but you will also have a chance to go for a hike in the Blue Mountains or visit the coffee plantation that produces the best coffee in the world. Or how about visiting a pretty historical Anglican chapel located 10 minutes walk from the hotel? You will pass a local school and will have a chance to experience a local way of life. 

We absolutely loved our holiday to Jamaica, filled with sunshine, smiling people the sound of steel drums and reggae music. Highly recommended!

Maryna travelled to Jamaica in October with Travel Matters. Do contact us if you’d like us to recommend and help you arrange a trip yourself.

If you are a lover of nature and adventure then there are few places in this world that could compete with Iceland. Maryna was very fortunate to visit this beautiful country courtesy of Exsus. The beauty of Iceland is such that it was a location for many films and TV shows, the most recognisable of which is probably the Game of Thrones.

Waterfall in Iceland

Although Iceland has been receiving a lot of tourism in the past few years, I was completely charmed by its unspoilt nature and, having travelled from London, fresh and clean air.

Icelanders are very protective of the environment and their dedication to recycling, reducing the consumption of plastic and conservation was very close to my heart. Iceland is not a cheap country but everything that you get there, be it locally produced clothing or food, is of the highest possible quality. In fact, foodie as I am, I was quite surprised to discover that food in Iceland was absolutely delicious. It was not only the exotic produce, like Minke Wale, wild goose and rain deer but their pairings with interesting flavours like jam and peanut butter that brought it to a whole new level. Iceland caters very well for vegans and vegetarians also, so not a chance to go hungry, as they grow many vegetables locally in green houses.

Their minimalistic approach to accommodation was right up my street also. You won’t find monstrous hotel complexes in Iceland, the hotels tend to have 60-70 rooms on the average and blend seamlessly into the landscape. Expect a lot natural materials, like wood and lava stone, very comfortable but with no bells and whistles - it is all about the view! Most hotels where I stayed had floor to ceiling panoramic windows with the views of the surroundings.

From some windows you could even enjoy the northern nights! Talking about Aurora borealis, the best time to see them if from September until the end of March, although I travelled in April, I was very lucky to see them too.

Iceland has two distinct seasons, summer and winter. Summer, from April to September, is the time for road tripping, hiking, cycling and whale watching. It is also a good time to see colonies of nesting puffins that come to Iceland in the summer. Winter is all about winter activities and northern lights, although some roads could be closed.

From my experience beginning of April is a good compromise between the two, you may already have a chance to spot wales and dolphins, weather permitting and if you are lucky, see the northern lights, like we did, although days do get increasingly longer and it is not typical to spot them past March.

April is also a good time to see two sides of Iceland, the white snowy Reykjavik and the Highlands as well as mossy green area around Vik.

Only three hours away, Reykjavik is a perfect getaway for an adventure weekend. The city itself is quite attractive with its harbour and numerous cool restaurants and bars, but there is also a possibility to jump on a whale/puffing watching boat departing several times per day or take a helicopter tour and observe Iceland’s unparalleled beauty from above.

There are several tours to chose from ranging from one hour to half a day, or even a full day private tour. The last but not the least is of course the Blue Lagoon, ideally located half way between the airport and the city and thus a perfect stop over en route to/from the flight. Or if you have 3-4 day, why not complete the Golden Circle, covering 300km loop from Reykjavik into central Iceland and back? The Golden Circle is a popular tourist route with three primary stops: the national park, Thingvellir, the Gullfoss waterfall and the geothermally active valley, Haukadalur.

If you want to avoid crowds at the stunning Gullfoss waterfall we can highly recommend taking the secret way to it with a fun and exhilarating ATV experience at Einholt farm.

If you have more time, the breath-taking landscapes of Southern Iceland and the south coast are simply incredible and an unmissable part of Iceland holiday.

You will have a chance to visit the village of Vik, Iceland’s most southern village and an ideal base for visiting the many natural gems of the area. Just a short drive away are the impressive Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss waterfalls, the famous Reynisfjara beach and the Reynisdrangar Pillars, simply known as the Black Beach.

I particularly enjoyed my visit to the glacial lagoon of Jokulsarlon, whose deep blue waters are dotted with icebergs and are home to hundreds of seals in winter. Icebergs then travel into the ocean dotting the beach with crystal-like pieces of ice in the process. It doesn’t come as a surprise that the beach is called Diamond beach.Another memorable experience was Falljokull glacier track and particularly walking in a deep crevass. It was fascinating to learn about the way glaciers form from our knowledgeable guide.

All in all, I can honestly say this was one of the most memorable trips I have ever taken and will gladly discuss it if anyone is planning a trip to the country. Maryna travelled in April 2019 to Iceland

Cochin airport, our airport of arrival in Kerala, is the first airport in the world to be run on solar energy. It has more than 46,000 solar panels which take the bright sunlight and converts it into energy. The airport is extremely clean, spacious and with this accolade to shout about – we were already impressed by the “God’s Own Country” strap line and care that the people of Kerala have towards this part of India. We had read up about Kerala’s attitude to responsible tourism and our first encounter on arrival got some brownie points.

Kerala is one of the southern states in India and boasts over 600kms of coastline, the Arabian Sea, as well as a beautiful interior of countryside, banana and rubber plantations, mountains, waterfalls and the backwaters – meandering canals that take you past fields, coconut groves, small village hamlets and villages.

First stop for us was Cochin (Kochi)– we got around on tuk tuks as well as on foot and used the public ferry to cross from Willingdon Island to Fort Cochin. Walking around Jew Town, we past independent shops selling handicrafts, silks, spices, artefacts and perfumes. The walk was colourful, relaxed and interesting – there was no hassle from shop keepers or bartering.

Look out for the Chinese fishing nets on the beachfront, they are unique to Cochin. These nets are found only in Cochin, outside China! We checked out St. Francis Church as it is the oldest church built by Europeans in India. Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese trader who reached India from Europe by sea, fell ill and died in Cochin. His burial spot is within the church.

The second part of our Kerala adventure was 24 hours on the backwaters. We headed to Allepey and embarked on a houseboat to cruise this water network. There is over 900kms of waterways including five large lakes linked by canals, fed by no less than 38 rivers. They extend half the length of Kerala state. The kettuvallams (houseboats) were traditionally used as grain barges, to transport the rice harvested in the fertile fields alongside the backwaters.

Marari Beach Resort – is one of the CGH properties. It is a small slice of heaven on earth and we were blessed to be based here for several days. CGHEarth Hotels have a model which should be an example to any business. Their company ethos and response to nature and people are a force for good and are very much reflected in everything they offer - from their care to the environment in architecture style and locations of their properties to the staff, services and activities you can experience. A winning formula.

The last part of our family adventure in Kerala was a stay at Dewalokam. Run by the most hospitable of hosts, Jose and Sinta. Dewalokam is a working farm and homestay and offers peaceful surroundings by the riverside. You are treated to home grown produce and freshly cooked traditional Keralan food. A guided walk around the farm will teach you all about the various spices that grown here like pepper, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger and turmeric.

Dewalokam is a working farm, run on organic and eco principles. The water is heated with solar power, vegetables grown with home-made compost, chickens and goats fed on vegetable waste and methane from the cows manure is recovered to provide gas for cooking.

We spent a relaxing afternoon down by the river, jumping off the rope swing into the water and paddling in the inflatable boat whilst glimpsing the azure flash of kingfishers' wings as well as spotting egrets, herons, white ibis and hornbills.

We had to leave a little earlier than planned from this retreat – there had been violent protests around Kerala after two women made history by entering the prominent Sabarimala temple. It had been closed to women before. Our hosts advised us not to travel on the road between 6am and 6pm for fear of being caught in the protests.I must add that this did not mar our experiences and impressions of Kerala one bit. Kerala is a world away from the somewhat chaotic areas of India's other states. Kerala is serenely beautiful, peaceful, mystical and a balm to the soul. Its culture, literature and development have always made India proud and with a literacy rate of 93.91 among its own, scholars believe that the education system in Kerala has already achieved the momentum required to lead the entire country towards positive development. We welcome and celebrate that fact and want to encourage you to visit Kerala for yourself.

Karen travelled with her family to Kerala in December 2018. Ask her for details or drop us a line for more information.

Martinique, locally named Madinina - The Isle of Flowers, is enormously popular with the French, not surprising considering it's history and the number of direct flights from Paris. However, with croissants and palm trees, all perched near a live volcano, Martinique is the definition of a refined French-Caribbean island and is an excellent base from which to start a sailing trip around St Vincent and the Grenadines as I did last month with Dream Yacht Charter  It's worth tagging on an extra couple of days before or after your trip to explore the island. Here are a few of my highlights.

Beaches

The island is 80 km by 39 km and no point is more than 12 km from the sea. The number one reason that most people visit the Caribbean is for it's beaches and Martinique has some pretty fine ones. Sainte-Anne, the area at the southern tip of the island has many headlands and coves with some beautiful white sand beaches. Being one of the major tourist spots of the island, Sainte Anne is also known for promoting sustainable development, so brownie points there #20yearstravelmatters. Le Diamant, in the south has a lovely 4 km beach and the tourist hub of Les Trois-Islets also has a handful of  great beaches. My personal favourite however was the beach at Anse d'Arlet Bourg, a traditional fishing village whose 18th century Roman Catholic church doors open almost immediately on to the beach. It's a lovely setting and as I was there on a Sunday and am catholic, particularly special to celebrate mass followed immediately by a dip in the sea.

Markets

Markets are part and parcel of life in Martinique. Forget your five a day, you can choose from dozens of different kinds of fruit and veg, some familiar and others less so. After days at sea it was fun to observe and rub shoulders with the local population as well as immersing myself in the exotic scents, tastes and colours. I particularly loved the passion fruits the size of grapefruits and a fruit, bizarrely not nameless but called anon and part of the custard apple family with the flavour of banana, vanilla, pineapple and mango all in one. Meanwhile, on every menu fish is king, the village of St Luce walking distance from my hotel along the shoreline was an excellent place for a very affordable grilled lobster eaten al fresco in a beach shack.

Hotel

Martinique is not short of accommodation ranging from luxury hotels to apartments, Caribbean inns, resorts, villas and country guesthouses.  I stayed at Residence Pierre & Vacances, a brand I know from mostly ski resorts in France.The Pierre & Vacances Holiday Village Sainte-Luce takes its name from the attractive fishing village nearby. Bordered by white sandy beaches, it extends down to the sea with a vast tropical garden and even bigger pool.  The latter particularly got the big thumbs up from me, especially at night, lit up with multi colours changing from blue, to red to green (initially another case of had I been consuming too much rum!). The guests were mostly French (so a chic and stylish bunch around the pool, restaurants and bars) and lets be honest here, the French are not going to settle for poor quality food lacking in flavour and so the latter was impressive for what is essentially a 3 star property. Set along the central pathway, the air-conditioned apartments are grouped into red-roofed buildings, typical of the tropics and all in all it was perfect base to relax initially after my flight and from which to explore the island.

Habitation Clement

"All roads lead to ... rum" and as I drank vast quantities of it on my cruise around the Grenadines, I opted for a tour of a rum distillery to discover more about the pirates tipple of choice.  Wherever you are on Martinique, a rum distillery is never far away.The rum-making season is February to June, when you'll be able to see the distilleries operating. Today nine distilleries in Martinique welcome visitors for a sampling of their product. I chose The Clement Estate, a huge 160 hectare estate, located in the town of Le Francois. There's a century-old rum house, a contemporary art museum, gardens to wander around, an 18th century creole plantation house complete with antique furniture and of course plenty of  rum to sample.

La Savane des Esclaves

La Savane des Esclaves opened in 2004 is a traditional creole village recreated by Gilbert Larose, a Martinican passionate about his island and its history. He created the site as a duty to never forget the history of slavery and the knowledge and traditions of the inhabitants of the countryside after its abolition. There are a total of 13 recreated huts and attractions from a field slaves' huts on a plantation to a museum and exhibitions. It's very well done with excellent written descriptions. You come away with a better understanding of the horrors of the slave trade and I'd recommend combining a visit here with a stop at Anse Cafard Slave memorial, a cluster of stone statues overlooking the sea commemorating the fate of dozens of slaves who lost their lives in a shipwreck of the coast.

Carnival

Like many Caribbean islands, Carnival is a popular tradition in Martinique. Organised festivities start on the Sunday following Epiphany and reach their peak during the days around Fat Tuesday (Pancake Day) and climax the Wednesday night. This year the five days of popular revelry will take place from March 2nd - 6th. I was lucky enough to be in Fort de France (the capital) on Sunday 20th January to catch one of the pre Carnival parades and what a spectacle of colour, music, drumming, noise, dancing, jubilant crowds and some pretty wacky home-made costumes. If this was just a warm up, the actual main festivities are bound to be something special with a different parade on each day: on Monday a burlesque wedding, on Fat Tuesday red devils and on Ash Wednesday she-devils, rambunctious mourners in black and white outfits. Getting a tiny taste of Carnival was for me the undoubted highlight of my visit to Martinique.

I also loved the quirky historical sites, who knew it was the birthplace of Napoleon's empress Josephine and that it's part of the EU, so no roaming charges on your phone - all in all Martinique was a perfect combination of Caribbean beauty and European flair.

To find out more about Martinique

Written by Petra Shepherd.

Madeira resembles a huge botanical garden, for a nature lover like myself it is a constant feast to the eyes, ears and the nose. Even in winter many flowers stay in bloom and the island retains its lush vegetation.

With its mountainous landscape and abundant greenery Madeira somewhat reminded me of St. Lucia in the Caribbean. Being a subtropical island, Madeira once was all covered by the indigenous rainforest, but the original settlers set fire to some parts of the island to clear the land for farming, giving the island its name in the process. Did you know that Madeira meant "wood" in Portuguese?

I travelled in November and we were blessed with a lovely weather, although we did have two days of rain, the spells were short-lived and gave way to bright sunshine. The island is called the land of the eternal spring, as even in winter the temperatures always stay in mid-teens. Summers are pleasantly warm and rarely get scorchingly hot.

The weather of course can vary depending on the altitude. Thus, when we travelled to Pico do Areeiro we were greeted by chilly rain and fog. Not surprising, considering that at 1,818 m high, it is the Island's third highest peak.

It is peculiar that in a land where butterflies fly around even in winter, almost every year you can encounter snow at the higher peaks of Madeira. No wonder locals say that Madeira Island is the only place where you can have 4 seasons in a day!

Being a volcanic island Madeira, has several peaks and is an ideal destination for hikers and cyclists. I highly recommend hiring a car and going around, otherwise you are bound to miss out on the most amazing sceneries and in Madeira, every stop presents a photo opportunity.

Madeira isn’t celebrated for its beaches and its sister island Porto Santo is much more suited for the task. Being a ferry ride (or a short flight) away it combines beautifully with Madeira.

Alternatively, how fun is it swimming in a natural pool like the one in Porto Moniz in Madeira?

But Madeira is not all about nature, it is also paradise for seafood lovers and there is no better place to sample it than in one of Madeira’s fishing villages.

Maryna has seen two very different properties whilst in Madeira. The first one was a very modern, edgy SPA hotel located in a picturesque location in Calheta. She loved spacious rooms with balconies overlooking the mountains and the ocean, as well as their gorgeous roof top infinity pool.

The second property was the iconic Belmond Reid’s Palace, very different in style, considering it was the first five-star hotel on the island and still manages to retain its period charm. Afternoon tea at Belmond Reid’s Palace is considered to be one of the must-dos while visiting the island. It can also be combined with a tour of the hotel's famous gardens. Staying at the hotel is even better, of course!

Reid’s Palace has hosted many a distinguished guest over the years, one of them was Winston Churchill who wanted to escape somewhere ‘warm, bath-able, comfortable and flowery’ where he could paint and work on his memoirs. That fits the description of Madeira perfectly!

Next time you want to go somewhere “flowery”, you know where it is! And as always, we are here to help.

Maryna travelled to the island with her husband in November 2018.

Ever since Ljubljana held the title of European Green Capital in 2016, I’ve had great interest to visit. Slovenia may be a small European country – but it packs a punch.

It connects the Alps, the Mediterranean and the Pannonian Plain and being a country, which has the word Love in its name, you’ll find it difficult not to fall in love with its scenic beauty. Mountains, forests, waterfalls, lakes – with over half of the country covered with forest, you’ll be truly inspired.

I can’t think of a better location for my first experience of Connections Adventure.

Connections is a global networking platform for individuals who specialise in high-end adventure travel. It draws together people from all over the world, setting up introductions to develop new business relationships in the most innovative way.

My base for the conference was the Hotel Intercontinental Ljubljana. Looked after perfectly by the gorgeous, Janette Skorc. The Intercontinental is the new kid on the block in the city. It’s Ljubljana’s tallest hotel and the location to the Old Town is very close by. I really enjoyed the views from the spa on the 18th floor – the foothills and the city can be seen from being seated in the sauna!

Each day was so varied and full of exciting treats. Instead of sitting desk bound to meet new potential suppliers and buyers, we were encouraged to undertake various activities together. The ethos being that a shared experience deepens relationships. I am converted.

After an introduction about the Connections Adventure formula and some group discussions, we heard an insightful talk from Caroline Bremner of Euromonitor International. “Will tourism be the new smoking?” We were encouraged to look ahead to future tourism challenges amidst climate chaos, restrictions, barriers, bans, personal quotas on travel to name a few topics

Lipica Stud Farm was where we headed for the afternoon. One of the oldest stud farms, operating since the 16th century, the Lipizzaner horses are world renowned. Such a special opportunity to understand more from a horse whisperer and a joy to see so many white horses on this estate.

Lake Bled – probably the icon of Slovenia tourism, doesn’t disappoint. Hire a bike to enjoy the 6km circumference of the lake, it’s a perfect way to enjoy the environs. If you want to be on the water, you could consider spending a day with some of the best athletes in rowing. I was fortunate to meet these two Olympic rowing heros – Luka Spik and Janez Klemenic. They tried to teach me the basic rowing skills.

Whilst at Lake Bled, the inspirational Natalia Cohen shared her story of perseverance, courage and sheer tenacity. Natalia was part of the first all-female team to row unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. Her skills lie in leadership, team dynamics, positive mindset and mindfulness – thank you Natalia for sharing your story. You can learn about her latest venture here Losing Sight of Shore.

Despite the terrific stormy weather we experienced whilst in Slovenia, we enjoyed some time in the ski resort of Krvavec. This resort is the closest European ski resort to any airport - just 20 minutes away. Imagine a cultural city break for the weekend with some time on the ski slopes too - then Ljubljana is your answer. Whilst in the resort of Kravavec, I discovered tubing – an exhilarating pastime of hauling yourself onto an inflatable ring and sliding down the mountain. Hilarious!

The hospitality throughout was authentic, rich and immersive. Dining was superb and I want to thank all the chefs and their teams for creating such delicious meals during my stay.

Micaela Giacobbe of Connections Adventure – your vision for networking in this manner is truly successful. The experience has been impactful and innovative. For me, it was well curated, executed and well organised. It has certainly fulfilled what it set out to do – create long lasting connections for suppliers and buyers alike. Thank you and your very capable team. Thanks too to the following people and organisations: Mattej Knific and Mattej Valencic from Luxury Slovenia DMC, Mladen Ljubisic from the Slovenia Tourist Board, Janette Skorc, Intercontinental Ljubljana.

Karen travelled to Slovenia in October with Connections Adventure. If interested to hear more about the country, contact her on 0208 675 7878 or email info@travelmatters.co.uk    

India has always been considered a land of riches and abundance. No wonder it has been an apple of discord for so many nations for centuries. I had a privilege to experience India in what I can only describe as Maharajah style. In India they take luxury to a whole new level. The hotels, both newly built and converted palaces are just so opulent that they leave you speechless. Service was the best I have ever seen anywhere.We started our journey in Delhi, where I had a chance to stay in two completely different properties. The first one is a legend in its own right, The Imperial.

It is such a significant landmark, filled with historical artefacts and pieces of art, that staying there or indeed even visiting for a drink or a meal is a must. I should but mention their famous restaurant the Spice Route, deservedly one of the best restaurants in the world.

The second hotel that I really enjoyed is a newly renovated Oberoi New Delhi. The hotel has just reopened after almost two years and has a fresh and a modern look as opposed to the colonial Imperial. They also have something that no one else in Delhi can boast - a rooftop bar with incredible views and chilled ambiance. Fancy having a glass of champagne there?!

As a city, Delhi, is a curious mix of old and new. Even the two parts of the city - The Old Delhi and the New Delhi - differ so much in style and character that it’s like visiting two separate cities.

After Delhi we, of course, headed to Agra, located just under two hours away by train. Agra is home to the greatest monument ever created for love, the gorgeous Taj Mahal. If you do not want to rush back, why not overnight in Oberoi Amarvilas? This is the only hotel that offers a view of Taj Mahal. It really is very special!

Four hours later, and we are in Jaipur! The city is bustling and full colours and sounds. It had always been a rich city famous for its gems, palaces and eccentric maharajahs. In fact, I don’t think I have seen so many palaces withinn a square mile anywhere else in the world!

Speaking about attractions I can mention the magnificent Amber fort, The City Palace, the iconic Hawa Mahal as well as it’s bazaars. Rumour has it that the pink city itself is going to become a UNESCO heritage site soon.

When it comes to accommodation, you are just spoilt for choice. I really enjoyed my stay at Oberoi Rajvilas but was equally impressed by Taj Rambagh Palace. Both have an incredible atmosphere, especially in the evening. Both hotels offer you the experience of traditional Indian dancing at its best. Another two places that I have to mention due to their character and charm are Samode Haveli, if you are after a truly immersive experience right in the city centre and Sujan Rajmahal Palace, one of the oldest and most treasured palaces in the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.

After Jaipur we made our way to Udaipur, a city often referred to as Indian Venice. I could certainly see the resemblance! I loved the atmosphere of the city as well as beautiful views of the lake. I had a privilege of staying at the famous Taj Lake Palace. It is indeed a place to experience! Even going to the hotel by boat sets you in a certain mood of anticipation! All rooms are totally unique due to ancient architecture, after all the palace is over 400 years old!

If time allows and you need to recharge your batteries or wish to experience Indian countryside at its best RAAS Devigarhis the place to be.

It’s a stunning hill-top fort palace that has been fantastically restored into a luxurious, sophisticated and romantic retreat. I can see myself coming there to write my memoirs or some such thing, the pace is slow and the mountainous scenery is so beautiful and peaceful.

After Udaipur it was time to go back to Delhi and take an onward flight back to London. I can’t wait to go back and discover other parts of this magnificent country.

If you are interested to travel to India, give us a call on tel 0208 675 7878 or email info@travelmatters.co.uk.

Maryna travelled to India with Travel Matters in September 2018.

There is no denying that South Africa is one of the most spectacular countries in the world. Distances are vast covering areas that not only differ in terrain, but also in climate and flora and fauna. And there is no better way to discover a country than on a road trip.

My husband and I have just returned from the most magical trip to the country having covered over 5,000 km. It was incredible to see how the country was slowly changing along the way from Cape Town to Johannesburg.

I’m always curious to see what countries look like outside the busy season. My conclusion is that South Africa in our summer months (their winter) is not only not lacking in anything but in many ways provides a superior experience.

The easiest answer is that rates are much more attractive and crowds are greatly reduced. The foliage is not as thick and allows for a better wildlife viewing. In their winter months the risk of malaria is significantly lower. In fact, I haven’t seen any mosquitoes at all! Winter is also the time when most snakes are hibernating. The last but not the least, the weather is very pleasant. During the day the temperatures in Kruger park area can go as high as 25-30 degrees, which is much preferred to 40 degrees that you would get in summer months.

Temperatures do drop as soon as the sun goes down but then you will be welcomed by a merry fireplace upon arrival from your game drive.

Since South Africa is such a big country, it is very difficult to cram all the information in so I decided to split my blog in two, writing about Eastern and Western capes separately.

We started our Eastern cape adventure with a stay at the Fugitive’s Drift Lodge. Traveling is extremely educational and some accommodation can be not only comfortable and gorgeous but also an experience in itself. One of them is definitely Fugitives' Drift Lodge and Guest House. Just wow! I wasn’t so impressed in a long time! It is THE place to stay if you want to learn more about the Anglo-Zulu War. I went on their Rorke’s Drift battle tour, the battle immortalised by the film Zulu. The talented guides will paint such a vivid picture of the events that it will leave you deeply moved. The accommodation varies from very comfortable and affordable to luxurious and all options have terraces with spectacular views. Guests are encouraged to explore the extensive grounds. It is very safe as they have no predators, but you are guaranteed to meet giraffes, zebras, kudus and impalas.

Our next stop was the kingdom of Swaziland or Eswatini as it is now known. I was really gutted that we only had one night to spend in this little country. Swazis are known for loving their king and why wouldn’t they? The country is extremely well run. As soon as you enter you see anti-corruption posters. The country is extremely clean, there are bins everywhere as well as signs urging people to keep the country clean. In addition, litter pickers clean the streets every morning. From what I have seen, Swaziland is a good producer of timber, but they do not just hack out all their forests without thinking about tomorrow. They plant special timber types and once one area gets cleared out they re-plant it with new young trees, so that they have a constant supply. The country itself is beautiful and people are just so helpful and smiley. The standard of living is good for Africa but if you go off the beaten track inland you will still find these charming traditional mud huts.

Swaziland is known for its safaris and culture, but not many people know that around Pig’s Peak you can also find ancient rock paintings. The Nsangwini Rock Shelter is the largest example of San art in the country and is said to provide the most comprehensive display in Swaziland.

4000 years ago, the San people used this Highveld area for spiritual rituals and for recording iconic moments in their lives through etchings on the ancient rocks. The paintings are remarkably clear and informative interpretations are given by members of the Nsangwini community, who manage and maintain the site.

The drive to the place is spectacular, mostly on orange soiled forest roads dotted with local houses.

The next day we made our way to the town of Graskop which serves as a gateway to the beautiful Panorama Route. It must have been one of our favourite places in South Africa. Allow at least two days to explore as the sites are numerous and the views are just to die for! The most notable stops are The God’s Window, Three Rondavels Viewpoint and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

No trip to South Africa is complete without a safari and we managed to experience it two different ways, both with an experienced guide and a self-drive at the Kruger national park.

First, we spent two unforgettable nights at the Garonga Safari camp, situated in the Makalali Conservancy. The camp consists of the main camp with just six luxury tents as well as the Little Garonga offering three luxury suites, and that’s where we were very lucky to stay.

Safari drives always involve a fair share of luck and boy did we get lucky on our very first drive, where we witnessed a pride of lions devouring a giraffe with hyenas and vultures waiting for their turn nearby.

Or how about three rhinos grazing peacefully right in front of our jeep?

If you can’t afford to stay in a luxury lodge but are still keen to see wildlife, self-drive in Kruger is an excellent option. It is safe and easy, once you follow all the instructions. Or you can arrange a game-drive with a local guide at the reserve. Expect to see tons of zebras, kudus, impalas, elephants and giraffes. Wildebeests, rhinos, lions, buffalos and hippos are relatively easy to spot as well, but you may need to go several times. As always cheetahs and leopards are very elusive, but you are very likely to see them if you spend a few days there.

Our last stop before heading home was Johannesburg, also known as Joburg, Jozi and the City of Gold. The city that wasn’t supposed to be there if it were not for the discovery of gold, but now the second biggest city in Africa after Cairo. Impressive considering it is only over 120 years old. It is away from any source of water and is also relatively high at 1753 meters giving some people slight altitude sickness. These days the water to the city comes all the way from the mountains of Lesotho around 300 km away. Johannesburg is also home to the Cradle of Humankind.

We stayed at the Four Seasons the Westcliff. Having had a tour of the city, I don’t think you can be located in a better position. The area is safe, green and provides excellent views. The hotel is an oasis of calm and luxury in this hectic city. Having a glass of wine on the balcony and enjoying the views and the sun was such a bliss! As always, the service and the standard of accommodation was impeccable! Highly recommended.

Look out for the part two of my blog!

Maryna travelled to South Africa in June 2018. You can speak to her in the agency from Monday to Friday.

Santa Eularia des Riu is one of Ibiza's five municipalities and is the second largest region in Ibiza. Located on the Eastern shore, it also includes an impressive stretch of coastline with more than 20 beaches as well as rural farmland. It's a corner of the island far removed from the clubs of San Antonio opting for a brand of tourism that is respectful to the environment while honouring local roots and traditions. All elements close to our hearts here at Travel Matters. The area also focuses on family holidays and it was this aspect of the region that I set out to find out more about over the first Bank Holiday weekend.

Santa Eularia des Riu is the first municipality in the Balearic Islands to implement a family tourism seal guaranteeing that hotels, restaurants and attractions fulfil the needs and specific requirements for families.  Hotels with the seal have a long list of requirements to fulfil, too many to name them all but they include providing children's entertainment, child-proof wall sockets in rooms and common areas, children's menus in dining rooms and buffets, cots, baby baths, doors that do not catch little fingers. Every thought has been given to a child's safety, well being and enjoyment and if your child is protected and content, then there’s every chance you are going to be as well! This new initiative focusing on the family market is known as 'Family Moments'.

Es Figueral Beach

Most families will be visiting the region for the 46 km of sun-soaked pristine beaches with crystal-clear waters thanks to the sea grass growing on the coastal bed. The gently shelving water is a plus and I loved the fact that the Santa Eularia beach is the first non-smoking beach in the Balearic Islands. No danger of your toddler digging up cigarette butts when making sandcastles here. Santa Eularia also has some of the best gelato parlors I've come across outside of Italy. 

The beach of Cala Llonga (my personal favourite) has been certified with the Universal Accessibility IS 17001.  Basically this means that the beach is fully accessible for people with mobility issues, from the parking area to the sea including a service of assisted bathing with amphibious wheelchairs and crutches.  We're keen here at Travel Matters to promote multi-generational holidays and Cala Llonga would be a good resort to visit, if travelling with a grand-parent with mobility issues.

I was based for my stay in Santa Eularia itself at two contrasting hotels who have signed their commitment to the 'Family Moments'programme. The first Hotel Riomar is located just metres from the beach, with magnificent sea views and is a good starting point for the 3.1 km 'River Route' taking in highlights of the town's cultural, historical and natural attractions. On the other side of the bay, Aguas de Ibiza is a luxury design hotel with a free spa, outdoor pool and rooftop bar with views of the marina and the island of Formentera. This 5 star, all white, contemporary hotel, although fulfilling the family seal requirements would also make an excellent choice for an adult only mini break.

However, the big hitter, the grand dame so to speak of family focused hotels in the region is the Invisa Figueral Resort including Invisa Hotel Club Cala Verde and Invisa Hotel Club Cala Blanca www.invisahoteles.com. Located 10 km from Santa Eularia on Es Figueral beach, one of the finest on the island and with a good range of nautical activities - the likes of paddle surfs, canoes and pedalos. The hotel has some excellent family rooms, a water park that looked enormous fun for both adults and children and even the children's buffet had me drooling.

Santa Eularia des Riu was the cradle of the hippie movement on the island. If you have teens in tow then a trip to the hippy market every Saturday at Las Dalias in San Carlos is an absolute must. There are no shortage of stalls selling the sort of festival gear, peasant blouses and flower braids that are currently enormously popular and a fraction of the price you'll find at one of our local chichi boutiques or at this summer's festivals. I went crazy for the jewellery, stocking up my present draw for years to come. The biggest market though is the Punta Arabi Hippy Market on Wednesdays in Es Cana, but more touristy and the quality perhaps not quite as good. Toddlers on the other hand might enjoy a visit to Eco Finca Can Muson, www.ibizacanmuson.com also part of the Family Moments charter. This is a charming, simple rural farm where your little ones can feed the chickens and goats whilst you indulge in the delicious home-made cakes!

However, the undoubted highlight of my visit was the fact I was there for the May fiesta, the main celebration being the first Sunday in May. Next year on May 5th and a visit could easily be combined with the May bank holiday. There is folk dancing, a long procession of carts decked out in flowers and ribbons, people wearing traditional dress, flower shows, basically folklore fun for all the family. If there's something the Spanish do very well, then it's their fiestas. I tend to go to one a year (last year the Semana Santa celebrations in Madrid) and this was one of the most joyous and heart-warming I have ever attended.

Petra with traditionally dressed ladies at the May fiesta

In 1912, the painter Laurea Barrau remarked on Santa Eularia des Riu that, "Everything here is more beautiful than I could have imagined. A painter's entire life can be found here" This was my first visit to Ibiza and I too found the region not only very beautiful (the wild flowers were out in profusion) but welcoming, warm and above all particularly child friendly.

To find out more about the region visit http://visitsantaeulalia.com/en/

Petra visited Ibiza in May 2018.