Cruising from Tilbury

It’s come to that time of year again to start thinking about booking a festive getaway, and Deben Travel can help you do exactly that. Every year, hundreds of Christmas Markets pop up over the festive period, and there are plenty of options across Europe to choose from. One of the most popular destinations is just a short flight away, in Germany. There are plenty of markets to choose from in Berlin, Hamburg and Dresden. Indulge in the sights, smells, and tastes of the German Christmas Markets, which include traditional Christmas carols performed by local musicians, delicious German food stalls and authentic German crafts sold by the locals. Each Christmas Market is different due to the architecture of the surrounding buildings, so visiting more than one ensures a different experience each time. Companies such as Newmarket Holidays currently have exclusive offers for escorted tours, and Deben Travel can help you make a booking.

They say to get to where you’re going, you need to know where you came from... This is evident in Nova Scotia where the locals take great pride in preserving the history and tradition of their past, with the influences of Mi’kmaq, Acadian, African Nova Scotian, Celtic and Gaelic cultures still present to this day. On the Atlantic coast of Canada less than 7hrs flight from London to Halifax, the province of Nova Scotia is a year-round destination. Spring and Summer is the ideal time to take a fly drive and explore this fascinating coastline maybe stay in a Lighthouse at the Bay of Fundy, visit the famous Peggy's Cove, explore Cape Breton National Park's rivers, canyons and walking trails or spend time relaxing on one of the picturesque beaches.

If you look beyond the traditional package holiday resorts you will find the wonderful region of Andalucía in Southern Spain. Simply one of the most beautiful areas with more than 800 kms of coastline, three National Parks and the cultural hotspots of Granada, Seville, and Cordoba all of which blend with the modern day Spain. The best way to experience Andalucía is with a small group as you will benefit from the knowledge of a tour guide, most tours will range from a week to ten days with travel by coach and train included. Highlights will include a visit to the Moorish Alhambra Palace a collection of stunning buildings and gardens situated in Granada, the Alcazar Fortress in Cordoba, a city tour of Seville the final resting place of Christopher Columbus, the mountains of Ronda, wine & Flamenco dancing in Jerez and visit the home of Picasso in Malaga.

With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, 11 Blue Flag beaches, and the archipelago being a short three-hour flight from the UK, Malta is a great year-round destination. Walking trails, sandy beaches, quad biking, rock climbing and jeep safaris make the most of its undulating topography, while kayaking and paddle-boarding are top options for getting out on the water. Those keen to dive deeper into the destination can try scuba diving – Malta is widely known as one of the best places in the world for this. A visit to Valletta is a must.

As Deben Travel move into their 12th year the team wanted to put the spotlight on another travel business who are celebrating, Riviera Travel are 40 this year. As a trusted tours and cruise operator recognised by Which? for the previous 12 years as an esteemed recommended provider and an impressive 96% of guests saying they would travel again, Riviera have a lot to celebrate. But what makes Riviera different? Handcrafted holidays with authentic experiences. A range of 5-star river cruise ships, carefully selected hotels and experienced tour managers. Add to that the option of a door-to-door service, dedicated solo traveller tours, flights using local airports and a selection of holidays by rail, that’s the Riviera difference.

If you would like to enjoy some warmth and spectacular scenery in our winter months head over to the North Atlantic Island of Madeira that has an average temperature of 21C. This beautiful destination is Portuguese but with its own unique identity. It is a food and drink paradise with the delicious local Madeira wine and freshly caught fish being the most popular choices. Funchal is the capital city and the most popular place to reside on this magical island. This resort is backed by stunning hills and is known for its harbour, bot anical gardens, many museums and the famous Sao Tiago Fortress overlooking the sea front. A tour of the Island is a must, these tours are mainly taken in 4x4 vehicles making it easy to reach the waterfalls and tropical scenery.

Combining the camp idea of African national parks with the Thai tropical rainforest, Elephant Hills are Thailand’s first luxury tented jungle camps and highly recommended. Tucked away in the jungle of Khao Sak National Park are the Elephant Camp and floating Rainforest Camp. Both are within easy reach of numerous beach resorts, making it easy to detour into the wilderness. In addition, the newly opened Bush Camp Chaing Mai in Northern Thailand provides another option for those in search of a little adventure, and Elephants. Set in a remote area beside the Ping River, the Bush Camp gives you a taste of Northern Thailand’s fascinating nature and culture.

Set sail on the Adriatic with our small ship summer cruises. Why cruise? By cruising, you get the convenience of travelling on board port to port, a comfortable en-suite cabin, plus breakfast and lunch served daily. Explore 7 destinations in 7 days Discover idyllic islands, classic cities and UNESCO sites Mix swim stops with lounging on the sun deck Great for solo travellers, couples or as a group On board facilities: 19 air conditioned en-suite cabins Sundeck with loungers Free Wi-Fi Bar and lounge area

Tessa from Deben Travel was lucky enough to embark on a Rhine River Cruise, hosted by Titan Travel: Any trip with Titan Travel begins with their VIP door-to-door travel service which collects you from your home & takes you to the Airport – it’s an amazing start to your holiday! After our short flight to Dusseldorf we transferred to Cologne & embarked on our River Cruise Ship, MS River Discovery, which is rated a 4*. Titan include the cost of many Excursions & visits in their River Cruises, plus various meals which include unlimited wine, beer & soft drinks.