4 Unique Wellness Vacation Ideas for 2020

If you are hoping to stay on a healthy buzz for the year then planning a wellness vacation may be the ideal way to take a break from your routine. 1. Embark on a River Cruise from Budapest Is there a better way to discover Europe? Maybe not. A river cruise is Europe will allow you to experience the historic cities, visit iconic attractions and enjoy exploring the medieval towns. Unwind at your leisure as

Infographic: 7 Reasons why you Should Take a Healthy Holiday

A holiday should be a time to escape from routine, eliminate stress and de-clutter your mind. Here are 7 reasons why we think you should consider a healthy holiday this year. Get in touch with one of the Travel Centres agents today to learn more about the top healthy holidays this year.
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6 Healthy Holiday Ideas to Recharge in 2020

For the month of January we are celebrating all things health and travel related. There are so many places that we can visit to take a healthy holiday for 2020. We have come up with 6 healthy holiday ideas to get you in the mood. 1. Star Gazing in Portugal Portugal has become one of the hottest destinations in Europe. With the warm sunny days, the gigantic Atlantic ocean waves and friendly hospitality, Portugal is
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11 Reasons Why Travel is Good for You

Travel provides the chance to turn off, relax, find new experiences and make new memories. Often we get caught up in our day to day existence, repeating the same tasks and living in a constant routine. By taking a well deserved holiday we can feel a renewed sense of self and allow ourselves to recharge the batteries. A study by Cornell University found that people derive more happiness from experiences than material goods. It is

Five questions you should ask yourself before you travel in 2020

Technology may well indeed be shrinking the world around us and connecting us in myriad ways through innovations such as Skype, WhatsApp and Instagram but it’s also surprisingly large when you start to consider where you want to travel to next and there are many things to consider; not least of which is cost. Leaving cost aside though for one moment, let’s consider all the other factors that determine where we travel to? (more…)

A long overdue reunion with an old acquaintance

Back in 1988, I undertook the first of two trips to Jamaica to scout out properties for a large incentive group that had confirmed a booking with me when I was managing a tour operating company in Dublin. The company in question was Chieftain Tours and at the time, it was the only operator of charters to Toronto in Canada where it partnered with a large Canadian tour operator called Sunquest Vacations. I had pitched

The beauty of Lourdes — How perceptions sometimes do us no favours.

As someone who has worked at the coalface of travel for more than 40 years, one phenomenon that I encountered on a regular basis was that of the over-expectation of clients concerning their resort, cruise or other holiday experience. On many occasions, such over-expectation was clearly the fault of the client themselves; building up an image in their mind’s eye as to what they could expect when they arrived and then being disappointed when the

Planning a honeymoon abroad?

There are several signs that the Irish economy is up on its feet again. One is the increase in new car sales. The other is the dramatic increase in people getting married and planning weddings. How do I know this? It’s because every year, Travelbug hosts a conference and workshop for both our affiliated travel agents and suppliers so we are always looking for suitable venues and since last year, we’ve been finding it increasingly
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Where should I go on my next holiday?

There are all sorts of reasons why people choose the destinations that they do. For some it’s simply price, for other’s weather is their primary concern. Some choose destinations based on their proximity whilst other travellers choose places based on their ‘safeness’. It is therefore interesting to note the results of the latest biannual report from the World Economic Forum which rates countries around the world based on a wide ranging set of metrics that

Why familiarity sometimes breeds contempt!

If you look up any dictionary meaning of cliché, it reads something along the lines of '... a phrase or opinion that is overused and betrays a lack of original thought ...' I think that that is a rather harsh interpretation myself. Clichés become clichés simply because they're true and represent the most succinct and accurate way of describing a particular concept. The above title is a particular case in point. I recently had a

How travel decisions can sometimes be based on incomplete information

Trip Advisor is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. The global review site started out life above a Pizza shop called Kosta's in Needham, Massachusetts in February, 2000. It is a great site without question and I must admit that I have started contributing to it in recent times as I realised, belatedly, that I had a lot to contribute given the amount of travelling I do (and have done). What prompted me to write

Orange is the new orange

It's that time of year again when intending travellers or betrothed couples start the time-consuming and frustrating process of deciding where to spend their next long haul holiday or hopefully — their one and only honeymoon! There are many contenders out there and all have their pluses! The USA, The Caribbean, Mexico, South Africa, The Seychelles and Mauritius usually appear high on most peoples wish lists but it is Thailand that often comes up trumps,

The art of getting a quote that is both competitive in price and relevant to your needs starts with gathering all the right information about what you want to do (or think you want to do!).