Archive for ‘The Team’
Amy & Nicki visit the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
The Edinburgh Fringe Festival came to a final close on the 25th August, an international event held across the month of August where music and the arts are celebrated. The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is held during the Fringe festival and encompasses the best of military talent, alongside performances from an international cast.
Our Short Break Specialists Amy and Nicki were lucky enough to attend and they had an absolute blast!
Amy – “What a way to bring in the Edinburgh Fringe this year! As a local, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo isn’t something that I knew much about or felt the need to see. However, my mind has changed completely, I absolutely loved the whole experience! It’s a show for everybody with beautiful dancing, classic songs and of course the exceptional performances from the Military Forces. It really is something completely unique. I don’t know if it’s the sound of the bagpipes that got to me, but I felt very proud of my city for showcasing something so special. If you have the fortune of coming to Edinburgh during August, you must see the Tattoo!”
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Living It Up In Lisbon
Day 1
I was recently invited by the Portuguese Tourist Board to visit Lisbon for a 3 day showcase exploring the city and meeting various suppliers alongside other travel professionals from Europe and North America. It was my first time in Portugal and I was excited to visit one of Europe’s most picturesque capitals!
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Win a Luxury Nespresso Coffee Machine
Osprey Holidays are giving one lucky coffee lover the chance to win a luxury NESPRESSO Gran Lattissima Coffee Machine, worth over £350. This fantastic coffee maker will give you a real taste of Italy from the comfort of your own home (or the workplace, if you feel generous enough to share!).
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Amy’s Adventure in Belfast & Derry
I was lucky enough to be invited on a FAM trip hosted by Tourism Ireland and what an adventure it was!
Day 1:
I arrived at Belfast City Airport where I was met by a transfer to take me straight to the Titanic Museum. I wandered back into the past and learned about the industrial city in the late 19th Century, the lives lost during its construction and when the ship was fatally hit by the iceberg. It was a very moving experience, one I didn’t expect to feel quite so affected by, but when faced with the list of survivors compared to those lost, I would be surprised if anyone didn’t at least have a lump in their throat.
Afterwards, we headed up to the city of Derry/Londonderry to meet with the rest of the group and had a beautiful lunch at the Stitch & Weave restaurant, located in the newly renovated Ebrington Square. There are lots of exciting new things coming to this part of Derry which should continue to bring what was an old army barracks to life, whilst preserving it’s importance to Derry’s history.
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Two In One: Shona Explores Paris & Val d’Isere
I was lucky enough to attend a fabulous FAM trip hosted by Experimental Group. Experimental are currently in the midst of an exciting new project building the new Experimental Chalet Val d’Isere, which is due to open at the end of the year. For all ski related enquiries, our sister company, Ski Independence are on hand to help create the perfect ski holiday for your clients.
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Daria Visits Venice
I was lucky enough to explore the iconic city of Venice and meet some of our lovely new and existing partners. I arrived at Venice Marco Polo Airport early in the morning and took a bus no. 5 to Piazzale Roma and then a Vaporetto (water bus) no. 2 to San Marco. This is the quickest way to get to Venice by public transport, but I’d recommend taking an Alilaguna water bus (blue line) instead. It takes slightly longer, but it’s a direct water bus from the airport to Venice city centre so it’s much more comfortable, especially if you’re travelling with luggage.
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Must-See Attractions in Europe
Spanish Riding School, Vienna
For something a little different, the Spanish Riding School offer incredible performances named after the country of origin of the Lipizzan (or Lipizzaner), the breed of horse used exclusively at the school. Performances are showcased to the public every month and it’s also possible to watch the horses during morning exercise. Opt for the guided tour if you wish to visit The Stallburg imperial stables, one of Vienna’s most distinguished Renaissance buildings and learn more about the famous stallions.
Lisa and Stephanie’s Trip to Reykjavik
Day 1:
We arrived in Reykjavik later on in the evening where our transfer bus Gray Line was waiting for us. With a 50 minute journey into the centre we were well on our way to soak up the Icelandic culture. Arriving at the Fosshotel Reykjavik, we dumped our bags and headed back out for a bite to eat. We found a great little pizza stop called Devitos – definitely one of the best pizzas we’ve ever had!
Day 2:
It was an early start for us, so we enjoyed a hearty breakfast and headed to the coach for our first tour of the day, The Golden Circle. With a 6 hour tour ahead of us, we were excited to see the 3 main attractions that we had heard so much about from colleagues and friends. It was a 45 minute drive until we reached our first stop, Iceland’s National Park. The sun had just begun to rise as we arrived, giving amazing views over Lake Þingvallavatn with the stunning greenery around us.
Our second stop was the one we were most looking forward to out of the 3 attractions. From the National Park to The Geysirs the journey took 50 minutes. The Geysirs were incredible to witness with several at the beginning of the trail and the largest, geyser Strokkur, just a 5 minute walk up a gentle hill. The hot springs erupt every 5-8 minutes so it wasn’t long before the action happened right in front of our eyes. The wait in the cold was completely worth it – an experience neither of us have had the pleasure of seeing before.
This was our longest stop so we treated ourselves to Icelandic fish & chips for lunch. With full tummies all round, we set off for our third and final stop of the tour, the Gulfoss ‘Golden’ Waterfall, just 15 minutes along from the Geysirs. We decided to brave the stairs to the viewing platform and get as close as possible to the powerful falls. Let’s just say, we weren’t disappointed! The waterfall was stunning, almost like looking at a picture from a magazine.
Soon enough, the time had flown by and the temperatures had dropped; it was time to head back to the hotel. Arriving back into Reykjavik late afternoon, we had our first hotel visit of the trip, Fosshotel Reykjavik. As we were staying here, we already had a good idea of the facilities on offer. After our tour, we decided to check out the main shopping street Laugavegur, a 5-minute walk away. The Laugavegur is a long street lined with many shops, restaurants, and bars, ranging from tourist to high end. The street itself takes around 30 mins to walk from one end to the other.
After having dinner at the Fosshotel Reykjavik it was time to layer up in search of the Northern Lights. Unfortunately, it wasn’t our night and the lights didn’t make an appearance. Luckily with Reykjavik excursions you can book again every night for up to 2 years, so we booked again for the next day.
Day 3:
We started our 5 hotel visits, all within walking distance of each other. Each hotel had different personalities with unique characteristics. The hotel’s we visited were:
Hotel Holt – 4*
Center Hotel Plaza – 3*
Reykjavik Centrum -4*
Hotel Borg by Keahotels – 4*
Apotek by Keahotels – 4*
With our successful hotel visits completed, it was time to make our way back, grab our swimwear and head to the Sky Lagoon.
The Sky Lagoon
The lagoon was like stepping into a bath, exactly what we needed after our morning visits. The views across Reykjavik alone are out of this world, with the infinity ledge over looking the Atlantic ocean you could very well be in paradise. The swim up bar was a must because let’s face it…. who doesn’t want a picture holding a glass of fizz while floating in a natural lagoon surrounded by incredible nature!
The 7 step ritual is unique to the Sky Lagoon and we both managed 2 minutes in the cold plunge pool. For us the sauna was a much better ritual!
Back to Reykjavik we went for another hotel visit, the 5* Reykjavik Edition. We also had the pleasure of dining in the Tides restaurant, the food was out of this world. After dinner it was time to head back out to try to catch the Northern Lights! Despite conditions being better it just wasn’t meant to be. Nevermind, it’s a perfect excuse to return to Iceland…
Day 4:
More hotel visit visits for us to complete our trip. Each hotel was in a superb location and walkable to the main Laugavegur and each hotel was unique in its own way. We visited:
Fosshotel Raudara – 3*
Hotel Klettur – 3*
Sand Hotel by Keahotels – 4*
Sadly our time in Iceland was coming to an end, so we headed back to the airport for our flight home. Iceland, its been a blast!
To find out more about Lisa and Stephanie’s visit to Reykjavik or if you’re interested in a similar trip,
give the team a call on 0131 243 8098 or send us an email.
Diane Visits Helsinki and Arctic Lakeland
I was lucky enough to be invited on the FAM trip hosted by Visit Finland. Finland is not a country I’m familiar with, apart from knowing the capital is Helsinki and it’s the home of Santa Claus in Lapland! Over the course of the week I discovered there is so much more to this beautiful country.
Day 1
After a smooth flight I arrived in Helsinki late afternoon and was whisked off to my hotel. The airport is roughly 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre or there’s a train station at the airport that goes straight to Central Station. Everything was very well signposted.
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Louise and Amy Visit London & Paris!
Edinburgh to London
Having had a relaxing and surprisingly quick journey down from Edinburgh on the LNER train, being looked after by very attentive staff, we arrived in London mid-afternoon. Finding the underground was easy as it is situated right at King’s Cross and we arrived to the H10 London Waterloo Hotel in around half an hour. The reception provided us with a warm welcome and the added bonus of a refreshing drink!
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