The Big Short Break

The End Of The Line?

2009-06-26T02:30:00.000-07:00

A new film produced by a friend of ours at OT warns of the severe - and possibly irreversible - depletion of wild fish stocks in the world's oceans. Dubbed "the 'Inconvenient Truth' of the sea" The End of the Line is pretty harrowing in parts, but there's an upbeat finale and a simple message of how we can all do our bit to avert one of the most serious ecological disasters of this, or any, age. If you want to see the movie, there are still screenings around the UK over the coming months, and we strongly recommend seeing it.

Italianissimo

2009-06-16T06:27:00.000-07:00

Lovers of all things Latin will enjoy a wine and cookery school in Tuscany this September (26th September -2nd October) with Selina Maldini. Her parents have run the successful Gran Paradiso restaurant in Victoria for over 30 years. We are taking over a beautiful villa in the hills in between Arezzo and Siena near the hilltop village of Monte San Savino. The mornings and early afternoons are free for you to relax or explore the region with both Siena and Arezzo just a short drive away.

At 4pm each day wine guru Matt Day will guide you through a new Italian region using six carefully chosen wines. Then at 6pm you will move to the kitchen where Selina will teach you how to cook a simple three course menu with some dishes from the wine region of the day. You will, of course, cover the classics including pasta making, gnocchi, risotto and much more. Then all the prot-chefs eat together with three of the regional wines which will usually include a white, red and dessert wine. The all inclusive* price for this fantastic week is £900 – a bargain when you consider most schools in Tuscany charge three times that! Email tom@originaltravel.co.uk for more details.

Latin Lucy in Central America

2009-06-15T04:52:00.000-07:00

The journey from south to north took us through three fascinating countries in Central America - from cosmopolitan Panama City, through swathes of jungle and chilled out Pacific and Caribbean beaches to the colonial towns and villages of Nicaragua – all unique in their own way.

Costa Rica is the most well-known to tourism, due to its long political and economic stability. We had dinner beside the Pacuare River after whitewater rafting to a Jungle Lodge where the new Linda Vista suite had recently been home to heart-throb Matthew McConaughey! This wasn’t the only connection to celebs – Canal House in Panama City’s historic quarter had been Daniel Craig’s chic hang out while playing Bond.

Other highlights? The engineering feat of the Panama Canal was awe inspiring and Nicaragua is simply magical – a land of volcanoes and ripe for exploration of its lakes, jungles and local markets. Bocas del Toro and the remote beaches of Bastimentos National Park stole my heart. We watched turtle conservation in action, snorkelled coral reefs and kayaked around the Zapatillas Cays. I want to go back already!

Air Shot

2009-06-11T01:51:00.000-07:00

Want to drive a golf ball further than Tiger Woods? In fact 470 yards, to be precise. Well, now there's no need to book in for endless lessons, or buy a new driver with a club head the size of a Fiat 500 - no, simply play the Extreme 19th Hole at Legends Golf & Safari Lodge in South Africa, which involves a vertical drop of 430 metres to the green. The average shot takes 30 seconds to reach the green, but as yet no-one - not even a pro - has got a hole in one, despite a $1 million dollar prize on offer. Playing the 19th comes in at about £550 per four ball, including helicopter transfer (to the delight of the caddies), souvenir cap and glove and video of your longest ever drive.

Singing in the Rain

2009-05-26T04:31:00.000-07:00

The Met Office has assured the nation that this might actually be a good summer - thereby in the process guaranteeing it'll be wetter than since records began. If that's the case, the inhabitants of the following - the 10 Wettest Places in Britain - might want to give us a ring

1. Dalness, Glen Etive, Highland
Britain's wettest destination, this Scottish town receives an average annual rainfall of 130.16 inches, or 3.3m.

2. Seathwaite, nr Borrowdale, Cumbria
The most sodden spot in England, Seathwaite is pelted by around 124 inches (3.15m) of rain each year.

3. Glenfinnan, Loch Shiel, Highland
With an average annual rainfall of 118.98 inches (3.02m) the village of Glenfinnan seals third spot in our list.

4. Inverarnan, Loch Lomond, Stirling

Just north of Britain's largest body of water, the residents of Inverarnan are drenched by around 106 inches (2.7m) of rain every year.

5. Inveruglas, Loch Lomond, Argyll and Bute

A few miles south of Inverarnan, overlooking Loch Lomond, Inveruglas has an average annual rainfall of 104.8 inches (2.66m)

6. Capel Curig, Gwynedd

This Welsh village comes in at number six in our list of Britain's most saturated spots, with an yearly average of 100.59 inches (2.56m).

7. Wythburn, Lake Thirlmere, Cumbria
With an average yearly rainfall of 99.8 inches (2.54m), Wythburn - on the banks of Lake Thirlmere - seals seventh place.

8= Chapel Stile, Cumbria
The delightfully-named Chapel Stile, in the hearth of the Lake District, receives around 98 inches of downpours each year.

8= Tyndrum and Crianlarich, Stirling
Showers are equally abundant in this Scottish outpost, around 20 miles north of Loch Lomond.

10. Lochgoilhead, Argyll and Bute
The residents of Lochgoilhead, which include the BBC journalist Alan Johnston, are soused by an average of 97 inches of rain each year.

(source: Daily Telegraph)

The Award for Best Tiger Goes To....

2009-05-07T04:33:00.000-07:00

We at OT are strong supporters of TOFT (Tour Operators For Tigers), which takes contributions from visitors to India's tiger sanctuaries and puts the money towards a more sustainable conservation strategy to protect these most special of beasties.

In the interests of drumming up more awareness worldwide, TOFT have come up with a novel new Lifetime Achievement Award, which this year goes to two tigers - Machali in Ranthambhore and the slightly less Jungle Book-invoking B2 in Bandavgarh.

Machali is reckoned to have earned the Indian economy as much as $100 million since she became the dominant female in the park, and has brought up 11 cubs. B2 has been even more productive, siring 35 tigers who have made it to adulthood. In fact the sizeable majority of tigers in Bandavgarh are reckoned to be his sons and daughters.

“Machali herself earns as much as a top cricketer or Bollywood actress” says Julian Matthews of TOFT, “and it’s critical to recognise these extraordinary economic benefits that come from saving her species in the wild. She literally provides livelihoods for thousands of people from forest guards to wildlife guides, drivers to hoteliers.”

High & Dolomitey

2009-04-09T09:50:00.001-07:00

Fresh back from a week’s skiing in Italy, and my family, previously wedded to the French Alps, have run away with an Italian Dolomite mistress. As easy to get to as most (1.5 hrs from Innsbruck, a little longer for Venice or Milan) the area is a picturesque string of picture perfect mountain villages connected by a slick network of lifts and 1,000km of runs. Better suited to sedate skiers (there are only a few blacks there, but heliskiing and off piste aplenty) the pistes are set against a stunning rocky and wooded backdrop.

It’s also surprisingly reasonable to eat and drink here (way cheaper than France), and San Cassiano has the greatest cluster of Michelin stars in the Alps, but the clincher for us was the charm of it all. The ancient villages have very little purpose built accommodation (mostly small hotels with sloping snowy roofs that evolved from family houses) which means that they have all retained their historic feel.

I stayed in a recently renovated set of 20 apartments developed by the same family that own the immaculate Rosa Alpina, arguably the best hotel in the Dolomites. The Ciasa Antersies apartments are a clever way of combining the flexibility (and cost saving) of self-catering living with the culinary know-how and service ethic of a five star hotel. The apartments are spacious and elegantly designed and a world away from the boxes you end up in at most French resorts. There is also a brand new spa, excellent breakfasts and a summer yoga club for children. I also challenge you to find more hospitable hosts than Max and Bettina.

With a week for a family four costing around £3,000 (including accommodation, ski hire, passes for all and car hire for the week) and Easyjet flights costing less than £100pp, it is a bargain trip, but in a beautiful part of the world, and in a lovely place to stay. And I hear that summer was better... AP

Still the Biggest Apple

2009-04-09T07:36:00.000-07:00

Few cities in the world are as cool as New York. There's just something about the skyscrapers, the distinct neighbourhoods and the hilariously bad yellow cab driving. I hit the ground running off the trans-Atlantic flight and didn’t stop until my trip was over. Along the way I learned a few things:

1. Though it’s good to have an idea of what ground you want to cover the best places you simply stumble upon, especially in downtown Manhattan. Despite rumour to the contrary, the locals are chatty and full of suggestions.

2. The queue to get to the top of the Empire State building is too long. Top of the Rock at the Rockefeller Centre is just as beautiful and easier to get to.

3. The best burgers in town are from Shake Shack at Madison Square Park by the Flat Iron building. Fact.

4. The Rose Bar at Gramercy Park Hotel is one of the few members only bars in the city. It’s full of beautiful people and guests of the hotel can get on the coveted guest list.

5. Its sunny most of the time and sunglasses are half the price of what they are in the UK. Also, buying an ‘I ♥ NY’ sweatshirt is not tacky – it’s forward planning for keeping warm on the red eye flight home. OP

Climate Care

2009-03-11T10:53:00.001-07:00

We've offset 602 tonnes of carbon dioxide from OT clients's flights in the last 6 months through greenhouse gas reduction projects around the globe funded by Climate Care. Since we joined forces with Climate Care in 2006, we have offered clients the option to 'opt-out' from the small fee levied to offset their CO2 (eg: around £46 pp for a return to Sydney), and we're delighted to say that just 2 people have opted out. Thanks to all our clients who have contributed.

Join the Club club

2009-02-27T08:48:00.000-08:00

Flying BA club class on short haul routes used to feel a bit pointless when the configuration meant you essentially just had a spare seat in the middle of 3 (see left) but the new Club Europe configuration of a 2 and 2 means you do genuinely get a bit more leg room and width to spread right out. With Club Europe prices right down as well, it might be time to make the plunge, and you get a heap load more air miles too.

Original & Best

2009-02-20T01:55:00.000-08:00

Original Travel is delighted to announce that we have acquired luxury tour operator Tim Best Travel; specialist in holidays to Africa and the Indian Ocean, Latin America, the Indian sub-continent and Australia.

We believe that bringing Original Travel and Tim Best Travel together forms a team of consultants with unparalleled experience of tailor-made worldwide travel and means that we can bring increased benefits and efficiencies to our clients. Long-haul devotees of Tim Best's style of travel can enjoy skiing in Europe or adventures in the Middle East thanks to our range of Big Short Breaks, while we are now extremely excited to be able to offer trips including music festivals in Mali and new African destinations including Senegal, Burkino Faso and Ethiopia.

We look forward to upholding the values which have made both companies so successful: offering an innovative array of exciting holidays, friendly personalised service and an in-depth insider knowledge of every destination we offer.

To learn more about Tim Best Travel, please visit www.timbesttravel.com

Original and Best? We like to think so!

Dive, Dive, Dive!

2009-02-13T09:03:00.000-08:00

Diving is the new 'whatever the last big thing was', and if you're caught the scuba-bug then your bible should be Dive in Style by Tim Simond. This lovely hardback book, launched 2 years ago, has now sold several tens of thousands of copies in 18 languages, and later this year the new edition featuring 6 completely new destinations and updates on the remainder hits a shelf near you. Why are we pushing this? Well, we helped choose the destinations, and can help you book all the amazing places on the exceptionally glossy pages. We're also proud to announce the launch of the new Dive in Style blog. Check it out for regular updates on all things diving.

Paella and Parties

2009-02-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

One of OT's favourite destinations, Valencia, is hosting the MTV Winter Festival again this year, on the 24th Feb. Franz Ferdinand and Starsailor, among a host of others, are playing and you've got a chance to win a trip there including flights, accommodation, MTC party access and dinner at the wonderful La Marcellina paella restaurant. This being the home of paella, MTV have come up with a suitably themed game to try and win the prize. Good luck!

Wine Bluff

2009-01-21T07:58:00.000-08:00

We all know how to drink wine – pop the cork, open your gullet and bob’s your uncle! In 2009 why not take things to the next level and learn to taste, spit and bullsh*t like a professional. Wine guru and UK Editor of Trader Monthly Matt Day is running a wine and cookery school in Tuscany this May (9^th-16^th) with his chef friend Selina Maldini, whose parents have run the successful Gran Paradiso restaurant in London for over 30 years. Mama Selina promises to get you out of your takeaway rut and soon you will be knocking up fresh ravioli or risotto with confidence. The inclusive price for this fantastic week is £1000 – a bargain when you consider most schools in Tuscany charge three times that. Email tuscany@originaltravel.co.uk for more information.

Tokyo comes to town

2009-01-20T08:21:00.000-08:00

Konichiwa. While actually visiting Tokyo remains hugely preferable, in credit crunch times we'll forgive you for seeking a flavour of the destination without the 11 hour flight. Tokyo Day, on the 31st January in London's Lawrence Hall, is the ideal chance to sample a destination that should be top of any uber-urbanite's wishlist. Visitors on the 31st can immerse themselves in the ancient art of the tea ceremony or become one with the brush as they experience calligraphy. Alternatively, enter the magical (if occasionally odd) world of anime, or enjoy the rhythmic beat of Wadaiko drums. Above all, it offers visitors a brief insight into the psyche of a race that is at once remarkably similar and completely 'other' from the Brits.

Che - Part One

2009-01-15T04:29:00.000-08:00

An epic movie depicting the life (or at least half of it) of pin-up revolutionary Ernesto Che Guervara is now out. Original Travel made an outing last night to the Clapham Picture house to watch the (extremely hot) Benicio del Toro strut his stuff in the lead role. The film portrays interviews with Che once the revolution was won, interspersed with flashbacks to the plotting of the Cuban Revolution in Mexico right through to the overthrow of Santa Clara (now Che's burial site). It's a touch on the heavy side, but a realistic portrayal of the movement in

Cuba

and the film does tend to glorify Che while revealing his cold-hearted, ruthless streak. A must-see for any Latino follower or historian.... or lover of all things Benicio. LJ

Original Offers

2009-01-05T06:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! The January sales aren't restricted to the high street this year, and we at Original Travel are receiving exciting new offers from hotels on an almost daily basis. So we can pass on the juiciest of these, we've created a new space on the website called Original Offers, which you can visit from the Original Extras dropdown. Here you'll find all the latest deals from suppliers around the world, but move fast as they are coming and going fast. Happy hunting!

Iris Update

2008-12-18T06:40:00.000-08:00

In an update to the iris scanning debate of a month or so back I'm now a member of the iristocracy and can't recommend it highly enough. I recently signed up at Heathrow Terminal 5, and the whole process took just 10 minutes in an office beyond passport control, so if you can tear yourself away from Duty Free (my wife couldn't) or have time to kill before a flight, why not pop in. On our return to the UK I queued up in the iris scanner queue (4 people) while my wife joined the throng of 200 in the riff-raff queue. My usual fear of mechanical malfunction resurfaced as the man before me couldn't get the machine to work, was trapped in the booth for a couple of minutes and then sheepishly slunk off to join the back of the - now 300 strong - queue and I stepped forward, my wife peering and over secretly praying I'd be joining her shortly. No such 'luck' for her. I leant forward, heard the click of the photograph, and the doors opened in front of me. I had passed through a usually hellish UK customs scenario in under 5 minutes. The hitch? I then had to wait 15 minutes for my wife! TB

'Put another shrimp...' and other cliches

2008-12-02T06:44:00.000-08:00

G’day. It’s been hard to avoid the media blizzard surrounding Baz Luhrmann (of camp classic Moulin Rouge fame) and his latest epic movie. Released in the UK on Boxing Day, the Aussie Tourist Board hope that Australia, a sweeping drama (set in Australia) starring (Australian) Hugh Jackman and (you get the moving picture…) Nicole Kidman will do for Oz what the Lord of the Rings trilogy did for neighbouring New Zealand. The charming recent ‘So Where The Bloody Hell Are You?’ campaign apparently failed to stop the steady decline of UK visitors to Australia, but hopes are high that Australia (did I mention that Baz Luhrmann is Australian?) will prove a recession-bucking lure for pasty Brits to visit their antipodean cousins. Beyond the Outback so beautifully portrayed in the movie, attractions include a slew of new lodges, including the award-winning econtemporary gem that is Southern Ocean Lodge on Kangaroo Island (named, no doubt, ‘because it’s got bloody kangaroos on it’), and world-beating wines and cuisine. All together now, ‘we go to a land down under’….

Stuck between the devil....

2008-12-01T04:10:00.000-08:00

And we think times are tough here. Pity the troop of baboons at Tanzania's Singita Grumeti Reserve who got more than they bargained for last week when they found themselves holed up in a tree to escape from a lion pride, only to find a leopard had had the same idea. No one was around to see how the events had unfolded (ie - had the baboons chased the leopard up there in the first place) but guests then got three hours viewing of the stand-off as the lions slept under a tree nearby, and the baboons (and leopard) sweated it out before all concerned went their separate ways.

It's a tough life....

2008-11-19T09:02:00.001-08:00

Flying over the atolls of the Maldives on my way down to Male was one of the most intriguing flights of my life. The Maldives is one of the most unique places in the world - a scattering of tiny coral islands (1,190 to be precise) in the middle of the balmy Indian ocean, hundreds of miles from anywhere.

Approximately 90 of these islands now have hotels on them and I was lucky enough to visit 9 of the very best during my - immensely tough - research trip. My days were spent snorkelling and the ocean was the temperature of a bath, with incredible visibility, multitudes of tropical fish, coral and even the odd turtle, shark and dolphin to liven things. After this I would return to exploring the impossibly wonderful rooms/villas/overwater bungalows.

The service was universally outstanding - staff everywhere somehow had a knack of predicting what you might want to do/eat/drink before you had a chance to think it yourself, and more often than not, I was allocated a private butler on arrival whose sole job was to make sure I had everything I could need.

Now, I’m sure you’re dying to know my favourite resorts….a very tough call as I would go back to them all like a shot, but if I really had to chose my top 3 it would be: 1) Soneva Gili 2) Soneva Fushi 3) Huvafen Fushi – heaven! Rosie

The Seeds of Change?

2008-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

All eyes are on Air New Zealand, Boeing and Rolls Royce as they launch a joint test flight powered in part by bio-fuels. The Boeing 747 will be fuelled by a 50:50 blend of standard aviation fuel and a synthetic fuel derived from seed oil from the jatropha plant. And before the usual bio-fuels criticisms are levelled, The criteria for sourcing the jatropha oil required that the land was neither forest nor virgin grassland within the previous two decades, and was not suitable for most food crops. We watch developments with interest.

Obrigado Portugal

2008-11-13T09:21:00.000-08:00

Watching the sun sinking over the stunning Quirimbas Archipelago in Mozambique last week, 2M beer in hand, I mused over our friends the Portuguese. Not content with providing us with the the world's best footballer - one Cristiano Ronaldo - they have also helped to shape some of Original Travel's all-time favourite destinations. There's a certain unmistakable vibe discernible in several ex-Portuguese colonies which makes for a very special destination, be that Brazil, Mozambique or the southern Indian state of Kerala. So here's a quick obrigado to our oldest allies.

BA launches mobile check-in

2008-11-07T03:04:00.000-08:00

We love checking in online the night before your flight, as it makes your holiday start one day earlier. However, if you aren't near a computer and are flying with British Airways, you can now use the airline's new remote service, allowing passengers to check in from their mobile phone or Blackberry. The service is free, available in 11 languages (in case you felt like challenging yourself) and doesn't require you to download any new software.

Logging on to www.ba2go.com using any mobile device with wireless connectivity, customers can access BA timetable updates, enter passport information, and select seats before checking in.

At the end of check-in customers will be presented with the option to collect the boarding pass at the airport, or receive it by email or fax.

The accountants' eye view

2008-10-24T04:53:00.000-07:00

Instruction number one was 'cast aside your abacus and dust down your typewriter'. Instruction number two was to give an opinion of where I would consider holidaying given the current financial hurly burly. Basically, the accountant's eye view. So, I have come up with two countries that are separated by approximately 8,000 miles of airspace.

Iceland has not had a good time of late and has been taken to task on the front pages of our periodicals in recent days. However, with the Krone dropping from 125 to the pound to a hefty 193 to the pound since the beginning of the year you would have plenty more change in your pocket to spend on themal baths and snowmobile safaris.

Next up is South Africa. In January you could collect 13 rand for every British pound, however, as I type you may now acquire a very handsome 17.5 rand for every 100 British pennies you exchange. This makes each of the Big Five cheaper to the pound, but does not mean they're now the Big Eight.

Taking advantage is the name of the game, but remember that this advantage is shared with our foreign friends. When times are tough, there is nothing more uplifting than welcoming a visitor. Now where’s my abacus? CW

Meet the Team!

2008-10-24T03:07:00.000-07:00

We're thrilled to be the travel sponsor for this Autumn's Affordable Art Fair which takes place in Battersea Park, London from today until Sunday. 110 galleries will exhibit a fresh line-up of paintings, sculpture, photography and original prints, and all the artists are different from the Spring Collection. Do come and visit us there and maybe snap up something by the next Damien Hirst.

Arabella of Arabia

2008-10-06T04:23:00.000-07:00

The first thing to strike you on arrival into Syria is how courteous everyone is. I was a single (well, engaged) white female on my own and have never felt more welcome or safe.

Days were filled with cultural sites, souq shopping and delicious food like I have never experienced before. Aleppo with its labyrinthine souq feels like you have stepped back between the pages of The Arabian Nights. St Simeon's (once the largest church in the world) is magical, the Dead Cities beautifully preserved, and Crusader Krak de Chevalier the finest castle in the Middle East. One can only imagine what it must have been like coming out of the desert to behold the oasis city of Palmyra in its heyday. Damascus with its famous silks, refined palace architecture and great mosque is firmly imbedded in my memory for life. Last but nowhere near least was Bosra, the best preserved Roman theatre anywhere - stunning. But the best of it all? I had it pretty much to myself.

Next stop Jordan, and more amazing evidence of the Romans at Jerash before heading on to Amman and the extremely comfortable Four Seasons. Madaba, Mount Nebo and Krak were a delight to see on route to Wadi Rum, but seeing the sunset fall over those unique mountains was just breathtaking, and when I thought it could not get better, a full moon rose to light up the desert. Dinner under the stars and then bed under canvas at our one of OT's private camps beats the best 5 star hotel in my view. Next day we tasted more of what the desert had to offer with a tour of the national park before we headed to Petra. Our next day exploring was as amazing as the hype describes. You lose the crowds after you pass through the Siq and suddenly you are wrapped up in the history and lives of this bygone era.

Some well-earned R&R at the Dead Sea is the only way to complete the trip. The hotels lived up to expectations and though big, you lose none of the feel for personal service and attention to detail.

Either as two Big Short Breaks or a longer trip, Syria and Jordan are two of our most evocative and inspiring trips, and I can't wait to talk you through them! Arabella

Lions in your living room

2008-09-23T02:14:00.000-07:00

Between the 5^th - 12^th October, BBC's Big Cat Diaries are back on the stunning plains of the Masai Mara, but this time the action will be live in what the Beeb are calling their 'most ambitious ever live international wildlife event.' With advances in infra-red technology, viewers have the chance to appreciate the big cats' extraordinary night vision as they stalk prey by night as part of the round the clock coverage. Very wisely, Jonathan Scott and Arthur King will be accompanied by the local Masai guide Jackson Looseyia and a live link will be beamed online 24-hours a day. Younger fans of the Big Cat Diaries will particularly enjoy The Little Big Cat, which follows the adventures of a lion, leopard and cheetah cub.

How much is a bride worth?

2008-09-19T06:20:00.000-07:00

Half as much as a groom, it appears. At least that's the case if you choose to head for Zambia on your honeymoon. The beautiful and luxurious Royal Zambezi Lodge, located on the bank of the Zambezi River, is offering a 50% discount for all newly-wed ladies staying 3 nights or more, as long as the honeymoon is booked this year. To discuss your African honeymoon with Anna, call 020 7978 7333 or email anna@originaltravel.co.uk

You will be viewing.... Rhino

2008-09-11T08:56:00.000-07:00

The desert black rhino (Diceros bicornis bicornis) is one of the most endangered mammal s in South Africa. One of our favourite lodges, Tswalu, is now delighted to announce that four black rhino were purchased and arrived in the remote Kalahari reserve late last month, adding to their existing healthy black rhino numbers. The successful conservation efforts of the reserve have ensured that Tswalu is one of the few places that offers regular sightings of desert black rhino together with a wide variety of other endangered wildlife. For more information ring Isabel or Anna on 020 7978 7333, and if black rhinos are your thing, you might also want to consider Lewa Conservancy in Kenya. Antelope anoraks should note Lewa also do a nice line in sitatunga, the extremely rare swamp-dwelling antelope.

Nick notches up 25 years in the Ionians

2008-09-10T01:05:00.000-07:00

25 years on and I still love the Ionian Islands with the same passion that I remember from when I was just 10 years old. Often in our thirst for new destinations and weird and wonderful activities it's easy to forget the joy of visiting a place that offers up no surprises at all. The crystal clear Mediterranean laps reassuringly on the rocks and

Albania

still sits mysteriously and tantalisingly close to Corfu; the same tavernas serve up the same menus and the same proprietors greet you with warm and open smiles. OK, there are a few more buildings but strict regulations prevent certain headlands and bays from even the hint of a foundation or electricity pylon. Days pan out as they always have; morning dip in the sea, a trip to buy fresh bread and Greek yoghurt, long and lazy breakfasts followed by a sail or a water-ski, an afternoon plodding about on a chug-chug boat looking for another deserted cove and a picnic lunch, endless swims and snorkeling, an evening trip into the olive tree-clad hills for an ouzo in a tiny village, and a trip out to dinner by fishing boat. A final midnight swim in the sparkly phosphorescence caps a perfect day. If you’re feeling like you can spare a day out of this hectic schedule, a boat over to nearby Paxos rarely disappoints. Where Corfu has seen the odd building go up, Paxos is still exactly the same as it was when I first visited. There is no airport so the hordes have been kept well away. The island has just three villages with crumbly Venetian buildings dotted along the sheltered water’s edge of the Eastern shore. On the Western side of the island, majestic cliffs and cathedral sized caves make for spectacular views and nervous swims into inky blackness. This is in stark contrast to the waters on neighbouring (and un-inhabited) Anti Paxos where the sandy sea-floor of a whole bay magnifies the electric blue sea above it. If it’s a jet-set holiday you’re after then forget this part of the Med, but if you can’t think of anything better than to feel the warmth of a smooth sun-baked rock beneath your back and the silky water of the Mediterranean cooling you down, look no further than the Ionian islands. NN

Life is sweet

2008-09-09T05:35:00.000-07:00

Original Travel teamed up with Corney & Barrow wine bars and ecurie 25 supercar club for a groovy 'La Dolce Vita' event in the City of London's Broadgate Circle last week. 150 guests enjoyed delicious wine and canapés; the chance to drool over Ferraris, Astons and Lambourghinis and, most exciting of all, to meet some of the OT team. One lucky guest won a weekend for two at the spectacular Relais San Maurizio hotel in Italy and everybody took home a goodie bag filled with spa products.

Lumley in Lights

2008-09-05T02:44:00.000-07:00

The closest her most (in)famous character Patsy ever came to ice was that floating in her vodka and tonic, but this weekend you can see Joanna Lumley fulfil a childhood dream to see the Northern Lights as she travels through Arctic Norway and Svalbard. BBC One is screening the catchily-titled Joanna Lumley in the Land of the Northern Lights at 9pm on Sunday 7th September, and follows her journey from the stunning Lofoten fjords via encounters with Sami herdsmen and finally to the remote Arctic outpost of Svalbard, where polar bears outnumber people. Coincidentally, OT offers several trips to this neck of the tundra, so if you feel suitably inspired come Monday morning, give us a ring on 020 7978 7333 and ask for Arabella, our nordic expert.

Indian Summer in Mustique

2008-09-04T05:02:00.000-07:00

Escape the English winter and make for Mustique this November or December, and stay at the beautiful Cotton House hotel, renovated from its origins as an 18th century sugar mill into one of the most luxurious hotels in the Caribbean.

Original Travel clients can stay seven nights and pay for five (valid 01/11/08 to 20/12/08), which is a superb offer and one we'd like to take up ourselves... Contact Isabel for more information: isabel@originaltravel.co.uk

London City to New York City... via Shannon

2008-08-21T09:35:00.000-07:00

British Airways’ planned business-class only flights from London City to New York (due for launch autumn 2009) will refuel at Shannon, western Ireland, where customers will be able to complete USA arrivals checks, meaning that on arrival in New York, they can by-pass the customary queues and speed straight through the airport.

The twice-daily service will be the only long-haul flight operating out of London City airport, and will have 32 Business Class seats, all reclining to flat beds, in one cabin. It is claimed that it will be possible to arrive up to 15 minutes before take-off, which, combined with the arrivals checks being completed in Shannon rather than JFK, certainly makes New York an ever more attractive Big Short Break city.

Not just a pretty beach...

2008-08-20T17:29:00.000-07:00

While many people associate a holiday in Halkidiki with days spent relaxing on glorious beaches, soaking up the sunshine and swimming in clear blue waters (and what's wrong with that?!), one of our Original Kids family hotels, the Sani Resort, is keen to raise awareness of the cultural activities in the area. Throughout October, guests at the Sani Asterias Suites or Porto Sani Village will be offered cultural, food and wine-based excursions free during their stay. Trips include visiting the Sithonia peninsula and the Porto Carras winery for local wine and honey tasting; guided visits to the fish, vegetable and meat market in Thessaloniki with one of Sani’s chefs followed by a market place lunch; and a private cruise to the Mount Athos peninsula, the only monastic republic in Europe. Contact Rosie B for more information about Original Kids holidays in Greece.

Come Rain... or more Rain

2008-08-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

Funny 'summer' we're having, but not as unexpected as all that. Take a look at the UK's (well, England's for the sake of this blog) average rainfall for the last 30 years and you'll notice that it's not the amount of rain that makes Blighty such a depressing place to be at times, it's the fact that it rains a bit ALL the time. Stuck for some dinner party chat? Why not wow your neighbour with the fact that over the last 30 years, AUGUST has been Manchester and Birmingham's average wettest month. Likewise London dwelling holiday planners might want to note that October is the capital's wettest month. Plymouth seems to be the only place that conforms to 'normal' weather perceptions, with the summer months driest. No wonder we talk about the weather.

Gorgeous George

2008-07-29T05:10:00.000-07:00

Good news from the Galapagos. 'Lonesome George', the giant tortoise found on Pinta Island in the 70s and in effect the symbol of the islands, has rediscovered his mojo. George is the last Pinta tortoise, and so in effect a living extinction, but after years of fruitless coaxing he seems finally to have mated with one of the two extremely attractive females brought over from the neighbouring island of Isabella, as a batch of fertile eggs has been discovered. Now the evolutionary biologists among you will doubtless point out that that any progeny of a tryst between differing sub-species will not be a true Pinta tortoise, but we're still sure old Chuck Darwin would be delighted to hear the news.

More Mallorca

2008-07-24T10:42:00.000-07:00

Original Travel clients booking to stay at the Son Net, Mallorca from now until the end of this year will receive the full VIP treatment for less, with our exclusively negotiated perks. We can pass on to you a superb 15% discount off the usual room rates until December 31st 2008, plus as a client of ours, you will enjoy cava and fresh fruit on arrival, and if you book a Deluxe Room, you will be upgraded to a Gran Suite Villa, complete with heated outdoor jacuzzi, private terrace and pool. The Son Net is one of our very favourite hotels in Mallorca - contact Arabella to book and to find out about her stay there, and read more on our site here.

The Red Sea Scene

2008-07-21T03:26:00.001-07:00

If you’ve ever tried wind surfing, marvelled at the experts and wondered how on earth you’d ever have the time to get as good as them, then kite-surfing is the quick fix for you. After just three days in Ras Sudr, assuming the wind blows, you’ll be speeding along, carving through the water, performing jibe turns and generally feeling pretty chuffed with yourself.

There can be few better places to learn than in Ras Sudr, on the Gulf of Suez in Egypt. The beach stretches for a couple of miles, the water is never more than chest-deep at most, the sea floor are made of the softest sand (no stubbed toes or mysterious knocks and scrapes) and the prevailing wind blows constantly cross-shore so you are neither blown out to sea nor headlong onto the beach. Added to this the charming instructors prepare all your kit and pack it away at the end of the day, so there’s no kafuffle. Admittedly when the wind doesn’t blow there’s not much to do, and the hotels are short on charm, but if you go with the sole aim of learning to kite surf then there can’t be many better places in the world to learn. I’ve been back a couple of weeks now and last week tried kite surfing in rainy Norfolk. Kiting in freezing cold chocolate-brown water just didn’t quite have the charm of the Red Sea! NN

Autumn colours at Lake Como

2008-07-18T01:22:00.001-07:00

Sitting on the shore of northern Italy's Lake Como, Villa d'Este is a grand, historic villa with 25 acres of gardens. The hotel has offered Original Travel clients a generous 20% discount on stays in October and November - a magical time to be in this region, when you will have the beautiful autumnal colours pretty much to yourselves.

For more information about the hotel and our Italian Lakes trip ideas, visit our website here and contact Rosie K for details.

Rockin' the Kasbah

2008-07-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

One of our favourite Riads in Marrakech, El Fenn, is hosting a concert and jam (of the musical, not fruit, variety) session during the Marrakech Jazz festival from 2nd to 5th Nov.

This is such a popular festival, and one of the busiest months of the year in Marrakech, so we have pre-reserved two of beautiful rooms at Riad El Fenn for the festivities. Total cost: £670 per person including 4 nights in a luxury room with breakfast and afternoon tea with Moroccan pastries; private guide for an afternoon; return airport transfers and discounted tickets to enjoy electro, fusion, and urban jazz styles from acts such as Thierry Elliez, Roda Scott, Abigoba and others in intimate venues around the city. Groovy. IDG

Fancy a flight?

2008-07-17T01:16:00.000-07:00

Original Travel guests staying three or more nights at Lewa Wilderness lodge in Kenya during the months of September or October this year will be treated to a free 20 minute scenic flight in a biplane, worth US$500.

We highly recommend seeing the private 45,000 acre Lewa Downs game reserve from the air, and are big fans of the traditional African thatched cottages at this popular lodge.

For more information, visit our site or contact anna@originaltravel.co.uk

How the other 1/170000th live

2008-07-07T08:36:00.001-07:00

I really enjoyed Tribal Wives on BBC2 on the 9th July, all about an “average Jo” British mum who has to leave her young children behind and up sticks to live with the Himba tribe on the remote Skeleton Coast in Namibia.

The Himba are one of the few remaining truly semi-nomadic pastoralist tribes and are in grave danger of extinction. They live in such a desolate area, surviving on very little water and limited livestock, and that’s it - how they have survived for so long is truly amazing. Spending time with the Himba and studying them is like taking a journey several thousands years back in time, and seeing how we used to live in Neolithic times.

I was lucky enough to see this tribe up close and personal 6 years ago, and they really live an extraordinary existence by today’s hi-tech standards. You can’t compare them to Kenya's Samburu or Masai tribes with whom I am more familiar - the Himba really are that rarity; a truly unique tribe. AW

Jamaican gem

2008-07-07T05:19:00.000-07:00

At the top Caribbean 'retreat resort' of Round Hill, in Jamaica, stay 7 nights for the price of 5 or take a two-week (14 night) break for the price of only 10 nights. These exclusive deals are valid until the week before Christmas, excluding Thanksgiving; Nov 22-29. Find out more about the hotel on our site here, and contact Isabel to make a booking. Despite its luxurious nature, the hotel is very family-friendly - see the 'Robinson Crusoe' blog entry to read more.

Palatial perks in Capri

2008-07-07T04:42:00.000-07:00

Book a three night stay at the Capri Palace between September 8th and November 2nd and you'll be invited to stay a fourth night for free. Valid for arrival any day of the week, we think this is an excellent offer at this five star hotel and spa overlooking the Gulf of Naples.
Click here for more information and contact Rosie Barclay to discuss a booking.

Far From the Madding Crowd

2008-06-27T00:16:00.000-07:00

You might have heard the whole 'privacy is the new luxury' call before, but here at OT we're fully in agreement. There are now so many superb hotels out there that the ability to really get away from everyone else is the new must-have travel requirement. Out is the conspicuous consumption of yonder year - the 'look at me' swishness. In is the finding a place of calm reflection with not another soul in sight.

So, where is properly remote? Well, a quick search of the internet (a place populated by about as madding a crowd as you can get, incidentally) brings up a list of all the countries on earth listed according to population densities. The most crowded are, of course, the city states such as Monaco and Singapore, but peer way down the bottom of the list and (aside from the places that are empty for a very good reason) you'll find some of our favourite places, such as Oman, Libya, Canada, Botswana, Iceland and Australia.

And then there's Namibia, coming in at a population density of just 2.5 people per square kilometre or about one person for every 50 football pitches. Imagine that, and then find yourself at the suitably named Private Camp at Wolwedans, deep in the Namibrand desert, and 2 miles by track away from the already remote main camp. Now that's private. There's so little light pollution here that at night you can see stars burning brightly on the distant horizon, and the shooting stars on show are amazing to behold from the hammock, or bedroom, which has roll-up canvas walls. Truly remote, and truly memorable. Just remember to take someone with you, as there's guaranteed not to be anyone else around to share the experience with.

Da Do Ron Ron Ron

2008-06-20T05:30:00.000-07:00

Picture the scene. You're helping little Tarquin and Guinevere with their homework, and along comes the inevitable. 'Mummy, Daddy, what are the Northern Lights?' or some other such question you really ought to know the answer to, but haven't the foggiest about. Three lines of attack are instantly available to the parent: 1) Bluff. Temporarily effective, but bound to be exposed when Mr Thistlethwaite the geography teacher gives your little Einstein a D minus. 2) Pretend you've gone deaf. Again effective, but more than a little traumatic for the children present. 3) Ask Professor Ron. This is, of course the correct answer, as Prof. Ron will know the answer and get back to you ASAP, sparing any parental blushes. Incidentally, The Northern Lights (aurora borealis to give them their Latin name) are a natural phenomenon that occurs in the Earth's atmosphere at the polar regions. (In the southern hemisphere they are known as aurora australis.) The lights appear as shimmering bands of colour in the night sky - usually green, yellow and pink - and are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with the Earth's atmosphere. A*s all round.

Issy reports from South Africa & Mozambique

2008-06-20T01:52:00.000-07:00

After an extraordinary trip to

South Africa

and

Mozambique

, packed with stylish lodges, outstanding game viewing, awesome scenery and delicious food and wine, it’s very difficult to decide which bits are deserving of the brief mention here.

I particularly loved the warm hospitality and relaxed atmosphere at Marlin Lodge on Benguerra Island, just off the coast of southern Mozambique. I was only there for two nights, but immediately relaxed into the laid-back happy vibe. The waters off Benguerra are full of marine life from humpback whales (in season) to dolphins, and there always seemed to be a picturesque dhow sailing boat gliding past when I looked out to sea. Relaxing in your hammock enjoying a sundowner cocktail before candlelit dinner of crayfish and lobster on a white sandy beach that stretches for miles, you might never want to leave.

After the warm breezes and soft sounds of the Indian Ocean, I arrived in very different surroundings; the harsh but beautiful terrain of South Africa’s Tswalu Game Reserve. Its name meaning “new beginning”, and Tswalu is one of the most spiritual places I have been to, with an endless horizon and a sky so vast it’s almost hypnotic. The mesmerising Northern Cape Kalahari wilderness, with its red dunes, dramatic mountainous backdrop and grassy savannah reminded me of northern Kenya. Tswalu is the largest private game reserve in South Africa, comprising 100,000 acres and only two lodges with a total of 13 rooms. The luxury of remoteness make this area very special, with the added bonus that it’s home to the majestic Kalahari Lion with its thick black mane, stunning bird life, buffalo, black and white rhino and antelope.

The area is also malaria-free, so ideal for families, and those with older children can ride through the long grasses as the sun sets, experience bush dinners followed by sleep-outs on the dunes, track black rhino on foot, enjoy the landscape from a hot air balloon and learn about the lodge's dedication to conservation. All this under two hours flight from the bright lights of Johannesburg or Cape Town.

To follow in Issy's footsteps, or to hear more about her trip, call her on 020 7978 7333 or email isabel@originaltravel.co.uk

Desert Island Dish

2008-06-18T09:19:00.000-07:00

The excellent Round Hill in

Jamaica

has come up with a great idea for a fab family feast. The hotel staff will ‘strand’ you on an isolated beach (bear with us on this one) where ‘Man Friday’ will appear and cook your dinner over an open fire. Surrounded by oil-lamps and sitting on driftwood benches, the children can roast their own sausages over hot coals on the sand and finish the evening by making smores which - for those of you who inhabit the eastern shores of the Atlantic - are campfire-cooked marshmallow and chocolate sandwiches. Once the subsequent sugar rush kicks in you may want to consider stranding the kids for real. TB

Information on our Original Kids family holiday to Jamaica can be found on our site here.

New superspa in Cape Town

2008-06-18T06:26:00.000-07:00

Cape Town's grand-dame hotel The Mount Nelson has just unveiled its uber-indulgent new Librisa Spa. Treatments have been developed uniquely for the spa, and its three signature product ranges are the locally produced Africology and Victorian Garden, and French brand Algologie.

The spa is housed in three original late Victorian buildings, with eight individually decorated, oversized treatment rooms, including four specially designed tandem treatment rooms; and a conservatory and café area where guests are invited to relax and indulge in healthy snacks. Librisa will be open to non-residents of the hotel as well as guests.

To arrange a trip to Cape Town, visit our website here and contact isabel@originaltravel.co.uk

Lake Malawi beach lodge opens July 1st

2008-06-18T06:21:00.000-07:00

Pumulani is an exclusive beach lodge on the protected shores of Lake Malawi. Opening on 1st July 2008, it will be the only luxury accommodation set within Lake Malawi National Park.

The lodge has ten individually-designed villas spread out along a lush hillside overlooking the lake. Each villa boasts a large bedroom, a spacious living area and a private deck with lake view.

Guests can relax on the sandy beach or at the infinity pool. For those seeking activity, there is waterskiing, sailing, diving, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkelling, fishing and birdwatching. To find out more, contact anna@originaltravel.co.uk

Cleaning out our clichés

2008-06-12T02:06:00.000-07:00

OT is proud to announce a cliché clear-out. We’re trawling through our entire website and getting rid of the guff. You know the sort of thing we mean - ‘the hotel boasts breath-taking views….’ or ‘such-and-such a city is referred to as the Venice of the East/West/North/South (delete as applicable)….’. Quite frankly it’s cheesy, and we like being original (funnily enough), but this could be a mammoth task, so your help would be much appreciated. If you come across any classic travel clichés while exploring our site, please email them to jenny@originaltravel.co.uk, we’ll edit them out forthwith and you’ll win a breathtaking trip to the Venice of Venezia – Venice. Actually, that’s not strictly true, but the best entry each month will win a copy of our brilliant new book, The Big Short Break. TB

Eye-spy

2008-06-12T01:59:00.000-07:00

We love new technology here at OT, but only if it actually works. Anyone old enough to remember Sean Connery’s ill-advised reprise as 007 in Never Say Never Again (co-starring a dodgy toupee and middle age spread) will probably recall poo-pooing the film’s use of iris-recognition technology. ‘Too far-fetched!’ we scoffed. ‘As ridiculous as an underwater car!’ said the cynics; and yet if you go down to the airport today you’ll see a dedicated lane at immigration control just for those clever clogs who’ve registered their irides (the medical plural for the iris, don’t you know). As us polloi are herded through the two available lanes (with a dozen others closed, naturally) we stare enviously as the smug iristocracy saunter into the see-through booth, the doors sliding closed behind them, before peering into the machine. And then it all goes horribly wrong. Invariably the machine fails to recognise the increasingly embarrassed person’s completely individual eye patterns, and they are trapped in the booth in full view of the chuckling crowds simply wallowing in schadenfreude. Call us vain, but until the technology is foolproof, we’d rather join a good British queue. TB

Pine Cliffs Resort, Portugal

2008-06-04T06:58:00.000-07:00

Pine Cliffs Resort’s name pretty much does what it says on the tin, surrounded as it is by beautiful pine forests with stunning cliffs leading down to a huge sandy beach. I loved the beach club restaurant - right on the beach serving delicious plates of sardines (or spag bol if you’d prefer to stick to what you know…). The kids' club is superb - a huge pirate ship adventure playground, mini golf, children’s pool, basketball court and hundreds of toys for kids of all ages. There are several swimming pools so you can practice your bombing without disturbing anyone too sensible and some great restaurants to suit all tastes from Piri Piri to sushi……
Read more on our Original Kids site here or email rosie@originaltravel.co.uk to hear from her

Four nights for three in Guatemala

2008-05-30T08:33:00.000-07:00

The beautiful Casa Palopó hotel at Lake Atitlán offers some of the most luxurious accommodation in all Guatemala. Relax in the sumptuous lounge with its open fireplace, eat al fresco from the gourmet restaurant with its views of the volcano-ringed lake, and make the most of the small swimming pool (tempting as the lake itself looks, you'll prefer the pool!) and gym. Stay three nights in the months of June, September and October 2008 and receive another night free... and we guarantee you STILL won't feel you've had enough time there!

Calling all artists and bookworms

2008-05-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Being not only original but also extremely erudite, we've been thinking about literary festivals and art exhibitions recently. Books and holidays are inextricably linked, but over and above buying a good paperback at the airport and immersing yourself in another on your hammock, we think that timing your trip to coincide with a festival of the written word makes a great excuse for a highbrow holiday.

The Brazilian coastal town of Parati hosts a huge annual literary festival in July, and being Brazil, we imagine it's not all solemn reading circles. Elsewhere in Latin America is the Hay Festival Cartagena in January, bound to be much more fun than the Welsh version, no offence meant. Then there's the Literary Festival in Galle, Sri Lanka and the Ubud Writers Festival, Bali.

If you prefer paintbrushes to pencils, think Buenos Aires, where the Art Market is hosted in August and we can arrange for private tours of private collections with a local dealer. Or if the underground (literally) scene is more your style, the primitive works in Cappadocia, Turkey or in the caves of the Akakus mountains of Libya are for you. Finally, it doesn't get much quirkier than the Icelandic Arts Festival - if we say it's typically Icelandic, that should suffice...

Perfect beach hideaway

2008-04-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

Head for Brazilian bliss in the form of Pousada Picinguaba, half an hour from the town of Paraty, south of Rio de Janeiro. This 10-room hotel combines luxury with character and exclusivity, and is offering reductions on room rates of up to 20% for stays in May, June and July. Technically the winter months, this is a delightful time to be on this stretch of coast; with warm days and fresh nights, you have the best of both worlds; sunbathing by day and a fireplace by night. Contact Lucy (lucy@originaltravel.co.uk) for more information and to book.

Unmissable Caribbean offer

2008-04-29T10:35:00.000-07:00

Original Travel has a superb offer with the Carlisle Bay hotel in Antigua for stays in May & June. Stay 7 nights for the price of 5 in one of the hotel's Ocean Suites, and enjoy full board accommodation (full breakfast, afternoon tea and a la carte dinner in either Indigo on the beach or East restaurants) for the price of B&B accommodation. CarlisleBay offers chic contemporary luxury on the unspoilt south coast of Antigua; read more about it on our website here isabel@originaltravel.co.uk to take advantage of this outstanding offer. and contact

Checking out Colombia

2008-04-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our Latin Lucy returned recently from an extremely successful trip to Bogotá, Cartagena, and around, and would love to talk to you about what a great country she found Colombia to be. The hotels are boutique, the service is warm and friendly, and you really ought to experience it for yourself sooner rather than later, because everyone's talking about it! Read more about our Colombia trip ideas on our site here and email Lucy to hear it from her: lucy@originaltravel.co.uk

Dive like an Egyptian

2008-04-25T04:50:00.000-07:00

Original Travel has a great offer at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh at the Red Sea. Stay seven nights in a Royal or Deluxe Suite and pay for only five. Valid from 1st May to 30th September 2008. The Oberoi is a luxurious 104-room resort with a private beach, 48 acres of grounds and all the facilities you'd expect from a top-notch hotel. Click here to read more about our Egypt trip ideas.

Head for the hills this summer!

2008-04-25T03:41:00.000-07:00

Like all proud parents, we're very pleased with the progress that our Original Kids portfolio is making. One of the Sunday Times' top writers took his three (very) young children on safari in South Africa with us recently, and found the experience to be well worth the obvious challenges of travelling with a baby. Read all about it here.

This month, we uploaded a brand new trip to www.originalkids.co.uk, offering summer in the Italian mountains; perfect for kids aged 4 to 12. The summer months in the Dolomites of northern Italy are spectacularly beautiful, and the region is a wildflower-carpeted adventure playground for all ages. Our favourite hotel has launched a dedicated Kids Programme of fun, educational and nature-related activities, and we love everything about it. Visit the trip's pages here.

Villa Mangiacane, Tuscany

2008-04-11T04:18:00.000-07:00

Stay five nights, pay for only four, receive a room upgrade, AND enjoy a complimentary welcome dinner and two spa treatments during your stay. Valid for stays April-October 2008.

This is one of our favourite rural Italian hotels. Set on a 300-hectare estate of vineyards, olive groves and forest just 8 miles from Florence, the villa is said to have been designed by Michelangelo. Click here for more information and contact Rosie Kennedy to discuss a booking.

Original Kids is born

2008-04-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

New in April 2008, www.originalkids.co.uk goes live! Original Kids offers bespoke family trips that are perfect for half terms and school holidays and appropriate for children of all ages from toddlers to teens. The portfolio includes the classics, such as the finest family-friendly hotels in the Med, alongside more adventurous family trips in keeping with Original Travel’s Original Adventures, for example learning to dog sled in Lapland, a Galapagos boat trip, and African safaris where the children are taught to track animals and learn bush craft from expert guides. The trips are designed for a generation of parents who want their children to see the world and engage with it. The emphasis of many of the Original Kids trips is on the experience, with family-friendliness the defining characteristic throughout.

Otie's recent travels

2008-04-07T06:20:00.000-07:00

Otie is our Original Kids family holidays monkey mascot, and he loves to travel - he even has his own passport. To see where he's been most recently, visit his photo album on the Monkey Business page of www.originalkids.co.uk. As you'll see, his monkeying around with our travel consultants (who are not monkeying around at all - they're on serious research business) has taken him to Colombia, Chile and Argentina with Lucy, down the Cresta Run with Nick, skiing with Arabella, and to Vietnam with Saskia.