Travel Explorer Magazine Issue 5

TRAVEL EXPLORER 

Issue 05| Winter / Spring 2019

Photo: Petra by Candlelight, Lost City of Petra, Jordan (read more on page 38). 

EDITORS 

Oliver & Nathan 

Directors, RB Collection 

Welcome to our fifth edition of Travel Explorer. The theme of this issue is ‘thinking outside 

the box’, and we hope our travel reports and features will inspire you to try somewhere new 

for your next holiday. Our team have been busy travelling to keep updated with the latest 

hotels and destinations around the world. Sam took his first safari holiday to South Africa, 

whilst Nicola toured Vietnam, Oliver explored Cambodia, Nathan visited Sardinia, Morocco 

and Fuerteventura and Kirsty enjoyed Verona & Malta. We appreciate the value of first-hand 

knowledge and advice when booking with us and we look forward to sharing this with you. 

We hope you enjoy the issue and look forward to creating your next holiday memories. 

CREDITS 

Robbie Sinclair 

Fashion & Travel Trend Forecaster, Robbie helps 

keep our magazine looking smart and on trend, 

adding his own modern take on the industry we 

work in. robbiesinclair.com 

Kirsty Taylor 

With 17 years at RB under her belt, who else could 

be in a better position to oversee quality control 

of our projects. 

Special thanks: 

Oceania Cruises, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven 

Seas Cruises & Great Rail Journeys. 

Front cover photo: 

A remote temple in a secret location, away from 

the crowds in Siem Reap, Cambodia. Taken by 

Oliver, December 2018. 

Published by: 

RB Collection 

2 Boley Park Centre 

Lichfield, Staffs, WS14 9XU 

01543 258631 

vip@rbcollection.com 

www.rbcollection.com 

www.icehotels.co.uk 

www.jordanholidays.co.uk 

www.sportseventstravel.co.uk 

Facebook/rbcollectionuk 

Instagram: @rb_collectionpix 

Twitter: @rb_collection 

RB Collection Ltd has taken all reasonable care to ensure that the 

information contained in this magazine is accurate on the stated date of 

publication or last modification. It is possible that the information may 

be out of date, incomplete or the opinion of the author. It is advisable 

that you verify any information from this magazine before relying on it. 

RB Collection Ltd accepts no responsibility for the consequences of error 

or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information and 

material contained in this magazine or any site you may access through 

this magazine. Materials contained on this magazine are subject to 

copyright and other proprietary rights. 

Copyright © 2019 RB Collection Ltd.

13 15 

34 36 41 

CONTENTS 

5 

8 

13 

18 

INSPIRATION 

Our Directors give their take on 

the developing travel habits and 

suggest thinking outside the box. 

YOUR PHOTOS 

We have a winner! Plus it’s time to 

vote in our Travel Photograph of 

the Year competition. 

ANDREA BOCELLI 

It’s a busy year for our favourite 

tenor. Keep updated on his 

Tuscany, Sicily and Malta events. 

TRIED & TESTED 

Our team of travel experts report 

from Verona, Italy, Vietnam, Malta 

& South Africa. 

26 

34 

36 

41 

CAMBODIA 

We take a fresh look behind this 

fascinating country, away from 

the main tourist trail to really 

experience what it has to offer. 

SILK ROAD 

Inspired by Joanna Lumley’s latest 

television documentary, learn 

about the various opportunities to 

travel to these unique destinations. 

NORTHERN 

LIGHTS 

Read our top tips to make the most 

of your trip to Scandinavia. 

CUBA 

Expert tips and advice on why now 

is a great time to visit Cuba, and 

how to enjoy the island to its full 

potential.

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CREATE A MEMORY 

Our Directors, Nathan & Oliver, explore the changing attitudes towards holidays and offer their take on thinking outside 

the box, multi-generation trips, annual travel calendar planning and technological advancements. 

There is no denying good old-fashioned service remains at 

the heart of our company. At the same time, we enjoy keeping 

ahead of changing travel trends and new technology, to offer 

fresh services to our clients. We explore this further through 

looking at the modern travellers changing attitudes towards 

holidays, and look back at where, and how, our traditional 

values are more relevant today, than ever before. 

There have been a number of interesting books published 

in recent years about living life on ‘auto-pilot’. Chris Barez- 

Brown’s ‘Wake up’ (2016) provides easy, practical tips on 

how to break the norm by thinking outside the box. This 

action can trigger your brain to create refreshing, happy and 

positive thoughts, followed by a real sense of satisfaction 

and fulfilment. This can easily be applied to the holidays we 

choose. For example, we recognise there is great comfort 

and and a feeling of nostalgia when revisiting the same resort 

year after year. However, there could be a great opportunity 

to break the routine by trying something new and feel even 

more satisfied than before. 

We are not suggesting you suddenly take up skiing if you 

have only ever been on a beach holiday, or that you should 

decide to jump out of an airplane over the Grand Canyon, 

unless you want to of course! They could just be subtle 

differences to your normal holiday plans that have a big 

impact. Changing weather patterns, over-development of 

resorts, economic factors etc, can also turn a much-loved 

destination to somewhere less enjoyable than it once was. We 

are here to help, and take pride getting to know our clients. 

We will have a few ideas up our sleeves when you are ready, 

or in need of a refreshing change. Hopefully, this latest issue 

will inspire your next holiday decision to try something new. 

Maximising our time away with family is an increasingly 

important factor when planning holidays, particularly for 

multi-generation families. Co-ordinating grandparents, 

parents, grandchildren and even great-grandchildren 

can seem like a daunting task. Our many years of crafting 

memorable holidays, combined with our development of 

new products really comes into its own here. We appreciate 

different generations expect and enjoy different aspects 

of holidays. For example, the younger members of the 

family may be more interested in where the pool is or the 

connectivity options for their gadgets, mum & dad might 

like to know about where they can relax, whilst grandma and 

grandpa may want to make the most of the quality time with 

everyone, but also keep the peace! We have been integrating 

a number of ‘bucket-list’ destinations such as Machu Picchu 

in Peru, the Canadian Rockies and even an African Safari 

where the family had the whole camp to themselves. Our 

flexibility and experience is key to help keep everyone happy. 

We also recognise there is a new generation of traveller we 

need to cater for, and despite earlier research suggesting 

technology is their main requirement, we have noticed 

service levels and time saving are important to our younger 

clients too. Today, you can quickly find out how much it 

should cost to get from A to B, but can you put a price on 

these special holiday memories you will create when you get 

to ‘B’? Technology is still a priority for many and is something 

we don’t shy away from. Some of our travel documents are 

available on your smart phone via an App and we offer more 

ways to communicate with us at a time that suits you. We are 

confident our flexibility and high levels of service will appeal 

to this new generation of travellers. There are also those who 

want to detach from technology and our new collection of 

‘Digital Detox’ holidays are a great way to do just that! 

Why not make 2019 the year of trying new things. Let us 

inspire you to venture out of your comfort zone and create 

lifelong memories. 

Nathan & Oliver, Directors 

A TRIBUTE TO A SPECIAL COLLEAGUE 

We are all very saddened to hear that our former colleague, 

Dave Archer, passed away at the start of the year. Dave was 

a great character and a passionate traveller who inspired 

us all very much. He had a particular love for culturally rich 

destinations such as India, Africa, and the Middle East and 

helped us develop our business in these areas over a number 

of years. Dave’s sense of humour always brought smiles 

around the office and there were endless jokes and special 

moments to be had. Thank you Dave for all you brought to the 

company and our lives, we are so grateful for the memories. 

Alan, Oliver, Nathan and all the team at RB Collection. 

5 | RB COLLECTION | TRAVEL EXPLORER

NAME THAT CITY... 

ANSWER ON PAGE 46 



WE HAVE A WINNER! 

Congratulations to Mr Adams and his son William who are the winners of our 2017 Travel Photo Competition, and the 

recipient of a £250 RB Holiday Voucher. 

Above photograph by: Gavin Adams in Lapland: ‘This photo of my son William was taken at the top of a mountain on the last day of the 

trip where we went tobogganing. The trip organised through yourselves was truly magical and one we will never forget!’ 

New entries on right-hand page and on page 44. 


VOTE NOW... 

The entries are in and we invite you to vote for your 

favourite Travel Photograph of the Year. The full 

selection can be found at www.rbcollection.com/photo. 

This year the winner will receive a £250 RB Holiday 

Voucher. Two runners up will receive a £100 RB voucher 

each. Plus, everyone who votes will have their name 

placed into the hat to win one of three £50 RB Holiday 

Vouchers. Please do take part and select your favourite 

photograph from the wonderful selection. Voting is open 

until 31st July 2019. Vote online at www.rbcollection.com/ 

photo. Good luck everyone! 


TRAVEL STYLE 

Fashion trend forecaster Robbie Sinclair highlights the key travel essentials for this season 

Inspired by the bold patterns and vibrant culture seen on Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure, we highlight the key 

printed items for your own dream holiday. Rescuing hair care and soothing face mists will help keep you cool and nourished 

and exotic florals will keep you looking chic and stylish. 

1 2 

3 

4 

5 

6 


1. Joanna Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure DVD, £12.99, Amazon 

2. Floral silk crepe de chine robe, £595, We Are Leone 

3. Printed silk scarf, £145, Dolce & Gabbana 

4. Hydrogel face masks, £50, Erno Laszlo 

5. Calming lavender mist, £32, Kora Organics 

6. Tassel sandals, £385, Christian Louboutin 

7. Printed twill shirt, £255, You As 

8. Silk jacquard cushion, £150, Liberty London 

9. Travel card holder, £65, Liberty London 

10. Printed swim shorts, £145, Frescobol Carioca 

11. Tortoiseshell sunglasses, £480, Jacques Marie Mage 

12. Detox hair travel kit, £37, Christophe Robin 

7 

8 

9 10 

11 

12 


TRAVEL TRENDS 

Words by Nathan 

2019 is an exciting year in travel with a number of events, and cultural 

shifts affecting the popularity and interests of different destinations. 

ENRICHING, FULFILLING EXPERIENCES 

Travellers are increasingly wanting to have more enriching 

experiences, whilst feeling safe and secure when doing so. 

USA: DEEP SOUTH 

With direct flights to New Orleans, 

Nashville and now also Memphis, the 

Deep South is increasing in popularity. A 

memorable option is to explore the area 

onboard a traditional Steamboat. This 

relaxed way of travelling adds a unique 

element to explore this culturally rich 

part of the USA. 

rbcollection.com/usa 

JAPAN 

2019 will be a popular year for Japan as 

they play host to the Rugby World Cup. 

This will no doubt place a spotlight on 

this already popular destination. Cherry 

Blossom season is the most popular time 

to visit. We are already taking bookings for 

2020 and it will no doubt sell out fast. 13 

day tour with flights starts from £4,299pp. 

rbcollection.com/japan 

SRI LANKA 

Voted by Lonely Planet as the world’s 

top destination to visit in 2019, Sam is 

our resident Sri Lanka specialist. Make 

use of Sam’s first hand expertese having 

visited the island himself. 14 day escorted 

tour in 4 & 5* hotels, with flights and 

comprehensive tour programme from 

only £1,795 per person. 

rbcollection.com/srilanka 


ANDREA BOCELLI 2019 

Described as one of the best tenors of 

our time, Andrea Bocelli has a busy year 

ahead with a number of special events 

around the world. Here is a summary 

of our favourites. All are expected to be 

very popular so early booking is strongly 

recommended. We can also take advance 

registrations for 2020, contact us for 

details. 

LAJATICO, TUSCANY 

Details for the unique Andrea Bocelli 

performance in his hometown of Lajatico 

in Tuscany, Italy have been confirmed and 

it sounds like it will be a wonderful, one of 

a kind production! 

The artistic direction of the fourteenth 

edition of the Teatro del Silenzio will be 

signed once again by Luca Tommassini 

a visionary guru artist, former 

choreographer of X Factor, collaborator 

of Madonna and Michael Jackson: whom 

makes a happy return, to The Teatro del 

Silenzio on the same magical stage where 

he led the artistic direction in 2016 (“Le 

Cirque”) and in 2017 (“The song of the 

earth”). 

Andrea Bocelli is the absolute protagonist 

of this show, landlord and honorary 

president of this supreme event, in the 

natural amphitheatre in the hills of 

Lajatico, his birthplace. 

This year the most beloved Italian tenor 

in the world will be joined – in the dual 

engagement of July 25th and 27th – by 

his son Matteo Bocelli, rising star of 

international pop, from the extraordinary 

success obtained with the song “Fall on 

me”, duet interpreted together with his 

father. 

“Ali di libertà” is an idea by Alberto 

Bartalini, eclectic architect, inventor and 

artistic director of the Teatro del Silenzio. 

The title – the same as the renowned song 

from the album “Yes” by Bocelli – refers to 

the most ancient and powerful aspiration 

of humanity. Inspired by Leonardo’s 

500th anniversary, the evening will 

express a pyrotechnic celebration of flight 

and the desire to bypass the borders: from 

the myth of Icarus to the flying machine 

of Leonardo da Vinci, from the faithful 

and rebellious angels of many religious 

traditions to the cosmic challenges of the 

third millennium. 

We offer a range of packages to choose 

from as well as a tailor-made service 

using flights from regional airports and 

even rail travel if you prefer. Why not 

combine the event with a tour of Italy or a 

multi-centre self-drive adventure, we are 

here to make it happen. 

2nd date added – due to popular demand 

the promoters have added 27th July 2019 

as a second date for this unique Andrea 

Bocelli production in Lajatico, Tuscany. 

TAORMINA, SICILY 

See Andrea Bocelli perform live in 

Taormina, Sicily on 30th August 2019 

in the spectacular ancient Greek 

amphitheatre. This unique venue which 

dates back to the 3rd Century BC will 

no doubt provide a wonderful outdoor 

setting for one of the performances of his 

career! Andrea Bocelli will be engaged in 

the most famous opera arias and his most 

famous hits, accompanied by soprano 

voice and some guest stars. The concert 

is promoted by the Taormina Arte Sicilia 

Foundation, with the organisation of Due 

Punti Eventi and Live Spettacoli. 

We know Taormina very well! Kirsty, 

Oliver & Alan have all visited and can offer 

first-hand knowledge and advice when 

booking with us. 

MALTA 

Andrea Bocelli features as a special guest 

for the annual Joseph Calleja Concert. 

The Joseph Calleja event will be held on 

the 24th August 2019 at The Granaries in 

Floriana with the participation of the Malta 

Philharmonic Orchestra. 4 night packages 

with flights, private airport transfers, 

5* accommodation and platinum tickets 

starts from £1,169pp. Read more about 

Malta from Kirsty on pages 24 and 25. 

OTHER KEY 2019 PERFORMANCES 

Budapest & Prague (Nov 19), Paris & 

Antwerp (Mar 2020), ask for details. 

rbcollection.com/andreabocelli 


REDISCOVER OLD FAVOURITES 

Written by Alan 

Whilst we love researching and reporting on new, upcoming 

destinations, we also like to rediscover old favourites too. 

TAKE A FRESH LOOK AT OUR POPULAR HOLIDAYS 

Even if you’ve visited before, there are more reasons 

to return to these easily accessible favourites. 

BERMUDA 

Kirsty is our resident Bermuda specialist 

having visited the island three times! There 

have been a number of developments and 

Kirsty has been keeping in touch with 

hoteliers so we can create the best trips 

for you. Just 7.5 hours by direct flight from 

London, the island is closer than you 

think and is great to visit in our summer. 

rbcollection.com/bermuda 

COTE D’AZUR, FRANCE 

There’s a certain finesse and glamour in 

the south of France. Regular flights from 

UK airports makes it an easy destination 

to visit for short breaks. There’s a great 5* 

elegant hidden gem of a hotel that stands 

at the entrance to St. Jean-Cap-Ferrat and 

has been a favourite for the affluent since 

its opening in 1904. 3 nights from £749pp. 

rbcollection.com/france 

PORTUGAL 

From the southern coast of the Algarve 

with glitzy resorts and villas that are great 

for families, to the culturally rich cities 

of Lisbon and Porto, into the stunning 

valleys of the River Duoro. Portugal 

is experiencing a revival. We highly 

recommend early booking, especially for 

the river cruises. 

rbcollection.com/portugal 


THE CARIBBEAN IS BACK 

The Caribbean has been working hard to 

rebuild a number of their popular resorts 

after storms damaged around 30% of the 

islands in 2017. Anguilla was one of the 

worst hit islands and it is great to see the 

properties re-opening after extensive 

work. 

One of the biggest news stories for the 

Caribbean is the re-opening of Anguilla’s 

Belmond Cap Juluca, after the luxury 

brand took over the property last year. 

Belmond are best known for the Venice- 

Simplon Orient-Express and their unique 

hotels around Italy (many of which we 

know very well). It is exciting to see they 

are expanding in the Caribbean and will 

bring their special dose of character, 

charm and personality to Anguilla. The 

hotel employs around 400 islanders and 

re-opened its doors last December. Two 

new 6-bedroom villas have been added 

on the property as well as special onebedroom 

Casitas. 7 nights with flights, 

private transfers and accommodation with 

breakfast from £2,895 per person. 

When Nicola visited Grenada last year, 

they were putting the finishing touches 

to Silversands which has a modern design 

concept. Boasting the longest infinity 

pool in the Caribbean, the hotel is now 

open. With just 39 suites and three onebedroom 

suites on offer, all sunset facing, 

this is a small boutique hotel that is getting 

lots of attention. Located on Grand Anse 

Beach, IT is the first new project in the 

area for 25 years, and certainly warrants 

a return visit to the island for those who 

have already fallen in love with its beauty. 

7 nights from £2,539pp. 

One of our personal favourite private 

island escapes in the Caribbean is Jumby 

Bay, off Antigua. Formerly a Rosewood 

hotel, it is now managed by the Oetker 

Collection who commissioned major 

renovation work over the closure period 

last year. The multi-million dollar 

renovation has added a new fine dining 

restaurant called the Estate House (main 

picture above) as well as a selection of 

luxury Estate Homes, located on the 

beach which are perfect for families. 

Further enhancements will add to the 

spa, bar and a beachfront infinity pool. 

If you are a big fan of the Caribbean and 

are looking for the ultimate private island 

getaway, this is certainly somewhere 

to consider. Feedback from clients has 

been excellent. 7 nights in the main hotel 

with flights, private transfers by road and 

boat and all inclusive accommodation from 

£4,399 per person. 

Elegant Hotels are well known in the 

Caribbean for properties on Barbados 

(Colony Club is a favourite of ours and 

our clients) and St Lucia, and have now 

opened Hodges Bay, their first on the 

island of Antigua. The hotel only has 79 

rooms and a small number of state-ofthe-art 

villas. They are definitely aiming 

towards a younger market and this will 

appeal to young families and professionals 

looking for a slick, contemporary and 

stylish Caribbean holiday. They have 

an adult only pool and one more suited 

to families with comfortable day beds. 

It is well located to explore the islands 

attractions and sumptuous restaurants. 

7 nights including flights, private transfers 

and accommodation with breakfast from 


A growing trend, and a good option if 

you want to rediscover the Caribbean, is 

to combine a cruise with a stay on one of 

the islands. The cruise itineraries provide 

visits to some of the lesser known islands 

such as St Barts and Martinique. We can 

tailor make your holiday to take in both 

and know the islands very well to ensure 

you choose the most suitable for your 

holiday. 

Looking further ahead, Rosewood Little 

Dix Bay and Eden Rock, both on the island 

of St Barts are due to re-open for winter. 

For a more off-the-beaten-track 

experience, The Liming Bequia on 

the island of Bequia, the largest of the 

Grenadine Islands, is a new boutique 

luxury property with a five-bedroom 

mansion house and private villas. 

To book your holiday to the Caribbean call 

us on 01543 258631. 

rbcollection.com/caribbean

SportsEventsTravel.co.uk 

Written by Sam 

We have a specialist website that promotes packages to some of the 

world’s top events, with example trips that can often be tailor made 

to meet your requirements, or integrated into your holiday plans. 

POPULAR SPORTING EVENTS 

Early booking is always recommended for the more popular events. 

We can pre-register you so when they go on sale we’ll contact you. 

RUGBY 

The world’s rugby teams will travel to 

Japan for the biggest tournament in the 

Rugby calendar. If you have tickets and 

require us to tailor make a trip around 

matches, we are here to help. We know 

Japan and have a lot of options available 

with the flexibility needed to meet your 

requirements. Early booking is highly 

advised so do contact us. Further ahead 

is the South Africa Sevens, ask for details. 

sportseventstravel.co.uk/rugby 

US TENNIS OPEN 

The highlight for many of the international 

tennis calendar, the US Open in New York 

is a good opportunity to integrate a sports 

event into a longer trip. Take a short flight, 

or enjoy the drive up the east coast to 

the historic city of Boston. Alternatively, 

travel by high speed train to the country’s 

capital, Washington DC. There are many 

options available to you and we would be 

delighted to tailor make your trip. 

sportseventstravel.co.uk/tennis 

MONACO F1 GRAND PRIX 

Always the most popular and spectacular 

event of the year, the Monaco F1 Grand Prix 

is a must for F1 first timers. We offer short 

breaks to take in practice and qualifying 

day and a range of ticket options from 

general admission to grandstands and VIP 

hospitality options. We can also arrange 

helicopter transfers and accommodations 

ranging from 3 - 5*. Packages start from 

around £899 per person. 

sportseventstravel.co.uk/motorsport 


KEY EVENTS TO BOOK AHEAD 

Cricket: South Africa v England Series 

It seems no time at all since we were 

arranging trips to the last England cricket 

tour to South Africa in 2015. Nearly 4 years 

on and here we are already in the planning 

stages for the eagerly anticipated return 

to the Rainbow Nation and the untamed 

wilds of the South African bush! 

We know South Africa very well, in 

particular the various safari options as 

Nathan, Alan, Oliver and most recently 

Sam have all visited themselves. This is 

a great opportunity to take in the cricket 

and explore this great country, from the 

winelands to Cape Town to the safari 

regions of Kruger and Sabi Sands for 

example. 

The cricket tours include carefully selected 

accommodation, match hospitality that 

is second to none and once in a lifetime 

excursions beyond the boundaries. 

South Africa is one of the finest 

destinations you could wish for, offering 

dramatic scenery, beaches, golf, safari, 

the magnificent city of Cape Town and 

excellent food and wine. South Africa is 

also fantastic for touring, so if you prefer 

to venture off the beaten track between 

the test matches rather than following 

our proposed itineraries, our travel 

specialists will be delighted to personalise 

your holiday with the best in luxurious 

accommodation and experiences that will 

amaze. 

sportseventstravel.co.uk/cricket 

Historic Monaco Grand Prix 2020 

Monte Carlo is synonymous with motor 

racing and the Automobile Club de 

Monaco undertakes the job of putting on 

the Monaco Historic race with the same 

grace and passion as they did in 1929. 

Nowhere else do Grand Prix cars, historic 

or modern, look as good as they do around 

the narrow streets of the Principality, nor 

match the sights and sounds of F1 engines 

– Grand Prix racing was created to take 

place in Monaco. Held every 2 years, now 

is a good time to pre-register for 2020 and 

ensure you are not disappointed. Packages 

usually start from around £849pp 

sportseventstravel.co.uk/motorsport 

Vietnamese F1 Grand Prix 2020 

Confirmed for 2020, this will be the first 

F1 event in Indochina, and one which will 

most certainly be on the wish list for many. 

The city of Hanoi will play host, which is in 

close proximity to the circuit. Nicola and 

Oliver have both visited themselves and 

can put together a tailor-made trip for 

you to make the most of your time away. 

Vietnam combines well with Cambodia, 

the home of many ancient temples 

including Angkor Wat. You could also 

take in China or Thailand if you wanted 

to extend your stay. If you would like to 

start reading more about Vietnam and 

the places to see, visit our new Indochina 

menu at the following page where you can 

read about Nicola & Oliver’s trips too. 

rbcollection.com/asia 

USA Golf 2020 

Two key golf tournaments take place in 

2020; the US Masters in April and the 

Ryder Cup in Wisconsin in September. 

Both events provide the opportunity to 

build an itinerary around the tournaments 

to make the most of the trip. Whether this 

is a twin centre with one of the nearby 

cities, or a longer driving tour to take in 

other areas of the US, we offer a flexible 

service so to do contact us do discuss 

ideas. 

sportseventstravel.co.uk/golf 

Other events worth noting: Euro 2020, 

Tokyo Olympic Games and the Ashes. 

Contact us to register your interest on 

01543 258631. 


TRIED & TESTED: VERONA 

Kirsty rekindled her love affair with Italy by taking a trip with her daughter to the city of Verona. 

Words by Kirsty 

Anyone who knows me well is more than aware of my 

deep love for all things Italian. The delicious food and 

drink, the amazing culture, the wonderful architecture 

and, of course, the history - reasons for my love seem 

to be endless. For me, Italy has everything anyone could 

ever desire from a holiday and so much more. 

Every year my teenage daughter Freya and I like to have 

a short break in the October half term school holidays, 

usually visiting a city. Having already explored Florence, 

Sicily and Portofino, we put our heads together and 

brainstormed ideas of destinations. Luckily, Freya is 

also a fan of all things Italian, and together we decided 

on the city of love (no, not Paris!) - Verona. 

After a short flight of under two hours, we were in the 

hometown of William Shakespeare’s ill-fated lovers, 

Romeo and Juliet. There are a number of airports in the 

UK, including Birmingham, Manchester, East Midlands, 

London and Leeds, operating flights to Verona, which 

makes it a very accessible destination. 

Our adventure in this truly stunning city began as 

soon as we stepped out of our airport transfer, at the 

magnificent Piazza Bra, home of the world famous Arena 

di Verona. Piazza Bra is the largest piazza in Verona, and 

thought to be the largest in the whole of Italy. As well as 

the magnificent arena, Piazza Bra is lined with numerous 

restaurants and bars, Palazzo Barbieri (town hall) and a 

gorgeous little park which was well used during our stay 

by both locals and tourists alike. 

However, the star of the show is most definitely the Arena 

di Verona. Unbelievably, this amazing structure was built 

in the first century, and even more unbelievable is the 

fact that it is still in use today, albeit for various concerts 

and operas rather than gladiator battles! 

The Verona Opera Festival occurs every year between 

June and September, with performances taking place in 

this most unique setting. Andrea Bocelli holds a special 

performance here every year, usually in September. I 

visited the arena in the daytime while it was practically 

empty, and I can only imagine how breathtaking the 

venue is when it is filled with people as the sun is setting, 

waiting to experience an amazing performance. For only 

€10 per adult, and just €1 per child, you can spend as 

little or as much time as you’d like in the arena during 

your visit, and imagine it being filled with 30,000 people 

at the height of its popularity. 

Here at RB Collection, we can arrange a wonderful 

escorted trip to the Verona Opera Festival, which would 

also include a guided walking tour of the city, and a visit 

to the AMO Museum where you will find a vast amount 

of operatic history including costumes and photographs 

of some of the greatest singers to have graced the stage 

at the arena. 

For reasons unbeknown to me, Verona often gets 

overlooked as a city break destination in its own right. 

Maybe it is for this reason that it didn’t feel like a tourist 

destination - the only attraction I encountered which 

was dominated by sightseers was the dramatic balcony 

at Casa di Giulietta ( Juliet’s house). 

Whether you are a Shakespeare fan or not, it is well worth 

a visit to this special venue to witness the hundreds of 

thousands of messages of love which have been left by 

lovers from all around the world. Rumour has it that if 

you touch the right breast of the statue of Juliet, which 

takes pride of place in the courtyard, you will receive 

luck in love. Of course, I had to give it a go - Freya on 

the other hand was a little more reluctant! It is not just 

at Casa di Giulietta that you will find love letters and 

love locks, the whole city is filled with them and love is 

literally all around wherever you go. 

Verona is also a shoppers’ paradise, with the most 

famous shopping street being Via Mazzini. Here you 

will find every designer store under the sun, cleverly 

infused with more realistic priced high street names. Via 

Mazzini is pedestrianised at all times throughout the day 

which made for a very pleasant shopping experience. If 

you’re not a big shopper like me, it also helps that there 

are several amazing gelato outlets dotted amongst the 

shops - delicious! 

For a flavour of Italy, Piazza delle Erbe is a must, here 

you will find a daily market (except for Sundays), full of 

fresh fruit and vegetables. There was even a stall selling 

hot roasted chestnuts which took me straight back to 

childhood memories of bonfire night! Piazza delle Erbe 

is a large square surrounded by the most beautiful 

historic architecture, probably the most predominant 

landmark here is Torre dei Lamberti, an 84 metre high 

tower. Originally constructed in 1172, the tower is the 

tallest in Verona and, if you are feeling energetic, you can 

climb the stairs to the top to experience the most jawdropping 

views of this wonderful city; there is also a lift 

if your legs aren’t quite up to the climb! 


Photos clockwise from top left: View from Castel San Pietro , Arena di Verona, Statue of Juliet, Knight Scuplture, Aerial view of Verona, Freya & Kirsty, Verona side street. 

More fantastic views of Verona can be found at Castel 

San Pietro, which interestingly is the exact point that 

Verona was founded. Here you will find remains of the 

first settlements dating back to the 7th century BC, 

and if you are prepared to climb quite a few steps, the 

views across to the Adige River and the city beyond are 

simply stunning. A little local secret that I learnt is that 

the best time to visit is at dusk. Watching the sunset over 

the red rooftops of Verona with a loved one would be an 

experience never to forget. 

Verona is a walking city, small and compact enough to 

experience all of the major sights on foot. The historic 

streets are lined with the most amazing restaurants and 

bars, and an outdoor way of life is in abundance here. 

People-watching while sipping on a glass of locally 

produced Soave or Prosecco and sampling various 

cicchetti (savoury Italian snacks very similar to Spanish 

tapas) is a standard pastime in Verona and my idea of 

absolute bliss! Sweet toothed visitors will be in their 

element with the most tempting dessert and macaron 

delicatessens and, of course, as you would expect in 

Italy, the coffee is amazing! 

I found the food and drink in Verona to be very reasonably 

priced, and if you wander away from the main piazzas 

you will find the most amazing eateries with fantastic 

prices. Another tip, and to blend in with the locals, is to 

drink your coffee standing up at the counter - you will 

pay as little as €1 for a delicious cup of your choice! I 

discovered a wonderful little wine bar and eatery called 

La Tradision, tucked away in a quaint side street just off 

the Piazza Bra. Every drink you could imagine, both hot 

and cold, was served here and the Aperol Spritz was to 

die for, a bargain at just €2! 

To experience a little more of Italy, I think Verona would 

make the perfect base for a longer holiday duration, 

because of its location and Italy’s excellent rail networks. 

Within an hour and ten minutes, myself and Freya were in 

Venice, a complete contrast to Verona. The short journey 

was taken in comfort and I was amazed by the standard 

of the trains in Italy, they really do put ours to shame. 

Verona is, of course, the gateway to Lake Garda and you 

can be transported from the city to the Lake by either 

car, bus or train. The quickest way is by car which takes 

around 30 minutes to the nearest town at Lake Garda or, 

if you don’t fancy hiring a car, there is a regular daily bus 

service from Piazza Bra to various resorts. A 90-minute 

train ride will take you into the heart of Milan, giving the 

opportunity to sample an alternative Italian city. Using 

Verona as a base is the perfect solution for those who 

don’t enjoy packing and unpacking a suitcase several 

times while on holiday. 

Out of all of the Italian cities I have visited, I think it’s safe 

to say that Verona is my favourite so far. Everywhere I 

looked was a feast for the eyes with the most beautiful 

and historic architecture all across the city. I particularly 

liked the fact that it didn’t feel too touristy, and there 

was just the right amount of sightseeing to enjoy at 

a leisurely pace over our three nights’ stay. Verona 

definitely lives up to its nickname as the city of love - 

and it most certainly captured my heart. 

VERONA EXAMPLE PACKAGE 

3 nights from £598 per person. Includes: flights, return 

private airport transfers, 5* hotel with breakfast & 

Kirsty’s top tips to enjoy Verona. 

Call Kirsty to book your holiday to Verona on 01543 258631. 

rbcollection.com/italy 


TRIED & TESTED: 

VIETNAM 

Words by Nicola 

Photos by Oliver 

Vietnam has always captured my imagination for so 

many different reasons. From its ancient history through 

to the well known Vietnam war, something about it was 

more intriguing than any of its Asian neighbours. When 

the opportunity arose for me to visit I jumped at the 

chance, thinking I knew enough of the country but not 

quite sure what to expect. My whistle-stop week was to 

begin with a night in Hanoi and this was certainly not 

going to disappoint. As soon as we pulled away from 

the safety of the airport the madness began and we 

weaved our way through the crazy Vietnamese traffic by 

millions of mopeds carrying everything from livestock 

to full families including tiny babies. This was to be a 

small taster of the crazy roads of Hanoi but one we soon 

became used to. 

Our local guide Lee, aka Bruce Lee, took us on our food 

tour and guided us through the bustling streets and 

market places to try different types of local cuisine whilst 

explaining to us the very simple way of life through to 

local cooking traditions. This was a fantastic way of 

introducing us to the city and getting a real feel for the 

people and the culture as well as giving us lots of tips to 

help avoid the mopeds! 

The next morning we were up bright and early ready 

for our drive to one of the new Natural Wonders of the 

World, Halong Bay. Having seen many pictures of the bay 

I was confident it was going to be a big highlight so it was 

with great excitement we headed out of the city and on 

to the much calmer roads. We passed through beautiful 

towns and countryside, watching locals farm the lands 

in their traditional manner, many still using bulls to 

plough their fields to grow rice. 

After a short break en-route we arrived around midday 

and embarked on our junk boat that was to be home for 

the evening. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but was 

not disappointed. This beautiful boat in all its original 

glory was so cosy and with a big sundeck on top it had 

everything we could wish for. As we cruised along slowly 

taking in the breathtaking scenery from the sun deck it 

was so easy to understand why Halong Bay has such an 

amazing reputation, but no picture could ever do justice 

to how stunning it really is. Later that evening we were 

treated to some of the best Vietnamese food I have ever 

tasted, all made on board by the ship’s crew. 

Halong Bay is known for its stunning sunrises and so 

it was with great excitement we all ventured up to the 

sundeck to watch the sun appear over this majestic 

place, and we were not to be disappointed one bit! I have 

had the privilege of witnessing some beautiful sunrises 

around the world but none of them came close to this as 

the sun rose over the many rock formations it truly felt 

like a humbling experience. 

After breakfast we disembarked and headed back to 

Hanoi airport where we had a short flight to Danang and 

then a 45 minute drive to Hoi An. Having sold Hoi An for 

many years I thought I had a good idea of the area but 

what I was greeted with was one of the most charming 

towns I have ever encountered and I absolutely loved 

it. With its old traditional rooftop buildings bustling 

with local crafts this was a shoppers’ paradise and I was 

about to indulge. The friendly shopkeepers allowed us 

to browse without any pressure but still enjoying a little 

bartering as we purchased so many beautiful items. A 

number of the group even went and had custom-made 

suits created by the many tailors, the quality of which 

was outstanding. After a leisurely morning we headed 

off for a walking tour of this ancient city that has been 

influenced over the years by a myriad of traders from 

various cultures. Originally a busy Cham Port, the 

town also has Chinese influences scattered about, with 

pagodas and assembly halls found down the streets. 

Our tour guide regaled us with stories of old as he 

pointed out the different buildings and the history 

behind each one, before delivering us to the stunning 

Japanese Covered Bridge (Cau Nhat Ban). So many 

different influences for such a small town, Hoi An really 

is a melting pot in such harmony. This evening we dined 

along the river before some more last-minute purchases 

and a cocktail or two in this beautiful town that had 

quite literally stolen my heart. 

The next morning we flew to Ho Chi Min – or as the locals 

still prefer to call it, Saigon. My knowledge of Vietnam 

mainly stemmed from snippets of the war and one of 

the things I was most looking forward to was our trip to 

the Cu Chi Tunnels. We navigated our way through the 

city into what was once the jungle, if the vast size of this 

place was reminding me of my old history lessons the Cu 

Chi tunnels were about to bring them to life! This area 

is absolutely fascinating, on arrival we were met with a 

museum packed with old US weapons and what can only 

be described as ‘crude’ weapons made out of whatever 

was to hand that could cause maximum damage to the 

enemy. Our tour deep into the jungle was filled with 


mesmerising tales of how the Viet Cong would set 

blood-curdling traps whilst the ingenious tunnels they 

dug became more and more elaborate. We all came away 

far more knowledgeable on the Vietnam war and all in 

agreement this place is a ‘must do’ on anyone’s itinerary. 

Our drive back to Saigon was followed by an early night 

as we prepared for our trip to the Mekong Delta. After 

leaving our coach we boarded a traditional wooden 

working boat and sailed along the river passing local 

fishermen. Following a stop at a coconut factory and 

sampling the local chocolates, we made our way up 

a quiet stretch of the waterway to the isolated area of 

Ben Tre province where we enjoyed a slightly faster but 

such an enjoyable ride on the back of a tuk tuk. After 

sampling more stunning local cuisine we were taken to 

our home for the evening. Now it’s at this point I have to 

confess, this was not something I was looking forward 

to. All that we had been advised was that we were to 

spend the evening in a local homestay and some not-sonice 

visions filled my head – I was so wrong! Our home 

for the evening was stunning and unbelievably peaceful 

with the only sound coming from the humming birds in 

the trees. Set around a main building with rooms slightly 

open to the elements this was to be a more luxurious 

style of camping and with the owner showing us how 

to successfully climb in to a hammock (not something 

I’d attempted in the past), and presenting us once again 

with the most beautifully prepared food. It wasn’t long 

before we were all heading off to bed for an extremely 

restful sleep. 

The next morning after breakfast we were informed 

we would be travelling back up the Mekong Delta on 

a rowing boat, not too much alarm just yet until I saw 

the little boats we had to climb in to! Our rowers stood 

laughing at the sheer panic of some of the group i.e. me, 

as we climbed aboard without trying to rock the boat – I 

somehow managed to survive! 

Our arrival back to Saigon had us heading to the main 

thing I had been looking forward to all week, our visit 

to the war museum. Nothing quite prepares you for 

this and it is not something for the fainthearted but for 

those that can, it is an absolute must. From the moment 

you enter the grounds you are confronted with massive 

tanks, helicopters and jeeps. The main building is filled 

with pictures and accounts of the untold stories of the 

war. I’m not afraid to say I was moved to tears with some 

of the accounts but as graphic and – at times – upsetting 

as it was, it also gave us all a new-found knowledge of 

this war that none of us had previously known. After a 

quick visit to the palace and a photo opportunity at the 

famous gates that Vietnam soldiers cracked down in 

their tanks after Saigon was liberated, we headed back 

to the hotel before one final dash to the local markets for 

those last-minute souvenirs. 

After a spectacular meal on our last evening in this 

amazing city, we headed to the iconic Rex Hotels rooftop 

bar to take in the dizzy city sights. Reflecting on the trip, 

it was the friendly and welcoming people who really 

made this adventure memorable. Vietnam is without 

doubt a destination that deserves to be on everyone’s 

bucket list, having been on mine for many years I’ll 

spend many more reliving the memories of this truly 

amazing destination. 

VIETNAM EXAMPLE TOUR 

14 day tour with flights, guides, transfers, 4* hotels, 6 

lunches & 4 dinners from £2,195 per person. 

Contact Nicola or Oliver to book your holiday to Indochina. 

rbcollection.com/vietnam 



MALTA 

Words & photos by Kirsty 

Many years ago, when I was three years old, I visited 

Malta with my grandparents for my first ever trip abroad. 

Obviously, being of such a young age when I travelled, I 

really can’t remember much at all about my trip, except 

for the lovely colourful fishing boats. So when I was given 

the opportunity to visit the island again in December I 

jumped at the chance. Not only did the destination hold 

a special place in my heart because of my grandparents, 

I was also intrigued to rediscover Malta and learn about 

everything it has to offer, as it has been a popular holiday 

destination with us Brits since the 1950’s. 

After hearing so many mixed reviews, I was unsure of 

what to expect upon my arrival. The first thing that 

struck me from the air as I was coming in to land was the 

amount of domed churches I could already see. Malta is 

an extremely religious island, mainly Roman Catholic, 

and has 359 churches, one for practically every day of the 

year! Each town in Malta has its own Patron Saint, and 

throughout the summer months celebrations take place 

every weekend with fireworks, food and music. During 

my short three night stay, I witnessed three separate 

fireworks displays which was wonderful! 

Malta is an island filled with history and its first 

inhabitants arrived in 5200 BC. The Phoenicians settled 

in Malta around the 7th century BC, followed over the 

years by the Romans, Byzantines and Spanish to name 

but a few. Malta became a British protectorate in 1813, 

and the island went on to become an important British 

naval base in later years. Malta was attacked heavily 

during World War II and for its bravery it was awarded 

the George Cross in 1942, which today appears on 

Malta’s flag and coat of arms. In 1974, Malta became a 

republic and has been a member of the Commonwealth 

of Nations and the United Nations ever since. 

I was most excited to discover Valletta, and I certainly 

wasn’t disappointed. Built by hand in the 16th century by 

the Knights of St John, Valletta is a fortress city and the 

capital of Malta. It was also the 2018 European Capital 

of Culture, and I felt extremely lucky to visit during this 

period as there were so many works of art, musical and 

cultural experiences taking place whilst I was there. It 

was difficult to know where to look first, as there were so 

many feasts for the eyes! A UNESCO World Heritage City, 

Valletta has the most beautiful Baroque architecture, 

and of course, lots of churches, the most famous being 

St John’s Co-Cathedral. Dedicated to St John the Baptist, 

the cathedral was built between 1572 and 1577. Upon 

entering the interior of the building, you can literally 

hear the gasps of admiration from visitors. It truly is 

a spectacular sight and is considered to be one of the 

finest examples of Baroque architecture in Europe. 

There is a plethora of museums to visit in Valletta ranging 

from the National War Museum, to the National Museum 

of Fine Arts. History of wars is very well documented 

in Malta and lots of tourists come to the island to visit 

the numerous museums and landmarks dedicated to 

various wars. The Saluting Battery is definitely worth a 

visit during a stay in Valletta as it is one of the oldest, 

operational saluting Battery’s in the world. At midday 

you will hear the cannon fire as it did in years gone by, 

and it is also fired for special celebrations. 

Valletta is a very cosmopolitan city with a wealth of 

restaurants and bars. I particularly liked the outdoors 

way of life and seeing both locals and tourists alike 

making the most of the winter sunshine. I was also 

surprised at the amount of shops the city had to offer 

ranging from well-known high street stores to designer 

boutiques, as well as local food and craft markets. 

The most famous and prestigious place to stay in Valletta 

is the Hotel Phoenicia, which is perfectly located within 

walking distance to all the city has to offer. Exuding 

old world charm and elegance, the hotel has recently 

undergone a major refurbishment and is one of the 

must-stay luxury properties on the island. It’s a perfect 

base for a city break or longer stay. 

Known as the Silent City and Noble City, Mdina is the 

old capital of Malta, and in my opinion, is the most 

picturesque area of the island. Dating back around 

4000 years, Mdina is considered by many people to be 

Europe’s finest example of an ancient walled city. Upon 

its hillside approach, the view of Mdina is magical and 

looks like a scene from a fairy tale! Situated on one of the 

highest points in Malta, the views across the island here 

are amazing. The beautiful narrow streets and Baroque 

architecture are a photographers dream and a must see 

on any visit to Malta. I would recommend a stay in Mdina 

to anyone who has previously visited Malta and wants 

a truly authentic experience. We know a wonderful 

boutique, seventeen room property set in an old palace 

offering a charming and historic experience in the heart 

of Mdina (do ask me for details). 


Within walking distance of Mdina is the quiet, traditional 

town of Rabat. Completely unspoilt by tourism, the 

original architecture and charm of Rabat is captivating 

and I had a wonderful lunch here in a traditional 

restaurant which was full of locals, always a good sign! 

Exploring the quiet narrow streets was a joy, made even 

more beautiful with traditional Christmas decorations 

adorning buildings and churches. Although Mdina and 

Rabat are not usually first choices for most people to 

stay, I loved the authenticity of both and think either 

would make a perfect short break destination. 

No trip to Malta is complete without a visit to the 

neighbouring island of Gozo. Just a short twenty minute 

ferry crossing from Malta, Gozo is a beautifully unspoilt 

island which is a perfect base to escape from it all and 

enjoy peace and tranquillity. To experience both islands, 

a two centre holiday would be the perfect choice and is 

extremely easy to do. However, a day trip to Gozo gives 

the opportunity to experience everything that the island 

has to offer, and I’d particularly recommend a guided 

tour to make the most of your time here. The natural 

beauty of the island is breathtaking and the Sanap cliffs 

are a sight not to be missed. 

Due to its close proximity to Malta, a day trip to Sicily 

can be easily arranged. A 90 minute ferry crossing will 

take you from Valletta to Catania, from there you can 

visit Mount Etna and Taormina, just don’t forget to take 

your passport! On very clear days, Mount Etna can even 

be seen from Malta! 

During my short trip to Malta, I discovered so much of 

what this wonderful island has to offer. From history, 

culture and art, to nightlife, great restaurants and 

bars, Malta and Gozo have a wide appeal to a variety 

of travellers. For myself personally, I think Valletta and 

Mdina in particular, are the perfect destinations for a 

four or five night stay. A small enough island to navigate 

easily, the Maltese even drive on the left hand side of 

the road so hiring a car is a great way to explore all that 

Malta has to offer. 

5* MALTA EXAMPLE PACKAGE 

- Security lane fast-track & VIP Lounge on departure 

- Flights with checked in luggage and pre-booked seats 

- Return private airport transfers 

- 7 nights at the 5* Phoenicia with breakfast 

- 3-day Malta Pass (entry into top attractions) 

- Kirsty’s Malta hints & tips 

From only £1,239 per prson 

5* GOZO EXAMPLE PACKAGE 

- Security lane fast-track & VIP Lounge on departure 

- Flights with checked in luggage and pre-booked seats 

- Return private airport transfers 

- 7 nights at the 5* Kempinski San Lawrenz 

- Half board 

- 3-day Malta Pass (entry into top attractions) 

- Kirsty’s Malta hints & tips 

From only £1,130 per prson 

Subject to availability, terms and conditions. 

To plan and book your holiday to Malta, call us on 01543 

258631 or email vip@rbcollection.com. 

rbcollection.com/malta 



SOUTH AFRICA 

Words & photos by Sam 

Sam flew to Durban in South Africa, touring around 

Kwazulu Natal which offers much more than a safari 

holiday. Historic battlefields, mouthwatering food and 

mountainous walks just about scratch the surface of this 

diverse region. 

It all started on a bright and sunny Saturday afternoon 

at Heathrow Airport onboard British Airways’ new direct 

service to Durban. I travelled in Club World which made 

the overnight flight much more comfortable with a great 

selection of food, drink and entertainment. I landed on 

time and my driver swiftly transferred me to The Oyster 

Box in Umhlanga in just 20 minutes, ideal after a long 

flight. This was a wonderful way to start my first South 

African adventure with a two-night relaxing stay. This 

elegant, 5* boutique hotel offers breathtaking views of 

the Indian Ocean and the iconic lighthouse, and the 

service was first class. 

After a 2-night relaxing stay at the Oyster Box, it was 

time to start my self-drive itinerary. I recommend an 

SUV / 4X4, not because the roads are challenging, but it 

means you’re higher up with good views. I drove up to 

Fordoun Hotel and Spa via the N3 which took just under 2 

hours. As I approached the property, all I could see were 

the bright green colours of the rolling hills, contrasting 

beautifully with the bright orange soil. No billboards, 

just unspoilt views. It was a real breath of fresh air to get 

away completely from todays fast-paced, commercial 

world. The sun was shining, and the sky was bright blue. 

Fordoun is situated between Pietermaritzburg in the 

South East and the Drakensberg mountain range (a 

World Heritage Site) in the north west. It’s a great rural 

meeting point which has an array of bespoke shops. 

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a real foodie! When I 

saw a place called ”Chocolate Heaven”, I couldn’t resist. 

The white chocolate was like nothing I had ever tasted 

before! This part of South Africa lends itself very well to 

a self-drive holiday. 

After spending some quality time at Fordoun and 

enjoying their excellent hospitality, it was time to move 

up a gear and really get to know the area. I headed north 

west to Montusi, located in the mountains with a view of 

the amphitheatre escarpment which is regarded as one 

of the most impressive cliff faces on earth. I’d definitely 

recommend you pack your walking boots to enjoy this 

area to its full potential. The natural beauty of this area 

blew me away; the bright green rolling hills merging in 

the distance against a vibrant blue sky, I was embracing 

high definition in real life with no filters required! 

This afternoon I went on my first ever horse ride for an 

hour and a half. This gentle ride took me down to the 

lake and I enjoyed a picnic including a cheese board 

and a bottle of Savanna cider, just in time to watch the 

sunset. As the sun was setting over the hill, you could 

hear the birds whistling away, this was something that 

dreams are made of, and I was pinching myself, I was 

awake! 

The following day, I met my guide Shadrack who was 

born and bred in the local area. What a funny character 

he was; so passionate about his country and his people. 

Wealth in his culture is not measured by financial gain, 

but how many children you have, and he was wealthy, 

he told me I could buy a wife for 11 cows! We hiked for 

an hour to view cave art and talked over coffee and cake 

about our lives and how we were chalk and cheese, yet 

got on very well indeed. It was a unique opportunity 

to learn about each others cultures and was a very 

memorable experience. 

I departed Montusi with a heavy heart, but it was time 

to drive to my first ever safari at Nambiti Hills. Located 

directly east in an area called Ladysmith in the Uthukela 

District, it was a drive of around 2 hours. I met Jason, 

a young guide with a lot of knowledge of the private 

reserve and wildlife. He took me to the main lodge where 

I was met by hosts, Betty and Magdela who made me feel 

right at home for the next two nights. 

On my first ever game drive later that afternoon, my 

eyes were peeled, and the excitement was building, 

wondering what I would see first. Just as we edged over 

a hill, we came across a group of giraffes. Such elegant 

animals strolling along so calmly and natural; it was a 

great sight. We then drove to a picturesque spot for 

sundowners, and to take in the peaceful surroundings. 

Jason then got a call on the radio about a potential kill 

nearby. I was very unsure of how I would feel about 

this, as I’m a real animal lover but in that very moment, 

knowing I was about to witness something completely 

natural, I relaxed a little. En route, we came across 

white rhino which are just huge tough animals, very 

impressive! We arrived to an open plain and paused. 

I could see a group of buffalo being circled by three 

cheetah, mother and two older cubs, following her lead. 


It was quite remarkable to see how they were positioning 

and keeping good eye contact. They were getting closer, 

but as with all buffalo, they are quite stupid and kept 

running in circles trying to confuse the cheetahs. The 

sun was setting, and it was getting quite dark and we 

sadly had to leave. I don’t think the kill happened that 

night, but I never saw another cheetah during my stay. 

That evening we had a lovely dinner around a campfire 

and experienced a traditional dance by the locals, what 

a great way to end the day. 

On the following morning game drive Jason made us 

breakfast, pancakes in the bush. The morning drive 

didn’t disappoint; we came across impalas, elephants, 

various birds and even more rhino. I was getting quite a 

keen eye for spotting wildlife, I was rather proud! 

Saying goodbye to Nambiti was hard, because for those 

two nights, I had really forgotten about home. All the 

stresses that come with everyday life had disappeared 

and the experiences I’d had so far been truly life 

changing. When you are viewing nature at its best, in 

a natural environment, seeing how the animals live 

side by side, it gives you perspective to what is really 

important. Being in a setting with no pollution and no 

other tourists breathing down your neck, it makes those 

moments extra special. Although I’ve been very lucky 

to see wildlife in Costa Rica, Thailand and Sri Lanka, 

seeing the wildlife here was like raising the bar, the vast 

number of different animals, along with the experiences 

of trying to find them as well as the quality guides on 

offer and hospitality, it all just made this place very 

special indeed. 

A steady 2-hour drive took me to Fugitives Drift, which 

is known for Isandlwana and Rorke’s drift battlefields 

of the Anglo Zulu War of 1879. I was welcomed by the 

Rattray family and taken to Rorkes drift by Richard 

Rattray, son of the late David Rattray who was a historian 

of the 1879 Anglo-Zulu war in South Africa. He took me 

around the museum which showed glimpses of a battle 

that took place, timelines, pictures and maps started to 

paint a picture of a battle. He took me around the hospital 

which was in the heart of the battle. As we walked on 

the very ground that on the 22nd January 1879 at 4:30pm, 

the Zulus charged at the British, it was heart wrenching, 

palm sweating and very emotional to hear of the stories. 

After an emotional tour, Richard took me back to the 

lodge. I sat down with a few other guests at the hotel 

around an open fire where I took a moment to reflect on 

what we had just experienced. The following morning, 

Richard took me for a walk to Fugitive Drift. He once 

again brought to life how the battle started and at various 

points, he explained accounts of the survivors and I paid 

my respects to the graves. This is a fascinating place to 

visit and a must do during your stay in this region. 

It was time to say goodbye to Richard and his family and 

I had a choice. Either a 4-hour drive back to Durban, 

or a 45-minute helicopter ride. Of course, I chose the 

helicopter and sat with my trusting pilot in the co-pilot 

seat, we went high into the sky and saw South Africa 

from a bird’s eye view - absolutely incredible! I was back 

where my South African adventure had started, at The 

Oyster Box. I had lunch on the terrace, overlooking the 

beach in Umhlanga, drinking a cold refreshing Savanna 

cider. Looking out to sea, I could see the waves crashing 

against the rocks, and I could feel the warm breeze, I 

didn’t want to leave! 

I can honestly say, I love South Africa. If it’s not on your 

bucket list, then it needs to be, and I suggest at the very 

top! 

Contact Sam about South Africa on 01543 258631 

rbcollection.com/southafrica 


HIDDEN TRACKS 

OF CAMBODIA 

Words by Robbie 

Photos by Oliver 

On a tailor made tour away from the crowds; Robbie Sinclair embarks on an eye opening 

journey of discovery, exploring Cambodia’s hidden wonders and its dark past. 

As we descend through the clouds towards Siem 

Reap the sun is setting and an orange and pink glow 

bursts through the window onto the seat in front 

of me. I don’t know what to expect from Cambodia 

but I know that I’m excited. People often talk about 

Asia and they mention the usual places like Thailand 

and Japan; both of which I love but for some reason 

Cambodia has passed me by. I know next to nothing 

about the land that I am about to enter into, but I 

do know that it has a turbulent past. I am eager to 

learn more about Cambodia and as I look down at 

my itinerary for the next six days I’m keen to start as 

soon as I land. 

Our driver picked us up and whisked us off to the 

Shinta Mani Angkor hotel (only 15 minutes from 

the airport). As we pulled up the street towards 

the building I knew I had made the right choice. A 

plethora of star shaped lanterns in glowing red 

adorned the tree lined street. The door was opened 

and we were greeted with a cold lemongrass infused 

towel and a beaming smile. I loved this hotel instantly, 

Bill Bensley’s quirky black and white striped theme 

ran throughout every floor and wall and I was blown 

away by his attention to detail. It’s easy to see why he 

is one of the world’s most renowned hotel designers. 

Bowls and vases are filled with water lillies that 

had been skillfully twisted and folded into pretty 

silhouettes in an origami fashion. The hotel manager 

tells me that they do their floral arrangements on 

site and points to a young woman in the corner. She 

sat amongst baskets of flora and fauna and I was 

hypnotised by her nimble fingers as she swiftly tucks 

and flicks water lily petals into shape. 

We are guided passed an exhibition of figurative 

sculptures inspired by the hotel’s unique aesthetics. 

We walk by a statement, yet relaxing pool area and 

a stylised bar and head up the stairs to our suite. 

With only 18 rooms, Shinta Mani Angkor has a very 

exclusive feel and its staff are perfectly trained and 

warm. 

After freshening up we take one of the hotel’s 

private tuk tuks (complete with black & white stripe 

design) from the hotel to have dinner at Viroth, an 

Asian restaurant with a great menu and a beautiful 

atmosphere. It’s a thrill to dine outside under the 

stars, the temperature was perfect. Viroth’s attentive 

staff served us a delicious feast which fused Thai, 

Vietnamese and local flavours catering for all palettes 

and of course, a few cocktails to go with it. After 

stuffing ourselves and feeling more than satisfied we 

meandered back to our quirky black and white oasis 

to get some shut eye before our busy day ahead. 

A few pancakes, chicken fried rice (a traditional 

breakfast) and pastries later we are met by Sam, 

our guide for the next few days. He was everything 

we hoped for, cheery, warm hearted and full of 

knowledge. He handed us some cold bottled water 

and took us through our day’s adventure that he 

described as “Offbeat Angkor”. Our tour started at 

8am, carefully scheduled to beat the crowds. 

First up!... remote temples. After a 45 minute drive 

we are led up a path past a school of playing children 

and as we turn a corner I feel my jaw drop open at the 

sight in front of me. The 12th century Hindu temple is 

adorned with a crumbling carving of the Hindu God 

Shiva. In the years since its abandonment, nature 

has claimed back the land on which this historical 

masterpiece was built. Although the temples are 

protected by statues of Lions and seven headed 

continued on page 28... 


Above: : Angkor Wat, Siem Reap. 


serpents, they unfortunately were no match for the 

strangling fig vines and tree roots that have smashed 

their way through walls and doorways. Whilst this 

temple was in ruins, it is one of the most incredible 

sights that I’ve ever seen. As I climbed over huge 

sandstone blocks that had tumbled from the external 

walls many years ago, I felt like an explorer on the trail 

of Tomb Raiders’ Lara Croft or Indiana Jones… but I 

always did have a big imagination. Many archaeological 

sites around the world restrict access and no doubt in 

the future this may happen here, but for now at least, 

Sam had brought us to a spot where we could explore 

at our own free will. We were literally the only people 

there, just the two of us, our guide Sam and a few 

butterflies. 

One thing I found interesting in Cambodia was the mix 

of Buddhist and Hindu elements in the same place. 

During the 13th Century when Buddhism started to 

take over from Hinduism, Buddhist temples were built 

on the land of Hindu temples. The Hindu temples and 

their iconography run through the heart of Cambodia 

and although over 90% of its inhabitants are Buddhist, 

its past is still respected, discussed and very much an 

important part of its current story. 

After a spot of lunch we head to another unrestored 12th 

century monument. More seven headed serpents guided 

us towards the entrance and although there were a few 

more tourists here it was still very easy to walk around 

without hearing the click of cameras and the layered 

murmur of chatter of other onlookers. If the last place 

reminded me of Tomb Raider and Indiana Jones then 

the Chai Say Vibol, which was the original blueprint for 

Angkor Wat, served as a great introduction to explore 

this historic journey. As we wandered up ancient 

staircases and over walkways, Sam pointed out “easy to 

miss” carvings of dancing women that had fallen from 

the walls of this great site. The powerful vines and roots 

of huge trees have crept through the ruins and appear 

to have torn down some walls but also act as support for 

others. Nature and man-made seem to be at one here 

and it’s hard to imagine the two elements being apart. 

Above: : Tonlé Sap Lake Floating Village just after sunrise, near Siem Reap 

Below: Remote Temple near Siem Reap (a hidden secret from tour groups) 

Below right: Sunrise over Tonlé Sap Lake & local boy runs morning errands. 

These sights here were not alien to me, I had seen 

scenes of ruined temples, crumbled Hindu god statues 

and rickety walkways many times in movies. However 

seeing it for real seemed to play tricks on my brain 

and it took me some minutes to understand that this 

place was in fact very real. After almost burning out my 

camera with hundreds of photographs we head back 

to our hotel just in time for a quick shower before the 

obligatory cocktail. 

Although the idea of waking up at 4.15am tomorrow 

makes me feel a little uneasy, by now I had no doubt 

that Sam’s early morning suggestion would be worth it. 

I knew we would see wonderful things so armed with 

my breakfast box, we jumped into the van with our 

guide Sam and our driver Jani! 

Sam told us that we were on our way to a boat dock 

where we would speed through paddy fields and pass 

mangroves to watch the sunrise over the floodplain of 

the Tonle Sap Lake. The vehicle stops and we step out 

into the thick black night. The air is warm and the slice 


of a torch light appears in front of us cutting through the 

blindness, our boat captain has arrived to take us to our 

secret viewing platform. A lot of people I had spoken to 

about Cambodia had said that they really liked watching 

the sunrise but it was tarnished by the crowds of people 

at Angkor Wat. 

Experiences like this, I think, should be intimate and 

calming, so I was pleased to have found something more 

bespoke and off the beaten track. We jump aboard a slim 

boat and as we whizz through the water we see the black 

night above us start to grow a little lighter. The twists 

and turns of the mangrove roots start to appear in the 

shadows with a warm orange backdrop that creeps from 

the surface. Sunrise was upon us. 

After a few minutes we pull out onto a large stretch of 

lake. A structure sits in the middle of the water and I 

realise we really are the only people here. We disembark 

and climb to a platform as the sun starts its ascent. The 

stillness that surrounds us is like a picture postcard and 

I think about the overcrowded sunrise tours that people 

had told me about and smile. 

A fishing boat appears from a channel in the floating 

fields and is silhouetted against the glowing early 

morning tones behind it. After many minutes of silence 

the sun slowly creeps up. Second by second the view in 

front of us changes. The growing sun casts purple and 

pink hues on the waters mirroring surface and as the 

sky grows lighter, more sights come into view. Fishing 

boats appear in the distance and birds fly overhead 

chatting away as the dawn of a new day breaks. 

Our exclusive experience on tranquil waters had come 

to an end and we hopped on the boat and headed back 

down the track that we came in on. I’m astonished at the 

things I hadn’t previously spotted in the dark before the 

sun cast its light. A whole village was coming to life! Little 

houses sat on stilts six metres above ground. Children 

were brushing their teeth in the water whilst waiting for 

the school boat. Mothers sat on jetties washing newborn 

baby clothes whilst their husbands waved them goodbye 

as they headed to work on longboats. As we pass by a 

house a little girl of around five years old lifts both hands 

to her eyes pretending she has binoculars and looks my 

way, I do the same and we both wave a silent hello. I feel 

so lucky to have a glimpse into a life that is not my own 

and to share this ritual of getting ready for the day with 

a local village. 

Sam’s timing is perfect! I can see that his many years 

of experience as a local guide is a huge benefit to me. 

He knows the area like the back of his hand and as he 

teaches me what he knows and guides me through paths 

he’s travelled many times before, I never get the sense 

that he is bored or going through the motions. He tells 

me the tales of Siem Reap’s history from his heart and 

his personal experience. He senses which parts I am 

more interested in and gives me just the right amount 

of time on each subject. 

Once again we are in the cool climate of the car which 

is a welcome break from the rising heat. We are taken 

to another temple and as we pull up to the entrance I 

notice that we are just in time for the opening of the 


gates. Sam has a talent of avoiding large groups and the 

early start allows us to wander around and take pictures 

before any other tourists could crowd the shot. 

Despite seeing many temples and historical monuments 

I am still hungry for more culture and excitement and 

what else could I finish with but Angkor Wat. One of the 

largest religious monuments, Angkor Wat is the main 

reason people travel far and wide to visit Cambodia. It’s 

even displayed on the national flag. 

We arrive at the site late morning to avoid the early rush 

of tourists and as expected it is still very busy. However, 

Sam, with all of his knowledge takes us into Angkor Wat 

via an alternative, less busy entrance. As we enter the site 

I don’t even notice the other tourists around us, I’m just 

gobsmacked at the enormity of it all. At the beginning of 

the 12th century when it was originally constructed by 

King Suryavarman II, Angkor Wat was a Hindu temple 

dedicated to Vishnu but when King Jayavarman VII came 

into power it slowly transformed into a Buddhist temple 

creating a rich mix of two strong religions. 

As we walk through the busy corridors, Sam always 

seems to find a quiet corner or a quieter path for us to 

walk down. He talks us through the huge carved stories 

on the internal walls. Fish, horses, serpents, gods… 

there is so much to look at and the attention to detail 

is astounding. Many walls are unfinished and you can 

still see some of the sketches and marking out from the 

artists. We exit the monument and Sam gets us a fresh 

coconut to drink while we take some photographs. There 

is a perfect photo opportunity from one side of Angkor 

Wat that reflects the monument onto its surrounding 

waters. 

As we walk away from this magnificent place I think of all 

of the wonderful things I have seen, and whilst Cambodia 

is full of beauty, it also has pain running through its 

veins. It would be ignorant not to mention its turbulent 

past. Spending two fascinating days with our guide and 

now friend Sam, we have learned so much. We learned 

about his own journey of being separated from his family 

at the age of five and that he would never see his father 

again. No photographs, no home videos, only a faint 

memory to remind him. We learned that he was forced 

to work 20 hour days in the rice field for the Khmer 

Rouge’s, surviving only on two small bowls of watery 

rice a day. We also learned that despite not finishing 

high school until he became a grown man and with all 

the odds stacked against him, Sam our guide was a truly 

remarkable man. He now speaks three languages and 

lives on to tell his story. He was one of the kindest people 

we have ever come across and we felt honoured to have 

met him. Sam’s story is not uncommon in Cambodia nor 

is his spirit. Despite the trauma of the past, the people of 

Cambodia are beautiful, kind, welcoming and warm. 

EXAMPLE CAMBODIA TOURS 

10 day tailor-made private tours to Cambodia start from 

£2,025 per person including flights, accommodation and 

comprehensive tour programme. Combine Cambodia, 

Vietnam and Laos in 19 days from £3,698pp. 

Top : Local girl playing by her boat on the shores of Tonlé Sap Lake 

Middle: A quiet spot at Angkor Wat, Sieam Reap 

Below right: Oliver (left) and Robbie (right) with their guide Sam infront of 

the Shinta Mani Angkor Hotel, Siem Reap. 

Read more from Robbie’s visit at rbcollection.com/cambodia 


RIVER CRUISES BY RAIL 

Travel to your next river cruise in comfort, by train. Rail offers more comfort, more 

luxury and more charm than other forms of travel. 

FIVE-STAR TULIPS CRUISE 

Discover the magnificent floral displays of the Keukenhof 

Gardens and enjoy a talk onboard ship from television 

personality Charlie Dimmock on this wonderfully diverse 

cruise on the enchanting Belgian and Dutch waterways. 

Uncover the beautiful historic cities of Amsterdam, Ghent 

and Antwerp as well as the Battlefields of Ypres, the 

spectacular Keukenhof tulips and the Hoorn-Medemblik 

steam train. You will also enjoy a talk from army veteran and 

battlefields expert Colonel Piers Storie-Pugh OBE on this 

memorable river cruise. 

8 days from £1,395 per person, departs 15/4/19 

AN ENTICING CRUISE FROM AUSTRIA TO HUNGARY 

Aboard the state of the art Amadeus Queen, which comes 

with its own swimming pool amongst other cutting-edge 

facilities, experience the magic of the blue Danube from the 

elegance of Imperial Vienna, to the twin-cities of Buda and 

Pest. Step back in time to the eras of the Ottoman Empire 

and the Kingdom of the Habsburgs, all whilst enjoying the 

surroundings of your ultra modern and comfortable cruise 

ship. There are also lots of included opportunities to taste 

specialties of each region you sail through, completing a 

cruise that is a real treat for the senses. 

9 days from £1,795 per person, various dates 

TOUR & CRUISE OPTIONS 

One exciting option available to you when choosing these 

special river cruises is the opportunity to add a brief tour 

onto the beginning or end of your cruise. Experience 

more of the countries you visit and enjoy some of the most 

iconic adventures and excursions available. Accompanied 

throughout by your tour manager, you will be able to tour 

Imperial Cities, ride on the iconic Glacier Express and 

Jungfrau Express or explore the castles of German Bavaria. 

With hotels and meals included on selected tours, and with 

the knowledge and friendly professionalism provided by 

your tour manager, these tours make for a fine addition to 

any cruise. 

FAIRYTALE BAVARIA & FIVE-STAR DANUBE CRUISE 

Explore the mountains and castles of Bavaria and cruise 

down the gentle Danube... 

Bavaria’s magnificent castles, mysterious forests and 

magical mountains are the backdrop to this majestic tour, 

uncovering many hidden gems in the historic kingdom of 

Bavaria. Discover fairytale Neuschwanstein Castle and ride 

the Bavarian Zugspitz Mountain Railway, from your base in 

the charming village of Fussen. 


JUNGFRAU EXPRESS & FIVE-STAR RHINE CRUISE 

Climb to the highest railway station in Europe and uncover 

the majesty of the Rhine... 

Before you set sail on the magical waters of the Rhine, venture 

to the top of Europe on the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, 

the continent’s highest railway station. Experience the 

majesty of the Swiss Alps by rail, as the mountains serenade 

you with spectacular views across the peaks below. 


IMPERIAL CITIES & FIVE-STAR DANUBE CRUISE 

Embrace the magic of the blue Danube, and discover the 

imperial cities of central Europe... 

Begin your Imperial adventure early and explore the multifaceted 

histories of two European giants, Berlin and Prague. 

From Gothic, Baroque and Renaissance architecture, to 

landmarks that have had much significance within our 

lifetimes, experience centuries in just a few days. 

12 days from £2,195 per person 

FIRST-CLASS UPGRADES 

Why not add to the experience by upgrading to First-Class? 

With more leg room, wider aisles and seats, First-Class travel 

perfectly complements the stunning scenery you see as you 

glide through Europe on its excellent railway networks. 

Visit rbcollection.com/river for more details, call us on 01543 

258631 or email vip@rbcollection.com. 


THE DESERT NEXT DOOR 

Words by Robbie Sinclair 

RB Director, Oliver & his husband Robbie finished 

their week of driving around Southern France & Spain 

with a scenic trip taking them from the culturally rich 

and foodie haven of the Basque Country, to an area of 

stark contrast; one of Spain’s most scenic deserts where 

they stayed in one of the country’s most unique (and 

Instagramable) hotels... 

After a few glorious days driving over The Pyrenees 

and through the Basque Country I had become used 

to seeing jaw dropping lush landscapes at every turn. 

Babbling brookes, waterfalls and endless skylines of 

green stretched out before us as we sat in our 4x4 

watching in amazement whilst trees whizzed passed 

our windows. The roads were strangely quiet and 

this beautiful backdrop felt like it was just for us as 

we cruised around hairpin turns and over serene 

mountains. It was magical. 

The road journey from Biarritz to the Bardenas 

Reales Natural Park should be about a two and a half 

hour drive. However we took a little longer so we 

could take lots of scenic photos along the way. The 

extra time we spent was worth it and we made sure 

we had plenty of pastries and coffee which we had 

bought in a quaint little bakery. It was just us two, a 

podcast, tasty treats and stunning views. 

Our sat-nav instructed us to turn onto a small dirt 

track and it was time for our next adventure. As we 

entered the Aire De Bardenas hotel compound, I felt 

like I was headed to a space station outpost. We were 

full of excitement and intrigue as we pulled into the 

parking area of the semi permanent structure. The 

single story hotel is boarded with repurposed wooden 

pallets that blends in with the landscape surrounding 

it and after the glamour of Biarritz it was really nice 

to add on a quirkier element to our trip. 

After staying at a number of unusual places including 

Petit St Vincent; a private island in the Caribbean 

and The Ice Hotel and Tree Hotel in Sweden, we 

have grown a penchant for unique hotels. Aire de 

Bardenas was the perfect choice for our next out of 

the box stay. 

Sat in a wheat field, Aire de Bardenas looks out 

onto the town of Tudela and behind it sits the most 

incredible desert view. The unique part of this hotel 

isn’t its incredible setting, nor is it the homegrown 

vegetables or its friendly staff, although these are 

all high up on the list. The thing that makes Aire 

de Bardenas so amazing is their bubble tent rooms 

that allow you to sleep under the stars and be at one 

with nature. The aluminium and reinforced plastic 

structure boasts an inflatable dome that houses a 

transparent bedroom and covered private bathroom, 

all cleverly situated to avoid prying eyes. We had a 

more “traditional” room so after taking a look around 

the space we collected our keys and turned onto the 

strange Sci-fi like corridor to find our room, we 

entered number 9; the last room on the left. 

The simple room seemed very Scandinavian. 

Simplicity and functionality is teamed with quiet 

design details at Aire De Bardenas and I instantly feel 

a sense of calm. At the end of the bed there is a large 

window with a lazy day bed and on the other side 

of the window sits the wow factor moment. A large 

metal bathtub resides in a stark yard that reminds 

me again of a moon base only seen in Sci-fi movies. 

Despite the unusual design, the unique landscape 


seems utterly romantic and feels like a perfect option 

for honeymooners or those wanting to reconnect 

with each other. 

When booking a hotel my top priority is always a 

bathtub so I was pleased to see that the reception 

area stocked LUSH products to satisfy the instagram 

hungry hashtaggers that frequented the hotel, I of 

course was no exception so I dashed out to buy a new 

one. Although the thought of a hot bubble bath and a 

glass of wine seemed very tempting we couldn’t stop 

and relax just yet, there was one more thing on the 

list we needed to see, so we grabbed our map and 

some water and jumped back into the 4x4 to hit the 

road. 

If you like unique hotels, like the Ice Hotel, then why not spend 

a night in the Spanish desert under the stars in one of these 

unique bubble tents! You couldn’t get further away from the 

snow & cold of Sweden and so it makes for a great contrast for 

your next trip! 

This time we headed towards Bardenas Reales 

Natural Park which was just 5 km from our hotel. I 

had heard great things about this place but couldn’t 

quite believe my eyes as we entered the desert. It took 

me a minute to realise that I was actually in Spain and 

not in mini Monument Valley. As we drove onto the 

small rough road towards the natural park, google 

tells me that it was declared a Biosphere Reserve 

by UNESCO and never fails to surprise its visitors… 

I can see why! Boasting a whopping 42,500 hectares 

of photographable desert like landscape it feels more 

like a film set from Star Wars rather than a natural 

park in Spain! 

The soils are made up of sandstone, chalk and clay 

and thanks to years of wind and water damage 

the landscape has eroded away to create the most 

fantastical natural hills, craters and gorges. They 

say that seeing is believing and you do REALLY need 

to see this place to believe it. As we drove through 

the park we noticed a military firing range and some 

buildings that felt very top secret. After around 2 

hours of exploration and around 200 photographs we 

called it a day and headed back. We cruised passed 

the many cyclists in the park and ventured out. 

Back in the quietude of our hotel and with a large 

glass of red wine I watched the bath bomb fizz around 

the huge tub creating swirls of orange. I closed my 

eyes and thought about our adventure. This trip had 

felt like 4 holidays in 1, lush mountains and plush 

spa days juxtaposed with dry deserts and off road 

driving. It was perfect! 

BARCELONA & DESERT TWIN-CENTRE BREAK 

- Return flights to Barcelona 

- Pre-booked seats & checked in luggage 

- Arrival private transfer from airport into the city 

- 1 night 4* hotel in Barcelona with breakfast 

- City centre car hire collection, 3 days hire 

- 2 nights Aires De Bardenas, Bubble with breakfast 

- Advice & hints on enjoying the desert drive 

- Self-drive back to airport for car drop off 

From £849 per person 

Subject to availability, terms & conditions. 


THE SILK ROAD 

Words by Oliver 

I recently saw Joanna Lumley perform her touring show 

at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. It was an entertaining 

evening as Joanna took us down memory lane and 

through the decades of her career with amusing 

anecdotes and stories. 

One moment which really stood out, and had the 

audience gripped, were the questions surrounding 

her various travels. Joining Joanna onstage was her 

grandfather’s travelling case from India, as well as 

various keepsakes from around the world. 

Her search for the Northern Lights was officially her 

most memorable trip whilst Japan, Egypt and her 

most recent Silk Road adventure were all mentioned 

and it was a joy to recap the memories together with 

the audience. There is no doubt Joanna really brings a 

destination to life, but of course there is nothing like 

experiencing the real thing for yourself. 

With this in mind I thought I would take a look at some 

of the destinations Joanna recently toured along the Silk 

Road and the opportunities for our clients to visit them 

for themselves. 

VENICE 

Often referred to as the most romantic city in the 

world, Venice was the entry point to Europe for traders 

travelling along the silk road. The influences the city 

absorbed from the array of different cultures which the 

traders and visitors brought with them is all around. The 

highlight for many will be a visit to the Doges Palace, but 

we would also recommend a visit over to Murano Island 

to see the skills of the glass blowers. Winter is a beautiful 

time to visit when the crowds reduce a little and you can 

wander to your heart’s content along the canals. A nice 

respite from the hustle and bustle of the city is Venice 

Lido. This green oasis is just 20 minutes by boat and is 

a great place to visit, or stay at one of the beachfront 

hotels. For a really luxurious treat, why not book onto 

the Venice-Simplon Orient-Express eastwards to our 

next stop; Istanbul. 

TURKEY 

Istanbul is a remarkable city with an array of ancient 

monuments, fun bazaars to explore and fascinating 

religious buildings to tour. It is easy to combine the 

city with the Cappadocia region where Joanna explored 

the underground cities that formed the heart of the 

Hittite empire. These unique caves are architectural 

marvels and like nothing you will have seen before. The 

scenery is spectacular too with ‘fairy chimney’ rock 

formations dotted around. You can even stay in one of 

these unique cave hotels, many of which are some of the 

most luxurious in Turkey. 7 day holidays to both areas, 

with a comprehensive tour programme with private car 

transportation, flights from the UK and luxury hotels 

starts from £919 per person, based on 2 people travelling 

privately. 

GEORGIA 

With a complicated past, Georgia is a fascinating country 

to explore and learn more about. One of the world’s 

oldest Christian nations, Georgia has plenty of beautiful 

churches to visit, as well as Roman fortresses and rockcave 

monasteries. Joanna also visited some of the more 

remote parts of this country. The lush-green landscapes 

that the Silk Road winds along are home to remote 

villagers working off the land with age-old traditional 

means’. In stark contrast, the capital city of Tbilisi is a 

buzzing cultural hot spot and is quickly becoming one 

of the ‘must-see’ cities of the area. Access to the country 

is easy too with no current visa requirements for UK 

passport holders. 9 day escorted group tours start from 

£1,335 per person with flights. Read a trip report from 

Georgia at rbcollection.com/silkroad. 

AZERBAIJAN 

The capital city Baku was one of the stand-out moments 

of Joanna’s documentary to me. This vibrant, modern 

metropolis with futuristic architecture is developing at a 

fast pace. The city offers plenty to discover from the past 

in the 10th-century old town, and provides an exciting 

look into its future too with jaw-dropping masterpieces 

from some of the world’s top modern architects. Away 


from the city, one of the highlights to visit would be 

Ateshgyakh Fire Worshippers’ temple at Absheron, as 

well as ancient rock carvings at Gobustan, a Unesco 

world heritage site dating back 20,000 years. 

Few would tour around just Azerbaijan, instead 

opting to combine with neighbouring Georgia and 

Armenia. We offer a 14 night escorted group tour 

that does just that, taking in all three states of the 

southern Caucasus starting in Azerbaijan on the 

shores of the Caspian Sea, where a visit to the Khan 

Palace in Sheki is also on the agenda. The tour then 

heads to Georgia, famous for its ancient monasteries 

and viticulture, and ends in the small, proud nation 

of Armenia, one of the oldest Christian countries 

in the world. Prices start from £1,995 per person 

including flights. 

IRAN 

In Episode 3, Joanna was very excited to have the 

crew’s visas granted so they could visit Iran, and it 

soon became apparent why. A key part of the Silk 

Road’s history, the home of the Persian civilisation 

has some of the most wonderful architectural sites 

of the ancient world including the tiled mosques 

of Isfahan. Other highlights include the verdant 

gardens of Shiraz, the ancient Achaemenian capital 

of Pasargadae, the desert architecture of Yazd and 

the splendid bas-reliefs of the Palace of Persepolis. 

Iran has certainly become more popular in recent 

years and in our opinion booking onto an organised, 

group tour, with like-minded travellers, is the best 

way to do it. 9 day fully escorted group tours start 

from £1,779 per person. We also offer a longer 

tour, focussing on arts & culture which is a more 

comprehensive programme, visiting specially 

arranged visits to unique places with local experts, 

from £4,495 per person. 

Visiting Iran on a group tour is one of the best ways to 

see what the country has to offer. Explore grandiose 

historical sites with a group of like-minded travellers 

in a hassle-free manner. 

Mention this issue when you book any 

of these destinations to claim your free 

DVD or digital download. of Joanna 

Lumley’s Silk Road Adventure. 

UZBEKISTAN 

The final stop on the documentary was Uzbekistan, a 

country which we first encountered around 10 years 

ago when my late colleague, Dave Archer, visited. I 

remember Dave vividly describing this mysterious 

place upon his return. He recalled the impressive, bold 

and colourful Islamic architecture and warm, friendly 

locals. The country has a history of many conquerors 

and nomads who left behind a legacy of architectural 

sites and cultural influences. The towering fortresses 

of Khiva and Bukhara and the Islamic architecture 

of Samarkand are all a ‘must-see’, once some of the 

most powerful cities in the world. More recent Soviet 

history can be discovered in the modern day capital 

city of Tashkent, well planned and laid out city. Well 

worth a visit is also the sleepier Uzbek town where 

mud-walled houses are surrounded by traditional 

farmers. 12 day group tours around Uzbekistan with 

flights start from £1,845 per person. 

Visit rbcollection.com/uzbekistan to view a selection of 

Dave’s wonderful photos from his trip, in his memory. 


CHASING THE NORTHERN LIGHTS 

Words by Clare 

The Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as 

the Northern Lights, are one of the Earth’s most 

mesmerising phenomenon. With winter now upon us 

we are giving you our suggestions to make the most of 

this magical wonder and experience them for yourself. 

ICEHOTEL, SWEDEN 

We have operated the specialist website IceHotels.co.uk 

for nearly ten years and know this amazing, unique 

hotel inside out. We have some special packages that 

include a wonderful Northern Lights by snowmobile 

excursion, as well as a husky trip where you learn to 

mush the sleigh yourselves. We also upgrade our clients 

to the special Art Suite. Prices start from around £1,199 

per person with flights, one night on ice, three nights 

warm accommodation, transfers, breakfast daily and 

two special excursions. You can visit all-year-round 

now with the special Ice Hotel 365, but the main winter 

season is from mid-December to March. icehotels.co.uk 

TREE HOTEL, SWEDEN 

Another unique hotel in Sweden is the Tree Hotel. Each 

tree house room is completely different. Our favourite 

is the UFO (like something out of the 80’s film ‘Flight of 

the Navigator’). The surroundings are picturesque, and 

Britta’s Guest House is a themed home celebrating the 

1930-50’s, where you take meals, and certainly adds a 

unique, quirky element to your stay. Activities include 

snowmobiling, ice fishing and more. Three-night 

packages from £1,445pp. The Tree Hotel and Ice Hotel 

can be easily combined to make a twin-centre holiday, 

with a lovely train journey between the two hotels. 

LAND OF THE NORTHERN LIGHTS TOUR 

Follow in Joanna Lumley’s footsteps on this special 

independent tour. This touring holiday using local 

transport begins in Trondheim, Norway’s former 

ancient capital. You then travel by rail across the 

Arctic Circle to the pretty little port of Bodø. Embark 

on a short flight to the great Vestfjord and the magical 

Lofted Islands. Continue on an overnight mini-cruise to 

the Arctic capital itself, Tromsø. Eight days costs from 

£1,985pp. 

ICELAND 

One the best value for money places to see the Northern 

Lights is Iceland. A three-night break to Reykjavik with 

flights and accommodation starts from £695pp. You can 

then pick and choose various excursions to add on – our 

top tip would be the Super Jeep Northern Lights trip. 

HURTIGRUTEN COASTAL CRUISES, NORWAY 

Cruising along the Norwegian Coast is a great way to see 

the beautiful fjords and of course the Northern Lights. 

A popular option is an eight-day tour from the south of 

the Norwegian coast to the north. It offers great value 

for money with flight inclusive packages starting from 

£995 per person. This even includes a night staying at 

the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes too! 

ABISKO SKY STATION, SWEDEN 

Voted by National Geographic as the best place in the 

world to see the lights, The Aurora Sky Station at Abisko 

is a mountain top viewing lodge. Accessed by a chairlift, 

we arrange for our clients to have a traditional dinner 

earlier in the evening before the rest of the visitors 

arrive. This intimate experience adds something special 

to the night. You can stay at the station until 1am to 

ensure you get a lot of opportunities to see the lights. 

We often combine this with a stay at the Ice Hotel which 

is in the same area. 

TROMSO, NORWAY 

At a latitude of nearly 70 degrees north, Tromsø is the 

largest city in the Nordic countries north of the Arctic 

Circle. Surrounded by the Lyngen Alps, vast forests, 

blue fjords and an archipelago of hundreds of islands, 

this lively university city has much to offer the visitor 

whether summer or winter. The winter months, with 

its moderate arctic climate of c. -4°C, brings the natural 

phenomena of the Polar Nights (November 21 and 

January 21) and Northern Lights (September to April) as 

well as a host of activities to suit all interests from dogsledding, 

glacial walking, snowmobile safaris and snow 

shoe excursions. Three-night short breaks with flights 

and private transfers cost from £529 per person. 


ADULTS-ONLY FINLAND LUXURY LODGES 

This newly transformed adults-only wilderness hotel 

is just a total haven of peace and quiet and is tucked 

in the most incredible lakeside location in the depths 

of the wild. It is small scale and just oozes comfort 

and charm with its high-end décor and stunning logbuilt 

construction. The hotel’s proximity to Lake Inari 

means that, by night, there is a vast expanse of dark 

sky above you, ideal for Northern Lights hunting. 

You will visit the village of Nellim for an incredible 

day which combines reindeer encounters and dog 

sledding, you’ll explore the area on snowshoes and 

will have the chance to try snowmobiling. We have 

also included two Northern Lights hunts. Three nights 

from £1,495 per person including flights, transfers, 

accommodation with full board basis, dog sledding, 

visiting a reindeer farm, snowshoeing, aurora camp, 

snowmobiling lesson and aurora snowshoeing, fully 

qualified guides and instructors during activities, 

cold weather clothing for the duration of your stay 

and aurora alert until approximately 1am! 

CLARE’S TOP NORTHERN LIGHTS TIPS 

1) Think ‘off-season’ – in far-north Scandinavia, the 

lights start to come out to play as early as the end of 

August with specific late summer/autumn excursions 

offered. Some locals near the Ice Hotel in Swedish 

Lapland say October is, in fact, one of the best times 

to see them, as well as March when it is quieter and 

cheaper to visit, even though most expect it to be 

January and February. 

2) Join a photo tour – while modern phones and 

cameras are great at capturing day to day life, the 

illusive Northern Lights with their dancing pattern, 

dark night conditions and cold temperatures can 

make getting the perfect picture a challenge. Many 

trips offer a taster photo tour, suitable for all levels 

of experience. 

3) Maximise your opportunities – the lights can 

be illusive at times, and weather conditions could 

prevent sightings. Our advice is not to rely on just one 

opportunity to see them. For example, on the Super 

Jeep trip in Iceland, if you don’t see them on your 

first excursion, you can go again the next night for 

free. A longer trip, travelling around Scandinavia may 

also be a good idea giving you extra opportunities in 

different areas. 

4) Beyond the lights – there are so many fantastic 

places to visit and activities to enjoy on these kind 

of trips, we always manage our clients’ expectations 

by arranging other experiences to create more and 

more memories, and then if the worst happens and 

the lights don’t come out to play for you, it will still be 

a fantastic trip all round! 

icehotels.co.uk 

rbcollection.com/northernlights 

5) Don’t cut corners – there are companies out there 

offering very cheap short trips, or even just oneoff 

flights. In our experience, these can be in large 

groups and also give you limited opportunities to 

see the lights. For such a once-in-a-lifetime trip, 

do you really want to compromise and risk wasting 

your money? Investing a little more can take it from a 

mediocre experience to one which will stay with you 

forever. 


JORDAN, ISRAEL & EGYPT 

Words by Nathan 

There is no denying the cultural significance of 

Jordan, Israel and Egypt. Steeped in history, yet part 

of the modern developed world too; they each offer 

a contrasting experience to visitors individually, but 

can also be combined in various ways to provide 

unique holiday experiences. From river cruises down 

the Nile, to expert led group tours, food experiences, 

beach stays and family adventure holidays, let’s 

take a look in more detail at the options and our 

recommendations. 

JORDAN 

Did you know we have been operating the specialist 

website JordanHolidays.co.uk for a number of years? 

The site features a range of quality tours and itinerary 

examples for you to choose from. Here are our top 

suggestions... 

JORDAN: EXPERT LED IN-DEPTH TOUR 

The sweeping red backdrops of Jordan have captured 

the imagination of countless people, with the iconic 

photo of Petra’s treasury ubiquitous in any travel 

publication. Peppered with crusader castles and 

extensive roman ruins, few people choose to venture 

off the tourist trail. This is an opportunity to do 

so, allowing you to follow in the footsteps of T.E. 

Lawrence. 

Accompanied by Dr Neil Faulkner, military 

archaeologist, director of the great Arab revolt 

Project, and author of Lawrence of Arabia’s War: The 

Arabs, the British and the remaking of the Middle 

East in WWI, delve into the history of the Arab revolt. 

Armed with your copy of Seven Pillars of Wisdom, 

trace Lawrence’s journey through his own words. 

Visit forts, battlefields and ruined cities, and uncover 

their lengthy stories from the romans to the crusades. 

Of course, no journey to Jordan would be complete 

without a visit to the monumental Nabatean ruins of 

Petra, and this tour provides ample time to explore 

this “rose-red city, half as old as time”. 

9-day escorted tour with flights, good standard 

hotels, breakfast daily, 8 lunches, six evening meals, 

all excursions, entrance fees and visa with all ground 

transfers, English speaking guides and tour manager 

from £2,899 per person. 

JORDAN WEEKENDER 

If you are short on time, this 4-night break takes 

in the highlights of Jordan, maximising your time 

but not compromising on the overall experience. 

Spend 2 nights in Amman to see the city and nearby 

Madaba, Mt. Nebo & Karak before 1 night in Petra, 

the highlight for most, and finally experience Wadi 

Rum and an overnight at the Dead Sea. Prices start at 


AMAZING JORDAN 5* TOUR 

This tour picks out the best of Jordan’s magnificent 

cultural heritage and stunning landscapes. Visit the 

classical city of Jerash, the biblical site of Mount Nebo 

and Petra, the rock-hewn city. The shifting sands of 

Wadi Rum and the curative waters of the Dead Sea 

complete your exploration. 8 days from £1,595pp. 

EGYPT 

A cruise down the Nile is a relaxing way of exploring 

Egypt and offer excellent value for money. For 

example, a week onboard the newly refurbished MS 

Tulip with 3 meals per day and 10 excursions, plus 

flights from the UK start from only £899 per person! 

We also offer longer 10 and 14-day Nile cruises which 

are a little harder to come by as less boats are able 


to sail further down the river. For a more intimate 

experience, we offer sailings onboard a smaller 

boat with just 7 cabins! You will explore the Nile at 

a leisurely pace, visiting small islands, local villages, 

and Pharaonic sites that are often missed by the larger 

Nile cruises, enabling you to experience an Egypt that 

has long been removed from the tourist radar. 7-night 

trips with flights from £1,897 per person. You can also 

combine a Nile cruise with a land tour to make an 11- 

day holiday from £1,197 per person. 

ISRAEL 

Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories (OPT) 

are a fascinating mix of old and new, with many 

historical and Biblical sites and modern culture from 

the holy cities of Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth 

to the Dead Sea and Judean Hills. Visit the Temple 

Mount area, leading along Via Dolorosa to the Holy 

Sepulchre. The Sea of Galilee, Capernaum and Mount 

Beatitudes, where Jesus is said to have delivered the 

Sermon on the Mount. 

This 7-night guided heritage tour of Israel offers 

a comprehensive overview of the country, visiting 

some of the world’s most ancient and iconic sights. 

Highlights include the Old City of Jerusalem, 

the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, the unique 

therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea and the stunning 

scenery of the Jordan Valley. When booking on a 

private basis, we can arrange a guide with specific 

knowledge based on your own religious beliefs or 

interests. 7 nights from £1,149 per person. 

A great combination tour is Israel and Jordan. In 10 

days you can explore both destinations ensuring 

you don’t miss any opportunity along the way. Like 

many of the tours we offer, this tour will depart on a 

minimum group size of 2 people, however the average 

size is 15-20. We try our best to avoid companies with 

larger group sizes than this. Alternatively, we can 

arrange a dedicated private departure which can 

then also be tailored to meet your requirements. 

To plan and book your holiday to Jordan, Egypt or Israel 

call us on 01543 258631 or email vip@rbcollection.com. 

rbcollection.com/arabia 



TOP TIPS: CUBA 

Why should we go to Cuba now? 

The influx of tourists to Cuba from the U.S has not 

materialised, and Cuba still retains its unique position 

of being a communist country having to adapt and 

change to the world around it. The whole island is 

on the brink of change and now is an ideal time to 

explore during this fascinating period of its history. 

When is the best time of year to visit and why? 

The best time to visit Cuba is between December and 

May when the weather is at its driest and mildest with 

temperatures between 24 and 27 degrees Celsius. 

How long to stay for a first time visit and why? 

Ideally 10 nights, spending four nights in Havana and 

then time at one of the country’s stunning beaches. 

These nights in Havana will give you the chance to 

explore this stunning city, giving you the opportunity 

to take a classic American car ride through its streets 

and an opportunity to sample its many restaurants 

and bars, and dance in the streets! 

What can’t you miss on your first time visit? 

Quite simply, Havana, which will be celebrating the 

500-year anniversary of its founding in December 

2019. This city overwhelms your senses with stunning 

architecture, classic American cars and its zest for 

life! 

What are your 3 hidden gems? 

1. Xanadu mansion in Varadero is a small 6 room 

boutique hotel set on the beach and overlooking 

the Championship golf course. This Art Deco styled 

property was the home of a wealthy American 

millionaire and you can sip a mojito on its terrace 

overlooking the ocean. 

2. Havana forest on the outskirts of the city is a green 

oasis with rivers and lush vegetation. 

3. Not really a hidden gem but the streets of Trinidad 

allow you to be transported back in time. Beadmakers 

sell their wares by the pavement and cowboys can be 

seen riding horses through the streets. 

Favourite restaurant? 

La Guarida in old Havana is the most favourite private 

restaurant in the whole of Cuba. You walk up a high 

ornate staircase through a derelict looking building 

for two floors until you arrive at the restaurant of the 

top floor which has pristine white linen tablecloths 

and a range of stunning menu options. After the meal 

head to the rooftop bar to watch the city skyline at 

night. 

Most instagram worthy spots? 

Revolution Square: this wide-open plaza is 

surrounded by government buildings and is the spot 

where Castro gave many of his speeches. 

Parque Central: this square is in the heart of the city 

and where you find several of the city’s famous hotels. 

Great views are afforded of the city below from some 

of the hotels rooftop restaurants and pool areas. 

La Floridita Bar: This is where, according to local 

legend, Ernest Hemingway is supposed to have 

helped in the creation of the Daiquiri. There is a life 

size bronze statue of the writer propping up the bar. 

Most romantic spot? 

At dusk the Malecon, Havana’s famous promenade, 

becomes the place for couples to meet. Local 

musicians play their guitars and friends meet to drink 

rum and to enjoy the cooling sea breeze. The Malecon 

becomes the focal point for the city after dark and is 

busy throughout the early evening and late into the 

night. 

Best place for shopping local gifts? 

By the ferry terminal you will find a large covered 

art and crafts market. Here local artists sell their 

paintings and there is a large selection of gifts 

including leather bags, t-shirts and caps. 

Best place for a view? 

Head to Morro castle on the other side of the bay 

from the city. Here from its ramparts you will have a 

beautiful view of the whole of Havana. 

Tell us something we don’t know! 

Cuba has 70,000 qualified doctors the whole of Africa 

has only 50,000. 

What do locals do for fun at the weekend? 

At the weekend locals will head to the beaches east 

of the capital to escape the city. Here they will dance 

Salsa on the beach and sip rum under parasols. These 

beaches are rarely used by tourists and are one of the 

city’s best kept secrets. 

Contact us to plan and book your holiday to Cuba 

on 01543 258631. 


THOUGHTFUL TOURISM 

Written by: Oliver 

We look at simple steps we can all take to respect the destinations we visit and cultures 

we explore, with the aim of preserving them for years to come. 


‘... take a litle time to research 

your destination and their 

customs, it can avoid any 

awkward moments later.’ 

The phrase ‘Sustainable tourism’ is 

something the travel industry is wellaware 

of. Most travel companies will have 

an ‘ST Policy’ and work at giving back to 

the communities they operate in. 

I proposed a new term for us all as travellers: 

‘Thoughtful Tourism’. 

No one likes being told how to enjoy their 

holidays or travel adventures. But we do 

all have a responsibility when it comes 

to respecting the destinations we visit. 

Taking a moment to think about where we 

are visiting and the impact it can have on 

local lives for example can be a simple, yet 

powerful tool. To explain further I have 

provided a few examples and hope that 

maybe next time you travel, you find your 

own way to practise thoughtful tourism. 

THOUGHTFUL TOURISM TIPS 

Where to go? 

This is the million dollar question for 

many. The world is certainly getting 

smaller and more accessible. Consider 

your wishlist, and which destinations 

may be suffering from ‘over-tourism’. A 

good example of these are the New Seven 

Wonders of the World as well as many 

UNESCO World Heritage sites. Many will 

want to visit the MUST SEE monument, 

but with a little inside, local knowledge, 

you may find out there is an even better 

one with way less tourists just down the 

road! 

Choose your travel date wisely 

There’s nothing worse than missing out 

on seeing that all-important monument, 

or hearing what your guide is telling you 

because of the mounting crowds around 

you. Venice is a prime example of this. 

Thousands descend on the floating city 

in the summer months and even more 

are dropped off daily by collosal cruise 

ships. Whilst I appreciate us Brits love 

going away and seeing some sunshine, 

are you going to Venice to warm up, or to 

experience Venice? Consider visiting in 

the winter, and check the city’s conference 

and event calendar to avoid peak times. 

There is a certain magic in Venice in the 

cooler months away from the hoards 

of visitors. This will not only enhance 

your own experience, but alleviate the 

local livelihoods too. Recently, UNESCO 

threatened to revoke Dubrovnik’s status 

unless they started to restrict the number 

of cruise ships dropping off thousands of 

day visitors, noticing the visible impact 

they are having on the historic part of the 

city. 

Local customs 

Digital technology has brought the world 

closer together. Whilst it is easier than 

ever to visit far flung destinations, many 

travellers forget there are many strict 

local customs that still exist and some 

are naive to think these also change 

as fast as technology! The Foreign and 

Commonwealth Office have a handy new 

service via their website which details 

important local customs, from legal 

drinking ages, religious protocols to 

LGBT+ rights etc. Having a quick read 

before you travel can ensure you are a 

thoughtful tourist and avoid any awkward 

moments whilst on holiday. 

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice 

Learn a little... 

A few words of the local language can go 

a long way, and shows respect to locals. 

If you are on a cultural tour, a little 

background knowledge of a country’s 

difficult political situation or past history 

shows interest and can often help break 

the ice with a local guide. You receive a 

more respectful experience, and your 

guide will be happy that you have done 

your research. 

The ‘All-inclusive’ debate 

Whilst they don’t appeal to everyone, 

there is no denying the great value for 

money and peace of mind all-inclusive 

holidays offer and the demand for them 

is increasing. Whilst we do not discourage 

our clients from booking such trips, there 

are some considerations one can make 

to ensure they are an ethical holiday. 

For example, in the past it was reported 

that some of the large ‘wrist-band’ style 

resorts in Egypt were putting many local 

restauranteurs out of business as no 

guest would leave the hotel grounds for 

a whole week. They were importing food 

from abroad, so even the local farmers 

were losing out. Times have changed and 

more reputable all-inclusive hoteliers 

locally source their produce and commit 

to training and employing local talent. 

Getting involved / donating 

Aid deliveries to certain parts of Africa are 

often intercepted and sadly never reach 

their intended final destination. Most 

safari lodges or camps have an allocated 

charity or project they fund and out 

advice would be to research this before 

you go and if you want to show support to 

the locals, stick to this cause. 

In conclusion 

I am sure by now you may be thinking of 

some ideas by yourselves. All I would say 

is get some advice. What we may think will 

help may actually hinder. All our hearts 

will obviosuly be in the right place, and 

with some thought put in, our holiday 

experiences will no doubt be enhanced 

greatly. 

rbcollection.com/thoughtfultourism 



DON’T JUST TAKE OUR WORD FOR IT 

We share some of our clients’ wonderful feedback from their holidays around the world. 

Read more at rbcollection.com, click on ‘Your Travel Stories’ or the Feefo logo. 

‘We loved every minute, we had a different driver and 

guide every few days and without exception they were 

excellent, punctual, knowledgeable and friendly. There 

was only the two of us so we were extremely well looked 

after, lots of local knowledge and tips. The schedule and 

hotels were all great, very action packed, we certainly 

fitted a lot in. I would wholeheartedly recommend RB 

Collection, particularly Nathan to anyone looking to book 

a holiday. After our experience with them I wouldn’t use 

anyone else. Absolutely excellent service and wonderful 

value for money.’ 

Mr & Mrs Timmis, Vietnam & Cambodia 

‘The entire holiday itinerary was put together really well 

and from our point of view made for an excellent and 

very different holiday break. RB are a first rate travel 

agency who have booked many holidays for us in recent 

years, all of which have been absolutely great. The Orient 

Express was brilliant, and Venice was stunning, in spite 

of the floods. Our tip would be to take the train out to 

Venice and return by plane, in that order was, for us, 

definitely the best way round, and probably would be for 

most other people, I would suggest.’ 

Mr & Mrs Rourke, Venice 

‘This was our first trip to the Indian Ocean islands and 

we really enjoyed Mauritius. Travel all went without a 

hitch and the hotel was beautifully situated on the beach 

in a quiet area to the west of Grand Baie. Our room was 

a good size and had a lovely balcony overlooking the 

garden and beach. The hotel staff were very welcoming 

and also happy to chat. We enjoyed the scenery and the 

wildlife and also the freedom to explore on our own in 

the local area. We always use RB Collection when we are 

going somewhere we haven’t travelled to before. They 

bring a wealth of experience with staff having visited 

many of the destinations themselves and they know 

the type of holiday we are looking for, coming up with 

thoughtful ideas. The follow through on the service after 

booking is also first rate, taking care of the little things 

that make all the difference. Highly recommended.’ 

Mr & Mrs Cameron, Mauritius 

‘RB Collection offers a very friendly, professional service, 

and have got to know our preferences over the years. 

Their knowledge of destinations is extremely helpful, 

and we have every confidence in the advice given by Sam 

and the team when booking. Would not contemplate 

booking anywhere else!’ 

Mr Plimmer, Canary Island Cruise 

‘The time & effort Sam put in to making my first holiday 

experience with RB Collection was so wonderful. It 

meant a great deal to me. From the moment I got to the 

airport I found that everything I had asked for was in 

place & I knew I did not have to worry about things going 

wrong. Excellent service & huge thanks to Sam.’ 

Mrs Potter, Canada & the USA 

‘RB Collection worked really hard to make our holiday 

in South America one we will remember for the rest of 

our lives. Oliver, Nathan and the team listened carefully 

to what we wanted and then added their own touch of 

magic. I will never forget sitting on the terrace of our 

room watching humming birds and parrots in the trees, 

or watching dolphins following our small zodiac boat, 

leaping in and out of the water. These memories last 

forever and are priceless.’ 

Mr & Mrs Follis, Peru & Ecuador 

‘The travel went like clockwork, no hitches or delays. 

The accommodation everywhere was excellent, we just 

had a brilliant time. Even our final destination, the 

Mont Rochelle in Franschhoek was amazing, as we were 

upgraded on arrival to an amazing Pinotage suite. There 

were so many whales to see in Hermanus that we almost 

became blase about whales!!’ 

Mr & Mrs Tipper, South Africa 

‘The whole experience of visiting different parts of the 

country was fascinating. It was good to visit Suzdal and 

Vladimir to contrast with the two major cities of Moscow 

and St Petersburg. The guides were all excellent, their 

knowledge of the areas and history was vast, they were 

friendly, flexible, spoke good English and were able 

to add personal touches to their knowledge of living 

through different parts of recent history. A fascinating 

country with very friendly people.’ 

Mr & Mrs Orgill, Russia 

‘Nathan was so helpful in advising us where to go to get 

the best safari experience, and then booked everything 

for us making it so straightforward. All the travelling 

went smoothly, and great to have someone greet us and 

arrange all the transfers at every stage. The trip itself was 

amazing - the safari camp and area was great, so much 

game to see on every drive. Would highly recommend!’ 

Mrs Jones, Kenya 

‘RB Collection provide a friendly, personal service and 

helps you to plan the holiday that you want. The staff 

are well-travelled and can make recommendations and 

give advice about destinations all over the world. We will 

definitely go back to RB again.’ 

Mrs Ramage, Norwegian Cruise 

‘We have always received great service from all members 

of the team; their collective knowledge and expertise 

ensures that you will have a holiday perfectly matched to 

your requests. We have another fabulous set of memories 

to add to those already facilitated by RB Collection. 

Thank you everyone.’ 

Mrs Brittain, Barcelona 

Thanks to all our clients who send in feedback. You can 

read more via rbcollection.com, click on the Feefo logo. 


MAGICAL MOMENTS 

Our MD Alan takes a moment to remind you about our unique 

RBespoke Concierge service and how it can enhance your holiday. 

In today’s crowded marketplace, many companies in 

our industry compete on price. We’d rather explain 

what great value for money you get when booking your 

luxury or specialist holiday with us. We may not always 

be cheaper, but when you look at all the additional 

assistance and extra services you receive when booking 

with us, we are confident you’ll agree we offer fantastic 

value for money. 

One of these unique services is our concierge service. 

Since we launched our RBespoke Concierge a few years 

ago we’ve added a vast array of unique experiences to 

our clients’ holidays. Our aim is for you to have life long 

memories and this special service can help achieve just 

that. 

We’d like to explain a little more about how this service 

works and how you can make the most of it. 

Pre departure services 

Let us get your travel off to a relaxing start, we can take 

care of the following before you even leave the country: 

- Home collection transfer in our area 

- Airport hotels 

- Airport parking 

- VIP airport check in / porter assistance 

- Security fast track 

- VIP departure lounge 

- Airline seat reservations 

- Flight meal selection 

- Advance Passenger Information entry with airlines 

- Airport / airline special assistance 

events or experiences to create the perfect holiday 

memories. From VIP access at concerts to queue 

jumping theme park tickets, a private beach dinner for 

two, to private tours and excursions with local experts. 

We can make suggestions for different budgets and 

interests. For example, a really challenging moment 

came when a family were visiting California and wanted 

a tour of the Dodgers’ Stadium. They had no choice but 

to visit during the off-season and the stadium tours 

were not operating. Through our contacts we arranged 

for the gates to be opened and they enjoyed a private 

tour especially for them! 

These experiences can really help enhance a holiday and 

create long lasting memories for all the family. 

How does it work? 

We appreciate that every client is different, with unique 

expectations and requirements. There is therefore not 

one set list of suggested extras we can arrange and we 

enjoy getting to know our clients and making suitable 

suggestions throughout the booking process. We also 

invite you at different stages to let us know if you have any 

ideas or requirements not already mentioned so we can 

come up with ideas. It is all part of the fun of arranging 

holidays and ensuring you have the best possible trip! 

Thanks for your time. We all 

look forward to being of service 

to you soon. 

Perfect touches 

Do you prefer a G&T to a glass of Chardonnay? Do you 

need feather pillows instead of memory foam, or require 

a walk-in shower instead of a bath? These perfect 

touches are vital to ensure you can relax on your all 

important holiday. We work closely with our partners 

to request these for you and whilst sometimes cannot 

be guaranteed, you can rest assured we’ll do our best to 

arrange them for you. 

Memory creators 

Our little black book of contacts from all around the 

world and experience of visiting many destinations 

ourselves, means we can arrange some very special 

46 | RB COLLECTION | TRAVEL EXPLORER 

Page 6 & 7 photo answer: 

Chennai, India. Kapaleeshwarar Temple by Oliver

LEADERS 

IN LUXURY 

CRUISING 

Silversea is an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive cruise line 

renowned for extraordinary worldwide voyages aboard 

intimate ships. Sailing to over 900 destinations 

spanning all seven continents, Silversea offers more 

destinations than any other cruise line. All-suite 

accommodation; butler service; fine dining; beverages 

including wines, beers and spirits; free WiFi and 

onboard gratuities are always included. For the curious 

traveller, Silversea Expeditions offer awe-inspiring 

journeys to some of the world’s most exotic 

destinations. 

Discover the art of luxury travel as perfected 

by Silversea. 

27 Jun 2019 | 7 days | Silver Spirit 

Copenhagen > Day at sea > Tallinn > St Petersburge > 

Helsinki > Mariehamn > Stockholm 

Fares from £3,600 WITH EARLY BOOKING BONUS 

With included roundtrip business class air, overseas 

transfers and bonus savings up to £200 per suite 

07 Dec 2019 | 14 days | Silver Spirit a 

Singapore > Day at sea > Koh Samui > Laem Chabang 

(Bangkok)e > Day at sea > Ho Chi Minh Cityee > 

Day at sea > Chan May > Ha Long Bay > Day at sea > 

Hong Konge 

Fares from £4,590 WITH EARLY BOOKING BONUS 

With included roundtrip economy air, overseas transfers 

and bonus savings up to £400 per suite 

a Venetian Society guests enjoy an additional 5% saving. 

e Overnight in port 

To book call the cruise experts RB Collection on 01543 258631 

or email vip@rbcollection.com 

Terms & Conditions: Book and pay in full by 28 February 2019 to receive Early Booking Bonus and Bonus Savings. Book by 31 January 2019 to take advantage of the 

flight offer. Flights subject to availability. From price based on double occupancy in lowest suite category available. Terms and conditions apply. 

Visit www.silversea.com/terms-and-conditions for complete terms and conditions.

Europe & 

The Americas 

83 NEW ITINERARIES 

2020 COLLECTION 

EARLY BOOKING BONUS 

includes: 

Airfare & Internet* 

plus choose one: 

FREE 6 Shore Excursions 

FREE Beverage Package 

FREE US$600 Shipboard Credit 

Amenities are per stateroom 

EUROPEAN QUEST 

SOUTHAMPTON TO SOUTHAMPTON 

10 days | 25 MAY 2020 – MARINA 

MEDIEVAL SOJOURN 

BARCELONA TO ATHENS 

10 days | 6 OCTOBER 2020 – MARINA 

CATEGORIES & OLIFE CHOICE FARES PER GUEST FROM* 

VERANDA 

£3,499 

CONCIERGE 

£3,739 

PENTHOUSE 

£4,669 

CATEGORIES & OLIFE CHOICE FARES PER GUEST FROM* 

VERANDA 

£3,319 

CONCIERGE 

£3,589 

PENTHOUSE 

£4,639 

SAVOUR THE WORLD WITH THE FINEST CUISINE AT SEA ABOARD OUR INTIMATE AND LUXURIOUS SHIPS 

The Finest Cuisine at Sea 

A variety of distinctive open-seating restaurants 

First hands-on cooking school at sea, “The Culinary Center” 

Destination immersion with over 450 destinations worldwide 

Engaging Culinary Discovery Tours 

Exceptional personalised service 

Elegant casual ambiance, no jacket or tie required 

Intimate, luxurious ships catering to 684 or 1,250 guests 

48 | RB COLLECTION | TRAVEL EXPLORER 

TO BOOK CALL RB COLLECTION ON 01543 258631 

*Complete Terms and Conditions may be found at OceaniaCruises.com or in the Guest Ticket Contract. Oceania Cruises reserves the right to correct errors or omissions. Ships’ Registry: Marshall Islands.

Travel Explorer Magazine Issue 5

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