Your Flightpath to the Holiday of your Dreams

The purpose of this part of the website is to bring together a wealth of travel providers to make your travel planning as
easy as possible. In this comprehensive collection you will find airlines, hotels, car hire, travel insurance, visa
information, guidebooks and excursions and much much more. Just click on the links below and start your journey.
Happy travelling!

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Where can I go?

Just open up Google Maps and let your mind wander to where you want your feet to walk. Cities or shores, east or west, warm or cold, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan, land or sea it’s all there. All it needs is a little imagination.

For a closer view of where you want to go click on Google Earth. Here’s an example of just what you can see – the Eiffel Tower in all its glory.

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What is the weather like?

It’s not a good idea to go at the wrong season so check out these weather sites so you are not cruising the Caribbean in the hurricane season or looking to ski in Chamonix after the snow has gone or visiting Thailand in the monsoon season.

– Good for European tourist destinations
– ‘The typical weather anywhere on earth.’
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Do I need a visa?

Ever been turned back at check-in or at immigration? Check out the visa services offered by these companies.
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Do I need a vaccination?

Want to avoid Yellow Fever in Brazil, Dengue in the Maldives or the Zika Virus in Saint Lucia? You will find the information you need here.

Travel Health Pro “Protecting the Health of British Travellers.”



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Do I need travel insurance?

The answer is simple – yes you do. Just think of the myriad things that can go wrong on holiday and then investigate the travel insurance companies below. And don’t rely upon a GHIC because it doesn’t cover everything.
Staysure Travel Insurance: “We’re focused on providing quality travel insurance to customers of any age.”
AA travel: “We’ve got a unique history of embracing new technology and innovations to better serve you.”
Quoteline Direct: “A one stop shop for all your travel insurance needs.”
InsureandGo: “We can offer you a policy whatever your age, consider any medical conditions you might have, include your kids on your annual policy for free, and cover up to 50 adventure activities.”
AXA: “Our single and multi-trip travel Insurance gives you superb protection whenever and wherever you need it most.”
Travel Insurance4Medical: “We specialise in medical travel insurance”
Avanti Travel Insurance: “Get the Best Cover For Your Holiday”
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What is a GHIC?

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a free medical card which is gradually replacing the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) that gives you access to healthcare in the EU. It works on the principle that you will get healthcare on the same conditions as citizens of the country in the EU where you need it. If they are entitled to free treatment so are you but if they have to pay you will also have to pay. It is limited to ‘necessary healthcare’ which means healthcare which becomes medically necessary during your stay, and you cannot reasonably wait until you’re back in the UK to get it. This includes things like:
  • emergency treatment and visits to A&E
  • treatment for a long-term or pre-existing medical condition
  • routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring
  • routine maternity care, as long as you’re not going abroad to give birth
  • oxygen and kidney dialysis
You can apply online here.
You should also get travel insurance because a GHIC does not cover you for every health need. For instance, it does not cover:
  • Medical care in non-EU countries
  • Repatriation
  • Medical care in private clinics
  • Non-medical problems such as lost luggage, stolen property, holiday curtailment
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Is it safe to go there?

Want to avoid riots in Myanmar, civil unrest in Hong Kong, pandemics in Africa, wars in the Middle East? In this case your first stop should be the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office website for advice on where it’s safe to travel.

Foreign Office Advice:
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Who will take me there? Trains and boats and planes.

These companies are only too willing to take you where you want to go.

Online Travel Agents

“Dedicated to making travel as simple as possible.”
“Quality and Reliability – Delivered”
Expedia: “Explore, discover and save”.
eDreams: “Putting cutting-edge technology solutions to work on behalf of travellers.”
Kiwi Travels : “Plan tomorrow’s adventure today.”
ebookers: “We’re passionate about travel.”
Smart Fares: “A smarter way to travel”
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Airlines

British Airways: “A full service global airline.”
KLM: “The Flying Dutchman.”
Emirates: “Plan your travel with confidence.”
Qatar Airways: “Our goal is to make Qatar Airways your airline of choice.”
Aer Lingus: “Choice at Every Stage.”
Etihad Airways: “Abu Dhabi to the World.”
easyJet: “Come On Let’s Fly.”
Virgin Atlantic: “More experience than our name suggests.”
Avianca: “Everything For Your Love”
Iberia UK: “Safety, Quality, Punctuality: Your Way is Our Way. Book Your Flight Online”
Swiss Int’l Airlines: “Our sign is a promise”
Vueling Worldwide: “We love places”
Sky Tours: “We make travel more accessible”
Bravofly: flights and travel deals around the world
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Airport Lounges

Priority Pass: “More Places to Relax, Work and Connect In.”
Lounge Pass: “Enjoy the experience of affordable airport VIP lounges”
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Tour Operators

TUI: “The UK’s leading travel brand.”
On the Beach: “We proudly send over one million happy customers away on their perfect beach holiday every year.”
Jet2: “We offer low cost flights with high class service.”
Travel Republic: “We’ve got something to suit you.”
Love Holidays: “Our passion is travel and inspiring you to travel.”
Travelzoo: “Our mission is to recommend the best deals from the best companies.”
Virgin Holidays “Our customers love us.”
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Cruiselines

Whether you are looking for great destinations or simply believe that the ship is the destination these cruiselines should have something for you.
Royal Caribbean “RCL takes you to more unforgettable shores, from bucket list-worthy spots to game-changing private destinations. All on the best cruise ships in the world.”
Cruise Direct – their mission is “never to be knowingly beaten on service, value and quality
MSC Cruises – “Cruises designed to enrich, delight and create unforgettable emotions.”
Azamara Cruises “We’ll not only take you to awe-inspiring destinations, but also give you more time to fall in love with them.”
Cruise Compete “Connecting cruisers with the best cruise prices on discount cruises since 2003.”
Hurtigruten “We give you the opportunity to travel with meaning.”
Marella Cruises (TUI) “You can relax knowing everything’s taken care of.”

Uniworld River Cruises “We offer itineraries in spectacular destinations throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, Asia, and Peru.”

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Trains

Eurail “We have helped customers from all over the world to have an unforgettable Eurail train trip.”
The Trainline “We are a one-stop-shop for train and coach travel.”
Interrail: “We are determined to ensure you can find the perfect Interrail pass to fit your ultimate backpack adventure in Europe!”
Railbookers “Our mission is to take the complexity out of independent rail travel.”
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Ferries

P&O Ferries We pride ourselves on our excellent customer service and relations.”
Brittany Ferries “We are now the leading maritime carrier on the western and central Channel.”
Stena Line “Our mission is to offer affordable and seamless ferry transportation for all of our customers.”
DFDS “We strive for continuous improvement of our customer services.”

How do I get to the airport?

For convenience it’s hard to beat getting a taxi to the airport.
Uber: “Good things happen when people can move.”
Addison Lee: “A choice of services – from premium everyday to high-end executive.”
Taxicode: “Booking with Taxicode gives you all the benefits of booking with your local taxi firm and additional security and convenience of booking with a national online taxi company.”
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Where will I park my car?

No one dropping you off? Don’t trust taxis to get you to the airport in time? Try these airport parking companies.
Airparks. “Safe, great value airport parking that’s flexible.”
Heathrow Airport Parking “Our car parks are the closest.”
Airport Parking and Hotels “APH has provided airport parking, hotels, lounges and travel extras to UK travellers since 1980.”
Purple Parking “Not only are we experts in excellent customer service, but we also know how to take good care of your vehicle.”
Manchester Airport Official Parking “Convenient airport parking that saves you time.”
Go Simply “When you book with us, you can be assured that you’re getting not just great value for money, but also a quality of service and after sales care that you can count on.”
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Where do I stay?

Finding a bed for the night at your destination is probably the easiest part of your holiday planning. These global companies offer an astonishing choice of accommodation for virtually anywhere you want to go on the tourist trail.
Booking .com: “Our mission is to make it easier for everyone to experience the world.”
Agoda: “Always at your service.”
Airbnb: “Unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.”
Hotels .com “We give travellers one of the widest selections of accommodation on the net, including both independent and major chain hotels as well as self-catering in over hundreds of thousands properties worldwide.”
VRBO UK: “Where families travel better together.”
Hotels Combined: “The best hotel deals from around the world.”
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How will I pay for it?

Don’t have the cash to hand? Want to spread your payments? If you’re looking for a credit card to pay for your holiday try these major financial institutions. Some of them offer rewards on your spending.
RBS Bank: “Bank the way you live.”
Santander Bank: Helping our customers at the moments that matter most.
Barclays Bank: “Prepare for the best moments.”
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What about foreign currency and fee free currency cards?

Even the best credit and debit cards won’t help you when you have just found a bargain the souk. For some things only cash will do – but you need to beware of foreign exchange fees.
Travelex “Whether you’re going to Andorra or Zambia, we have you covered.”
John Lewis “Get a great rate and pay no commission. Home delivery or pick up at John Lewis and Waitrose.”
Revolut “One app for all things money.”
Wise “Say bye bye to bank fees for good.”
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Will I have to pay phone charges?

Free wifi and Whatsapp make it easy to make free calls from anywhere in the world but for those travellers for whom this is not an option it is still possible to get roaming plans.
Lycamobile “Our mission is to connect friends and family around the world.”
EE “Our vision is to provide the best network and best service so our customers trust us with their digital lives.”
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What luggage will I need?

Whether travelling light on a low cost airline or taking advantage of the generous luggage allowance in business class you need the right kind of luggage. Try these companies for size.
Travel Luggage & Cabin Bags Ltd “We are specialists in Hard Shell Suitcases, Lightweight Luggage, Maximum-sized Cabin Bags for the world’s leading Airlines.”
Luggage Superstore Luggage “We have a huge selection of budget to premium range luggage brands for all your travelling needs, from lightweight cabin luggage and expandable cases to chic holdalls and leather business bags.”

Case Luggage “We are proud to be UK stockists of the finest designer luggage, fashion bags, business pieces, and travel and technical accessories.”

Mybag “Shop a wide range of women’s designer handbags, backpacks, accessories and more with free delivery options available.”

Briggs and Riley “We design our bags around real-world needs and wants.”
Samsonite: Life’s a journey.
Rimowa: High-Quality Luggage, Suitcases & Bags
DB Journey: Award winning travel gear.
Ogio: ingeniously designed, technologically unrivalled
Roam luggage: Show the world who you are with luggage that expresses your personal style
Eagle Creek: Luggage, Travel Backpacks & Travel Gear
Solgaard: Sustainable Travel Gear for Global Citizens
Tumi: Luggage, Messenger Bags, Totes, Duffles & Backpacks
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What shall I wear when I get there?

Want to make a splash on the beach or look cool in the pool? Try these sites for the best choice in holiday clothes.
Marks and Spencer: “Our mission is to make aspirational quality accessible to everyone.”
Next: “For fashion aware men and women who expect style, distinction & quality from their clothing.”
ASOS: “We exist to give you the confidence to be whoever you want to be.”
Boohoo: “We make fashion accessible and fun.”
Newlook: “We’ve got personality in spades, and it shows in everything we do.”
PrettyLittleThing: “We believe style should be accessible to all, whatever your budget.”
MATCHESFASHION: “The modern luxury shopping destination for the confident global fashion customer.”
Shopbop: “The go-to online retail destination for modern style.”
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Where do I eat?

Bolognese in Bologna, Philly Cheesesteak in Philadelphia, Biryani in Bangalore, Paella in Pamplona, Tortillas in Tijuana. If you are a foodie, or just want a snack, it’s hard to beat Tripadvisor but for a really special occasion try the Michelin Guide.
Tripadvisor “Find restaurants from 5 million restaurants worldwide”.
The Michelin Guide “Gastronomic destinations around the world.”
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Sunburn, Sickness, Diarrhoea? How do you protect yourself?

Minor health problems can bedevil even the best of holidays, especially if not treated properly. These online pharmacies offer a range of remedies that could help.
Lloyds Pharmacy “Health essentials you need for you and your family.”
Chemists4U It aims at providing quality services to the customers that are hassle-free and on time
Pharmacy2U “A new kind of pharmacy experience which saves our patients time and money.”
ChemistDirect “We’re passionate about keeping you and your family feeling great.”
Boots “Our purpose is to help our customers look and feel better than they ever thought possible.”
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What do I need to see?

Minor health problems can bedevil even the best of holidays, especially if not treated properly. These online pharmacies offer a range of remedies that could help.
Lonely Planet: “We put travellers at the heart of everything we do.”
Waterstones: “An icon of the British cultural landscape.”
Time Out: “Discover the world’s coolest cities.”
Bradt Guides: “Comprehensive – and with a conscience.”
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How do I get about once I’m there?

Not every city has good public transport or you may have chosen to stay out in the sticks so car hire is essential. Some of the best known names in the industry are listed below..
Avis “We go the extra mile.”
Hertz “We’ve got you covered.”
Budget: “We offer Quality, Reliability and Value for Money.”
Enterprise: “We believe in serving our customers as if they were our family.”
Alamo: “Drive happy.”
Rentalcars .com: “We want to make renting a car as simple and personal as driving your own.”
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What excursions should I take?

Viator “It’s never too late to make any day extraordinary.”
GetYourGuide “We’re on a journey to transform ordinary trips into extraordinary ones.”
Tourscanner “Discover the world’s largest collection of tours & travel activities.”
Tiquets – “On a mission to make culture more accessible” in more than 250 cities and 50 countries:
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How can I get tickets for events?

Ticketmaster is a global ticket agency selling tickets for music, sport, west end theatre, comedy, festivals, club nights, arts and family attractionsg
CityPASS for “hand-picked attractions in the very best cities across North America”
Seatgeek “We help you quickly and easily discover the best deals for sports, concerts, and theatre events.”
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What about a camera?

Are selfies the only holiday photos you take or do you fancy yourself as an Annie Leibovitz or a Henri Cartier-Bresson? If so you might want something better than your mobile phone.
Canon Cameras “Canon’s range of cameras offers everyone a route to creativity.”
Nikon “ …provides top of the range cameras and photography equipment, preparing you for an immersive experience creating beautiful images.”
Sony “Enriching people’s hearts through the delivery of emotional experiences.”
Panasonic – “ … framing your inspiration into reality.”

Olympus offers “ … the light weight and compact design you need to turn every creative vision into reality.”

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What can I read on holiday?

Whether lazing on the beach or sitting cramped up in an economy class seat for an eight hour long haul flight it’s good to have something entertaining to read. If you want to support independent bookshops try bookshop.org. Otherwise there is always Amazon.
Bookshop.org “We are an online bookshop with a mission to financially support local, independent bookshops.”
Amazon
Abebooks: “AbeBooks is an online marketplace for books, fine art and collectibles where you can discover and buy the things you love.”
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Help! I need to get home.

Been mugged? Lost your passport? Airline gone bust? In hospital? In prison? Most holidays go off without a hitch but every now and then disaster strikes and you might need help. The Foreign Office may be able to assist. Click here for information on what they can do for you.
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How do I complain?

Sometimes holidays do go wrong and if it’s the travel company’s fault you might want compensation. Click here for advice on how to complain and here if you want to take it further. However if you have a large claim or have suffered a serious personal injury you should take professional legal advice.
Slater and Gordon: “We offer you a range of legal services that are built around what you need. Simple, straightforward, human and fair.”
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