Read all about the News and Views from our Partners

The ultimate romantic retreat, switch off and allow yourself to relax and unwind in the warm and homely Loggers Lodge – perfectly made for two. Nestled in the middle of the forest, enjoy total silence and no light pollution – staying here is about ‘just being’. Connect with your surroundings through the gastronomy – a private chef will serve organic, gourmet, local meals to your table – or spend some romantic time stargazing from the outdoor hot tub. Stay three nights’ full board from £2,642 pp (two sharing), including flights (London) and private transfers. Other activities available at a supplement. Call AITO* member Sunvil on 020 8758 4722

A Eurocamp holiday gives you the space you need to enjoy summer together. Book early for 2021 to save up to 35% and get your pick of parcs, dates and accommodation across Europe. A £99 deposit will secure your place, and your space – and you can spread the cost however it suits you. Imagine long sunny days strolling along the beach, barbecues under the stars and spending quality time with the people that matter most, in self-contained accommodation that gives you the breathing space to truly relax.

Titan Travel are introducing refillable Titan water bottles and water stations on board their river boats, as they make it their mission to cut the use of single use plastics.
Choose from their new ship MS River Discovery II or their original ship the MS Serenade 1.
Both are spacious, with stylish areas including sun decks and lounges, generous-sized cabins, and complimentary house wine, beer, and soft drinks during lunch and dinner.
Meanwhile, you’ll get to learn about the passing scenery with their brilliant new Quietvox headsets that can be used for live onboard commentary, as well as guided and self-guided escorted tours off the ship.
Find out more about their river cruises here.

ABC Boat Hire have a brand new day boat at Kings Orchard Marina, Lichfield. “Happy Days” is available to book from the 10th August. £179 for the day and the boat accommodates 10 people.
You can call them on 0330 3330 590 or book online www.abcdayboathire.com
The company offers holidays and short breaks from 3 or 4 days, mid-week or a weekend to a full week or longer.
As a great family holiday, and not wanting to leave anyone out, they even let your first pet go for free.
They also now offer free Wi-Fi on all of their boats.

Nick Pulley, founder and MD of our partner and Awards finalists Selective Asia did a lot of reading during the Covid-19 outbreak, and found many travel commentators claiming that the disease ‘will’ automatically bring about a number of changes. He’s not so sure, and shares his insights in their latest blog The Future of Travel: what will it really be like?
He considers challenges such as how to make travel more sustainable and how to reduce over tourism, Selective Asia has launched a new and innovative approach Low Touch Travel.

Our partner and Awards finalist Saga Holidays have just launched their new collection for solo travellers with popular destinations from Croatia to Costa Rica.
Why go solo with Saga?
Solo Host or Tour Manager, available throughout your holiday
Meet & Greet Service at Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports
Fast-track security and airport lounge at Gatwick, Heathrow and Manchester airports
Welcome dinner, drinks party and farewell dinner
VIP door-to-door travel service included on all long-haul holidays and river cruises
Included travel insurance on all overseas holidays, including cover for over 400 pre-existing medical conditions.

If you love Italy and travelling with a small group of fellow guests then Noble Caledonia’s eight night ‘Passage to Puglia’ aboard the 95-passenger MS Serenissima in October 2021 could be the cruise for you.
Setting sail from Valletta, journey along the Adriatic coast of Italy with four days to discover Puglia’s many gems, before reaching Montenegro and Croatia.
With her small size she can navigate into small, remote ports inaccessible to the big cruise ships and appears an impressive sight when moored
This is a delightful small ship cruise and the itinerary includes interesting visits a as well as onboard talks from Guest Speaker, Ernie Rea.

If you’re planning a trip to Asia next year to spot tigers, elephants and other wildlife or explore iconic sites, book with confidence with our partner TransIndus. They have introduced new and completely flexible booking guarantees that take the worry out of booking by allowing selected amendments, reducing group sizes to 8-10, ensuring stringent safety measures are in place.
Why not look their full range of Small Group tours through: India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Uzbekistan, Myanmar (Burma), China, Vietnam and Indochina. Request or download their brochures

We were delighted to note that our partner and Awards finalist Discover Egypt and Jordan have been commended by Which? Magazine as “one of the best small holiday companies that you can trust with your money”, having consistently complied with EU Package laws in refunding customers within 14 days.

And although they have sadly had to cancel many trips this year, they are pleased to recommence in September 2020. They say, “This Autumn/Winter is a good time to go particularly as the weather is most pleasant and not too hot. We predict that the sites will be much quieter and less crowded with smaller tour groups and temples and Museums limiting the numbers of people allowed into sites. Overall, the holiday experience is likely to be much more bespoke and intimate”.

They also point out that, “Hotels in Egypt are rapidly coming up to speed with new hygiene procedures implemented by the Egyptian government and these are very similar to those imposed in Europe. It is worth to point out that already over the last 20 years, Discover Egypt has always implemented a very strict hygiene regime on its cruise boats and there have always been hand sanitising stations, sanitised towels on entering the boat and covers protecting all buffet food. We will continue to monitor enhanced health and safety protocols for the well being of all our customers”.

The benefits of walking on both physical and mental health are well documented and this year more than ever people have walked for their well-being. The team at Hedonistic Hiking lead small groups across beautiful trails in Italy and over its borders into France, Austria and Slovenia.
Hike in May 2021 in the gentle landscape of Tuscany from Lucca, to Volterra and on to the gorgeous island of Elba, or head for the heights of the Italian Alps in July 2021 and feel on top of the world. All the tours feature fabulous accommodation and the best food and wine the regions have to offer.

Riviera Travel now has eight brochures you can order, download or view on line.
Not only river cruising but they are a fantastic way to see and do more, without having to repack your suitcase.
The company also has escorted tours both in Europe and long-haul to fascinating locations.
Would you like to travel to Provence? Great!
They can offer the Burgundy, the River Rhône & Provence River Cruise, an escorted tour of Timeless Provence, and a Walk & Discover tour of Majestic Provence.There are even options for Solo Travellers too.
https://www.rivieratravel.co.uk/brochures

Our partner and Awards finalist Cosmos is rightly proud to be Good Housekeeping Reader Recommended and has held their 2021 tours at 2020 prices. So if you are thinking of exploring Canada or Croatia, Iceland or Ireland, Sicily or Scandinavia, they have a great-value tour ready for you next year, with peace-of-mind at the heart of the deal. Or roam around the UK this Autumn: explore Off Peak with Globus Escapes and you’ll see more in real style for less – and without the crowds. A 6-day Scottish Highlands Escape costs from £499 on 14 March 2021 departure (now saving £190!) plus there is no singles supplements on selected dates! (T&Cs apply)

Save up to £550 per person with AmaWaterways if you book by 30th September.
Celebrate the Christmas holidays in true European style aboard a Christmas market cruise with AmaWaterways.
On their Danube and Rhine Christmas river cruises, you will experience charming Christmas markets brimming with colour and lights, indulge in flavors and aromas of hot mulled wine and gingerbread and enjoy the Christmas markets of grand cities like Vienna, Budapest, Strasbourg and Cologne.

Now there’s no need to quarantine, how about nipping across to France this Autumn? Our Awards finalist Eurocamp’s range of parcs across Europe includes the impressive Domaine des Ormes, set in 400 acres of Brittany’s woodland, not far from Mont St Michel and the coast. With the kids’ club closed this year, it could be a great time for older travellers to visit with pool complexes, lake walks, horse-riding and an 18-hole golf course all on site and accommodation ranging from cosy to the luxurious. From £249 for two in September/October.

Are you ready for a cultural adventure this autumn? Our partner Cox & Kings UK are offering savings of £100 pp on September-October departures for the following tours:
The Heart of Ancient Greece – 12 days exploring the classical sites of Olympia, Delphi, Mycenae and Epidaurus, and the extraordinary rock formations of the Meteora region, as well as Greece’s magnificent scenery, ancient ruins, monasteries and the man-made marvels of the Corinth Canal.
Pompeii & Herculaneum – 7 days uncovering the mysteries of the Bay of Naples, once one of the greatest centres of classical Graeco-Roman civilisation.
Extremadura & Heart of Spain – 8 days exploring Extremadura, one of Spain’s least-visited provinces but certainly one full of surprises. It hides some of the best preserved historic cities in the country along with delicious cuisine, in particular Iberian ham. This tour also takes in the three Unesco-listed cites of Segovia, Salamanca and Toledo.
The Wonders of Ancient Crete – 8 days exploring Crete’s scenic and cultural highlights, including the Palace of Knossos, an incomparable monument of ancient Minoan society, and a boat trip to Spinalonga.

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines is introducing two new ships to its ocean going fleet as the company looks to strengthen the brand and evolve for cruising on the other side of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ships, to be named Bolette and Borealis, have been purchased from Holland America Line and previously sailed under the names Amsterdam and Rotterdam, carrying up to 1,380 and 1,404 guests.
The two new ships will enter the fleet later this year following time to allow for rebranding work to be undertaken.
Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ current ocean ships – the 1,325-guest Balmoral, 924-guest Braemar, 853-guest Boudicca and 799-guest Black Watch – are currently in Babcock’s Rosyth Facilities in Scotland, where the two new ships will join them.
For further information, visit www.fredolsencruises.com/newships

During these challenging times, getting outdoors and engaging with the natural environment is good for all of us. Evidence shows it can also be hugely beneficial for people living with dementia. Join Debbie Anderson, one of Dementia Adventure’s trainers, in a free webinar Out & About with Dementia on Thursday 13 August 11:00 – 12:00 as she shares research which may help you live better with dementia.
This session is part of a series of free webinars offered by The Alzheimer’s Show on its new DIGITAL HUB – packed with useful advice and practical tips you can use during the pandemic and beyond. Plus you’ll have the opportunity to put your own questions to the carefully selected experts and specialists.
Dementia Adventure, finalists in our 2020 Awards, have been supporting people to access nature for over 11 years by providing supported dementia holidays and training.

If you need something to look forward to next summer, why not try a ’Time of Your Life’ escape with Balkan Holidays? Based in the beautiful resorts of Bulgaria, these packages add a little extra to your stay. The four-star Hotel Globus package includes a bottle of champagne and fruit in your room on arrival, glass of wine with evening meals, free sightseeing tour of Nessebar and Bulgarian language course. For single travellers, no supplements are available on selected dates. Truly relax in a great value country with gorgeous sandy beaches.

Boating holiday specialist Nicols are already seeing a surge in enquiries as people are looking of ways to get away but still feel safe.
In addition to the rivers and canals being mainly away from mass tourism areas, your boat is also your accommodation so the only people coming into contact with it are you and your crew!
Nicols base teams are also incorporating additional cleaning practices prior to you collecting the boat to provide further peace of mind.
France makes up most of the Nicols programme, its extensive network of canals and rivers running throughout the country’s many diverse regions. Nicols operates from 19 different bases t France. Bases are also available for holidays in Germany, Portugal, Holland andHungary.

A vey warm welcome to Citalia who have joined us as one of our trusted partners! Their passionate Italy experts have been helping customers discover Italy for more than 90 years. With their handpicked deals and expert knowledge they can tailor your perfect Italian escape. Their website contains an Italian Holiday Finder to help you get started.
Current deals leaving soon include:
Savings of up to £460 per couple on 7 nights B&B at the Hotel Regina, Sorrento, from £999 pp departing 25 August 2020
Savings of up to £428 per couple on 7 nights Half Board at the Hotel Le Palme, Porto Cervo, North Sardinia departing 24 September 2020, from £799 pp
Savings of up to £149 per couple at Villa Paradiso, Taormina, Sicily on 7 nights B&B departing 26 August 2020, from £899 pp.
Prices include flights from Gatwick; other airports and destinations available