Behind the Scenes August Edition 2026

August 2026

Behind

the

Scenes

by designer travel

We are an independent travel business with over 180

professional travel experts nationwide.

Can you believe we have over 4,000 years of travel

experience between us?

Being part of the Hays Independence Group gives us

access to over 500 suppliers offering a mind-blowing array

of holiday options including cruises, attractions, villas, ski,

motor-racing, sports and safaris – In fact, you name any

sort of holiday and most likely we can find it for you! For

your financial peace of mind we only sell ABTA (L318X) and

ATOL (5534) bonded products providing complete financial

protection.

Experience & Knowledge

designertravel.co.uk

If you love sport then there are not many summers that offer up The FIFA World Cup,

The Commonwealth Games, Wimbledon, The Open, various Grands Prix and more.

The World Cup has left a lasting legacy for a number of destinations, including the

trio of hosts - Canada, Mexico and the USA. Argentina wasn't really the flavour of

the month for at least 48 hours but the team here at DT have dusted down and are

looking back with love and affection at both England and Scotland's performance

and our adopted new best friends in Cape Verde, Norway, France and of course

Spain! Remember we offer sporting events packages all across the world, from

cricket to football, golf, rugby to everything in between.

We all love exploring and looking forward to our breaks and whilst the uncertainty,

surrounding parts of the Middle East continues, the key tourists' destinations are

very much open for trade with flights operating from and to, and providing transit

points to various destinations around the globe. We are constantly monitoring

updates from the FCDO and any changes are, wherever possible, managed with

minimal disruptions to travel plans. Life's really too short to put off planning those

big adventures.

With five weeks of school holidays left, we are working hard to find amazing late

holiday options, whilst ensuring our customers who plan slightly further ahead are

catered for with some great early booking offers.

Welcome to our August edition of

Behind the Scenes by Designer Travel

Welcome

Wishing you a fantastic summer!

Karen & Amanda, on behalf of the whole Designer Travel team

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

European Christmas Markets

Cruise to the Dutch Bulbfields

Ambassador Cruise Line’s ‘Dutch Springtime Delights -

Tulips & Chocolates’ mini cruise is a unique way of

travelling to the Netherlands’ from the UK to witness the

world-famous tulip displays. Sailing at the peak of the

blooming season and departing from London Tilbury,

it’s an relaxing way to experience colourful landscapes

and charming Dutch towns. Ambassador’s mini cruises

are ideal for anyone looking to enjoy all the pleasures

of a traditional cruise without committing to a longer

holiday, making them ideal for first-time cruisers or a

refreshing short break.

Inspiration

A short break is the ideal way to escape the everyday without using all

your annual leave. Whether you're craving culture, the coast, countryside

or adventure, there's an incredible range of destinations and experiences

waiting to be discovered, just a few hours away.

There is something about a European Christmas

market that is really magical, where you experience

true Christmas spirit. With a mulled wine in hand, stalls

selling handmade gifts glowing against the dark sky,

the smell of chestnuts roasting and the twinkling of

Christmas bells playing traditional songs. We are

fortunate to have the option to visit so many markets

from the UK as short breaks. Some of our favourites

include Vienna, Strasbourg and Cologne.

Short break holidays

Visit our website for more inspiration

Watching the Aurora Borealis across Arctic skies in

Lapland is and experience like no other. When you’re

there, you have the opportunity to experience husky

sledding, snowmobiling across frozen rivers, and reindeer

sleigh rides through forests. Some trips include a night in

an igloo, with the sky visible through the ceiling as you fall

asleep. We love Transun's short breaks because they are

based in remote part of Lapland, straddling the border of

Sweden and Finland where you will find very little tourism.

Authentic Lapland at

its finest!

Welcome to Arendelle, in World of Frozen, an

extraordinary

new

world

where

magic

meets

adventure in wondrous new ways so you can live the

Frozen

stories

you

dream

of.

Prepare

transported to the stunning Kingdom of Arendelle

and immersed in its Nordic enchantment. 'For the

First Time in Forever', live your Arendelle adventure at

the place where adventure never ends - Disney

Adventure World at Disneyland® Paris. Travel here by

Eurostar from London St Pancras or flying from a

choice of many UK regional airports. Experience as a

short break or combine with a Paris city break.

Witness the Northern Lights

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Designer Travel

Contact your Professional Travel Expert for itineraries & prices for any of these holidays ideas

World of Frozen

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

Immerse yourself in

Five of our Professional Travel Experts headed

out to Puglia in spring as guests of Magari Tours

on an immersive small group tour of this stunning

region of Italy. Forming the ‘heel’ of Italy’s boot,

Puglia is undoubtedly one of the Mediterranean’s

most beautiful, yet unspoiled regions.

The trip began in Bari, the region’s capital, with warm welcomes from local hosts

before winding through Monopoli's sun-bleached old town and out into the

countryside, where centuries-old olive groves gave way to the cone-shaped

rooftops of Alberobello. Staying in a genuine Trullo set the tone for the whole

experience. As Sarah Chapman discovered researching their history, the

whitewashed dry-stone houses are "a testament to the ingenuity, resourcefulness,

and cultural heritage of southern Italy."

PUGLIA

That same spirit ran through

hands-on mornings at a working

masseria (a traditional

farmhouse), where the group

learned to stretch fresh

mozzarella and shape their own

pasta and focaccia, then sat

down to eat what they'd made

among new Puglian friends.

As you’d probably expect from a visit to Italy, food played a huge part of the trip! At

family-run Trattoria Terra Madre, where much of the menu comes straight from

the restaurant's own garden, Sarah expressed it was "exactly the kind of place that

reminds you that some of the best travel experiences happen around the table."

Visit our website for more inspiration

The group loved exploring the whitewashed maze that

is Ostuni, the immaculate charm of Locorotondo, and

the elegant streets of Martina Franca, with visits

punctuated (of course) by long lunches under olive

groves, wine tastings at family-owned cantinas, and no shortage

of gelato along the way. A true highlight was a visit to Matera, one of the oldest

continuously inhabited settlements in the world. Famous for its UNESCO World

Heritage "Sassi" - ancient dwellings carved directly into the limestone cliffs above a

deep ravine in southern Italy's Basilicata region.

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Designer Travel

Experience Puglia for yourself!

Our Professional Travel Experts were guests of Magari

Tours on their Puglia Unwrapped itinerary. This 7 night

immersive small group tour has departures in 2026

and 2027. Contact your Professional Travel Expert for

full details.

“You don’t just visit

Puglia, you live it”

What tied this trip all together was the people. Local guides and

hosts turned each stop into something personal rather than a

checklist. Debbie Hammond summed up the Magari Tours

difference as simply: "you do not just visit Puglia. You live it." Dion

Bolton described her experience as "amazing and authentic to a

tee.”

with thanks to Sarah Chapman, Susan Pentelow, Debbie Hammond,

Fiona Wlkins and Dion Bolton. (Magari Tours ATOL 5114)

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

At Designer Travel, we are committed to doing all we can to help look after our

planet, which includes building strong relationships with hotels who put

sustainability at the core of how they operate, minimising where possible their

footprint. Here we share a small selection of hotel partners who are committed

to the planet and local communities. These properties go beyond standard

green credentials.

Sustainability

Hotels leading the way with sustainability

Ikos & Sani

Sani/Ikos Group’s 12 Mediterranean resorts run on 100%

renewable electricity and are already carbon neutral, targeting

net-zero emissions by 2030. Initiatives include zero waste-to-

landfill goals, biodiversity partnerships, and LEED/BREEAM-

certified developments.

MarBella Hotels

A Corfu-based group of three hotels holding Green Key and Blue Flag

certifications since 2016. It partners with ARCHELON, Greece's Sea Turtle

Protection Society, to protect nesting beaches, alongside solar-powered

energy savings and a ban on single-use plastics.

Attitude Hotels

A Mauritian-owned group of nine eco-committed resorts, certified

Travelife Gold since 2017 and B Corp for the past two years. Attitude

Hotels are committed to eliminating single-use plastics across all

resorts, championing locally sourced produce and supporting

Mauritian communities. They are also proud members of the Made

in Moris™ label, recognising their dedication to local heritage,

craftsmanship and sustainable sourcing.

Visit our website for more inspiration

Meliá Hotels

Spain's leading hotel group, ranked Europe's top hotel company in the 2026

S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook. Its "Travel for Good" programme targets a

71.4% emissions cut by 2035, with over 80% of hotels now powered by

renewable energy.

Six Senses

A wellness-driven luxury brand built on sustainability since 1995, GSTC-

certified across its properties. Six Senses pursues zero waste and

"Plastic Freedom," champions locally sourced, organic dining, and

recently joined the UN's "Recipe of Change" to halve food waste by

2030.

Iberostar

Through its "Wave of Change" movement, Iberostar targets carbon

neutrality by 2030 and a fully responsible seafood supply chain. The

Spanish family-owned group has been single-use-plastic-free since

2020 and runs active coral and mangrove restoration programmes.

Club Med

Since 1950, sustainability has been core to Club Med's "Happy

to Care" strategy. Most resorts are Green Globe certified, with

70% of new or renovated properties built to BREEAM standards

since 2018. The brand has eliminated single-use plastics and

captive animal interactions.

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Designer Travel

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

City Breaks

Our hidden gem recommendations

City Breaks

Our hidden gem recommendations

Bilbao in northern Spain is

often overlooked in favour of

Barcelona or San Sebastián,

but it has so much to offer. The

Guggenheim, Frank Gehry's

titanium-clad museum, put the

city on the map in 1997, and its

riverside setting has been

transformed since. Antonia

Cochrane is pictured here

above. Beyond that, the city

has a lovely old town with

excellent pintxo bars, and fewer

crowds than its more famous

neighbours.

Continuing our theme of ‘short break inspiration’ for this

edition of Behind the Scenes, we wanted to share our

personal recommendations for city breaks. Rather than

focusing on ever-popular cities in Europe, we wanted to tell

you about some of our own hidden gems which you may not

have considered for your next city break in Europe.

Bilbao

maratea

Italy’s Maratea sits on Basilicata's short

stretch of Tyrrhenian coast, tucked between

Campania and Calabria, and is often called

the "Pearl of the Tyrrhenian." Rocky coves,

clear water, and a hilltop Christ statue

overlooking the sea are the main draws. It's

quieter and less polished than the Amalfi

Coast, with a slower, more local pace.

Often skipped in favour of Rome,

Florence or Venice, Bologna is

Italy's food capital, home to ragù

(spaghetti Bolognese!), tortellini

and mortadella, it’s best explored

via its covered arcades and lively

markets. The medieval centre is

dominated by two leaning towers

and a maze of porticoes, said to be

the longest in the world. Fewer

tourists than Italy's big three, with a

lived-in, university-town energy.

Highly recommended by Lucia C,

Fiona, Roberta C and Laura P.

bologna

Visit our website for more inspiration

Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, blends a charming old town of

balconied wooden houses, sulphur bathhouses and a hilltop

fortress with a distinctly modern, creative edge. You may have

seen it on the last series of Race Across the World! The Narikala

Fortress and cable car give good views over the city, and the food

and wine scene (Georgia claims to be the birthplace of wine) is a

major draw. Still well off most Western Europeans' radar but highly

recommend by Lynn Raper,

tblisi, georgia

Often treated as a Sound of

Music day trip from Vienna,

Salzburg deserves longer! The

baroque UNESCO-listed old town

sits below Hohensalzburg

Fortress It is also the birthplace

of Mozart. Beyond the centre, the

Salzkammergut lakes are within

easy reach for day trips, as are

some ski slopes. Quieter than

Vienna, it is a lovely place to visit

in summer or in winter, and

highly recommended by

Charlotte Smith.

salzburg

Bratislava sits on the river

Danube between Vienna and

Budapest, but often gets

overlooked. The compact old

town has a mix of baroque

buildings and quirky street

sculptures, overlooked by

Bratislava Castle on the hill

above. It could be compared to

Prague on a smaller-scale.

Cross the Danube for Soviet-era

Petržalka, or the striking UFO

Tower for skyline views!

Recommend by Michelle White.

Tromsø, in Arctic Norway, is

best known for the Northern

Lights, visible from around

late September to April, and

near-endless daylight in

summer. The small city

centre has a lively harbour

and student-town energy,

and the Arctic Cathedral

and cable car up Mount

Storsteinen are must-see

sites. It is also gateway to

Norway’s fjords.

bratislava

Tromsø

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Designer Travel

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

Jet2 Holidays expands Eurocamp offering for 2027

Jet2 Holidays has announced it is expanding its Summer 2027 flight programme,

adding new routes such as Bergerac and La Rochelle from multiple UK airports.

These new routes will open up access to many more Eurocamp holiday parks in

France, including the Dordogne and Atlantic coast regions, alongside existing

options in Spain, Italy and Croatia. Eurocamp holidays can be booked as flight

inclusive packages via your Professional Travel Expert.

News

What’s new in travel?

World Cup sparks demand for destinations

Designer Travel scoops prestigious awards!

In July, Designer Travel celebrated outstanding success at the 2026 Travel

Weekly Agent Achievement Awards, winning Homeworking Agency of the

Year – Medium Agency, while Professional Travel Expert Emma Parry-

Thorpe was named Leisure Agent of the Year (Home-based or Call Centre).

These industry-leading awards recognise excellence, exceptional service

and expertise across the UK travel sector and we are so proud.

World Cup fever may have died down a little but we have been blown

away by how it has sparked interest in travel to some of the

participating nations.

Cape Verde's historic run to the knockout rounds triggered a huge

surge in interest in this archipelago of ten volcanic islands off the coast

of West Africa.

It was hard not to fall in love with Norway - Erling Haarland, the team

and the Viking Row - and this has turned into interest for the country,

with enquiries significantly up for Norway.

It may have been his last World Cup playing for Portugal, but Cristiano

Ronaldo has left a lasting legacy on his birthplace, Madeira.

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

Can we really make a difference?

Yes, we certainly can!

Every piece of litter removed from a beach is one less item

that can harm wildlife through entanglement or ingestion.

Millions of volunteers worldwide have removed hundreds of

millions of pounds of rubbish from beaches over the past four decades.

Beach picks help prevent plastic breaking down into microplastics, which can

persist in the environment for decades.

Even a short litter pick during a holiday contributes to healthier coastlines,

cleaner seas and better habitats for marine life.

Post your litter picks

on social media & tag

@designertravel

In June’s edition of Behind the Scenes magazine we invited you to help us make a

difference... and collectively we rose to the challenge. Designer Travel staff and

valued customers have been hitting beaches both at home and overseas to collect

litter from beaches. So far, participants have collected litter in locations including

the Galápagos Islands, Greece, Majorca and, closer to home, Stoke-on-Trent.

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Designer Travel

Beach Litter Pick

We’ve been busy!

Get in touch with your Professional Travel Expert

Chrristmas markets

RHINE RIVER CRUISE

Last year, Professional Travel Expert Lucia

Campanella embarked on her first-ever Christmas

markets river cruise with Riviera Travel, along the

river Rhine. A short but magical itinerary, this 4-night

getaway was packed with charming towns and

festive experiences.

Sailing as a round-trip from Cologne aboard Riviera Travel's

elegant MS Geoffrey Chaucer, this four-night escape

threads together some of Germany's most enchanting festive towns, all without

the hassle of packing and unpacking. "It's your floating hotel," Lucia says. "You

wake up somewhere new every day, and the ship does all the hard work."

The journey begins in Cologne. The city boasts several markets, each with its own

charm. The most iconic is in Domplatte, where more than a hundred wooden

chalets circle a towering Christmas tree beneath the cathedral's soaring spires.

Wander through stalls selling handcrafted ornaments, lacework, toys, and

irresistible seasonal treats like roasted almonds and local Reibekuchen (potato

pancakes).

After Cologne, the ship took us up the Rhine through the UNESCO-listed Rhine Gorge

and past castle-topped hills and vineyards, before reaching

Rüdesheim. At Christmas, Drosselgasse becomes a festive

labyrinth of decorations, music, and artisan stalls.

When visiting Rüdesheim you must try the Rüdesheimer

coffee - a flaming local speciality made with Asbach

brandy.

Visit our website for more inspiration

BEHIND THE SCENES

by Designer Travel

Next we sailed on to Koblenz, where the Rhine meets the

Moselle, and we took a cable car ride up to Ehrenbreitstein

Fortress where we were rewarded with an impressive view

of the sparkling lights of the Christmas markets in the town

below.

Bonn, often overlooked, proved to be a genuine highlight -

Beethoven's birthplace comes alive with Advent markets,

nativity scenes, and an ice rink that adds extra sparkle. Lucia

loved Bonn and recommends it as a wonderful city break destination at

any time of year."

Love the sound of this Festive River Cruise?

Lucia travelled with Riviera Travel on board their 4-night

Enchanting Rhine and Yuletide Markets River Cruise.

River cruise holiday includes return flights, full board

dining and an all inclusive drinks package

(Riviera Travel ATOL 3430) .

Beyond the destinations, it was the small touches that make this river cruise

special: spacious cabins with bathrobes and slippers, three-course dinners with

buffet options, evening entertainment, and a relaxed dress code that welcomes

everything from Christmas jumpers to sparkly evening wear.

"It's more than a holiday, it’s a warm, glowing embrace

of winter magic — sampling festive treats, wandering

candlelit squares, and watching castles drift by from the

comfort of the ship."

For anyone looking seeking a magical way to kick off the festive

season, this Rhine river cruise offers effortless travel and is an

excellent way to take in several unique towns and their Christmas

markets. Combined by the Rhine’s picturesque scenery and the

chance to sample delicous local food along the way, it makes for

a wonderful winter short break.

How to be entered?

All you need to do is email us your booking reference to be entered. Your

reference starts with ‘HAY’. We will then enter you into the prize draw and the

winner will be notified by email.

Win!

Your holiday deposit* back!

T&Cs: *Maximum prize value of £120 (based on £60 deposit value per person). Prize value based on two

travellers. Only one entry per email address, no cash alternative to the prize, the winner will be drawn by our

Behind the Scenes magazine editorial team. Winner will be notified by email after 4th August 2026. Click here

for full terms.

Entries should be emailed to: behindthescenes@designertravel.co.uk

please note only holidays departing from 1 January 2027 - 30 April 2028

are applicable to be entered

Bookings made up to 31 August 2026 (for holidays within the above-

mentioned date range) with Designer Travel are applicable to be entered.

Closing date for entries to be emailed is Friday 4th September 2026.

Our competition for this edition is something a bit different!

We are offering one lucky person (and their travel companion) the chance to win

back the deposit* on your holiday or we will cover it on your behalf. Or if you are yet

to book and plan to book soon, we will cover the cost of your deposit*.

How does it work?

I have already booked my holiday, how will it be refunded to me?

If you already have a holiday booked through Designer Travel, we will remove the

cost of the deposit from the holiday balance.

I haven’t booked a holiday yet, can I still enter?

Yes you can. If you book your holiday through any of Designer Travel’s Professional

Travel Experts you will be entered into the competition.

The Essence of Magari

Magari is a sensory awakening built on three pillars: Tocco (Touch), Gusto (Taste), and Tatto (Feel).

It is an invitation to slow down, connect deeply, and experience a region with all five senses.

Tocco (Touch): Bound to the Earth.

We believe you cannot truly know a place until you feel it beneath your fingertips. Our journeys invite you to touch

the raw beauty of the local land, grounding yourself in the textures, soil, and history of the region. It is an experience

designed to move you physically and emotionally.

Gusto (Taste): The Soul of the Table.

To taste Magari is to savour the authentic heartbeat of local culture. It is plot-to-plate cuisine at its most honest and

sharing a sprawling Italian Sunday lunch woven into the laughter of families spanning three generations. Here, food

is not just a meal; it is an inheritance of flavour.

Tatto (Feel): Living the Local Rhythm.

We bypass the polished tourist track so you can feel the true pulse of the region. It is the profound shift from merely

visiting a place to living like a local. You will absorb the unspoken traditions, the warmth of the community, and the

timeless rhythm of daily life.

Authentic & Immersive Escorted Tours

An exclusive collection of hand-crafted, escorted holidays to Italy that take your travel

experiences to a new level – providing deeper, immersive and truly authentic adventures.

True luxury isn’t found in gilded excess, but in exclusive access! Access to the hidden corners,

authentic souls, and profound experiences that stay with you forever.

To find out more about Magari Tours and their escorted tour

itineraries, contact your Professional Travel Expert

Thank you for reading Behind the Scenes

Please use behindthescenes@designertravel.co.uk for

feedback on any of the content in this month’s

magazine or for suggestions for our next edition.

We value your feedback!