Travel blog

  Your faces are fantastic. Here at HA, everything we do is focused around designing the very best holidays for you. It’s how we get our kicks. Our goal is always to design the holiday of your dreams, a trip that is everything you wished for – and so much more. So, you get all of the memories, with none of the stress. So, when we receive photos like these, you can bet we’re all smiles here at HA HQ. If you have any photos from your HA holiday that you’d be happy for us to share, do send them over – we’d be pleased as punch!   A small handful of our favourites from this year…   Anna and Joe exploring Spitzkoppe in Namibia Explore for yourself on this Classic Namibia Self-Drive adventure   The Burnetts cruising down Borneo’s Kinabatangan River Head to Borneo on your very own orangutan adventure   The Caseys exploring Vietnam’s Hoi An by bicycle Get on your bike on this Ultimate Vietnam holiday   The Mawson family running over the dunes and into the sunset on their Oman holiday Make your own memories next year on this Oman Family holiday   Ciaran and Jemma on honeymoon in South Africa (What a place to celebrate!) Have your own celebration on this Best of South Africa holiday   The Evans’ family channelling their inner Indiana Jones at the Bayon Temple in Cambodia Have you experienced the magic of Cambodia yet? 2 weeks to spare?     Alyson and Kate on their second HA trip to Morocco (sometimes a country is so special you can’t not return!) Fall in love with the country on this ‘Go Local in Morocco’ holiday   Sara and Dan on holiday in Costa Rica – all smiles after a surprise proposal! What a place to pop the question. Get back to nature in style on this Luxury Costa Rica holiday   The Waller family at the top of Pidurangula Rock in Sri Lanka Could Sri Lanka be your 2024 family adventure?     Will it be your smiling holiday snaps that make us chirpy this time next year? Travel is what we do and we’re never happier than when we’re designing completely bespoke, tailor-made adventures for you. So, give us a call on 01242 253 073 to chat about getting a holiday in the diary to look forward to. Because after all, there are few better feelings!  

When you book an  Oman holiday with us (or any holiday in fact), you’ll benefit from the first-hand knowledge and support of our incredible bunch of experts. Emma ‘Higgo’ Higgins – there she is below! – has been lucky enough to visit Oman a number of times over the years. So, if you want to know the best places to stay, where to go, and what’s best to skip – she’s ready to help. Below, Emma shares a handful of her top insider tips for your Oman holiday . And there are a lot more where these came from!   What to do in Oman: Emma’s insider tips Spot the turtles Seeing the nesting turtles often features on my clients’ wishlists for their Oman holidays . But, the best season for turtle nesting is between the months of April and the end of September, when Oman is sweltering. If you’re planning to visit outside of these months (when the temperature is much more bearable!), you can still spot them. Just because they’re not nesting doesn’t mean they’re not nearby! I once spotted one in the water from the coastal road between Muscat and Sur before. And I hugely recommend heading out on a snorkelling trip to the Daymaniyat Islands if you want to get up close to them. This is definitely one of my favourite full-day experiences offered in Oman – particularly if seeing marine life is top of the bill for you! As well as turtles, there are plenty of vibrantly colourful fish, rays and even whale sharks to swim amongst.   Get off the beaten track in Musandam The main draw of visiting Musandam is stepping off dry land and onto a dhow cruise , which is brilliant and hugely recommended. But, if you have a half-day free to play with, it would be a great idea to explore the lesser-visited interior of the peninsula on a half-day guided drive. This drive will take you to hidden parts of Oman that haven’t been touched for centuries. A true, off-the-beaten-track experience – and we love those here at HA!   Immerse yourself in Omani culture If authentic experiences and learning about Omani culture is high up your priority list (and why wouldn’t it be?), you need to make sure you head to the countryside and the mountains on your Oman holiday. It’s here that you’re going to find the most traditional examples of authentic culture and Omani living. Ancient Al Hamra Oman’s Hajar Mountains For something interactive, Bait al Safah is a traditional Omani house located in the Hajar Mountains, in the village of Al Hamra. It is now a living museum that showcases Omani heritage and culture. Bait al Safah has several rooms that display traditional Omani items such as clothing, jewellery, pottery, weapons, and musical instruments. Visitors can also watch live demonstrations of traditional crafts such as weaving, pottery making, as well as preparing bread and understanding how they extract oil from nuts.   Where to stay in Oman: Emma’s insider tips Where to stay in Muscat A lot of people want to stay at The Chedi in Muscat and I can’t blame them – it’s one of the most beautiful hotels in the city. However, for a high-end stay, it might surprise you that not many of the rooms have balconies. So, if you’re keen for some outside space (and perhaps even a lovely sea view), I’d recommend opting for a Serai Terrace Room – they have wonderful big balconies, perfect for unwinding on after a long day of exploring.   Treat yourself to a stay at the Anantara Jabal Akhdar, if you can! If you’re heading to the mountains (and you can stretch to it), I highly recommend factoring in a stay at the stunning Anantara Jabal Akhdar . Featured on BBC’s Life Beyond the Lobby programme, this place is really special, with stellar service and spectacular views over the canyon. It’s a treat for sure, but a worthy one. If you do stay, I’d make sure you opt for a Deluxe Canyon View room. These rooms are found on the first floor and have beautiful views across the canyon. In contrast, the Premier Canyon View rooms are all on the ground floor. This means your ‘canyon view’ is predominantly just the view of the cliff at your feet – and we can do better than that! If a stay at the Anantara is a little out of your budget range, you can still experience it! They take bookings in their restaurant, so if you’re staying elsewhere on the Jabal Akhdar you could always factor in a delicious dinner here as the sun sets over the canyon. Perfect.   Enjoy a truly authentic, mountain stay There are a couple of upmarket hotels in the mountains, but if you want something more Omani, there’s a guest house called The Sugwra in the heart of a ruined village that is just so special. The journey to get there is an experience in itself. You have to hike to reach it, and your luggage is sent across the valley on a zip wire (I doubt your suitcase has ever had more of an adventure!) When you make it though, your efforts will be rewarded with totally unique accommodation, and brilliant food too. It’s a real magical find nestled away in a remote corner of Oman that feels like it’s been carved right out of the cliffs.   So, there we have it, just a small snippet of Emma’s extensive Oman wisdom. If an authentic Arabian adventure is high on your holiday wishlist, do give her a call on 01242 253 073 or email her at [email protected] . She’s busy designing unforgettable holidays here throughout 2023 and yours could well be one of them.     Latest Posts 15 of our favourite holiday ideas Summer holiday ideas: Our team share their favourite summer itineraries The hibernation’s over: Canada holidays are back! The most popular destinations for 2025 so far Holiday quiz: Find your perfect 2025 holiday  

The Galapagos Islands , located off the coast of Ecuador, are a unique and spectacular destination, offering the chance to experience the incredible natural beauty and diversity of the area. With its stunning landscapes, amazing wildlife, and fascinating history, it’s not hard to see why the Galapagos Islands attract visitors from all over the world. Planning a trip to this remote and isolated archipelago can be a little daunting – with a whole host of options to choose from. And that’s where we come in! Dawn and Lou, our wonderful Galapagos experts, have a host of first-hand experience exploring these incredible Islands (and the befriending the local wildlife, too!) Below, Dawn shares 10 of her top tips for your Galapagos holiday : Why you’ll love it, when to go, what to pack and things to bear in mind while you’re there!     Why you need to go to the Galapagos Islands “Few things in life are as special as sharing an adventure you’ll never forget with the ones you love… Enter the Galapagos Islands! One of my favourite places on earth, a Galapagos holiday is sure to be a journey of discovery for all ages. It’s the perfect adventure for families looking to enjoy exploring a whole new world of landscapes and wildlife together. There are so many experiences on offer: Head off on a nature walk, try your hand at sea kayaking and explore the many hiking trails. The Galapagos also offers some of the best snorkelling opportunities in the whole world. Half of the islands’ wildlife is found the water line – so be sure to spend some time away from dry land! Swimming with playful young sea lions is one of my very favourite Galapagos memories. It’ll never leave me. A huge part of visiting these special islands is knowing that you’re contributing to their future through the park fees. You’ll come to see its beauty, but you’ll leave with an understanding of just how fragile the Galapagos Islands are and a seriously strong desire to help protect them.”   Explore it all on this 12 day Family Galapagos holiday     Here are 10 top tips from our Dawn, to help make sure you get the very best out of your Galapagos holiday.   1. Choose the right time to visit The Galapagos Islands have a unique climate, with two distinct seasons: the warm, rainy season from December to May, and the cool, dry season from June to November. The best time to visit depends on what you’re most hoping to see, really. If you’re interested in seeing the famous giant tortoises, visit between July and December. If you want to see sea turtles hatching, visit between December and March. And if you want to see whale sharks, visit between June and November.   2. Book your trip early The Galapagos Islands are such a special place. To keep them protected, there are limits in place for how many tourists can visit in any season. So, we recommend that it’s best to book a Galapagos exploration between six months and one year in advance. If you have a specific itinerary, boat, lodge, hotel, or room category in mind though, the further in advance you book, the better. We’ll always do what we can to secure it for you!   Sample the magic on this 9 day Galapagos Taster holiday     3. Make your choice: Cruise or dry land? One of the next decisions you’ll need to make is whether you want to head off on a cruise, stay on dry land, or a combination of both!  We can talk through the pros and cons of each option with you and help to come up with a Galapagos adventure that’ll be perfect for you.     4. Respect the wildlife One of the most important Galapagos travel tips is to respect the animals and their natural habitat while visiting. Keep your distance, don’t use your camera’s flash, and do not touch or feed the wildlife.   Adventure in style on this Luxury Galapagos adventure   5. Pack cleverly! When packing for your trip to the Galapagos Islands, it’s important to remember that the climate can be unpredictable. Don’t forget to bring plenty of sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses to protect yourself from the strong equatorial sun. Also, make sure you pack comfortable walking shoes (break them in before your trip!), a waterproof jacket, and insect repellent.     6. Follow the official rules The Galapagos National Park Directorate created a list of official park rules for all travellers to abide by. These are all written with the intention of protecting this unique place and the wildlife that calls it home. The most important of these guidelines are to always respect your environment, stay with your guide, walk only on the marked trails and to leave no trace of your visit on the islands. Also, always be sure to follow the instructions of your guide – their priority will always be to preserve this amazing natural wonder for future generations.   7. Watch your step Even though there are designated paths, this generally does not stop the animals from passing through or sometimes resting along the trail. Also, keep an eye out for uneven terrain and be sure to hold on tight when stepping on or off the dinghy.   Be wowed by the wildlife of Ecuador and the Galapagos   Galapagos sea lions bathing in the last sunlight at the beach of Espanola island   8. Be alert (and keep your camera handy!) A Galapagos trip is all about the wildlife! Keep your eyes (and ears) open for your chance to spot some incredible and unique creatures. Have your cameras ready in case that perfect shot presents itself. You never know when a seal lion might strike a pose or a Blue-footed boobie might turn up.   Find out what more the Galapagos Islands have to offer   Blue-footed Boobie     9. Explore the water Take advantage of the water activities as underwater exploration presents unforgettable opportunities to swim with an abundance of marine wildlife, including whale sharks, the world’s biggest fish, as well as friendly sea lions!   Spend 12 days island hopping around the wildlife-filled islands     10. Be prepared for the unexpected Despite careful planning, unexpected events can still happen. In the event of bad weather, cancellations, or other unforeseen circumstances, it’s important to be flexible and prepared to adjust your itinerary.     In conclusion, a trip to the Galapagos Islands truly is an experience of a lifetime – it deserves a place on your holiday wishlist! By following these top tips for your Galapagos holiday, you’ll make sure that you make the most of your time in this unique and captivating destination. From selecting the right time of year to visit and planning where to stay, to choosing the best activities and respecting the local wildlife. These tips will help you have a safe, enjoyable, and unforgettable adventure in the Galapagos. So pack your bags, get ready to explore, and prepare to be amazed by the wonders of this extraordinary archipelago. Get in touch with Dawn or Lou, our Galapagos experts, on 01242 253 073 to start planning your getaway today.     Latest Posts 15 of our favourite holiday ideas Summer holiday ideas: Our team share their favourite summer itineraries The hibernation’s over: Canada holidays are back! The most popular destinations for 2025 so far Holiday quiz: Find your perfect 2025 holiday  

Jordan is famous for its ancient history, excellent hospitality, world wonders like the Dead Sea and Petra and its magnificent desert scenery, but what if we told you Jordan is also one of the Middle East’s finest culinary centres? Experience a foodie awakening while on your  holidays in Jordan . Indulge in lip-smacking traditional cuisine made with fantastically fresh ingredients – a cuisine that dates back thousands of years. If you enjoy sampling new flavours while you travel, Jordan might be the perfect place for you. Whether you embark on a tasting tour of Amman’s street food, try out new skills in the kitchen during a cooking lesson or learn about the country’s wine production at a vineyard, there are plenty of opportunities to explore Jordan’s varied gastronomy. Combined with sightseeing and a dose of adventure , sampling the food of Jordan is sure to feature favourably on your holiday highlight reel. From the humble chickpea to rich meat stews, read on to discover our favourite Jordan food and drink. Street eats The best way to get to know a country’s traditional cuisine is often to head to a street market, and sample the wares alongside the resident population. You may have already heard of kofta and kebabs, but there’s much more than traditional fast food to Jordan’s quick street eats. Amman is a fantastic place to try Jordan street food. Stalls are piled high with bread and falafel, sweet roasted nuts. The many shawarma dens give off an intoxicating aroma that permeates the tangle of streets. Mezze is a key part of street eating. Pick up sizzling flatbreads stuffed with falafel, bowls of fava beans swimming in olive oil and tender kebabs. These are best all enjoyed together to sample the variety of flavours. No holidays in Jordan would be complete without sampling the world famous falafel. In fact, many Jordanians will attest that their falafel is the best in the Middle East. We can heartily agree: light and fluffy on the inside, crispy on the outside, with mouth-watering flavours of cumin, garlic and parsley. Jordan is also one of the largest producers of olives in the world. An  excellent snack or side dish as well as providing flavour to many main dishes. All meals are completed with a little something sweet. You can grab a slice of baklava or sugar-syrup drenched kanafeh, a soft cheese with a crumbly orange-scented semolina crust. Unearthing Zarb cuisine Zarb cuisine is the food of the Bedouin, the nomadic people of the Middle East; the cooking practice is full of drama and can definitely be classed as ‘slow food’ – it can take as long as several hours to cook, but it’s definitely worth the wait. Because of their roaming lifestyle the Bedouin people keep cooking equipment to a minimum, so every item is precious: using the land, they are able to cook their meals underground in a hot oven using embers from the campfire. During Zarb cooking, lamb or chicken with a mix of vegetables and herbs wrapped in palm leaves and cooked in an iron pot with a heavy lid, and then buried in the sand. The low, slow cooking process means the meat falls off the bone; it’s succulent and delicious. You can sample traditional Zarb cooking while on your holidays in Jordan , with the Bedouin in and around Wadi Rum. Mansaf: the national dish Mansaf is celebrated as Jordan’s national dish. Traditionally served on a large platter, it’s designed for communal eating among families and friends. Tender chunks of meat are layered between thin flatbreads and served alongside piles of aromatic rice, toasted nuts and a tangy yogurt sauce called jameed. The dish also originates in the Bedouin kitchen, so the recipe varies across the Middle East, appearing in home cooking from Israel to Iraq. Restaurants usually serve mansaf made with lamb or chicken, but you might also find it made with camel meat. Another classic Jordanian dish is maqluba. Often made at home, it’s a jumble of chicken, rice and vegetables inverted on the plate like a cake (the word maqluba means ‘upside down’). World-class wine While alcohol is available across Jordan the variety is not huge. However, beer is brewed in the country and equally fruit juices are deliciously fresh. But Levantine wines are growing in popularity and Jordan’s fledgling wine production is the best accompaniment to its cuisine. So don’t fear, you’ll still be able enjoy a tipple while on your holidays in Jordan . There are also choices from slightly further afield. Many restaurants now offering labels from the mature wineries of the nearby Lebanon. While staying in Amman, make a trip north of the city to the St George Winery . Here, you can take a tour of the vineyards and learn about the production process. Vegetarian paradise Vegetarians will find plenty to satisfy their taste buds while on their holidays in Jordan ; the foundation of many beloved Jordanian dishes begins with the humble chickpea. Whether deep fried into delicious balls of crunchy falafel (best stuffed into a flatbread with spicy dressing) or whipped into a creamy hummus, probably one of the best know Levantine dishes. Wherever you order it you’ll find the taste subtly varies depending on the ratio of lemon juice and olive oil – and just about every restaurant in the country offers it. For a different texture, give fattet hummus a try, which is made with white bread. It has a deliciously whipped texture and is lighter than the regular version. Another Jordanian favourite ingredient is Aubergine, which are widely used in Jordanian cooking too. Why not try muttabal (garlic-roasted aubergines) or a bowl of thick, smooth baba ghanoush with slices of bread for a light lunch, or with a side of herby tabbouleh. Taking tea Tea, particular of the mint variety, is drunk in astounding quantities across Jordan. Traditionally, the beverage is very sweet and often flavoured with aromatic sage. When visiting a Bedouin camp, you may be invited to share a drink with the people. This is traditionally served in tiny ornate glasses, but beware – you may find yourself receiving infinite refills, unless you signal your satisfaction by placing your hand over the glass. If coffee is more your cup of, well, tea, you may find it to be considerably more aromatic than it is at home. Syrupy sweet, Jordanian coffee is rich and made with ground cardamom. If you delight in trying new flavours or are wanting to be more adventurous with your palate, Jordan’s fresh and tasty cuisine is the perfect place to start. Whether you opt to take a cooking class while on your holidays in Jordan or decide to embark on a full-on tour of the country’s culinary landscape, our experts can help. Contact our resident expert Catherine who will be more than happy to share her favourite dishes and places to eat. She’ll also be able to help you build your perfect holiday to Jordan.  

As we all adapt to a world of lockdowns, home-schooling, and contactless grocery deliveries, we’re living through the biggest change to lives for many generations.  Covid-19 has impacted everyone and every industry in different ways. In the travel industry, at a time when travel is at a standstill, the impact is just too great to ignore. But, we are still here, staying strong, and working together as a team to keep the Holiday Architect’s flag flying. Adapting to grow stronger In times of adversity, we must adapt to survive. So, just like the African chameleon changes the colour of its skin under threat, we are temporarily changing our form to ensure our strength and survival. In what is our tenth year of designing fantastic holidays, in order to ensure we are best-placed to operate for ten years more, we are going to be taking advantage of the government’s Covid-19 job retention scheme. So, while travel demand is significantly lower than usual, we’re able to give some of our team a well-earned rest, ready to come back stronger in a few months’ time when holidays will be more welcome than ever before. What this means for your holidays So, what does this mean for you? Well, we’ll still be the same old Holiday Architects. Now more than ever, having a holiday in the pipeline to look forward to and plan is so important. So we’ll still be here for our valued clients, ready to discuss anything related to your future trip. Similarly, if you don’t have any travel planned yet and want to have a chat about getting something in diary for the future — or even just a natter about how isolation is treating you — we’re here. We will simply be a more streamlined team of experts, still dedicated to designing your holidays. The same ethos, same dedication, same first-hand knowledge, just a smaller team for the time being. If you have a trip booked with us and your specialist is being furloughed, all holiday details will be carefully handed over to an equally experienced member of the team. You will still have your own dedicated travel specialist ready to support you 24/7 to the high standard you would expect from Holiday Architects. You may also notice a few less social media posts, magazines, or email newsletters hitting your inbox. But, we’ll continue to inform and inspire in equal measure just as much as we are able over these strange weeks, until the time comes when the rest of our fantastic team can return to join the Team HA ranks. The world keeps turning… We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, our wonderful world keeps on spinning and we will all get through these uncertain times together. We are determined that Holiday Architects will be designing holidays for another ten years and beyond and can’t wait to take you on that journey with us. So, as we knuckle down and focus on getting over this hurdle, let’s look forward to the time when normality will return and our world will be ripe for exploring once more.

  So, here it is, the traditional New Year newsletter from the company founder. Perhaps you’re expecting to read about the exciting travels we’ve taken as a team this year, or the awards we’ve won. Typically, you’d expect me to be hitting key messages around our service, our knowledge, and the fact that we genuinely tailor-make your holiday so it’s perfect just for you. However, we’ve done a lot of reflection on who we are over the last year – and some of you will have been involved in that process, feeding back as part of focus groups (thank you again if you did). Frankly, if I were to tell you about our service, knowledge, and ability to tailor holidays, this would look like a letter from any of the other travel companies we compete with. And I believe that if we didn’t offer these three things, then we’d never have got off the start line as a company. So, I want to focus instead on what I believe we do differently from everyone else. What you, our amazing clients, told us this year was that the relationship you have with your HA Destination Manager whilst planning your trip is a key component of the success of the trip, and something that marks us out from the crowd. Trying to understand why this might be, I think we’re like you: we’re interested in the world around us, we’ve got a bit of experience under our belt and can’t wait to add to it, and (if I say so myself) we’re a lovely bunch of people! So, diving in further, I thought I’d let you in on a few things I’ve learned about the team this year.   We’re a talented bunch, with three of us having been members of NAGTY as kids (the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth); and based on the Christmas songs we all penned for our Christmas party, a few of us could have had alternative careers in the music industry! We have very eclectic tastes in dog names – there’s a Lyra, a Caesar, a Milo, an Indie and a Yogi. We love our sport – there are American football fans and loyal supporters of local rugby clubs, and we also love a range of other pursuits, from flower arranging, to creative writing and learning Japanese. We’re constantly setting and participating in company quizzes, and – as a result – would make an unbeatable pub quiz team! We also care about the world around us – some of the most interesting, engaging and, yes, occasionally heated discussions we’ve had as a team are around ensuring our holidays are meaningful whilst also looking to mitigate our impact on the environment. Something else we do differently here is that the Destination Managers you speak to when planning your holidays are in total control of what they sell and how they sell it. There isn’t a central department or a line manager dictating this to them. They choose the hotels and excursions, they have direct relationships with all our suppliers, and they write all of the website and quote text you read. They’ve been really busy this year coming up with exciting, new, and interesting ways for you to experience our favourite destinations. We’ve pioneered our Go Local suggested itineraries , which are the product of the aforementioned discussions about meaningful travel. We believe it’s meeting local people, in an authentic and unscripted way, is what gives travel a lot of its meaning. And so, these Go Local itineraries (conceived by the wonderful Emma, our Sustainability Lead, and put in place for Morocco , Oman , Costa Rica and Jordan by her, Dawn and Cat) are full of activities that get you meeting the locals behind the invisible barriers that tourism can put up. Off the back of a wonderful brainstorming session in October, Lou has put together an entirely new excursion in Costa Rica exploring the Caribbean coast of the country, using local guides and including time spent with the indigenous communities.   Erin has completely overhauled the Borneo website, including creating the Culture, Caves, and Jungle suggested itinerary . Of course, it includes all the major highlights (not least the famous orangutans!), but you’re also going to dive into the wonderful city of Kuching where Indian and Chinese cultures fuse into something very unique (and with amazing cuisine!) as well as hanging out with Iban tribes in the jungle . They used to be head-hunters, but that is thankfully a thing of the past now! I’m a bit biased because I spent part of my childhood in Sarawak, where much of this itinerary is based, but this is without doubt a holiday I will be enjoying at some point.   Like Erin, Dawn is always beyond inspired by her beloved Peru, and has completely refreshed the Peru website. Her favourite new addition is a suggested itinerary which spends time with indigenous tribes at Lake Titicaca , gets you involved in conservation efforts for the condors at Colca Canyon , and of course, includes Machu Picchu . But, it doesn’t include the well-known Pisac market, dropping that in favour of the much more colourful but much less-known Chinchero market . I love all of these ideas and innovations. They are a wonderful encapsulation of what we set out to do here at HA: to explore countries in a way that definitely covers the highlights, but also has lots of really thoughtful touches – ways to engage with and understand the local cultures and people. They are also driven completely by the team themselves: Destination Managers who are passionate and fascinated by the countries they are responsible for, and are always striving for the best way to share that passion and fascination with you.   So, if you’re talking to Erin about including a Kuching city tour in your Borneo trip, you know that she worked with our local agents to put that tour together, and it’s been her project from start to finish. You now also know that she has a dog called Caesar and is a dab hand at flower arranging, amongst many other talents – you really are in the best of hands! This is true of all the team here, wherever you’re planning to go in 2024, and whoever you work with here at HA to make those plans a reality, you’re going to have a lot of fun during that process, and have the most amazing holiday too. Wishing you all the best for a fantastic year, we hope we’ll be a part of making it a special one! Best wishes Andy Hunt  

 A message from our Founder, Andy “I’d originally intended to send this message out between Christmas and New Year, those idle days filled with turkey risotto and alcoholic chocolates – that you’d never eat any other time of year! But, there were so many uncertainties around travel that I thought it best to delay it until we knew more about Omicron and ongoing restrictions. And now, for good reason, I’m very glad I did. Great news for travel What we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks has been great news for your eagerly-anticipated holidays. The travel testing requirements that had been imposed to deal with Omicron have been lifted, and the government really do appear determined to avoid further restrictions. We’ve also seen a big corresponding increase in those of you getting in touch to talk travel plans than at any point since the pandemic began, which we’re beyond delighted about! This all means we can get on with what we know and love: designing amazing holidays for you. We’re here to help We appreciate that travel is a little more complex than pre-pandemic, but this is where we can really help. We are continuing to monitor the entry requirements for our destinations and can navigate these for you, dealing with any stresses so you don’t have to. We’re also able to offer advice at all stages, whether it be what to look for in your travel insurance policy – something that has become extremely important as travel reopens – or just to put your mind at ease should any worries arise. As they say though, don’t just take my word for it! Towards the end of last year I was lucky enough to go to the Wanderlust Readers Travel Awards, where we were recognised in the top 8 for our response to the pandemic – a panel of judges assessed how travel firms had dealt with their clients, staff, and suppliers, something we’re really proud of. Holidays are back Thankfully we were able to get a lot of clients away on their long-awaited holidays in the latter part of last year, and several of them have been kind enough to post reviews on Trustpilot. What has shone through every time we’ve spoken to a returning client is just how excited and thrilled our guides, drivers, and hoteliers have been to welcome them back again. I’d also like to thank all those clients who have postponed their trips, we’re so grateful for the faith you’ve shown in us and can’t wait to repay you with some outstanding holiday memories. I’ll sign off with belated festive greetings – thanks for all your support over the last couple of years, and I’m really excited about the prospect of a wonderful year’s travelling ahead of us!” Andy Hunt, HA Founder   “ A love of sharing our country with travellers from around the world is why I do what I do. Jordan is the destination for a true voyage of discovery and a real daring adventure, and it’s so heart-warming to see visitors and normality returning again.” Sufian, one of our wonderful local guides in Jordan Sufian Need to get away? Here are 5 holiday itinerary ideas to get your travel temptations tingling…   Go for: Niagara Falls, Whistler, British Columbia and t he Rocky Mountains. Read more > Go for: Quieter national parks, cloud forests, waterfalls & wildlife. Read more > Go for: Cities, mountains, desert, bustling souks, and beaches. Read more > Go for: Sweeping desert, wild coastlines, rugged mountains & diverse wildlife. Read more > Go for: Natural wonders, incredible adventures, Maori culture and glaciers. Read more>  

A note from our founder, Andy  “This week, we marked the 11th birthday of Holiday Architects. Last year, our 10th birthday, was originally planned to be a big celebration of all we’d achieved in the preceding decade – growth, nice new offices, and of course many, many very happy clients with amazing holiday memories. Instead we found ourselves in a battle for survival, along with the rest of the travel industry, dealing with the complete shutdown of international travel, a scenario even the most pessimistic of industry leaders had never planned for. So, whilst we did put out a short note recognising our 10th birthday, I felt it wasn’t really appropriate to be popping champagne corks and breaking out the bunting. A year on, and the picture is much brighter. I think we’ve all seen enough of Covid to know that I’d be foolish to say the travel industry is completely out of the woods yet. But, with the (long-overdue) simplification of travel regulations and the recognition that travel can be undertaken safely, announced last week, there is now a clear light at the end of the tunnel. For the first time since March 2020, I feel we can plan for the future with confidence again. As you’ll have seen in our updates recently, we’ve just had our first set of clients travel since the pandemic hit; I can’t tell you how good that feels. The team here have been incredible over the last 18 months, ensuring we’ve kept in touch with you and postponing holidays to ensure you have had something to look forward to when the situation improves. But, we’ve been unable to do what we all really love: working with you to design new holidays and getting you away on those fantastic trips to experience new cultures, visit new sites, relax in new environments, and build new memories. So we’re all thrilled to be doing that again, and it’s happy serendipity that it coincides with our birthday and the major easing of travel restrictions. Celebrating “round” milestones (, 10th, 20th etc) is all fairly arbitrary – I think that based on our experience of the last two years, I’ll be celebrating 11th anniversaries and birthdays with much more vigour in the future. HA’s 11th birthday does feel like it marks the beginning of our recovery from the pandemic, and I think the next chapter, as we rebuild, will be as exciting and enjoyable as any period since I first opened the doors on 17th September 2010. I can’t wait to see where it takes us, and I’m delighted to have you – our wonderful clients – coming with us on the journey!”   Andy, HA Founder     With recent news sounding much more optimistic for the travel industry (and your holidays), we now have a list of tempting destinations that you can book to travel to right now! So do give us a call on 01242 253 073 to talk all things holidays. In search of some holiday inspiration? Below are a few of the destinations you can book to travel to with HA right now…   * We’re so chuffed that Sri Lanka has been moved to the ‘clear’ list. However, due to current restrictions in the country, we’d recommend looking at departures towards the end of the year.

We hope you’ve eaten more Union Jack-covered cupcakes and danced under more bunting than you can count already this weekend! We couldn’t let the bank holiday fly by without a nod of some kind to the Jubilee celebrations now could we? So, for a bit of fun, below are a selection of experiences you can have in red, white, and blue places around our wonderful world. (Okay, some of the ‘reds’ are ever-so-slightly orange, but we tried!) How many have you experienced? If you need something in the diary to look forward to once the long weekend of festivities are over, do give our team a call on 01242 253 073 or email us here .  Filling your diaries with exciting adventures is what we do!   ???? Discover the vast beauty of Chile’s Valley of the Moon in the Atacama Desert   ⚪ Take a mountain bike adventure to the Maras Inca salt mines in Peru   ???? Experience weightlessness with a bob in the Dead Sea, Jordan     ???? Pinch yourself as the red safari sun sets over the plains of Kruger National Park in South Africa   ⚪ Challenge yourself to an icy trek on Argentina’s Perito Moreno Glacier     ???? Float under a sea of living blue stars in New Zealand’s famous glowworm caves   ???? Walk under the thousands of torii gates of the Fushimi Inari Shrine in Kyoto, Japan   ⚪ Learn about Omani culture at the impressive Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, Muscat   ???? Formed by 6000+ years of erosion, cruise into the blues of Chile’s Marble Caves   ???? Trek through a world of reds and oranges in Jordan’s Wadi Rum desert   ⚪ Hike beneath the dunes through the otherworldly white pans of Namibia’s Dead Vlei     ???? Dive into the clearest turquoise waters on a luxury break in the Maldives   ???? Take a helicopter flight over the iconic firey drops of the Grand Canyon   ⚪ Step into a snow-covered fairytale village at Shirakawago in Japan   ???? Sip on a refreshing mint tea amidst hues of blue in Chefchaouen, Morocco