Bridge and Wickers - Travel With Experience

We've moved!

2011-01-14T14:06:00.000Z

This blog has now moved to our brand new website

http://www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk/blog

Join us there for the latest travel news, offers, trip reports and holiday suggestions.

Bridge & Wickers

We're recruiting!

2010-10-28T14:54:00.001+01:00

Bridge & Wickers seeks an experienced sales consultant for its new Africa programme.

Candidates should be educated to degree level or equivalent, with experience of and a flair for selling tailor-made holidays to Africa. You should have substantial knowledge of travel in at least two of the countries in our portfolio, an interest in wildlife, culture and sustainability, and be committed to providing outstanding customer service. Numeracy and good written English are essential.

Bridge & Wickers is a small, independent tour operator with offices in Primrose Hill, London. Our country specialist sales consultants work in friendly specialist teams and are well remunerated, with a high degree of autonomy, competitive salaries and a generous performance-related commission scheme.

If you enjoy selling, but also want to expand your horizons and contribute to the development of our Africa programme, send your CV and a letter detailing your skills and experience to:

Judith De Witt

3 The Courtyard

44 Gloucester Avenue

London NW1 8JD

Email: judith@bridgeandwickers.com

The Ultimate Dinner in New Zealand

2010-10-27T10:15:00.002+01:00

Take three of the world’s top chefs, give them some first class New Zealand wine and food and put them together at one of the top 20 hideaways on earth, and it’s no wonder The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is being credited with pulling off a major coup.

The exclusive five-star lodge in New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region has managed to bring together Heston Blumenthal of London's The Fat Duck, Neil Perry of Sydney's Rockpool, and Thomas Keller of the French Laundry in California for a one-off event billed as "The Ultimate Dinner".

Scheduled for 26 March 2011, the exclusive degustation dinner will only be available to guests staying at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, and will be the highlight of a special weekend which the lodge says will include "unforgettable food, wine, golf and a spa experience at one of the world's best destinations".

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers has won a string of awards, the latest being the 2010 Andrew Harper Reader’s Choice Award as one of the world’s Top 20 Hideaways.

The Ultimate Dinner
The luxury lodge management says even one of the three chefs would be enough to lure international food and wine enthusiasts to New Zealand, but as a trio the ultimate dinner will provide a "once in a lifetime" event.

The three top chefs will each create two signature dishes as part of a six-course dinner in which each course will be matched to Dry River wines from New Zealand’s Martinborough wine-producing region.

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers has just 22 suites and a four-bedroom owner’s cottage, and a minimum three-night stay which encompasses the night of Saturday 26 March will be required to secure a spot at the ultimate three chefs’ dinner.

The lodge management says that as well as the dinner, guests will enjoy other exclusive dining experiences over the weekend along with free time for rounds of golf on the internationally-acclaimed Cape Kidnappers course, spa treatments, farm tours and walks, and the chance to explore the Hawke’s Bay wine region.

Luxury trio
The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is also part of a unique trio - one of three super-luxury lodges in New Zealand owned by American art collector and philanthropist Julian Robertson and family.
The Farm’s sister properties are Kauri Cliffs Lodge, Golf Course & Spa at Matauri Bay in Northland,and Matakauri Lodge which opened in August and is situated near the South Island resort of Queenstown.

All three offer world-class accommodation in some of New Zealand’s most picturesque locations and have been recognised internationally with a number of awards.
Conde Nast Traveler named The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs as 'No. 1 Lodge/Resort in Australia + Pacific' in the 2010 Readers' Choice Awards readers' survey.

If you're interested in finding out more about the Ultimate Dinner and visiting some of the finest lodges in New Zealand, please contact us for more information and a copy of our brochure.

We also have a website dedicated to the luxury lodges of New Zealand, click here

Our Matt Lucas in the Travel Travel Gazette - read about his trip below, click to enlarge

2010-10-15T15:55:00.001+01:00

The Great Jet Set Divide

2010-09-17T16:10:00.000+01:00

Julie Carpenter writing in the Express this week quoted our very own David Wickers for his comments on what you get when you upgrade your long-haul flights.

Here's an excerpt:

David Wickers, an experienced travel writer and director of holiday specialists Bridge & Wickers, says: “The most opulent experiences are going to be had on the new Airbus A380 which is two storey. If you’re flying on the Singapore Airlines 380 in first class you have your own suite – you can actually close the door and have total privacy. On the Qantas 380 there’s a presentation area designed for businessmen to host a meeting. On the Emirates 380 you have the likes of showers and top-end bars. You can expect to be picked-up by limousine from your home and dropped off when you get back. In the lounges, before you even get on the plane, you can have massages, spa treatments, get your shoes shined and have free drinks and meals.”

If you’re a BA first-class customer you have the option of a range of these lounges, which all boast restaurants, private concierges and suites should you wish to change or take a nap. Arguably the most sumptuous is The Galleries First Lounge at Heathrow’s Terminal 5 which even features The Gold Bar, which is covered in gold leaf and is lit by a Swarovski crystal chandelier.

“First-class passengers still have to go through security like everyone else but they are fast-tracked through and have dedicated check-in,” says a BA spokesman.

So is it worth upgrading?

“What you get by upgrading your class of travel is obviously dependent on individual airlines,” says Wickers. “It’s also worth bearing in mind that the benefit of a better seat increases in direct proportion to the distance you travel and the time of your flight. If for example you can’t afford to upgrade your seat for both the outbound and inbound flights pick the one when you’re flying overnight for your upgrade.

“Premium economy in most cases offers more space, a better choice of food, a dedicated cabin on the plane and often dedicated check-in at the airports. However many airlines merely use the same seats as economy but with more leg room. Other airlines use their own business-class seats. The jump from premium to business class is the biggest both in terms of comfort and price.”

Indeed business class has become so good, with many airlines offering flat beds, that some people now argue first class cannot survive for much longer.

The formula for happy holiday - the top 3 happiest countries are Bridge & Wickers destinations!

2010-09-14T12:36:00.002+01:00

Australia, Canada and South Africa have been voted the happiest holiday destinations by UK travellers.
Over 1000 people were polled in a survey conducted by Skyscanner, which examined various components of a holiday including the quality of accommodation, food, length of flight, weather, duration, motivation for the trip, travelling companions as well as details of planning and paying.

Further and longer = happier Despite the popularity of the UK staycation, Skyscanner¹s study showed that people are happiest when they go abroad, and the further away the better, with six of the top ten happiest holiday destinations being long haul. The survey also revealed that those who were most happy had been away for the longest period.

The countries ranked in order of happiness were:1.      Australia
2.      Canada
3.      South Africa
4.      India
5.      France
6.      Thailand
7.      USA
8.      Italy
9.      Portugal
10.   Greece

Psychologist Cliff Arnall, speaking on behalf of Skyscanner, explained the reasons behind the findings: 'As great as holidaying in the UK can be, most people enjoy experiencing somewhere different with a better climate. Short haul trips to Europe can offer this, but they are also now relatively common. Long haul holidays tend to be for longer periods of time and have greater impact because they are seen as more special than staying in the UK or catching flights to Spain, for example'.

Overall, 69% of those surveyed were ecstatic or very happy about their last holiday. 'This is due to the fact that people enjoy the relaxation achieved by a holiday' says Arnall:

'Two thirds of working people dislike their jobs and many resent the routine associated with the predictable, mundane nature of things at home. Being on holiday is an ideal escape from this and is both stimulating and relaxing'.

Money can buy happiness

The study also revealed that contrary to popular belief, money can in fact buy happiness; those who had spent more than £3000 per person on their holiday were the most happy. This ties in with the longer haul destinations, and may also in part be due to the type of trip; for example a honeymoon or a 'once in a lifetime' voyage has extra special meaning and is likely to cost more.

Shared decisions

A sense of sharing was also important, with the happiest people making a joint contribution in planning and paying for the trip. Holiday planning, especially when done jointly, is a very satisfying activity. As long as all concerned feel they are making a contribution and having their views taken into account then planning is both enjoyable and makes people feel emotionally closer to each other says Arnall.

The importance of companions

The survey showed that it takes more than just money to make a happy holiday; the choice of travel companion and socialising once there is also significant. Those who had holidayed with friends and also made new friends whilst away, were happiest. How visitors are treated by their local hosts also affected happiness; the more welcoming and friendly they are, the better the experience.

Whatever the weather

Good weather was also important to achieve maximum satisfaction whilst on holiday. This is especially relevant for those living in the UK where the climate is unpredictable and a common cause of complaint. Therefore the guarantee of sun (or snow) is a vital factor in holiday happiness.

Great expectations?

Expectations and the planning of a trip also affected satisfaction. Rather than having heightened expectations that were then dashed, the survey found that those who had planned a long time in advance were happiest. Arnall explains: Booking ahead provides two very important positives; something to look forward to and something to tell other people about. People who have booked ahead well in advance have the satisfaction (and some might say smugness!) of knowing exactly where they are going and when. Telling other people about nice things you are going to do is a crucial part of boosting self-esteem and achieving social status.

The Holiday Happiness Formula

Although there is no exact science to travel, using the findings on factors that affect holiday happiness, Skyscanner has devised a psychological formula for a happy holiday:

H = (I x P) + M + A + W + R + (D - d)

H - Holiday happiness: the level of contentment felt whilst on holiday
I - Interpersonal connections: genuinely getting on with the people you are travelling with and meeting new people whilst on holiday is a very important part of having a happy holiday experience.
P - Planning: includes all aspects of researching the destination and travel arrangements.
M - Motivation: visiting a destination you always wanted to go to, a place that holds some fascination or desire for you.
A - Accommodation: includes the comfort, cleanliness, location and the quality of food.
W - Weather: the predictability of temperature, winds, daylight and dryness all combine to decrease psychological stress and increase mood and relaxation.
R - Reflection: taking the time to appreciate the new things you are experiencing whilst away and also appreciating what you have at home.
D - Distance: destinations further away from the UK correlated with greater overall holiday satisfaction. This is due to such destinations being less common, more special trips.
d - Delays: the longer the delay the higher the stress and unhappiness with the holiday. This is an unpredictable part of travelling which can reduce overall happiness.

Do you agree with these findings, is your favourite destination on the list, do you think the formula for a happy holiday is correct?

We'd love to get your feedback on this - so feel free to leave any comments below!

Sydnicity - new Tourism New South Wales launch

2010-09-14T12:10:00.000+01:00

Last night, David Wickers was at the National Theatre's spectacular Thameside venue The Deck, for Tourism New South Wales' launch of it's 'Sydnicity' campaign.

Designed to show those who have yet to visit Australia's gorgeous city that there is more to see than its classic icons, including the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and Bondi Beach. Arts, fashion, food and wine, beaches, events and the great outdoors are all showcased in the new TV and on line commercials in which locals offer their own 'Sydnicity' moments.

If you'd like a copy of our Australia brochure or would like some advice planning your trip to Sydney and the rest of Australia, please get in touch

Trip Advisor - true or false?

2010-09-09T14:13:00.002+01:00

Trip Advisor has become a vital resource for those planning holidays, with many people only choosing their hotels on the basis of its recommendations. As a specialist tour operator we are not only surprised by the number of prospective clients who select their accommodation according to this 'guru' site, but often puzzled by some of these choices when compared with our own first hand experience of the individual properties.

But questions, it seems, are increasingly being asked by others as to the reliability of its advice and the authenticity of the sources of information posted on the site. The latest to raise doubts is the highly respected Good Hotel Guide, as its latest newsletter reveals

It has also been our practice, when our consultants talk to clients about their 'Trip Advised' choice of hotels and don't share the same opinion, that they ask the client to compare one of their own personal favourites with the comments on the same hotels posted on the site. In many cases these reveal significantly different opinions, both where a client's favourite has been downgraded by comments on the site and where a property poorly rated by a client has scored highly. We are not suggesting that such discrepancies are necessarily suspect but that, short of a personal recommendation from a friend or relation, it may be far better to trust the first hand knowledge of a professional than the views of a complete stranger.

We'd love to hear your thoughts on this topic - feel free to add your comments below

Adam Raphael writes:

Shameless

TripAdvisor has millions of consumer reviews on its website and is regarded as an increasingly powerful marketing tool by hotels. But its refusal to screen out collusive and malicious reviews is brazen. When a hotelier complained that a critical comment was planted by a competitor, he received this brush off from TripAdvisor: “Since reviews are posted by our members on our open forum, and we do not verify the information posted in them, we are unable to provide you with proof that this member reserved, stayed, or actually visited [your] hotel.”
This reply has the virtue of honesty, but it is shameless. TripAdvisor has dropped its slogan: “Get the truth and Go”, , but it continues to claim that it provides: "real hotel reviews you can trust”. It says that it uses a sophisticated algorithm to sort out the bogus from the genuine, and that hotels are penalised if they try to manipulate their ranking. But it is all too easy to evade these controls. I posted a bogus, over-the-top glowing review of a truly terrible hotel using a false name and a false email address. It was put up on TripAdvisor's website within hours. Investigations by the Sunday Times and the Times have come to a similar conclusion. The website is wide open to abuse. In its defence, TripAdvisor says that its users read reviews with “the right level of scepticism”. They need to. The sad truth is that millions of consumers are being gulled.

A group of British hoteliers is now considering taking legal action for defamation against TripAdvisor. A legal action would be fraught and expensive, but the website is undoubtedly vulnerable, as it has no idea who its contributors are and makes no attempt to find out. It would therefore not be able to put forward a defence of justification. The hoteliers are also mounting a campaign to force the website, owned by the travel company Expedia, to publish the names of its reviewers. Ending anonymity would stop much of the malicious and collusive reviewing that is going on. But TripAdvisor should also check whether the names and email addresses of its reviewers are genuine. Until it takes these elementary precautions, anyone using its website should beware.

Sunday night's TV - Bridge & Wickers' recommendation...

2010-08-13T16:20:00.001+01:00

Tourism Australia voted us their Travel Operator of the Year 2010 so if this TV programme inspires you to start planning your own holiday adventure in Australia, please give us a call
on 020 7483 6555 or email us oz@bridgeandwickers.com ,

Visit the Bridge & Wickers website

New luxury lodge opens in New Zealand - Matakauri Lodge

2010-08-13T10:07:00.001+01:00

Luxury travellers to New Zealand will have a spectacular new destination - Matakauri Lodge near Queenstown, when it’s unveiled on 27 August.

Matakauri Lodge is the newest addition to the New Zealand luxury lodge collection of US investor Julian Robertson and family - owners of Kauri Cliffs, in the Bay of Islands, and The Farm at Cape Kidnappers.

The recent acquisition extends the Robertsons’ accommodation portfolio into New Zealand’s South Island, and is seen as a logical complement to their two North Island properties - both sought after destinations for discerning guests wanting exclusive accommodation, fine dining and onsite internationally acclaimed golf courses.

The Robertson family would be delighted to offer guests "an opportunity to experience the spectacular South Island of New Zealand", managing director Jay Robertson said.

Lakeside retreat
Matakauri Lodge - described as a lakeside retreat - sits in a dramatic sub-alpine landscape, fringed by forest to one side and the waters of Lake Wakatipu on the other.

The lodge has sweeping views across the lake to the rugged peaks of the Remarkables range but, in spite of its wilderness location, is only 10km from the South Island resort town of Queenstown.

The surrounding region is renowned for its premium wine and food. It is also New Zealand’s premier winter sports destination, and a popular summertime holiday spot for walking and trekking, golfing, water sports, and adrenalin adventures.

Contemporary architecture
Matakauri lodge - originally built in 2000 - was New Zealand’s first organic spa, and was named in Tatler’s 2008 'Top 101 Hotels of the World'.

Constructed in a contemporary New Zealand design, the strong simple forms of the lodge have been designed to minimise the visual impact on the landscape and maximise views of the natural location.

The lodge has accommodation in 11 luxurious suites, plus a stylish and spacious main lodge.

Three guest suites are located in the main lodge, and eight more in private cottages nestled in native forest and overlooking the lake. Each suite has a private porch, bedroom with sitting area and open fireplace, walk-in wardrobe and bathroom.

Facilities include a full-service luxury spa, fitness centre, outdoor infinity swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi and walking trails. While the Matakauri property does not have onsite golf facilities, Queenstown offers several high end golf courses.

Extensive refurbishment
Since the new owners acquired the existing property 12 months ago, Matakauri Lodge has been closed for extensive refurbishment.

The new interiors have been styled by New Zealand interior designer Virginia Fisher, whose signature contemporary casual style features in high-end lodges in New Zealand and overseas.

An emphasis on natural materials, warm colours and textures, reflects "the ruggedness that is very Queenstown", she says.

Fisher describes the lodge’s new style as "crisp and clean and full of natural light ... gutsy and contemporary .... a touch of glamour here and there."

Fine food & wine
British-born chef Dale Gartland, who has worked at Kauri Cliffs and The Farm, will head the Matakauri kitchen.

Gartland - who also has the role of group chef for the three lodges - has won accolades for his food, including Conde Nast Traveller (UK) Gold List ‘Best for Food’ in 2009 (The Farm) and 2010 (Kauri Cliffs).

The 31-year-old chef learned his classical French techniques working at a series of well-heeled English country hotels before moving on to Gidleigh Park Hotel - a Relais & Chateaux property where he worked under Michelin two-star chef Michael Caines - and then to Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand.

Gartland, who has shared his kitchen with celebrity guest chefs including Rick Stein, Peter Gordon, Neil Perry and Guillaume Brahimi, says Matakauri will offer a fresh tasting menu each day, and a choice of dinner courses.

While he doesn’t want to give away any secrets, the chef admits there will be a "simple and modern approach to New Zealand / European cuisine" and that he will remain committed to using the best regional and New Zealand produce - "letting the ingredients speak for themselves to give guests an honest taste of New Zealand".

"Finest local ingredients will remain the main inspiration for the new menus at Matakauri, where dishes will make full use of the local flavours and reflect the rustic character of the region and New Zealand," Gartland says.

Luxury Lodges of New Zealand

2010-08-06T15:08:00.001+01:00

New Zealand's famous lodges are a unique collection of properties, often located in secluded, remote places where you can indulge in great comfort despite the rugged landscapes that surround you.

The pages on our website will reveal a fascinating diversity of lodge experiences, ranging from working farms and sheep stations to Alpine retreats and stone and timber homesteads.

Although no two lodges are the same, our hand-picked collection all share a passion for offering guests a friendly welcome and some of the best food and wine in the country. As the foundation of a touring itinerary there are no finer places to stay.

Contact us now on 0207 483 6555 or email nz@bridgeandwickers.co.uk

To order a copy of our New Zealand brochure, call us or click here

Special offers on escorted tours in Australia & New Zealand

2010-08-06T12:08:00.000+01:00

Travel with Australian Pacific Tours and Bridge & Wickers and receive a fantastic saving of £300 per couple when you book any of their Australia or New Zealand escorted tours of 10 days or more.

Book by 31 August 2010 for travel before 31 March 2011 to benefit from this great saving.

Call us on 020 7483 6555 for more details, or click here to view online

Read our latest newsletter online

2010-07-21T13:57:00.000+01:00

Click here to read the latest news from Bridge & Wickers

Travel to New Brunswick with David Wickers

2010-07-16T16:49:00.000+01:00

These days it’s rare to find a destination that’s easy to reach (a six or so hour flight from Heathrow), is as big as Scotland, has wonderful natural sights, delicious food and interesting places to stay, yet one that few Brits have even heard of, let alone would be able to find on the map.

Welcome to New Brunswick, one of the Maritime Provinces on the eastern seaboard of Canada. I flew there a few weeks ago, accompanying a group of British travel writers (see photo!) who were keen to see just what this little known province has to offer their readers.

We flew there with Air Canada via Halifax in Nova Scotia, followed by a short hop to St John. Our first two nights were spent in the delightful seaside resort of St Andrews at the west end of the province, close to the US border with Maine. First settled by loyalists, who swore allegiance to King George III rather than the American revolutionaries, it’s long been a popular retreat from the heat for city folk - not only from Montreal and Toronto but also from Boston and New York.

We spent one night in the Fairmont Algonquin, the 120 year old, mock Tudor old railway hotel, oozing with character, another in the Rossmount, an 18-room inn owned by a Swiss chef which has, not surprisingly, a superb restaurant drawing on produce from local fishermen and farmers, plus an enormous vegetable plot.

New Brunswick is a wonderful place for soft adventures. From St Andrews we zipped off by Zodiac – hence that photo of me and the journalists swaddled in Guantanamo orange survival suits – on a whale watching trip with Fundy Tide Runners and were rewarded with sightings of two Minkes.

Day three was a cross country drive on roads described by one of the journalists as being “as quiet as a Christmas Day.” We stopped at Kings Landing, an authentic recreation of a 19th century village, complete with costumed characters going about their traditional ways and original historic buildings, and had lunch in the capital, Fredericton, famously home to Lord Beaverbrook and well stocked with historic sites and museums . Our night was spent on the thickly wooded banks of the Miramichi River, one of the best in the world for salmon (as fished by a celebrity hotlist that includes Marilyn Monroe and Prince Charles). Eight of us went a’casting and eight of us caught nothing but big fibs, but the experience – led by a guide who taught us how to cast (and pray) – was memorable. Some of us stayed in the Pond’s Resort, others in O’Donnell’s, both similar in style (rustic lodges beside the water, with log fires, kitchen facilities and a choice of one to three bedrooms), plus restaurants.

The third leg of our tour took us down the east coast of New Brunswick, which is fringed by beautiful sandy beaches, the waters as warm as southern England on a summer’s day, and spiked by huge sand spits and barrier islands inhabited by scores of seals and seabirds. We got up close and personal to both aboard an enormous voyageur canoe in the Kouchibouguac National Park, later followed by a boardwalk hike along the Dune de Bouctouche.

This French speaking part of the province is the traditional home of the Acadians who were originally thrown out of Canada by British colonialists in a shameful act of ethnic cleansing. There’s even a mock French heritage village, Le Pays de la Sagouine, showcasing New Brunswick’s Gallic roots in a lighthearted ‘ooo la la’ style with ribald humour and foot tapping bands. We stayed in Moncton at Maison Tait, a 9-room, Queen Anne style grand maison in seaside Shediac with, again, another passionate chef.

One of the all time highlights of our one week trip was a morning spent kayaking around the Hopewell Rocks which have been eroded by the sea into the shape of flower pots. The Bay of Fundy experiences the highest tides in the world, with the difference between high and low water being as much as a four story house. We then headed to Cape Enrage for incredible sea views and sea food served in a new restaurant that forms part of the historic lighthouse.

After a short hike along one of the trails in the Fundy National Park we returned to Shediac for a ‘Lobster Tails’ cruise on the Bay. The skipper, in between nautical matters, demonstrated the art of trapping these leggy crustaceans, explained how lobsters walk, mate and end up in the lobster pot, told us how they should be cooked and showed us all how we should eat the ones we were about to be served. And very delicious they were too, though we all wished we’d paid more attention to the ways of shell cracking.

IF YOU'D LIKE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS FACINATING PART OF CANADA, PLEASE CONTACT US VIA EMAIL OR CALL 020 7483 6555.

FOR A COPY OF OUR CANADA TAILOR-MADE BROCHURE, PLEASE CLICK HERE

David Wickers' recent trip to Oman

2010-07-13T16:26:00.001+01:00

Bridge & Wickers Director David Wickers recently travelled to Oman - read his report here

Free wedding in the Seychelles!

2010-07-05T17:07:00.003+01:00

La Reserve Hotel, a 40 room family-owned property in Praslin, Seychelles is now offering a Free Basic Wedding Package including:

• Free Dressed Location
• Free Bottle of Sparkling Wine
• Free Wedding Cake
• Free Wedding Coordinator

The happy couple are entitled to a Special Seafood Dinner & ½ Carafe of wine on their Wedding Night. Complimentary Excursions apply too

The hotel is situated on Anse Petit Cour, in a Marine National Park, with its own exclusive beach and protected by a reef that provides the gentlest of waters for swimming and snorkeling.

Conditions:
1. Valid until 31st October 2010.
2. Minimum stay: 3 nights on Half Board basis

Contact one of our Indian Ocean specialists to find out more via email or call 020 7483 6555

Go with the flow: The traveller's guide to waterfalls - pulished in The Independent 3 July 2010

2010-07-05T15:56:00.002+01:00

We were featured in Harriet O'Brien's excellent piece on waterfalls yesterday.

Here are some excerpts that cover our world of travel:

The world's most visited?

Putting on a magnificent show on the border of the US and Canada, the Niagara Falls receives around 25 million visitors a year. Yet in terms of size, the water features here are relative minnows. With the longest drop measuring 57m, Niagara Falls is only about the 50th highest waterfall in the world. What makes it spectacular is the combination of volume, height and width. During the summer, 154 million litres of water cascade here every minute, with four of North America's Great Lakes – Superior, Michigan, Huron and Erie – funnelled through this space en route to Lake Ontario. There are actually three separate falls: on the US side, the American Falls and the narrow Bridal Veil Falls are divided by little Luna Island. These pale in comparison to the stunning Canadian Horseshoe Falls that form a great curving wall of water some 670m across. Contrary to national stereotypes, it is the Canadian side that is the most commercialised – wax works, amusement malls, casinos, you name it they have it. But that's because the views are best here: simply walk along River Road and you get stunning panoramas of all three falls. In Canada the Niagara Falls is an easy day-trip destination from Toronto, about a 75-minute drive away, while in the US the falls are a 45-minute drive from Buffalo airport.

Elsewhere in the Americas?

Canada, meanwhile, boasts several "reversing" falls, a phenomenon in which fresh water tumbling into the sea appears to be forced back in the spray and turbulence of incoming tides. The most accessible – and best known – are the pragmatically named Reserving Falls (actually more rapids than waterfalls) just outside St John in the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick.

Making a splash in Africa

A great curtain of water falls between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Measuring some 1.7km across, Victoria Falls is said to be the world's widest and is known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or the Smoke that Thunders. Both sides are fairly easily accessible – via Livingstone in Zambia and Victoria Falls town in Zimbabwe, each with a well-served airport.

Which side of the falls is best? Tourism in Zimbabwe all but stopped recently yet with the country now slowly showing signs of recovery, visitors are starting to trickle back.

While in Africa, visit the world's second-highest waterfall: the 948m-drop Tugela Falls in the Drakensberg Mountains of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. Bridge & Wickers (020-7483 6555; www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk ) offers a trip to this area in its new, luxury programme of African holidays. Its two-week KwaZulu-Natal self-drive itinerary starts with a visit to the Drakensberg Mountain region, with three nights spent at the beautifully positioned Montusi Mountain Lodge, an easy drive from the Royal Natal National Park. The Tugela Falls can be seen from the road into the park; better still there are two spectacular hiking trails – one to the foot and one to the head of the water. The 14-day holiday costs from £2,645 per person (based on two sharing) which includes accommodation, most meals, and car hire but not international flights.

And the very highest?

Equally inaccessible and majestic is the Sutherland Falls in New Zealand's South Island. This dramatic, tiered waterfall is in the remote and beautiful Fiordland National Park and can be visited only on foot. It lies off the Milford Track, a spectacular walking trail that takes four days to complete, with accommodation provided in Department of Conservation huts along the way. Adding to the challenge, from the track you see the 580m waterfall at a hazy distance and you need to take a tough, 90-minute detour to get a close-up view. Information and booking from the Department of Conservation – 00 64 3249 8514; doc.gov.nz .

Jewellery making in Mozambique

2010-07-05T14:29:00.001+01:00

Feeling creative, love jewellery and want to visit Mozambique? - combine all three with this exciting 5 night package where you will receive one-to-one tuition from an expert local silversmith as part of your package at Ibo Island Lodge.

Details here

If you'd like to discuss this further, please call Sam or Megan on 020 7483 6555

Incredible deals in Namibia

2010-06-28T10:55:00.001+01:00

There's never been a better time to visit Namibia - we have amazing deals for travel in July where you can save up to £1000 per person!

Speak to one of our Africa specialists today on 020 7483 6555 for more details - take a look at a suggested itinerary here

Award Winners!

2010-06-18T13:01:00.004+01:00

Tourism Australia's annual industry awards, The OZcars, were held last night (17^th June) in London. The awards recognise the work that the travel industry plays in promoting / selling Australia.

We're very proud to say that we won four awards including Travel Company of the Year.

Best Australia campaign targeted to a luxury audience - Bridge & Wickers
Best Australia brochure content - Bridge & Wickers
Best Australia travel website - Bridge & Wickers
Travel company of the year (The Ultimate OZcar) - Bridge & Wickers

Visit our websites:

www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk

www.our-australia.co.uk

www.our-australia.co.uk/drives

www.australiaonlocation.co.uk

We're also on Twitter and Facebook - click though and become a fan!

Read our latest newsletter online - special offers

2010-05-26T12:39:00.005+01:00

If you've not yet subscribed to our newsletter, you can read the latest edition online here

It's full of news and offers from our favourite destinations.

Be sure to let us know if there's anything that you'd like to see featured and we'll see what we can do in the next issue!

To sign up to receive a copy of our regular newsletter direct to your inbox, click here

Megan's trip to Southern Africa

2010-05-18T16:04:00.002+01:00

Africa Specialist Megan recently travelled to Southern Africa to meet some of our suppliers, along the way she sampled some of the products...all in the name of research of course!

Read what she has to say about her experiences here

If you'd like to discuss a holiday to Zimbabwe or any of our Africa destinations, please give Megan a call on 020 7483 6555 or email africa@bridgeandwickers.com

Matt's recent trip to Canada

2010-05-14T11:32:00.003+01:00

Senior Consultant Matt Lucas recently enjoyed a trip to Canada as a guest of APT who specialise in escorted tours of Canada.

Read Matt's report here

For details of the Canada tours that APT offer please click here.

Please call or email Matt or one of our other Canada specialists and have a chat if you have any questions about escorted tours or want to put together your own tailormade trip to Canada.

Luxury Australia

2010-05-07T17:33:00.000+01:00

We've launched a campaign featuring luxury Australia products and the dulcet tones of our very own Mr Bridge & Mr Wickers!

Check out the microsite to have a listen & see what it's all about.

Look out for our new online ads too!

Read our latest newsletter online

2010-05-07T17:24:00.000+01:00

Full of summer holiday ideas & special offers.

Click here for details

New 7 Wonders

2010-05-06T16:33:00.002+01:00

Of the short list of 28 contenders for the world’s top 7 natural wonders, 8 are featured by Bridge & Wickers.

1. Canada - Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy is renowned for having the highest tides on the planet (16.2 metres or 53 feet). One hundred billion tonnes of sea water flow in and out of the Bay of Fundy twice daily – more water than the combined flow of all the world’s fresh water rivers.

It is also a critical international feeding ground for migratory birds, a vibrant habitat for rare and endangered Right whales, and one of the world’s most significant plant and animal fossil discovery regions.

The Bay of Fundy is located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia on North America’s east coast.

2. Australia - Great Barrier Reef

The Great Barrier Reef is the planet’s largest coral reef system, with some 3,000 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for 2,600 km over an area of approximately 344,400 square km. It is the biggest single structure made by living creatures and can be seen from outer space.

The major gateways for access to the Great Barrier Reef are Cairns & Port Douglas in Northern Queensland, however we'd recommend basing yourself in the Whitsundays and experiencing the amazing diving and snorkelling opportunities on the Reef as part of your holiday to Australia.

3. Vietnam - Halong Bay

Halong Bay is located in Quáng Ninh province, Vietnam. The bay features thousands of limestone karsts and isles in various sizes and shapes. The bay has a 120 kilometre long coastline and is approximately 1,553 square kilometres in size with 1969 islets. Several of the islands are hollow, with enormous caves, other support floating villages of fishermen, who ply the shallow waters for 200 species of fish and 450 different kinds of mollusks.

You can explore Halong Bay on board your own private junk, cruise in company on a larger boat or even explore on a replica paddle steamer as part of your tailor made holiday to Vietnam. Halong Bay is approximately 3 hours from Hanoi.

4. Tanzania - Kilimanjaro

With its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawensi, and Shira, Mount Kilimanjaro is an inactive strato-volcano in north-eastern Tanzania. It is the tallest free-standing mountain in the world, rising 4,600 m from its base, and includes the highest peak in Africa at 5,895 meters.

Bridge & Wickers have recently launched a program of holidays to Africa - pre-order our dedicated brochure here

5. Indonesia - Komodo

Indonesia’s Komodo National Park includes the 3 larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers. The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals.

For details of luxury holidays to Bali, Lombok and tours of Indonesia, please click here

6. New Zealand - Milford sound

Milford Sound, located in the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, is located within the Fiordland National Park. It runs 15 km inland from the Tasman Sea and is surrounded by sheer rock faces that rise 1200 m or more on either side. Among its most striking features are Mitre Peak, rising 1,692 m above the sound, the Elephant at 1,517 m and resembling an elephant’s's head, and Lion Mountain, 1,302 m, in the shape of a crouching lion. Lush rain forests cling precariously to these cliffs, while seals, penguins and dolphins populate the water.

There are many ways to include a visit to Milford Sound as part of your holiday to New Zealand. Based in Queenstown, you could do a scenic flight by fixed wing aircraft or by helicopter. we'd also recommend the fly/cruise and overnight cruise options to truly experience the beauty of the Fiordland region.

7. South Africa - Table Mountain

Table Mountain is a South African icon and the only natural site on the planet to have a constellation of stars named after it - Mensa, meaning “the table.” The flat-topped mountain has withstood six million years of erosion and hosts the richest, yet smallest floral kingdom on earth with over 1,470 floral species. Table Mountain boasts numerous rare and endangered species. It is the most recognized site in Cape Town, the gateway to Africa, owing to its unique flat-topped peaks which reach 1,086 m above sea level.

As part of your holiday to South Africa, spend a few days in Cape Town where you can scale Table Mountain, visit Robben Island , soak up the atmosphere at the V&A Waterfront, visit the Cape of Good Hope and enjoy the world class food and wine in Constantia before heading along the Garden Route via the Winelands and finishing off with a safari in the malaria-free Eastern Cape.

8. Australia - Uluru

Uluru (Ayers Rock) is one of Australia's most recognisable natural icons. The world-renowned sandstone formation stands 348 m high above sea level with most of its bulk below the ground, and measures 9.4 km in circumference. Uluru appears to change color as the different light strikes it at different times of the day and year.

Uluru is a must-see on your tailor made holiday to Australia's Red Centre. There are a number of options here for touring - set the alarm to see it bathed in sunrise - as well as the surrounding area, perhaps joining an Aboriginal guided walk. In the afternoon, head to Kata Tjuta (the Olgas

Pick your favourites and vote at www.new7wonders.com

Great recommendations for foodies heading down to Sydney!

2010-04-29T13:17:00.001+01:00

Sydney celebrated a triple triumph this week as three of its restaurants were unveiled amongst the S. Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurants.

Quay restaurant on Sydney Harbour was named Acqua Panna Best Restaurant in Australasia, ranking at number 27 in the world after rising 19 places since last year. Tetsuya’s in central Sydney, which has featured in the top 50 every year since the list’s inception in 2002, came in at number 38. Marque in Surry Hills was a new entry for 2010 at number 67, also claiming the Restaurant Breakthrough award which signals it as a hot tip for the future.

The S. Pellegrino World’s 100 Best Restaurants is arguably the most prestigious international accolade in the restaurant business. The list is the result of an extensive poll of around 800 of the world’s most celebrated chefs, renowned food critics, leading restaurateurs and well-travelled gourmands.

Sydney’s success is no mean feat given the level of international culinary talent and the sheer volume of worldwide establishments considered for the list. Inclusion brings tremendous professional acumen to the chefs behind each restaurant. In the case of Sydney’s restaurants, these chefs are:

Peter Gilmore – Quay
Executive chef Peter Gilmore has a well-earned reputation for creating cutting edge cuisine, which has bought dozens of accolades and awards to Quay. Green-fingered Gilmore is a keen gardener and is involved in the restaurant’s own organic farm, where he cultivates heirloom seeds to produce ingredients for Quay’s kitchen. Alongside this, Peter sources ethically grown rare breeds of pig, lamb and chicken to produce an innovative cuisine that celebrates the diversity of nature. Located in a landmark setting on Sydney Harbour, Quay pioneered a new style of dining with a four course menu containing a continually evolving repertoire of classics and new dishes heralding the seasons.
www.quay.com.au

Tetsuya Wakuda – Tetsuya’s
Tetsuya arrived in Australia from Japan at the age of 22, landing his very first job as a kitchen hand at Fishwives in Surry Hills. Seven years later, he opened Tetsuya’s in Rozelle. The restaurant later relocated to Kent Street in central Sydney, where Tetsuya refurbished a heritage-listed site to create his dream restaurant with a bar, private dining rooms and a large main dining area overlooking a Japanese garden. Tetsuya’s cuisine is based on the Japanese philosophy of natural seasonal flavours, enhanced by classic French technique.
www.tetsuyas.com

Mark Best - Marque
Mark Best describes himself as ‘an accidental chef’, having begun his working life as an electrician in gold mines and on submarines. At the age of 25 he helped a chef friend for a day in her bistro kitchen and it was this that led him to change his career path. Within months of opening, Marque in Surry Hills was receiving recognition and awards. The intimate restaurant has a team of just five. Mark Best loves the process of creation and renewal for his menu. The degustation is the signature meal at Marque, where each dish relates to the one before in some way.
www.marquerestaurant.com.au

Sydney’s dining scene
Innovative chefs, a culinary style evolved from a multicultural heritage, premium produce grown in and around the city and fabulous backdrops are just some of the ingredients that make Sydney one of the world’s top dining destinations.

The city boasts ‘fabulous food moments’ from gourmet dining in an exclusive restaurant with a magical view, to eating takeaway fish and chips on the beach whilst watching the sun set. Sydney’s food scene boasts enormous vitality and an extraordinary variety from the gastronomic pub barbecues and local bistros to tapas bars, speciality provedores and farmers’ markets.

The city’s many restaurant precincts reflect the ethnic diversity of their neighbourhoods and the style of down-town, beach and edgy inner-city areas. There is a celebration of food and wine in Sydney that manifests itself in numerous festivals, including the Sydney International Food Festival each October.

To view the complete list for the S.Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants – as well as the list for restaurants ranking 51-100 - see www.theworlds50best.com

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If this has whetted your appetite for trip own Under, please call or email us with your holiday plans and we'll put together an itinerary for you.

Bridge & Wickers offer tailor-made holidays to Australia, New Zealand, the South Pacific, Canada, Africa, South-East Asia & Indochina.

If you would like a copy of any of our brochures, please click here

Read our latest newsletter

2010-04-26T12:05:00.001+01:00

Our latest newsletter is full of latest offers and information on some of our latest destinations in Africa including Southern Africa, Kenya and Madagascar.

Read more here

Luxury Sydney and Hayman Island – save £865 per couple

2010-04-23T15:37:00.000+01:00

Combine the excitement and buzz of the Four Seasons Sydney with luxury and pampering at Hayman Island.

Valid for travel until 31st October 2010

More details here

UK airports set to reopen

2010-04-20T21:04:00.000+01:00

Breaking news on the BBC website

Latest update on UK flight disruptions

2010-04-20T18:58:00.000+01:00

For the latest information, please check our website

UK Airport Disruption due to Volcanic ash from Iceland – Latest Update

2010-04-19T16:18:00.001+01:00

We are pleased to advise that the latest NATS statement advises that restrictions preventing flights in the UK controlled airspace will remain in place until 07.00 Tuesday 20th April.

However from 0700 UK time tomorrow, they anticipate that Scottish airspace will be open, and south to a line between Teeside and Blackpool. Mainland Scottish airports will be open. Restrictions to airspace in England and Wales may be lifted, during the course of Tuesday 20th April.

The next update from NATS is expected at 21.00 Monday 19th April.

Please see the NATS statement below for further details:
Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Monday April 19, 1530

The volcanic eruption has reduced and the volcano is not currently emitting ash to altitudes that will affect the UK. Assuming there are no further significant ash emissions we are now looking at a continuously improving situation.

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday.

From 0700 (local time) tomorrow, Tuesday, Scottish airspace will be open, and south to a line between Teeside and Blackpool. Mainland Scottish airports will be open.

This is a dynamic and changing situation and is therefore difficult to forecast beyond 0700 local; however, the latest Met Office advice is that the contaminated area will continue to move south with the possibility that restrictions to airspace above England and Wales, including the London area, may be lifted later tomorrow (Tuesday).

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and review our arrangements in line with that. We will advise further arrangements at approximately 2100 (local time), today.

It is now for airports and airlines to decide how best to utilise this opportunity. Passengers should contact their airlines to find out how this will affect their travel plans. Also, see below for our out of hours contact numbers.

UK Airport Disruption due to Volcanic ash from Iceland – ABTA Update 20

2010-04-19T13:20:00.000+01:00

An updated NATS statement has been released, giving more information about the activity of the volcano. They are still advising that restrictions preventing flights in the UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 01.00 Tuesday 20th April.

The next update from NATS is expected at 15.00 Monday 19th April.

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Monday, April 19, 1245 (local)
The Met Office advises that the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano is now less active than previously. NATS advises that the current restrictions across UK controlled airspace due to the volcanic ash cloud will remain in place until at least 0100 (local) on Tuesday 20th April.

Conditions around the movement of the layers of the volcanic ash cloud over the UK remain dynamic. We will continue to monitor the location of this ash cloud and look for opportunities to get aircraft moving again, whilst of course maintaining safety.

NATS is maintaining dialogue with the Met Office and with the UK's safety regulator, the CAA, in respect of the international civil aviation policy we follow in applying restrictions to use of airspace.

In the meantime, we continue to work closely with Government, airports and airlines, and airframe and aero engine manufacturers to get a better understanding of the effects of the ash cloud and to seek solutions.

Anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

The next update will be issued at approximately 1500 (local).

UK air restrictions - latest update

2010-04-18T21:25:00.000+01:00

UK air restrictions extended till 1900 UK time Monday 19 April.

Most flights are grounded. Please check with your airline before travelling for their latest flight arrangements.

Details on the foreign office website here

Bridge & Wickers will be open from 08.30 tomorrow morning.

Latest flight disruption news

2010-04-17T17:19:00.004+01:00

Good afternoon

The latest NATS statement has been released and advises that restrictions preventing flights in UK controlled airspace remain in place until at least 0700 (UK time) tomorrow, Sunday 18th April. Please see statement below for further information. Next update from NATS is expected at 21.00 today

NATS Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Saturday April 17, 1445

The volcanic ash cloud from Iceland is moving around and changing shape. Based on the latest information from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 0700 (UK time) tomorrow, Sunday 18 April.

There may be some airspace available within Scotland, Northern Ireland and England north of Leeds up till 1900 (UK time), which may enable some domestic flights to operate under individual coordination with ATC. We will be coordinating this closely with airlines and airports. We would repeat, it is most unlikely that many flights will operate today and anyone hoping to travel should contact their airline before travelling to the airport.

After 1900 (UK time), Met Office forecasts show the ash cloud progressively covering the whole of the UK.

We will continue to monitor Met Office information and review our arrangements in line with that. We will advise further arrangements at approximately 2100 (UK time), today.

Latest flight disruption news

2010-04-17T11:07:00.000+01:00

The latest NATS statement advises that restrictions will remain in place in UK until 0100 tomorrow at least. The next update is at 1500

If you are due to travel from Heathrow today do not travel to the airport - call your airline for reticketing info: www.heathrow.com

Our office is open until 2pm today

Statement on Icelandic volcanic eruption: Friday April 16, 2045 - advice from ABTA

2010-04-16T21:50:00.002+01:00

The volcanic ash cloud continues to affect UK airspace. Following the latest update from the Met Office, NATS advises that the restrictions currently in place across UK controlled airspace will remain in place until at least 1300 (UK time) on Saturday April 17.

There are currently no airspace restrictions in Scotland, Northern Ireland and in an area over the North Sea that includes the Shetlands and Orkney Isles. Manchester, Liverpool and all airports North of those may be available from 0400 (UK time) – 1000 (UK time) for departures to and arrivals from the North and West subject to individual co-ordination.

However, please be advised that the situation is continuously changing. Forecasts indicate that the ash cloud is expected to return over Northern England at 1000 (UK time) and it is likely that restrictions will be reintroduced.

Please note these arrangements do not mean that all flights will operate. Anyone hoping to travel today or tomorrow should contact their airline before going to the airport.

We will review further Met Office information and at 0900 (UK time) on Saturday we will advise further arrangements.
======================================================
Any Bridge & Wickers clients should contact their airline (or local ground agent overseas) before travelling to the airport. Our office will be open on Saturday from 10am - 2pm and we have been in contact with those passengers affected this weekend.

Africa

2010-04-16T16:50:00.001+01:00

We've got two new members of the team who will be selling luxury holidays to Africa. Megan and Sam have both got excellent product knowledge and years of experience putting together tailor-made itineraries to their favourite parts of the world - these include South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, Indian Ocean. Madagascar, Namibia.

Check out our website for some suggestions of the type of trip we can create - exciting safaris, wonderful beaches, luxury hotels and lodges, amazing honeymoons, self-drive adventures...Bridge & Wickers' Africa has it all.

Phone problems & Easter opening hours

2010-04-01T17:29:00.001+01:00

Following the BT incident yesterday, we've had ongoing problems with our phone lines and today have no service at all.

Apologies to anyone who has been trying to contact us and getting a constant engaged tone - we'll be back to normal service on Tuesday apparently.

Emails are working though, so you can still contact us via email here

Please note that the office will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Monday . we are open as normal from 10am - 2pm on Saturday 3rd April.

We'd like to take this opportunity to wish all our clients a very happy Easter break.

Win A Holiday to British Columbia

2010-03-29T10:45:00.000+01:00

Win a 10 day holiday for two to experience British Columbia with Bridge & Wickers. Includes flights with Air Canada and accommodation in Vancouver, Whistler & Victoria.

Good luck!

Enter here

The world's incredible unknown natural wonders

2010-03-26T14:34:00.006Z

The world's incredible unknown natural wonders - Click here and look out for our Australia one!

For more information about Wilpena Pound & the Flinders Ranges, click here to view a suggested itinerary.

Are you a creative genius???

2010-03-26T13:29:00.000Z

Air New Zealand is looking for design gurus via it's futuretakingflight website - with a great prize on offer to the winners

Click here for details

BA strike information

2010-03-24T10:50:00.000Z

If you need to find out the latest information about next weekend's proposed BA strike, take a look at their website here

If you're a Bridge & Wicker's client, we will have already been in touch with you to discuss your flight options and arranged an alternative for you.

Fingers crossed this will all be over very soon and we can all resume booking BA with confidence....

Sab Lord on Radio 4 tomorrow

2010-03-19T13:55:00.002Z

Tune in to Excess Baggage on Radio 4 tomorrow at 10am to hear our mate Sab Lord talk about his private Kakadu & Arnhemland safaris.

Sab has spent over 25 years in and around the Northern Territory and Western Australia leading specialised tours throughout the Kimberley, Kakadu and Arnhem Land environs. In the 1950’s his father ran a crocodile and buffalo hunting operation at Munmalary - the station is now encapsulated in World Heritage Listed Kakadu National Park. His in depth knowledge of the flora, fauna and history, his unique character as well as his personal links with the traditional Aboriginal owners established during that time ensure your private touring experience will be one never forgotten. Thanks to his unique and passionate outback style Sab is in extremely high demand for private luxury touring.

Highly recommended!

Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa - opening March 2010

2010-02-18T18:37:00.003Z

Distinctive features
A magnificent fully self-contained apartment style resort
with the choice of studio, 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments.
World class leisure facilities include a luxurious Mii Spa
Day Spa, restaurant and cocktail bar, gymnasium and
conference centre. All apartments are fully self-contained
with prestigious fittings and fixtures throughout including
kitchen facilities with European appliances and stone
bench tops.

Accommodation
Spacious and luxuriously appointed studios and
fully self-contained 1, 2 & 3 bedroom apartments.
The apartments offer views of the conservation
sanctuary or the resort precinct and feature
a private furnished courtyard or balcony.

Nearby attractions
• Noosa’s famous boulevard of restaurants, shops and
cafés • Hastings Street galleries, boutiques and tourist
activities • Noosa National Park • Australia Zoo • Reef
fishing • Noosa Springs Golf Course • The Big Pineapple
• Great Sandy National Park • Lake Cootharaba • Day
trips to Fraser Island • Mountain-top villages Maleny
and Montville • Eumundi Markets

Location

Distance from the airport: 25kms from Maroochydore
Airport or 2 hours drive north of Brisbane. Beautifully
located just 3 minutes drive from iconic Hastings Street,
with chic cafés, galleries, boutique shopping and Noosa's
famous beach. Quay West Resort & Spa Noosa overlooks
the tranquil waters of Noosa Sound and 9 hectares of a
protected conservation sanctuary.

The perfect destination for relaxing escapes & family holidays.

Call us if you'd like to incorporate a stay here in to your tailor-made Bridge & Wickers holiday to Australia

Latest Cook Islands package details

2010-02-18T18:13:00.000Z

The South Pacific island archipelago of the Cook Islands offer some serious barefoot seclusion. Two new hotels present the perfect excuse for some exotic island hopping. Te Manava on Rarotonga´s south-eastern coast offers villas with stunning views of the clear water of the lagoon beyond, while the aptly named Rumours of Escape on the breathtaking volcanic island of Aitutaki is a small cluster of beachfront villas that offer the ultimate sand-between-your-toes experience.

Bridge & Wickers (020-7483 6555; bridgeandwickers.co.uk ) has a 12-night itinerary that visits both properties from £3,467 per person, based on two sharing including transfers and accommodation with breakfast.

Flights cost an extra £985 per person, based on travel between 22 March and 15 June.

Read our latest newsletter

2010-02-18T17:18:00.003Z

If you haven't received a copy of our latest e-newsletter in your inbox, please cllick here

It's full of great offers, and news of our next big destination...we're very excited about 2010!!

Airline news - Etihad to Australia

2010-02-15T13:59:00.003Z

One of our preferred carriers, Etihad Airways has secured seven additional weekly flight frequencies from its Abu Dhabi home-base to Australia.

The seven flights can be operated to any gateway in Australia which includes Etihad’s current destinations of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

A further seven weekly flights have been granted to Etihad on the condition that the operation also flies via or onto a regional airport.

Etihad currently flies 21 times a week between Abu Dhabi and Australia. This includes 11 flights to Sydney, seven to Melbourne and three to Brisbane. The new flight slots will available from March 2011.

More flights mean increased competition and that hopefully means better fares that we can pass on to our clients....so, the more airlines flying in to Australia, the merrier we say!

BA debuts new first class

2010-02-12T17:18:00.001Z

A wider bed features as part of a £100 million redesigned first class by British Airways.

The new First took off on Wednesday on a Boeing 777 bound for Chicago.

The redesigned suite features an enhanced bed - wider with a new ‘intelligent’ mattress and 400-thread Egyptian cotton bed linen.

Each suite has a personal wardrobe, a leather-bound writing desk that converts into a dining table, a new 15” in-flight entertainment screen and a buddy seat to enable customers to dine together.

Lighting and electronic blinds can be modified to reflect mood and time of day.

Passengers have “precision control” over their seat position thanks to an innovative seat control unit that replaces the switches, allowing them to activate the bed position and pneumatic panels to support the head and lumbar positions.

The new key features include:

A 60% wider bed at the shoulders
Personal wardrobe
Personal electronic blinds
A 15” in-flight entertainment screen
USB port, RCA jack and noise-cancelling headsets
Fully integrated ambient and mood lighting
Anya Hindmarch washbag and amenities by D.R. Harris & Co.
Leather bound writing table

BA head of customer experience Mark Hassell said: “We have contemporised First and created an intimate private jet experience onboard.

“We have resisted gadgets and gimmicks and focused instead on simplicity and quality.

“Every feature has been carefully considered and researched to ensure we are giving our customers what they want.”

A new premium service style has been developed for cabin crew to ensure world-class service for customers who can eat, sleep and work when they want to.

Just in case you needed another good reason to travel in first & business class.....

2010-02-11T10:19:00.000Z

A panel of five leading experts blind-tasted more than 220 wines served on long haul flights by 34 airlines from around the world.

Qantas took four of the top prizes - for Best First Class Cellar; Best Red Wine served in First Class, won by its Clonakilla Shiraz Viognier 2005; Best Fortified or Sweet Wine served in First Class, won by its Morris of Rutherglen Old Premium Liqueur Tokay; and Best Presented Wine List.

Cathay Pacific made two trips to the winners' podium - for Best Business Class Wine Cellar and Best Red Wine served in Business Class, for its Spy Valley Pinot Noir Marlborough 2007.

A TASTE OF THAILAND - Bridge & Wickers' Andrew Chapman has just returned from his own luxury tailor-made holiday to Thailand, here's his report...

2010-02-09T13:01:00.004Z

One night in Bangkok, nope we had three at the very stylish Sukhothai hotel. Three nights is just enough to see the best of this hustling, bustling mega city-think Blade Runner! A city tour is essential to get your bearings with trips along the klongs (canals), where you can spot large monitor lizards on the prowl, and visits to the reclining Buddha and Grand Palace as the highlights. Now it’s a shopping at the Chatuchak Weekend Market -15,000 stalls, the vast majority undercover. No need to buy just marvel at the throngs of locals as they bargain and haggle for anything on sale.

Then it’s off to Chiang Rai in the North of Thailand, a real difference to Bangkok. The pace of life is slower and it’s the place to see and ride elephants, especially at the wonderful Four Seasons Tented Camp. Styled like an African Safari camp its right in the jungle and its here that you get to be trained as a real Mahout (elephant owner) which is scary and fun at the same time.

These amazing animals really are friendly and intelligent and love nothing better than spraying you with water when bathing. All the tents are named and themed differently-we had the explorer’s tent and you can have an intent massage, just right after all that elephant training! And of course you sleep in one of the fabled Four Seasons’ heavenly beds.

We also had a couple of nights at the Anantara Golden Triangle Resort where we got to watch an elephant polo match whilst sipping Pimms-how British. Just across the road is the Hall of Opium museum, where you can journey through the fascinating history of the Opium Trade and just what were the opium wars

A four hour drive took us to Thailand’s Northern capital (and its second largest city), Chiang Mai for a stay at the opulent Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi. Styled on the palaces and pagodas of Thailand this truly is a royal experience.

Then its down to Phuket and 2 nights at the delightful Mom Tri's Villa Royale where Kata Noi beach beckons and then finally two days of bliss at Trisara where our stunning Ocean View villa makes us feel like celebrities with its own 10 metre pool and a view of the Anadaman sea to die for.

Of course no visit to Phuket is complete without a trip to Phi Phi Island and the Beach (no sign of Leonardo but plenty of other people there, mores the pity).

Highlights of the holiday would have to be the elephants at the Four Seasons Chiang Rai, the lovely Kata Noi beach and it’s warm sea and of course the food. Great Thai cuisine at still really good value prices (Two Pad Thai and 2 Singha Beers for bht500 –that’s a tenner to you and me!).

If you'd like a copy of our tailor-made Asia brochure or have a holiday in mind that you'd like us to create, please contact us or call 020 7483 6553.

Air New Zealand

2010-02-03T14:46:00.000Z

Air New Zealand's site for their new seats and aircraft is now live, take a look here

We can't comment on the skycouch yet, but their premium economy and business premier are excellent value for money, extremely comfortable (flat beds in business class!) and very popular with our clients...the food and wines they serve aren't bad either!

Don't wait until April 2011 though (when the first new plane departs from London), we'd recommend travelling now - the weather's great in New Zealand and it's a beautiful place to visit at this time of year.

Order our brand new NZ brochure here and take a look at some of our suggested itineraries.

Contact us to discuss your holiday plans on 020 7483 6555

Emirates Premium Arrivals at Dubai Airport

2010-02-02T11:59:00.002Z

Premium Arrivals is a new innovative service offered by Emirates at Dubai Airport for those passengers travelling in either First or Business class or for Skywards Gold passengers.

Premium passengers travelling from across the Emirates network can now enjoy the distinction of collecting their luggage from the exclusive Premium Arrivals area, which includes; a dedicated carousel (carousel 10), a comfortable seating area and a dedicated Emirates Airport Services team on hand to assist customers and porters to handle luggage.

Take a look at the Emirates A380 here

'Having recently flown business class on the new A380, I can definitely recommend this as an option on your next long-haul trip to Asia or Down Under - flat beds and fantastic service combined with great food and an excellent in-flight entertainment system, plus a huge network of destinations to choose from...I'm most definitely a fan!" - Annette Morrissey, Sales Director

Newfoundland made easy!

2010-02-01T12:20:00.000Z

Spectacular Newfoundland in Canada is now one step closer thanks to new daily direct Air Canada flights from London to St Johns.

The new flight will operate from Heathrow throughout peak season (May 27 - September 26 2010), opening up this undiscovered corner of Canada to an increasing number of UK visitors. Guests can take advantage of any number of flexible, self-drive itineraries in this dramatic eastern edge of the North American continent.

Bridge & Wickers’ Newfoundland and Labrador Adventure is a 14-day self-drive itinerary taking in the abundant wildlife, deep fjords, wild islands and untouched rivers of this vast expanse – even icebergs in August. Amble along the Atlantic’s fishing ports, passing through friendly towns and villages, soaking up the rugged lifestyle which embodies Canadian culture. Newfoundland is pioneer country - akin to the wilderness of the Australian Outback - with just enough development to allow for comfortable discovery.

Discover small communities practising ancient Indian crafts, explore the expansive landscapes of Gros Morne, one of the country’s most beautiful National Parks, see icebergs at Notre Dame Bay and watch seabirds at the Cape St Mary reserve.

Melbourne Cup mention in the Express by Will Hide 24 Jan 2010

2010-01-28T17:21:00.002Z

The Melbourne Cup is the horse race that transfixes a nation. For several minutes during the first Tuesday of November, the whole of Australia pauses and turns towards a radio or TV to see who’s first past the post.

Bridge and Wickers (020 7483 6555/www.bridgeandwickers. co.uk) offers a 13-night package to Australia from £2,711pp (two sharing), room-only, including return flights with Cathay Pacific from Heathrow, accommodation in Hong Kong, Sydney and Melbourne, and tickets for the big day.

Contact us if you'd like to incorprate the Melbourne Cup within your trip down under.

Hot off the press - Air New Zealand's new economy beds!

2010-01-26T17:48:00.002Z

Air NZ is planning to introduce the new economy ‘skycouch’ and premium economy ‘spaceseat’ later this year.

Skycouch or spaceseat
The ‘skycouch’ is a row of three seats that has been engineered to create a lie-flat, flexible space between the seat-backs, providing a flat surface for adults to relax and sleep on. It could also serve as a play area for small children.

There will be 22 skycouches - the first 11 window rows in economy class - in each plane. For two adults travelling together, the skycouch purchase will be based on buying two seats at standard prices with the third seat at approximately half price. Airfare details will be announced when the skycouch goes on sale from late April.

Innovations in the premium cabins include a new ‘spaceseat’ offering unparalleled comfort and legroom for premium economy travellers, and an enhanced sleep experience for business premier travellers to ensure travellers really do feel they’ve snuggled into their own bed!

A new bean-bag footstool will offer some extra comfort for passengers.

Long-haul makeover
All three zones in Air New Zealand’s long-haul aircraft of the future will receive a makeover designed to put the airline ahead of competitors in comfort and experience. This includes new interior design, on demand food and beverage options, and new inflight entertainment that could include wine tasting and destination seminars.

The interior design will move away from traditional blues and greens to a more luxurious blend of chalk and deep ink colours that will be enhanced with mood lighting.

The award-winning Air NZ business premier experience will be enhanced with a complete on-demand food and beverage service, while premium economy will offer new shared-meal experiences. The planes will feature new oven technology that cooks food from scratch rather than simply reheating, and a new digital in-seat ordering service.

Take a look for yourself here

First routes
The 340 seat 777-300 aircraft will be configured with 246 in economy (including 66 seats creating 22 skycouch combinations), 50 in premium economy and 44 in business premier.

The first routes to offer travellers the next generation of long haul travel will be on selected services between Auckland and Los Angeles from December 2010, followed by return services between Auckland and Los Angeles and through to London from April 2011.

Air New Zealand expects to refit its fleet of eight Boeing 777-200 aircraft from mid 2010, with all Asian, North American and UK services to have the new product by around 2012.

Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to keep up to date when these new fares are released

NEW ZEALAND ESCORTED TOURING

2010-01-26T17:01:00.002Z

If you prefer to explore New Zealand in company, enjoying the companionship of travelling as a group as well as the benefit of having an experienced tour director and driver, we can offer you a choice of escorted tours available through the best local companies.

Each company offers a variety of itineraries as well as groups of differing size and style of travel. We can help you select an itinerary that best fits your dates and requirements. Details of some of the tours we offer are listed on our website as well as on pages 26-27 of our new brochure.

Options include:

Scenic Tours: Best for - Excellent Value For Money

A wide range of itineraries for groups of up to 48 travellers (Price – 20 days from £3130 per person including breakfast and some dinners). They do not produce a printed brochure but our consultants can send you an electronic version. Click here for details of their most popular tour.

APT: Best for - variety as well as smaller groups (up to 30)

An extensive range of tours with premier plus options for those who prefer to travel in a smaller group (up to 30, Price – 18 days from £4532 including all meals) in addition to their regular premier level of touring with up to 48 passengers (Price – 17 days from £3383 per person including all meals) . Let one of our consultants know if you would like to receive a copy of their brochure and click here to see details of what's included on their New Zealand Wonderland tour.

The Great New Zealand Travel Company: Best for - small groups

This company uses mini coaches with never more than 16 passengers (Price 20 days from £3665 per person including breakfast and 2 dinners) - again we have copies of their brochures which we would be happy to send.

Grand Pacific Tours: Best for - Luxury Coaches

As well as a choice of tours for groups up to 48 passengers (Price – 19 days from £2365 per person including breakfast and most dinners), Grand Pacific has an 'Ultimate' range of tours utilising one of the most luxurious coaches on the market, each fitted with just 20 fully-reclining leather seats similar to a traditional size airline business class seat (Price – 19 days from £3610 per person including breakfast and most dinners). The coaches also have their own galley and state of the art entertainment system. At present Grand Pacific do not have a brochure but we can send you an electronic copy covering all their itineraries.

Please let us know which of these options suits your requirements or let us know if you have seen a particular tour that isn't featured here and we'll put together a tailor-made quotation including flights and stopovers if required.

Call 020 7483 6555 or email nz@bridgeandwickers.com.

Top Hotels

2010-01-20T19:16:00.006Z

We regularly use these properties in our tailor-made holidays - what do you think of TripAdvisor’s Traveller's Choice 2010 Top Hotels - is your favourite on there?

Luxury OZNZ http://bit.ly/81mUKo

Luxury ASIA http://bit.ly/6SOCge

Luxury CANADA http://bit.ly/8eKkdy

Become a fan of Bridge & Wickers and keep up to date with our latest events and offers

2010-01-14T16:26:00.004Z

Visit our Facebook page here

We'll be regularly posting our latest offers, news, events and our take on the Bridge & Wickers world of travel!

Be sure to sign up for our monthly email newsletter too.

Bridge & Wickers - this weekend's travel sections

2010-01-11T13:22:00.000Z

As well as our regular presence in the weekend travel sections, we featured Atlantic Canada in the AITO supplement with this weekend's Daily Telegraph.

Click here to read the piece.

Other Bridge & Wickers mentions in the press this weekend were Fiji in the Aberdeen Press & Journal and Tasmania in the Independent.

They all make excellent reading and food for thought for that next trip!

Don't forget to order our latest brochures for more information on all of our destinations - visit us at www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk

Airport disruptions across the UK.

2010-01-06T12:40:00.000Z

Sky News is now reporting all the airport disruptions across the UK.

At 12.04pm it stated that:

Gatwick airport flights suspended.
Luton airport reopened.
Heathrow and Stansted open but warning of disruption.
Flights at Exeter and Bristol airport currently suspended.
Southampton airport is open but running with delays.
Birmingham airport reopened but with delays.
Blackpool has suspended flights.
Some cancellations at Manchester and Liverpool but both airports open.
Robin Hood Airport has reopened.
Leeds Bradford open but check with airline for delays and cancellations.
Some Easyjet flights from Newcastle cancelled.
Glasgow airport is open, but with delays.
Number of flights in to Aberdeen airport cancelled.
Cardiff Airport flights suspended until at least 3pm.

For up to date information, visit the airport and airline websites directly.

If you're a Bridge & Wickers client, then call us if you're unsure about your departing flights.

9pm fireworks in Sydney - the celebrations have commenced!

2009-12-31T11:26:00.003Z

Click here to take a look - and this is just the kids version!

Happy New Year everyone - hope you have a fantastic 2010 from all the team at Bridge & Wickers

New Zealand's best boutique lodges

2009-12-29T16:49:00.002Z

From The Sunday Times

December 13, 2009

Forget backpacking: the country’s wilderness is best enjoyed from a hot tub, with a glass of sauvignon

We arranged for Max Anderson to travel down to New Zealand and this is what he wrote in the Sunday Times:

The New Zealand lodge is almost a travel genre in its own right; and, like the safari lodge,the ranch and the spa resort, it comes with a set of defining experiences. Chief among these is wilderness, something that NZ — populated by just 4m people — has in excess. The North Island is as emerald as Ireland in spring, with a lively topography sculpted by volcanoes; the South Island is dominated by the snow-capped Southern Alps, ranges as commanding as their namesakes.

Traditionally, the lodge was a Highlands transplant where the well-heeled enjoyed the fruits of hunting, a clubby sort of place, hung with antler racks and stuffed fish. Today, the trophies are the lodges themselves, precariously hung on coves, ridge lines and mountains.

Here, then, are six lodges offering something fresh and fine. The experiences are as rich and “gourmet” as the price tags suggest; but while wealthy guests like to lodge-hop (slowly killing themselves with kindness), three nights at a single lodge in the midst of, say, a camper-van holiday would be just as rewarding.

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, Hawke’s Bay

Cape Kidnappers is what happens when Manhattan money piles into a 6,000-acre sheep farm on cliffs overlooking a premium wine district. The Farm is “agricultural chic”: hyper-designed, and a hit with even the most conservative of its 56 guests. When they installed a golf course on a series of “fingers” poking into blue skies over Hawke’s Bay, Kidnappers rocketed up American golfers’ must-do lists. When Farm guests aren’t receiving extra-fine service, they’re exploring the property. Walks lead to forested gorges, hidden beaches and cliff plateaus that are snowy with squawking colonies of gannets.
Don’t miss: the kiwi experience. There are 37 kiwis on Cape Kidnappers, all regularly weighed and measured. Radio-tracking, catching and handling the national icon is a thrill as rare as the bird itself.Doubles from £780

Whare Kea Lodge and Chalet, Otago

You wake at Whare Kea to a Disney tableau of mountains, lake and lawn, populated with bunnies, quails and goldfinches — all of which are sent scurrying in terror by the arrival of a thudding helicopter. It’s arriving to take you on a 20-minute flight over snow-cloaked mountainsto a black speck clinging tothe side of Dragon Fly Peak.
It’s your overnight chalet accommodation and, at 5,700ft, very much a rare-air experience (the only other access is via a two-day hike) — that night, your chef will prepare five-star fare and the night sky will put on a stellar performance. Back at the lakeside Lodge, the mood is casual and contemporary. The 60-acre grounds are filled with native plants and lambs, and the mountain-view spa would be a very good place to die.
Don’t miss: riding around nearby Rippon winery, one of the world’s most beautiful vineyards.
Doubles from £610, chalet stay £2,160, all-inclusive

Wharekauhau, Wairarapa

Architecturally, this is a curate’s egg, nested between ferocious bay and strident mountains, but for all its oddness, Wharekauhau is a beacon of comfort and cheer. Most lodges won’t take under-13s, but this one keeps them — ergo parents — totally happy, with all-action distractions including riding, quad bikes and tours of the sheep station (5,500 wild and woolly acres).
Indoors, it’s the simple things that work best — the big, goofy labrador, the 24-metre heated pool and the movie and popcorn nights in the attic, leaving parents free to enjoy the work of Anthony North, a forager/chef de cuisine who does sensational things with the local bounty.
Don’t miss: Texel lamb. It’s marbled, like the finest steak.
Doubles from £420, children’s doubles from £360

Blanket Bay, Otago

The savage, snowy peaks crowded around this mountain country lodge have appeared in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films, while the suites have done service to some of Hollywood’s top players. Helicopters take you into remote locations and jet boats fire you up the Dart Valley; but to get properly Lordly over the scenery, try riding horseback into the foothills. The sublime lake-view spa will soothe post-saddle aches. A lodge at the peak of its game, Blanket Bay is rightly celebrated, but it’s also surprisingly relaxed.
Don’t miss: a 4WD trip upthe Rees Valley with Dick Watson, an old bushman and gold-getter. LOTR fans will be thrilled to learn that he was also a Rider of Rohan in The Two Towers.
Doubles from £640

Manawa Ridge, Coromandel Peninsula

Using love, Zen and exotic timbers, Carla and Willem van de Veen have handcrafted a Gaudi-esque eyrie with 360-degree views over the Kaimai Ranges and Pacific bays. But the soothing artistry of the place soon has you looking inwards: to the music-filled courtyard, the cushion-filled watchtower and three suites with furnishings that are artworks by any other name. (A bathroom basin is fashioned from a giant tree burl.)
In the Asian-inspired garden, Carla is happy to help you paint, draw or sculpt using volcanic rock 1.3m years old; Willem will lead you across the insanely angled 250-acre farm to collect herbs for dinner. A steep 45-minute walk has you in Homunga Bay: edged by soaring gulleys and ancient pohutukawa trees, with a waterfall spilling onto yellow sand, it should have been photographed to sell products invoking perfection. But it hasn’t.
Don’t miss: a starlit bath in your private, pebble-skinned spa.Doubles from £285

Otahuna Lodge, Canterbury

In three short years, this has become a jewel in the crownof luxury lodges, and there’s not a piece of polished steelin sight. Otahuna is an 1895 manorial show stopper, revived by two thirtysomething New Yorkers who spent £4.5m on making “old school” fashionable again.
Whether you’re in one of the seven lavish suites, the elegant dining room or the 30-acre grounds, you’re left feeling distinctly regal. Ironically, period photos show that guests such as the Duke of York, later George VI, never had it this good. Dining is extra-special: the chef, Jimmy McIntyre, invites guests to pick their favourite veggies from the kitchen garden, then devises five-course dinners around the selection.
Don’t miss: the reflection of Otahuna in the lake.Doubles from £660

Max Anderson travelled as a guest of Bridge & Wickers. All prices are for two people sharing, in high season (usually November to March)

Important information: travel to the USA

2009-12-29T16:05:00.002Z

Passengers travelling to the United States should expect their airline to carry out additional security checks prior to boarding.

To support this important process and keep delays to a minimum, we would advise passengers to check the relevant airline website or call the airline for specific advice before travelling to the airport, arrive promptly at check-in, and limit the amount of baggage being taken on board the aircraft. If in any doubt, please contact the relevant airline for further information.

From BA's website:

The United States government has revised its security arrangements for all customers travelling into the US.

Only one item of hand luggage is allowed for all passengers travelling to the US from Heathrow, Gatwick or London City. This applies to passengers whose journey originates in London, as well as those who are transferring flights. They are advised to check-in as normal.

Passengers travelling to destinations outside the United States or from the United States are not affected.

Please check ba.com for further updates during the day.

What if I have wrapped presents in my hand luggage?
Passengers travelling to the United States will be required to unwrap any items if they have chosen not to check them in. This is not applicable to passengers travelling from the United States.

I was going to take more than one piece of hand baggage - can I check in the extra bags?
If you are travelling to the United States, yes, at no extra charge. The extra bags you check in must conform to your size and weight limits for hand baggage. For passengers travelling from the United States, standard hand baggage allowances apply.

Customers are advised to check the status of their flight before they leave for the airport.

Jeremy's recent trip to Malaysia & Cambodia

2009-12-24T13:11:00.008Z

My trip to Malaysia started with the lunchtime direct departure to Kuala Lumpur on Malaysian Airlines. I’d heard a lot about the airline's high levels of customer service and they did not disappoint with their generous economy seat pitch making the 12 hour flight feel very comfortable. We connected to a domestic Malaysian Airlines flight to the East coast hub of Kuala Terengganu.
Having previously spent time touring most of Peninsula Malaysia, I had a pretty good idea of what to expect from the East coast which is unspoilt and considered the “real” Malaysia. The influence of the various colonial powers that have passed through the country over the years has not quite made it to the East coast hence you have the feeling of a genuine Malaysian cultural experience.

Although I’d been to these parts before the focus of this trip was the islands off the coast which I had not previously seen and which had a reputation for some of the best diving and snorkelling in the world. Again I was not to be disappointed.

From Kuala Terengganu it was a short coach ride followed by a 1 hour boat ride before we arrived at the island paradise of Redang.

We checked in and immediately headed for the beach with a dip in the sea being a great way to relax after the long flight. Redang is a small island with a handful of resorts and our home for 2 nights was The Sari Pacifica, a new small luxury boutique property. Redang is surrounded by coral with a large array of colourful tropical fish, eels and rays and great access for snorkelers directly from the beach making it a very family friendly destination.

During our time here we had a day trip out to the much smaller Lang Tengah Island which really was like having your own private island paradise with not another boat in sight. I’ve spent time snorkelling at The Great Barrier Reef and in The Pacific and I’d have to say the quality of the coral and the ease of access make Malaysia as good as any destination for beginners or experienced divers alike.

Our third Island destination was Sibu Island which is further south and only actually a 2 hour road transfer from Singapore followed by a 45 minute sea transfer. Again we stayed at The Sari Pacifica and spent time relaxing by the pool and swimming in the beautiful warm tropical waters. The highlight of the time on Sibu Island has to be a boat trip out to a floating fishing village situated several miles away from the island.

These “villages” are communities on stilts which rise up out of the water. We stopped to buy dinner and I have to say the quality and freshness of the fish was superb as was the cuisine throughout the trip. Overall our time on the East coast was over all too quickly. As we embarked on our 5 hour coach journey to Kuala Lumpur I left with a feeling that this was definitely a part of the world I’d like to re-visit and the beauty of the East coast of Peninsula Malaysia was on a par with any other beach destination within South East Asia.

Following a brief overnight in Kuala Lumpur I said good bye to the group and headed off on the early morning flight to the island of Langkawi. Langkawi is on the much more developed West coast of the peninsula and is a large island with a network of roads and tourist infrastructure in place. This island is all about “flopping and dropping” with a vast selection of resorts on offer. My home for my brief stay was the beautiful Four Seasons Resort Langkawi which is situated on the north shore of the island.

My Upper Melaleuca room afforded astounding views of the ocean and bay opposite. The Four Seasons brand is a byword for quality and service and this particular resort is no exception. The attention to detail, style, general ambience and the quality of the fit and finish of the resort is second to none.

If you are looking for the perfect resort on the perfect island you will not go far wrong with The Four Seasons and Langkawi! It’s also a very family friendly and safe destination with a huge selection of activities available such as sailing, kayaking, snorkelling and trekking.

Next up was another very early morning flight but this time to a new country, Cambodia.

The Kingdom of Cambodia is just a short flight from most of the major hubs in South East Asia making adding a side trip to this region practical and affordable especially considering the range of discounted airfares now available. My destination was Siem Reap, access point for the famous Angkor Wat Temple complex. I’d wanted to visit this region for 10 years but somehow never got round to it so was pretty excited as the flight touched down. I was met upon arrival by our local partners Buffalo Tours who thankfully had an air conditioned car waiting! On the brief journey to the centre of town we discussed our touring arrangements and agreed to head out to the temple area after lunch.

This gave me time to check in and explore my hotel, The Victoria Angkor Resort and Spa. This beautiful 4 star property is built in the French Colonial style with Asian influences making it an unusual boutique choice. I had the Ming Suite with traditional Chinese touches such as antique wooden pillows on the bed and a fresh pot of green tea every time you return to the room. This property was a great base for Siem Reap, being centrally located with an enticing salt water pool perfect for relaxing in after a day of trekking around the temples.

The temples of Angkor Wat are everything you expect them to be and more. Mostly built around 1000 years ago there are several temple sights in different areas which vary in distance from Siem Reap. The closest are approx 20 minutes drive away with the furthest being around an hours drive. The most famous is Angkor Wat itself.

I had 2 days in which to explore this area and using a specialist Tour Operator is really the only way to get the most out of this type of trip. Local guides have the finest local knowledge and know which temple complex will be busy at any given time.

An example of this my visit to Banteay Srei, known as the pink temple due to the colour of the stone and the intricate nature of the carvings. This temple, although better known, is on a smaller scale to some of the others and is generally regarded as having sculptures of a higher standard. My guide organized things so we arrived here just after sunrise. As we approached the temple complex from the road I could tell there was the infrastructure here for large coach groups with facilities such as shops and toilets etc. At this time of the day I had the temple completely to myself and wondering around this intimate temple just after sunrise is one of the most memorable and moving experiences of my whole trip.

I think a side trip to Cambodia as part of a longer South East Asian trip is a great way to finish a holiday and one I would highly recommend. Feel free to contact me to discuss your own plans if you are considering your own trip to this very special part of the world.

Jeremy Webster

Happy Christmas!

2009-12-24T10:59:00.000Z

The team at Bridge & Wickers would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas & prosperous New Year. We look forward to speaking to you you in 2010.

Happy holidays!

Our opening hours are:

Christmas Eve - closing at 3pm
25/26/27/28th December - closed
29th/30th - regular opening hours 9am to 5.30pm
New Year's Eve - closing at 3pm
2nd January - open as normal 10am - 2pm

Qantas A380 poised for London-Melbourne services

2009-12-23T11:52:00.000Z

Qantas has taken delivery of its fifth A380 aircraft, with a sixth to arrive in a few days, allowing the carrier to start A380 services between Melbourne and London via Singapore on January 18.

The A380 will operate one to two flights per week on the route (QF9 on Mondays and Sundays and the return QF10 on Fridays and Saturdays), with regular twice-weekly flights to commence on March 29.

The fifth Qantas A380 is named Lawrence Hargrave, after the inventor of the box kite. The airline’s sixth A380 is named Charles Kingsford-Smith, after Australia’s most famous aviator who made the first trans-Pacific flight from the US to Australia in 1928.

Read the latest Bridge & Wickers newsletter

2009-12-21T12:13:00.000Z

Click here to read our latest newsletter - it's stuffed full of special offers and 'News from the Bridge'.

We'd also like to wish everyone a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year - happy travels!

Our new NZ brochure has arrived!

2009-12-17T14:26:00.004Z

Our latest New Zealand brochure arrived today, packed full of wonderful itineraries that we can tailor-make to suit your plans. Visit our website to order your copy today and be one of the first to receive it!

We're expecting the brand new Australia brochure to arrive by early January, so if you order this at the same time, we'll send you a copy as soon as it arrives.

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If you'd like to receive our email newsletter please drop us an email with your contact details.

A flying visit to Sydney, Wolgan Valley & Qualia, Hamilton Island

2009-12-16T17:33:00.008Z

Sales director Annette Morrissey was recently hosted by Emirates on a trip to Australia to experience business class on their latest Airbus A380 and visit their newest luxury property, Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa.

Here's her travel report:

Flying all the way to OZ in one go for a 5 day trip is a big ask for anyone but softening the blow with a guaranteed business class seat...and then topping that by telling me it was an Emirates A380 business class seat...well, I was in!

At Bridge & Wickers, a large number of our clients travel in business and first class, so it was great to finally be able to offer first hand knowledge of the Emirates A380, having flown the Qantas version back in March.

So after a very comfortable flight to Dubai and exclusive access to the First Class Lounge for a few hours (a special treat only because we had two Emirates staff with us - it's actually the same as the business class lounge but with the addition of a Timeless Spa in case you need a pedicure mid-journey!), we boarded our flight to Sydney for the long journey down under.

It was a wonderful flight - the flat bed in your own 'pod' means great comfort and privacy, and, when you combine that with some delicious food and excellent wine, you have a winning combination for a long sleep!

Arriving in to Sydney, we transferred to the Shangri-La, a fantastic 5 star property with picture postcard views of the harbour and a firm favourite with our clients. I had a Grand Harbour View room with club floor access, and it does exactly what it says on the tin - the grand harbour in all it's glory is right in front of you.

We were whisked off for lunch at the famous Icebergs overlooking Bondi Beach and got in the swing of things over a few glasses of local wine and some freshly caught local fish - delicious!

Later that afternoon, we met up with Shawn from Sea Sydney Cruises and boarded his boat for a sunset Harbour cruise - just the thing to blow away the cobwebs after a long flight. Again this is a real B&W favourite product and we get fantastic feedback from our clients - Shawn will give you the low down on local history mixed in with celebrity property sightings as you cruise around the bays...all combined with fabulous Aussie refreshments of course!

After a very brief stay in Sydney, we headed up towards the Blue Mountains, stopping first for breakfast in Bronte at a real locals favourite called Swell.

Gorgeous coffee and fresh smoothies with a view of the beach that would mean I'd never get to work if I was a local!

Our friends at Australian Wild Escapes who operate our small group tours did the transfers and we had a fascinating drive out of the city heading up the mountains - lots of stories of local history and folklore to keep us entertained for the 90 minute drive.

We stopped for lunch at Lilianfels and had a good look round, it's an Orient Express hotel and has just the right balance of genteel history mixed with Australian charm and modern elegance. It was an incredibly sunny day, so we made the most of it by sitting outside and yet again sampling the finest local produce.

Continuing the drive, we passed by the famous Three Sisters lookout for the obligatory photo opportunity - and then it was on to Wolgan Valley (approx 3 hours in total from Sydney) - Australia's latest luxury eco lodge and Emirates first in Australasia.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa opened in October 2009 and Bridge & Wickers was the first ever tour operator to make a booking at the resort, and I can only repeat what our first clients to stay there said - it is magnificent!

Costing a cool $A125 million, this 4000 acre resort features 40 free-standing suites nestled between two national parks. Suites offer private decks and pools and are very luxurious.

Activities in the area include Aboriginal interpretive tours, nature walks, AWD wildlife safaris, mountain biking and horse riding and of course the Timeless Spa, Emirates' signature spa brand.

We did a wildlife spotting drive in their brand new 'safari style' vehicle - kangaroos and wallabies in abundance but we failed to spot any of my favourites..the very cute wombat - obviously they had better things to do than please a bunch of tourists that day! That was rounded off by sundowners on a platform overlooking the valley - it was just magical with the sunlight fading and casting shadows on the escaprment as the colours changed by the minute.

Dinner that night was a 9 course gastronomic extravaganza matched with the finest wines - there's a choice of about 20 regional wines that are included with the full tariff along with all soft drinks and local beers.

Day 2 for some meant walks and horse riding, for me it meant relaxing in my suite, a little dip in my pool and a fabulous facial after lunch - well, I'd had a heavy workload up to this point, so I needed to chill out (well that's what I told Jerry and David anyway!). The spa experience, as you can probably imagine, was out of this world.

I'm already planning my next visit..............

Leaving Wolgan was only tempered by the choice of transportation - we took a very smart helicopter back to Sydney airport, swooping across the Blue Mountains Heritage Area and down to the city where we continued with the most fantastic scenic journey over the harbour bridge, past the Opera House and along the coastline to the heliport - at 45 minutes, it was both a fabulous quick transfer and a stunning sightseeing tour - definitely worth the money and highly recommended to combine with a transfer by car via the Blue Mountains on the way up.

Final stop on this whirlwind trip was Hamilton Island and more specifically their newest luxury resort qualia. (not a typo, they always use a lower case q!)

I love Hamilton Island - it's a destination that offers such a great choice of accommodation from luxury self-catering villas to 5 star hotels and a huge range of activities, it's suitable for families, couples, groups of friends and is a top seller year round for Bridge & Wickers' clients.

qualia is away from the main resort and marina and is an exclusive part of the island. It's just a beautiful setting looking out across the Whitsunday Passage and the Coral Sea. The accommodation is to die for - I was lucky enough to have a Windward Pavillion and that means you get your own private plunge pool. You also get your own golf buggy to explore the resort and the rest of the island.

As well as seeing the resort (and the Spa qualia of course!), I'd highly recommend a trip over to Dent Island to the new Hamilton Island Golf Club - even if you don't play, it's a spectacular spot for lunch. But for those of you who do play golf, it's spectacular...and the only championship island golf course in Australia.

A must do activity when you're on Hamilton Island is a trip to Whitehaven Beach - I'd been by boat before but this time was even more special - a seaplane flight with an aerial view of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and fringing reefs before spending a couple of hours lounging on the best beach in thw world - the white sand really is like talcum powder and the water is just beautiful!

Our final night took us to the sparkling new Hamilton Island Yacht Club - a stunning piece of architecture that is definitely worth checking out - you get a great view from the water too when you go over to the golf club.

We had dinner at the signature Bommie restaurant, a true example of the finest modern Australian cuisine -

I can highly recommend the steak (possibly my best ever!), and they stock some of the best wines that Australia has to offer.

It was a perfect end to a spectacular trip and I'd like to say a big thank you to Emirates, Tourism Australia, Wolgan Valley and qualia for their impeccable hosting....we must do it again sometime!!

This trip shows how you can easily pack in a range of different experiences in to a relatively short time in Australia (not that I'm suggesting anyone goes for 5 days!!). If you've got 2 weeks and think that OZ is just too far, I'd say think again - a city, outback/wilderness and island/beach combination is definitely realistic in that time frame...just do what I did but stretch it out a bit!

Annette

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New Zealand!

2009-12-11T12:59:00.001Z

Prior to our brand new New Zealand brochure arriving, be sure to take a look at a recent New Zealand supplement we produced here

It's packed full of suggested self-drive itineraries, beautiful hotel and lodge accommodation throughout the country plus some special itineraries based around leisure pursuits such as trout fishing and golf and lots more besides.

We also have a new addition to our website linked in with our current 'Our New Zealand' campaign fronted by Jerry & David - let us know what you think!

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest news as well as signing up to our blog news feed.
If you'd like to receive our email newsletter please drop us an email with your contact details.

How to get a flight upgrade?

2009-12-10T17:07:00.001Z

How do you get a flight upgrade? A cabin crew insider reveals all to the Sunday Times Travel Magazine here

Don't forget to follow us on Twitter for the latest from the team at Bridge & Wickers

Follow us on Twitter!

2009-11-20T17:45:00.001Z

Follow regular postings by the B&W team plus product & destination news

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Luxury Travel Fair

2009-10-16T16:47:00.009+01:00

If you would like to meet one of us in person to talk about any of our destinations we would be delighted to send you a VIP ticket for two for the Conde Nast Luxury Travel Fair, taking place from November 5th to the 8th at the National Hall in London's Olympia.

Bridge & Wickers will be on stand number D64.

Tickets are subject to availability, so let us know asap.

Star Clipper Special Offer - December 2009 - plus £350 off your flights!

2009-10-16T14:15:00.001+01:00

Campervantastic around glorious New Zealand - Daily Mail article by Charlotte Gill

2009-09-17T10:57:00.001+01:00

The first rule of campervanning around New Zealand? Wave every time you pass a fellow camper.

The penny only dropped a few days into our road trip around the South Island, but for the rest of our ten-day trip, we went waving mad.

My husband, Will, and I were anxious to do things right. We'd made a good start with our choice of van: the new Kea was posher than most, with a stylish interior, lots of space (we opted for a four-berth, even though there was only two of us) and tinted windows - so your neighbours couldn't see you getting changed in the morning. There was even a TV and DVD player.

We'd set ourselves a jam-packed itinerary. After travelling halfway around the world, we wanted to make the most of our time. Our starting point, Christchurch, one of the island's most historic towns, dating from when it was settled by the British in the 1800s, has a really bohemian feel - a great gallery and arts centre, and stylish cafes galore.

The next day, we picked up our campervan - very easy to drive, with a rear-view camera to avert reversing disasters - and were off to Kaikoura, a town of about 3,000 people two hours' drive north. En route, we called in at one of the legion of respected wineries to pick up a few bottles of top-notch plonk.

In Kaikoura, we met Maurice Manawatu, a Maori from the Ngai Tahu tribe, whose ancestors settled in New Zealand 800 years ago. Maori culture is everywhere in New Zealand, and his fascinating tour taught us about their customs, beliefs, history and their love of music.

The following day started early with a hearty breakfast and then it was on with the wetsuits to brave the chilly ocean. We were about to go swimming with dolphins at Dolphin Encounter, a company which operates open-water day trips.

The dusky dolphins that live off the coast here are completely wild, and there's no guarantee they will want to play with a bunch of clumsy humans. But we were in luck - as we slid off the back of the boat, we were surrounded by 40 playful 'duskies'. They swam round us in circles as we blabbered away - as per instructions - to entertain them.

Later that day, we hopped on quad bikes for a breathtaking whizz around Glenstrae Farm, a coastal sheep farm with stunning sea views.

Before leaving Kaikoura - which is Maori for 'eat crayfish' - we set out to meet its other famous local, the sperm whale, on an early morning boat trip with locally based Whale Watch and got lucky again with sightings of three different whales.

After spending the night in Hokitika (pronounced 'hockey ticker'), a small town on the west coast famous for its jade, we headed south to the town of Franz Josef and mountain country, though sadly we couldn't see them through the clouds.

Our hopes for a heli-hiking trip on the glacier were dashed by the rain. And, boy, did it rain. So we comforted ourselves with a visit to an indoor 'glacier experience' centre called Hukawai - 'frozen water' in Maori - and tried our hand at ice-climbing, which was rather daunting, but fun.

As we drove further south to the pretty town of Wanaka, on the shores of a lake of the same name, we passed waterfall after waterfall crashing down the sides of rocky mountains.

From there, it was on to Queenstown, where we decided against a bungie jump and opted for a jet river boat - scary enough for me.

From the water we had ample opportunity to admire the mountain vistas - the backdrop to the Lord Of The Rings film trilogy, as the locals never tired of telling us.

This is New Zealand's fjordland - there are inlets all down the coast - and from Queenstown we took an excellent guided bus and boat day-tour with Real Journeys to Doubtful Sound. Milford Sound is more famous, but lots of people we consulted prefer Doubtful and we weren't disappointed.

The highlights were spotting bottlenose dolphins leaping in the air and watching a colony of New Zealand fur seals basking on the rocks during an unusually sunny interlude. We also sailed past Secretary Island, one of the few places in New Zealand where all the plants and wildlife are native. When Europeans arrived, they introduced a range of plants and animals, including stoats, rats and rabbits, which have virtually wiped out the indigenous birds, including the famous kiwi.

Then it was back eastwards again via the quaint, former gold-mining town of Arrowtown and through a snow blizzard to Lake Tekapo - famous for its piercing blue waters - and a final stop in pretty Akaroa, a former French settlement on a peninsula 50 miles south of Christchurch. We covered 1,000 miles - and what felt like at least three dazzling countries: one day Scotland, next the Alps, then through a rainforest to emerge in the Lake District.

Travel Facts

Bridge & Wickers (020 7483 6555, www.bridgeandwickers.co.uk) offers ten-day hire of a two-berth vehicle from £460 per person travelling in March

Annette's trip to Singapore and Thailand - part two

2009-09-10T16:00:00.002+01:00

Flying in to Chiang Mai on a Friday night, I was full of anticipation for the second part of our Thailand experience - completely different to the beaches of Phuket and Krabi, this was culture and temple central!

First stop was the Chedi - it looks weird from the outside but inside is fabulous. Here a club floor room is an excellent choice. You are ushered in to the lounge to complete your registration over your favourite cocktail and then shown to your super-swish room. We didn't hang around long before heading out to the night markets, just across the road and down a bit - forget shopping, we were there to eat! One whole fish, some seafood and a few beers were no problem for the language barrier, we just pointed at pictures, picked out the prettiest sea bass on the slab and had a fabulous supper.

Next stop was the sublime Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi - this was the highlight of the whole trip as far as I'm concerned. If you've ever stayed at a Mandarin Oriental property before, you'll know what I mean when I say that the service is beyond fantastic. If you haven't experienced it, then go, go, go! The resort is stunning and a recreation of many temples from around Thailand, faithfully recreated in the most wonderful setting. Loads to do here - a wonderful spa, go back to town visit the temples and get to grips with the history of the walled city, visit the Walking Market on a sunday night for the bargains...or just stay at the resort and soak up the atmosphere of calm and serenity. The resort was pretty quiet when we were there so it almost felt like we had the pool to ourselves - floating in the pool, you can listen to the soothing music they pipe through the water....no, really it's true! The food is fantastic, the staff can't do enough for you, and it's going to a nightmare not to compare every hotel I stay in forever more to the benchmark set by this place. Talk about ending on a high!

I flew down to Bangkok and bade farewell to the Mother - she was off back to Auckland via Singapore while I had a final night at the Sukhothai - yet another stunning executive room with a view. A bit of sunshine and a final pad thai lunch signalled the end of my holiday and I headed back home - the final bit of pleasure was the Qantas business class seat, albeit a 747 and not as snazzy as my A380 flat bed on the way out, but who's complaining?

Thailand was a revelation, and I'd go back and do the whole thing again tomorrow.....sorry Australia, I never thought I'd say this, but I've got a new favourite country!!

Latest Bridge & Wickers newsletter

2009-09-10T15:05:00.006+01:00

We've just sent the latest 'Views from the Bridge' email newsletter and it's full of special offers to Thailand.

If you haven't seen a copy, please click here

To make sure you don't miss future mailings, please visit our website to sign up, you can also order copies of our latest brochures online too.

We're winners!

2009-09-03T09:26:00.005+01:00

Last night Bridge & Wickers was voted 7th best tour operator in the annual, highly prestigious, Conde Nast Traveller Readers' awards - that's one step higher than last year and puts us way ahead of most of our rivals....we're delighted and would like to thank everyone who voted for us.

New look website!

2009-08-11T16:11:00.010+01:00

Today we've launched our new look website - take a look and let us know what you think.
Also out today is our latest email newsletter, click here to read it if you haven't already received your copy.
Please sign up so you don't miss out on the latest news and offers - delivered straight to your inbox.

We can also send you a wide range of our brochures, dependng on where you are travelling - luxury holidays to Asia, touring holidays to New Zealand, honeymoons to the South Pacific, family holidays to Australia - the range is endless as we tailor-make a trip just for you.

Click here to request your free brochures or just mail us for a quotation - we look forward to hearing from you!

Air New Zealand Premium Economy News

2009-07-20T11:51:00.015+01:00

Premium Economy is now even more premium......

Air New Zealand have increased the baggage allowance in Premium Economy so now it's the same as Business Premier .
If you haven't flown in Premium Economy with Air New Zealand before, here are a few things you're missing out on: 50% more seat recline than Economy, exclusive check-in and the same stunning Kiwi style food and wines you get in Business Premier.

Discover more here including flying style tips from Gok Wan!

Read our latest newsletter

2009-07-15T12:18:00.003+01:00

Click here to read our latest newsletter.

If you'd like to sign up to receive these direct to your inbox, please click here

Share your top recommendations and win some NZ wine!

2009-07-15T11:58:00.008+01:00

We would really like to hear what you thought was New Zealand’s best kept secret?

This could be anything from your favourite accommodation, restaurant or tour to the most wonderful sights and amazing experiences - we have our own favourites but it will be great to hear yours too.
We'll publish the best replies on our website and, if yours is a winner, we’ll send you a couple of bottles of fine New Zealand wine as a thank you!
Please leave a comment below or send us an email
We look forward to hearing from you!

Financial And Holiday Protection

2009-07-14T14:51:00.006+01:00

Bridge & Wickers are proud to be member of AiTO as well as ABTA (W7956) and we offer ATOL protection through the CAA scheme (W6611).

Here is an article that explains the very confusing issues surrounding bonding and protection of your holiday, feel free to contact us if you have any queries.

Financial And Holiday Protection

Author: Kieron Sellens

For peace of mind and financial protection on your holidays, many people look to bigger brand names, mistakenly thinking them to be better because of their brand alone. We examine travel protection from the main brands in greater depth.

Financial and Holiday Protection

"ATOL protected". You hear it at the end of radio ads; you see it in the copy on flyers and in newspapers. It's a brand name, and it could be argued that it is the best around because it has such successful and almost infectious marketing. However, there are other companies providing travel protection. We take a look at the various travel protection brands and to see which is the best for you...

What does ATOL and ABTA protected mean?
ATOL and ABTA (Air Travel Organisers' Licensing and the Association of British Travel Agents) are possibly the most well known names in financial travel protection. But what exactly does each offer?

ATOL is based upon a license granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), an organisation founded by the government to regulate airlines and tour operators who sell package holidays which include a flight. You are NOT covered by ATOL if your airline fails and you had booked directly with the airline. Protection IS offered if you booked your flight through an agent or tour operator, but you are advised to confirm this at the time of booking. Furthermore if you booked a holiday through a tour operator that does not involve flights (e.g. you chose to travel by ferry, rail or coach etc...) this will NOT be protected by ATOL.

ABTA tour operators provide financial protection for the majority of situations. However they do not have to provide protection when only a single element is booked, e.g. 'accommodation only'. In this case it is left at the individual operator's discretion. Because of this, ABTA affiliation does not mean 'complete protection'. ABTA travel agents offer financial protection against their own failure but do not guarantee protection against all the land arrangements that they sell.

What is AiTO travel protection?
The Association of Independent Tour Operators, or AiTO, is an organisation of specialist independent operators which also offer holiday protection. AiTO has its own financial protection scheme for travel customers, and ensures that any holiday booked through an AiTO tour operator is 100% protected.

AiTO travel protection ensures that should one of its tour operators go out of business for any reason at all, its customers are covered. One of two things will happen; depending on the dates involved, customers will either get a full refund, or they will still be able to go on their holiday.

Some holidays that are ABTA or ATOL protected can be on cheap flights and last minute deals. Is AiTO the same?

Many holidays booked online with no-frills airlines may not be ATOL or ABTA protected. As AiTO is made up of bonded tour operators, customers are covered as soon as they book with AiTO members. Many AiTO members can book no frills carriers meaning the flight is covered as well. In this situation customers won't be stranded either at home or abroad if the airline goes under; as long as they have booked their holiday through an AiTO operator, they will be covered.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/financial-and-holiday-protection-828213.html

About the Author:
Kieron Sellens is the marketing manager of the Association of Independent Tour Operators (AiTO). AiTO financial protection offers secure and lasting cover and comes out on top when compared to its counterparts that are ABTA or ATOL protected as you can see on their website.

World’s longest golf course tees off in October

2009-07-14T13:50:00.007+01:00

The world’s longest golf course has been officially launched between Western Australia and South Australia.

The 18-hole, par 72 course Nullarbor Links Golf Course stretches 1,365 kms from Kalgoorlie in Western Australia to Ceduna in South Australia with one hole in each participating town or roadhouse along the way.

The Nullarbor Links Golf Course allows golfers to tee off in either location and follow the course along the Eyre Highway, playing a hole in each location, some as far as 100 kms apart.

En route, golfers visit towns and places of interest like Ceduna, renowned for producing 12 million oysters annually; Cocklebiddy with its vast underwater caves and Kalgoorlie, the gold capital of Australia.

The official course opening will be marked by a four-day event starting in Ceduna on October 22, and finishing in Kalgoorlie five days later.

Bridge & Wickers can tailor-make you a tour of Western & South Australia to take part in this most unusual round of golf, please contact us for further details.
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Ashes Madness!!

2009-07-14T13:34:00.004+01:00

According to Travelmole yesterday, the cost of flights to Australia are to be based on innings scores during the second England verses Australia Ashes test.

For the second Test at Lord's on July 16-20, the price of British Airways and Qantas economy flights will be determined by Australia's first innings, with availability of seats determined by England's reply.

For example, if Australia are bowled out for 230 and England make 395, there will be 395 seats available from each airline at £230 - a reduction on a typical fare of £730.

Each airline’s website will display qualifying travel periods from July 21.

In the previous Ashes in 2005, BA offered 367 seats at £373 when Australia scored 367 runs for 373 against England in the final test. Flights were sold out within 30 minutes.

Stephen Thompson, executive manager international sales at Qantas, said: “There's always a traditional friendly rivalry between the Brits and Aussies during the Ashes, and this promotion will ensure the second npower test is even more of an exciting showdown.”

So you'll have to be quick to bag a bargain...and be sure to contact us when you're booked and we can help you sort out the rest of your holiday Down Under!

The Best Job in the World!

2009-07-14T12:46:00.008+01:00

If anyone missed the documentary, you can try and catch it again on the BBC iplayer (www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer).

And if it's whet your appetite to go and see this fabulous part of the world, take a look here at the various island resorts you can choose from.

If you'd like us to put together a suggested itinerary for you, please email us with your details or call us on 020 7483 6555

Now's the time to go to Australia...!

2009-07-14T12:31:00.004+01:00

Interesting quote from Sir Richard Branson in a recent Telegraph travel section who reckoned that “British travellers are currently paying the same as they were when we launched the airline 25 years ago, If you have been wanting to take that trip to Australia, now is the time to so it. There are some unbelievable bargains out there.”

We couldn't agree more...but what he didn’t say was that the bargains are partly down to the fact that there are now around 250 direct flights a week from the UK to Australia, only a handful of which are Virgin.

TEN THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER

2009-06-15T10:11:00.001+01:00

Vancouver, along with the Rocky Mountains’ resort of Whistler, is the official host for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Rated as one of the best places in the world to live, it also offers visitors a broad spectrum of attractions.

After a recent visit, Director David Wickers gives his top ten recommendations:

1. Eat seafood, including local specialities wild Sockeye salmon and Arctic char. I’d recommend top chef Frank Pabst's Blue Water Café and Raw Bar on Hamilton in Yaletown, the city’s warehouse district. It’s one of several old buildings transformed into a ‘bricks and beams’ bars and restaurants. Be sure to book: 604 688 8078

2. Rent a bike and explore Stanley Park, Vancouver's giant green heart. The 1000 acre wilderness features giant Douglas firs, cedars, hemlock, spruce and other confers. Follow the 6.5 mile sea wall trail that encircles the park, passing beneath the soaring Lion’s Gate suspension bridge across the Burrard Inlet and the park’s famous collection of totem poles.

3. Become a ‘Grouse Grinder,’ someone who climbs to the 1250m summit of Grouse Mountain. If you don’t fancy the steep 1.8 mile trek, you can go up the easy way, by gondola.

4. Buy crafts, including First Nations’ works, on Granville Island. The bonsai 37 acre neighbourhood is reached by bath-tub size ferries that shuttle back and forth across False Creek from the end of Hornby Street on the 'mainland.' Granville is a mix of terrific food market, cafes, galleries, restaurants, a kids’ market, theatres, bike and kayak rentals, a children's market and chandleries.

5. Go to Gastown. According to local lore, the cobbled streets are “for the good, the bad and the ugly” but with its Victorian houses now being bought by the city’s high flyers, it's getting gooder by the week. There’s a particular buzz in Salt, found on the still shabby Blood Alley (which got its name from the butchers who used to trade there). The menu couldn’t be simpler – wine, cheese and cold cuts – but you do need to book (604 633 1912).

6. Escape for the weekend to the Sunshine Coast, just a 20 minute hop by floatplane. For a taste of Canada at its natural best, get the pilot to drop you off at the jetty belonging to the West Coast Wilderness Lodge where you can hike, fish, ride the rapids, seakayak, heli-hike, mountain bike or just soak up the magnificent panorama of mountains and water from the resort’s hot tub.

7. Hit the beach at Kitsilano, or ‘Kits’ for those in the know, the old hippy now trendy neighbourhood. The water’s safe for swimming although there’s also a heated saltwater Lido pool.

8. Visit the Capilano Hatchery where you can watch salmon climb ‘ladders’ as they make their way upstream to spawn (best seen late summer). Some three million fish a year are nurtured here before being released into the river as ‘fingerlings.’

9. Browse the stalls in Chinatown’s Night Market on summer weekend evenings, with sights and smells more Canton than Canada. Vancouver has the third biggest Chinatown in the west (after New York and San Francisco).

10. Stay at the Shangri-la, the newest hotel in town and one of the first ventures beyond Asia for the Chinese owned chain of luxury hotels. It has just over 100 rooms, an outstanding Michelin chef Jean Georges Vongerichten restaurant and a Chi spa. Three nights with Bridge & Wickers (020 7483 6555) starts at £342pp, excluding flights. British Airways which operates two flights a day to Vancouver.

Amazing Fares with Singapore Airlines!!!!

2009-06-15T09:52:00.012+01:00

Book dates: to 30th June 09

Travel dates: 1st Sept to 9th Dec 09 and 16th Jan to 31st Mar 10

All prices below are return from LHR including taxes and must be booked in conjunction with accommodation/touring.

Sydney from £429.00pp (Business Class companion fare also available from £2039pp)
Perth from £439.00pp
Auckland from £399.00pp
Singapore from £349.00pp

CALL US URGENTLY TO GET YOUR HOLIDAY QUOTATION
020 7483 6555

Email: sales@bridgeandwickers.com

Opening in October - Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa

2009-06-09T16:31:00.005+01:00

We've already got some clients booked in to the fabulous Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa and it's not even opened yet!

This Emirates hotel construction is now over 85% complete and they have commenced on the landscaping programme which will include the planting of over 25,000 native trees and plants around the resort site and individual suites and they are well on their way to welcoming the first guests on the 1st October.

Not only are they completing construction but they are working with the local community of terrific artists, potteries, craftsmen, furniture makers, blacksmiths and glass artists.

Take a look at what's in store...it's going to be very special indeed!

Please contact us if you'd like more information or to include a stay here on your trip to New South Wales

Matt's trip to the Cook Islands

2009-06-09T16:09:00.008+01:00

Matt Lucas, one of our Senior Sales Consultants, recently returned from a visit to the Cook islands, organised by the tourist board and Air New Zealand.

Here are a few of his notes on this tropical South Seas’ paradise which, without hesitation, Matt declared to be “one the most beautiful places in the world.”

“Among the individual properties that really stood out were Crown Beach Resort on the main island of Rarotonga, where I stayed in one of the extremely comfortable Beachfront Spa Villas, the new Te Manava Luxury Villas and Spa, which is now considered the premier accommodation option on the island, and Little Polynesian, a lovely boutique resort with only 14 bungalows, most of which are spread along a beautiful stretch of beach in a protected marine park (with superb snorkelling just yards from the beach).

From Raratonga I took a short hop over to neighbouring Aitutaki, the view of Aitutaki Lagoon from the plane being a particularly spectacular. I spent several hours on and in the water, courtesy of Bishops Cruises, as well as stepping on land on Tiger and Shark Islands made famous by the reality TV show ‘Shipwrecked.’
I stayed at the award-winning Pacific Resort where the setting, the accommodation and service levels were arguably the best in the Cooks.

On my last night back on Rarotonga I tried a new island experience called Progessive Dining which involves having a 3 course meal in 3 different local’s houses, at the same time finding out a bit more about their way of life, which in my case included an impromptu sing-song with one host, the un-rarotongan sounding Dan Kelly. This was a great way to end a really enjoyable trip and I will certainly be recommending this part of the world to our clients and hope to one-day go back to once more experience the beautiful scenery and warmth of the locals.”

Voyages for Free

2009-06-09T16:00:00.007+01:00

There's never been a better time to book your stay at a Voyages Resort as there are great deals to be had in some of Australia's most iconic destinations.

-Free night at Ayers Rock Resort. Stay 3 Pay 2. Travel until 30 November 09

-Free launch transfers to Heron & Brampton Islands. Travel until 30 November 09

-Free flights to Dunk Island. Travel 01 August - 30 November 09

-Free night at Silky Oaks Lodge when booking 3 nights on Lizard Island. Travel until 31 March 10 (excluding August & October 09)

-Free night on Lizard or Bedarra Islands. Stay 5 pay 4. Travel until 30 September 09

-Free night on Wilson Island. Stay 4 pay 3. Travel until 30 September 09

-Free nights on Dunk, Heron & Brampton Islands. Stay 6 pay 4. Travel until 30 September 09

-Free meals for stays of 4 nights or more on Heron, Dunk & Brampton Islands for travel 01 May to 30 September 09

Did you know?

2009-06-09T15:55:00.003+01:00

The world's largest cattle station is Anna Creek Station. Located in the Northern Territory, it is 24,000 square kilometres (about 6 million acres). To give you an idea, it is about the same size as Belgium and eight times the size of America's largest ranch.

Emirates gives you more luggage allowance and free hotels!

2009-05-12T21:32:00.011+01:00

Emirates has today unveiled a 10kgs increase in its free checked baggage allowance, giving it one of the most generous baggage policies of any airline today.
Economy Class passengers now have a baggage allowance of 30kgs – up from 20kgs, the Business Class allowance has increased from 30kgs to 40kgs, and First Class from 40kgs to 50kgs.
These new, generous allowances have been implemented across the airline's extensive global network of over 100 destinations.

And as if that isn't enough, Emirates are also offering first and business class travellers complimentary luxury accommodation in Dubai for travel between 14 April – 30 September 2009 - and it's not just one night!
First class passengers receive three (3) consecutive complimentary nights and Business Class passengers receive two (2) consecutive complimentary nights at one of the following hotels..
Jumeirah Emirates Towers , Park Hyatt Dubai and Atlantis, The Palm.

Contact one of our consultants now to check availability and for your personal tailor made quote flying with Emirates.

ABTA makes us pick of the month's new brochures.. click the image to enlarge and read all about it!

2009-05-11T15:57:00.006+01:00

Annette's trip to Singapore and Thailand - part one

2009-05-08T12:37:00.015+01:00

Things got off to a flying start when I took my seat in business class on the brand new Qantas A380 - a fully flat bed on the upper deck, smooth flight, fab food and drinks and arrived in to Singapore relaxed and ready to go....thoughts of the office were already 6000 miles away!

Whisked off by private car to the Fullerton Hotel, and approx 30 minutes after checking in was lying beside their infinity pool taking in the sights and sounds of downtown Singapore. The hotel is fantastic and highly recommended. For a start it's not the typical high rise structure in Singapore - it was the original General Post Office, so the classic architecture is outstanding, yet inside it has a wonderful modern feel and all the trappings you'd expect of a 5 star property.

It was my 3rd visit but it was 9 years since I'd been to Singapore, yet I really felt like I was visiting a new destination - the whole city seemed more vibrant somehow and no longer the boring, safe alternative to Bangkok in my humble opinion. I was holidaying with my Mum who lives in New Zealand and had never been to Asia before, so it was great to get her opinion too with a pair of fresh eyes....I, of course, am completely biased towards all the fabulous product that we recommend to our clients and already know it's the best in the business!

In an action-packed couple of days, we went on the Singapore Flyer (their version of the London Eye and an excellent way to acquaint yourself with the city), wandered through Chinatown and Little India, dined at Clarke Quay, drank at Raffles Bar and shopped (a little extravagantly it has to be said!) in Orchard Road.

We were then ready to experience something completely different, and boarded the Star Clipper on a 7 night sailing to Phuket. This is no cruise experience - for a start there's no casino, nightclub and thousands of fellow passengers - this is a tall ship with up to just 170 passengers and is a relaxed, intimate experience sailing leisurely from Singapore to Phuket. I've never been on anything like this before so was a bit apprehensive as to what to expect, but it was thoroughly enjoyable experience...and lovely to unpack the suitcase for a week and not to have to see an airport for a while!

Along the way, we stopped a couple of times in Malaysia plus a few Thai islands who's names escape me - all offering fabulous scenery and a range of optional tours along the way. The weather was perfect and by this stage the tan was coming along nicely! I even managed to catch up with some Bridge & Wickers clients on board, and got to buy them a cocktail and hear tales of their wonderful trip to Thailand, they'd just come from Koh Lanta & Chiang Mai where we were heading next after Phuket...!

2009-05-06T12:00:00.003+01:00

It's been one of the cleverest PR stunts of all time, but the quest to find a suitable candidate for the 'best job in the world' is now over. A Pom, 34 year old Ben Southall, beat more than 30,000 applicants for the AS$ 150,000 assignment to spend six months enjoying Hamilton Island in Queensland in return for writing a weekly blog of his experiences.

Bridge & Wickers can't offer any jobs on the islands, famed for their azure waters, brilliant beaches and easy access to the underwater treasures of the Great Barrier Reef, but we can arrange a 'best holiday in the world.' A four night stay at the 5 star Beach Club, including a full day cruise to the Reef, costs from £654pp.

Ben's job begins on July 1 but we'll take you to Hamilton whenever you want to see what all the fuss is about.

Air New Zealand doubles Premium Economy

2009-05-01T10:35:00.006+01:00

AIR NEW ZEALAND, one of the first airlines to offer a premium economy cabin, is to is to double the number of seats on offer for its entire eight-strong Boeing 777 fleet. With the first aircraft already in service work on all the 777s will be completed by mid-June. At the sametime the airline has added more legroom, with seat pitch increased to 41in (104cm) from 38in (97cm). Also added is a self-service bar area for customers travelling in premium cabins. Passengers in Pacific Premium Economy are offered business class food, beverages and amenities. The upgrade is the third in two years, with ANZ twice increasing the number of premium economy seats available on its747-400s, now up to 39. Contact us now about a quote to include the comfort of flying premium economy to New Zealand..

AITO elects new council members

2009-04-24T13:21:00.007+01:00

Six new members have been elected to the ruling body of the Association of Independent Tour Operators, including our very own David Wickers.

Bridge & Wickers are proud to be members of AITO, here's a summary of what it is and why we think it's so important to be a member:

AITO, the Association of Independent Tour Operators, is an organisation representing over 140 of Britain's best specialist tour operators.

AITO members are independent companies, most of them owner-managed, specialising in particular destinations or types of holiday; this means that they are uniquely placed to provide personalised advice based on first hand experience. Every AITO member is passionate about its chosen destinations or activities and keen to share that enthusiasm with discerning holidaymakers.

The common aim of all AITO membersis to provide the highest level of customer satisfaction by concentrating on three main pillars: Choice, Quality and Service, enshrined in the association's Quality Charter. It is a source of pride to the Association that AITO companies dominate the consumer-voted travel awards every year in various categories.

Companies admitted to AITO are financially assessed and provide 100% consumer financial protection in the unlikely event of the business failing. They are also bound by AITO's own code of business practice which includes provisions for the clear and accurate descriptions of holidays and the use of customer questionnaires for monitoring standards. AITO members are also encouraged to participate in raising awareness among staff, customers and suppliers of the importance of responsible tourism.