Postcards from Success Tours

Can you believe it’s autumn already?! The team at Success Tours have had a busy summer of travels – some in the name of research, and some just for the pleasure of it. Read on if you’d like to hear about a few of our recent adventures!

Back in May, Tony flew out to the north of Cyprus in search of an off-the-beaten-track itinerary to offer our groups. Whilst enjoying the blue skies and sunshine of this Mediterranean island, he discovered a wealth of history and culture all complemented by friendly people, very few tourists, stunning views and a relaxed pace of life.

As we entered June, copywriter Kirsty began an epic adventure that would last the whole summer. Taking a three-month break from the world of work, she flew first to Canada for a few weeks of hiking in the incredible Rocky Mountains, before moving on to the state of Washington, USA to explore the wild forests (all whilst trying to avoid bears!). Having survived the wildlife, she spent some time in Oregon enjoying its beautiful coastline and the spectacular Crater Lake. After a brief stint in California, she flew south for the next part of her trip in Central America. Amongst the hot and heady landscapes of this Latin part of the world, she explored active volcanoes in Guatemala, Mayan ruins in Honduras, colonial towns in El Salvador and lush forests in Costa Rica, before pausing for a few days of R&R in Miami. Next, she flew to the gorgeous Catalonian city of Barcelona for an injection of Gaudí & whimsical Modernisme, took a train to the lovely town of Girona to absorb the incredible historic architecture, and finally drove the length of France, enjoying the pastoral charms of Normandy (ok, and the tasty local produce…) before returning to work, refreshed and ready to get back to producing flyers and updating the website!

July saw Jo head out to Italy, one of her eternal favourites, which was certainly a lot warmer than her last visit in February, when there was snow on the ground! This time, her remit was to uncover some hidden gems in the Lombardy region. Lombardy is, of course, most famous for its great lakes of Como, Garda and Maggiore. Jo, however, spent some time taking in the artistic treasures of Milan, enjoying the quieter shores of Lake Iseo, and exploring the ancient and beautiful streets of Bergamo, Brescia and Mantua. She was delighted to find authentic Italian culture, and fewer crowds, despite the wonderful paintings, amazing landscapes and charming alleyways all ripe for exploration.

Never one to shy away from the road less travelled, Jackie ventured into Albania and the Butrint National Park in August. Butrint is an ancient settlement, which was inhabited by various civilisations from the 6^th century BC onwards – including the Greeks, the Romans, the Byzantines and the Venetians – before descending into ruin. UNESCO listed, the incredible remains of this once-prosperous trading city include a wonderful acropolis, fortified walls, basilicas and castles.

A little closer to home, Laura and Lisa went on a recce mission to North Wales in order to suss out a few hotels and attractions, and their suitability for different groups. They were lucky enough to enjoy a couple of days of good old British sunshine, and took to the winding country roads to visit the beautiful blooms of Bodnant Garden, elegant Plas Newydd, cosy Abbey-Cwm-Hir, Italianate Portmeirion, pretty Caenarfon, the magnificent Powis Castle.

Keep an eye on our Travel Diaries page for more in depth reports of the team’s travels!