Martyn's Monthly Update

Hello everyone

We have been exceptionally busy recently supporting clients affected by the ongoing travel disruptions. Some found themselves stranded in destinations as far afield as Australia and the Maldives, whilst others had imminent travel plans routed through Doha or Dubai.

Although being “stranded” on a Maldivian island may sound idyllic, the reality becomes stressful very quickly. Working closely with Caribtours, Jennie was able to secure revised arrangements for our clients, enabling them to return home a few days later via Emirates through Dubai. In principle, booking with a UK tour operator provides protection; booking through us adds an additional layer of reassurance through the dedication, expertise and persistence of both our team and our trusted partners.

In practice, however, that protection can be difficult to access without support. I personally know someone who spent more than three hours on hold with Qatar Airways trying to resolve their situation. This is precisely why clients choose to book with us - and why many more will do so in the future. While our service may sometimes cost a little more, the peace of mind it provides is invaluable.

I won’t dwell on how busy we have been; this is part of what we do and it’s what our clients rightly expect. Travel plans don’t always unfold perfectly but we always do our utmost to help.

What is more important to highlight now is the direction of travel costs. Airfares are set to rise again and we expect to see the impact on holiday prices from June, just ahead of the July - August school holidays.

Although the oil blockade has not yet fully affected the UK, fuel prices have already increased. Should supply tighten further, we can expect higher fares, flight cancellations and a reduced availability of affordable holidays. We are already seeing this with long-haul travel, as many clients understandably prefer to avoid routes through the Middle East.

If you are considering a summer holiday, my strong advice is to book sooner rather than later. Prices are unlikely to fall but there are still excellent offers available before the school holidays begin. Several of our operators currently have very competitive rates for Greece and Turkey.

Recent areas of interest from our clients include:

1.    Mediterranean and Caribbean cruising

2.    Scandinavia

3.    Caribbean “stay-put” holidays

4.    Sardinia

5.    Australia

6.    Japan, Vietnam, and China

7.    Villa holidays

8.    River cruising

As always, we love to hear from you so do get in touch via email or

telephone or pop in and see us.

Best wishes

Martyn