More travel destinations to dream about – October update

“Life is short..and opportunity fleeting”

Hippocrates

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TravelLocal is expanding – find out where we can take you next

There is never a bad time to add countries to the TravelLocal platform – it’s one of the most interesting and fun things we do. We start off with the countries that you mention to us, the places that have captured your imagination. Sometimes it’s as simple as saying “where don’t we cover that we really ought to?”

Then the task becomes detective work – to find the best local travel companies in each country. This is the hard bit, but it’s also the start of a great relationship too, a professional but also personal bond with some of the best entrepreneurs you can meet. We learn from them all the time and they are the lifeblood of what we do.

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France

Just over the water from our English shores lies “That sweet enemy…”: France. If you’re British then it doesn’t matter how patriotic you are, you still envy the French. The weather, of course. The magnitude and breadth of artistic achievement. The scenic variety of a country that can combine, in a single (long) day, Mont Blanc, the ancient vines of Chateau Sainte-Rosaline in the Var, a secluded bay near Cap D’Antibes and the vastness of the Camargue. The local produce…roughly 1,000 types of cheese, depending on who’s counting. Like England, though, France has great depth. In the next valley, over that hill over there, or down this quiet country lane is “La France Profonde”, the one you often read about but seldom find, embodied for many of us by a secluded vineyard. “Life is too short to drink bad wine” said Goethe – wise words.

Sara and Maria, and their team in Paris, are the perfect people to turn to for your next trip. It could be highlights, or it could be something away from the crowds – a private vineyard visit in Champagne perhaps? – they have the contacts and know-how to make it work. Send them an enquiry and start planning your ideal trip to France.

Italy

Merely a stone’s throw away from France is Italy, a true cultural heavyweight with amazing scenery and even more amazing food. From the towering peaks and alpine lakes of the north to the glittering coastlines and elegant towns of the south, there is something for hikers, foodies, culture vultures and beach lovers alike. Immerse yourself in the rich artistic history of cities such as Florence or Rome, visit the markets of Naples and take part in a traditional Italian cookery class or explore the lesser-known charms of regions such as Umbria and Piemonte.

We’ve got not one but two fantastic local partners in Italy, meaning we’re able to cover almost every nook and cranny of this beautiful destination. Jean Pierre and Marinella’s team live and work remotely across the country and Alessandra’s team are based in Milan. Between them they have years of experience and the local knowledge necessary to design you an authentic Italian getaway which ticks all of your boxes. Send them an enquiry and we’ll connect you to them.

Upcoming

In the next few months we are adding many more countries – Iceland, Portugal, Spain, Canada, the USA, Thailand, Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Maldives are on the near-term hitlist. We will update you as they go live on the website.

As always, do get in touch with our Customer Experience team at our HQ – they will help you work out the best options for your trip.

Lastly keep in mind our flexible booking policy, given the pandemic. You can see full details here: https://go.travellocal.com/book-with-confidence.