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Bridge & Wickers

We're recruiting!

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

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

The Great Jet Set Divide

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!

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

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