Travelling Dreams

Travel Agent About Me - What do I Offer 🌎 ✈️

I L♡VE what i do , why because throughout my whole life I've been helping people and seeing people have the best memories, & makes my love for travel grow stronger (if that's even possible 😅)

Having my own independent business since 2019 , coming close to 5 years , I'm so thankful for all those who've trusted me to support them & continue to do so.

Using a travel agent doesn't mean you're incompetent of booking your own , or that you have to pay fees ~ not at all !

Misconceptions about using a travel agent continue , we are independent travel businesses that work so closely with all hotels , resorts , travel companies such as Jet2 etc , to really understand the product of travel in fantastic detail. To truly match you with your best travel options & maybe share things you may not of even considered before.

Through personal choice as not all agents do , Every single week I attend training , up to date webinars with suppliers and ongoing training I pay for to really bring my knowledge and expertise to the best it can possibly be.

The other thing that I truly believe is experiencing travel myself as much as possible and sharing it with you for inspiration and many top tips.

Do all my own trips always go to 100% perfection , of course not but then that's why I love to try and test as much as possible.

My expertise is wide due to my ongoing awards , certifications , training and experiences. Not blowing my own trumpet i just take the world of travel and learning seriously, otherwise I wouldn't be a very good agent if I didn't.

I took a 60 unit course of Honeymoon & Wedding specialist , to understand what goes into being a wedding planner, the foundations of your wedding and timelines, along with also a Honeymoons day course and ongoing dedicated webinars from resorts for this too.

I am also an Aussie Specialist and have to complete various certifications every year to stay an Aussie Specialist. Australia is just an enormous amount of adventure and unique experiences waiting to be explored by many.

This year I was also awarded by OTT for my dedication to learning and so thankful, taking over 100 courses.

As a girl who grew up holidaying the UK every school holiday this stayed with me throughout my childhood and my life and even with my own children. I have covered almost every single inch of the UK, and would consider myself a specialist in UK travel. Particularly also using various modes of transport by car , campervan hire , rail and public transport. I have also done various tours within the UK, including one of which was touring Scotland for 4 weeks, and many other longer trips during most of the whole summer holidays.

In later years , I've truly enjoyed various tours and trips across Europe, and fall in love everywhere i go for different reasons.

Getting under the skin of a destination is really what I love, unfortunately a fly & flop holiday has never been my thing (but do know it is for others), and even when travelling alone or with my 3 children we love to be soft adventurers and explorers, and even a zip line or tobogganing a few times.

We often do a guided walk, tour or unique experience , sampling local foods or delving into the culture , history, art or even something a little quirky!

I have 3 children who are neurodiverse and completely different in their own special unique way, they have their own little quirks and so from a professional and personal point of view , I have long experiences and understandings in this area, I'm also educated within this area to degree level, along with working in this sector for 15 years.
I understand that no one person across the spectrum is the same and happily support you with your specific requirements as best I can.

I'm excited to be working with you to support you for your next trips. No matter how short , long , complex , whether multi-centre or large groups or even the most discreet luxurious trip.

Have a fantastic day and look forward to your continued support, even if you don't need support right now feel free to share so I can support others too.

Enough about me , let me get to know what you want for your next adventures.

What i will provide for you is an on hand person in the know about your trip, the destination , the hotel / resort , the local options , how to tailor your trip , offer you many different variations to your trip , be able to support you in everything that arises for your trip. And my service are Free, like booking online in the same way, although isnt it nice to have all of the above i mentioned at hand instead of being left to research and piece it together and hope its a good trip, i have no hidden fees, no add on costs. I earn from the inbuilt commissions already in all elements of travel the same again as youd see online, again there's no extra cost to you at all.

It is such a reward seeing your incredible memories in the making and knowing you had the best time and you sharing the love to others by sharing my service. May the live for travel continue .

Organising travel plans has never made me more happier.

Kerry Elliott ♡

✨🚆 Rail-inclusive break to 'the best festive
market' in the UK to visit in 2024 🚆✨

▪︎ Enjoy 1 night staying at the Holiday Inn Express Birmingham - Snow Hill - bed & breakfast based on Sunday 1st December. Explore the city in the run up to Christmas, with stalls selling a tempting array of food and drink, traditional toys, ornaments and gifts - from only £63pp*!!

Including Rail From:
London £68 Per Person
Manchester £71 Per Person
Liverpool £79 Per Person
Bristol £93 Per Person
Cambridge £82 Per Person
Oxford £69 Per Person
Sheffield £111 Per Person
Cardiff £93 Per Person
Chester £88 Per Person
York £101 Per Person
Peterborough £63 Per Person

❤ Why people are Loving this ❤

Get into the festive spirit at Birmingham's Frankfurt Christmas Market! Stroll through the twinkling stalls of New Street and Victoria Square, savouring the aroma of hot gluhwein, schnitzel, and spicy sausage. With traditional gifts, ornaments, and the return of the big wheel and ice rink in Centenary Square, it’s the perfect spot for holiday shopping and seasonal cheer!

🎄Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market - Dates
run from 1 November to 24 December 2024 🎄

⭐ Christmas Market dates cannot be guaranteed
and are subject to change. I can not be held
responsible if these dates change or are
cancelled.

*Prices based on 2 people sharing and are correct at time of posting. Based on Sunday 1st December 2024, subject to availability. Alternative dates, durations, departure points and hotels are available.

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Contact with your requirements for availability and to book

Travelling Dreams ~ Kerry Elliott
Independent Travel Agent
ABTA PROTECTED
Partner since 2019.
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Gateway to the Arctic, ⬇️

🇳🇴 4-Night Tromsø Winter Experience 🇳🇴

4 nights | private tour

🐋 Enjoy whale watching from a unique
perspective by hybrid-electric ship

🐕‍🦺 Meet the Huskies and go on a sled ride
into the Arctic Wilderness

🌌 Witness Earth's most magnificent light show,
the Aurora Borealis

♨️ Relax under the stars in a private outdoor
hot tub experience

EasyJet flights ✈️
▪︎ LGW 13 Jan 2025 from £2159 pp
▪︎ MAN 14 Jan 2025 from £2129 pp

Exclude flights from £2,010 pp

Includes:

▪︎ 4 night's bed & breakfast accommodation

▪︎ Private airport transfers

▪︎ Guide for all organised activities

▪︎ Northern Lights Chase (approx. 7-8hrs)

▪︎ Dog sledding trip (approx. 4-5hrs)

▪︎ Silent Whale Watching by hybrid-electric ship
(approx. 8-9hrs)

▪︎ Private 2hr hot tub experience

▪︎ transfers between hotels and for activities
outside Tromso

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Contact for further information with your requirements and for availability.

Travelling Dreams ~ Kerry Elliott
Independent Travel Agent
Abta & Atol protected
Affiliated partner since 2019.

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*Price from based on 2 adults sharing travelling on 13 Jan from Gatwick or 14 Jan from Manchester.
Other potential options available.

💜 Northern Lights 🌌 The Aurora Borealis 💜

A phenomena that many of us wish to see in our lifetime ...

But what are they 🤷🏼‍♀️⬇️

Solar storms on the sun release charged particles that travel millions of miles and collide with the Earth's atmosphere. The Earth's magnetic field redirects the particles towards the poles, where they collide with atoms and molecules in the atmosphere.

The northern lights are most active during the equinoxes and solstices because there are more magnetic storms during these periods. The lights are caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with atoms in the upper atmosphere as mentioned above so you will get that more vivid sighting.

Usually the best time to see them is around 11pm to 2am in the morning so a difficult one to keep younger children up too, although you can see them earlier.

53% of the population showed that in their research behaviour this year that this truly is a ultimately one experience not to be forgotten.

Of all the nighttime special experiences in travel , this was one at the top of the list, followed by seeing the eclipse as I mentioned yesterday , and also 28% said staying under the stars 🌟.

That grounding back to earth often is important when taking time out of our busy schedules, that need to relax and feel reconnected and fill that curiosity within ourselves.

But where are people getting the best experiences , yes we have seen them from the UK not that long ago the entire of Facebook was filled with people glimpses at the spectacular sights.

But often the furthest in the Northern Hemisphere you can be the better or in a special location.

● Often at the top of the list people think Iceland,
Norway and Finland (often many associate with
'Lapland') and to be honest you'd be right, But
you can also see them in Canada , Alaska for
sure & Greenland & Russia (but we won't talk
about that right now).

Many like to tie in many experiences at once whether it's money or time dependent etc, the Northern Lights are a tricky one , as there's never a guaranteed sighting, but where you place yourself is also very important.

Many try coming during December, along with your other festive activities, depending on the weather , i would suggest one dont assume you will see them but if you can go with a guide on a Aurora chasing the lights tour they are experts taking you to the most remote areas and following the usual hotspot radar for sightings , again not crowded ; more private , so you can see them, but it always comes down to the science & the weather.
There are much better times and places to see them.

▪︎ Did you know there are also classes you can take
where you learn how to capture the best photos
of them too, it is worth every penny.

The increase in the searches for these destinations has grown significantly, however this doesn't mean lots of opportunities to go as the spaces for these sightings fill fast. whether doing it all yourself (i wouldn't recommend especially for forst timers), I'd recommend you book on a package or on a short or long tour, or even a cruise for reassurance plus trusting in the locals to take care of your experiences.

I get asked lots of times when is the best time to see them ... usually the best time to see them is when ..... you book your trip with me 😅.

In all seriousness, with the mentioning above of the equinoxes Sep/Oct & Jan/March are the most active in science terms. They are still visible in other months however due to snow clouds often it is less clearly visible. For example January and March have less clouds than November & December therefore are more noticeable.

Often many go a different time for the festivities of Finland , and another dedicated to Northern lights and other activities. And for many years in all fairness it works, if you're lucky to see the forecast of a clear sky on your visit then definitely go Aurora chasing 😀.

Hope this was insightful, feel free to share and tag others in who may also be interested ☺️

Have a great day.

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Contact today to find out further information

Travelling Dreams ~ Kerry Elliott
Independent Travel Agent
Partner since 2019

Well, due to one of the most amazing coincidences in nature, even though the Moon is 400 times smaller than the Sun, the Sun itself is around 400 times further away, which can make the two objects appear the same size.

Between 2024 and 2030 the U.K. may experience a partial solar eclipse every year. Let's take a look over the next few years.

Here's when, where and what to expect.

If you're in the UK and you're waiting for a total solar eclipse to come to you, you'll need saint-like patience - as the Totality will next visit the British Isles on 23 September 2090! Many of you may remember the last one which was in 1999.

I know I do , and to think they are on average every 100 years 🫣🤔. And if you love astronomy and all it's glory then keep these dates in mind below and plan ahead.

So before this decade is out the Sun will be partially eclipsed no fewer than seven times as seen from the UK, with the biggest being a whopping 96%.

London will see 30% of the Sun disappear behind the Moon during the 29 March 2025 partial solar eclipse.

Next comes a partial solar eclipse that’s almost a total.

From Hudson Bay in a remote part of northern Quebec, Canada, as much as 94% of the Sun will be eclipsed!

If you're looking for good upcoming UK solar eclipses then take note, and you can always book one truly incredible solar eclipse cruise trust me when I say it is selling fast already for 2026!
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2025 ~

Next comes a partial solar eclipse that’s almost a total.

From Hudson Bay in a remote part of northern Quebec, Canada, as much as 94% of the Sun will be eclipsed.

Those looking for good upcoming UK solar eclipses should take note.

From the UK it this one still be significant, with the Outer Hebrides seeing about 47%, Northern Ireland 44% and West Wales 38%.

Londoners will see 30% of the Sun disappear behind the Moon.

This mid-morning event with the eclipse about 40º up in the southeast at the peak, however, is destined to be overshadowed.
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2026 ~

The Scilly Isles will see a 96% partial solar eclipse just before sunset on 12 August 2026.

Europe’s first total solar eclipse since 1999 will bring up to 2 minutes and 18 seconds of totality to Iceland and Spain on 12 August 2026, with a totally eclipsed sunset visible from Ibiza, Mallorca and Menorca).

The path of totality for the 12 August 2026 solar eclipse cruelly misses the British Isles by a few hundred miles.Those who can’t travel will be treated to a huge partial solar eclipse just before sunset peaking at 96% in the Scilly Isles.

Everywhere in the UK will see at least an 89% partially eclipsed Sun on 12 August 2026, about 13º above the northwestern horizon.

This is probably one of the best UK solar eclipses happening this decade.
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2027 ~

An entire lunar year later another solar eclipse occurs.

This time it’s the big one, with a total solar eclipse across the Straits of Gibraltar, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula bringing as much as 6 minutes 23 seconds of totality.

That will occur over Luxor, Egypt in the longest totality of the century, with Mecca in Saudi Arabia also in the path of totality.

From the UK it’s again the Scilly Isles that see most of the partial eclipse at 48%, reducing to 13% for the Shetland Isles.

London gets 42%.

The eclipse will peak around 10:00 a.m.
as the Sun and Moon are around 37° above the eastern horizon.Northern Ireland will be one of the best places in the UK to see the 26 January 2028 solar eclipse, with 42) and Cornwall (55%) will also fare well.
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2028 ~

The 26 January 2028 eclipse is arguably the most exciting of all UK solar eclipses this decade, but being furthest west will help.On 26 January the prize is a partially eclipsed sunset above the southwestern horizon.

The best places to be include Northern Ireland (42%), West Wales (51%) and Cornwall (55%).

Further afield this is an annular solar eclipse, where the apparent size of the new Moon isn’t quite large enough to cover the Sun.

The ‘ring of fire’ eclipse on 26 January 2028 will be seen from within a mostly seaborne path that begins in the Galápagos Islands in the Pacific Ocean and ends in southern Spain and the Balearic Islands.

A ‘ring of fire’ sunset will be seen from Ibiza and Mallorca.

Information from a variety of sources including this one below, which goes up to 2030.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/uk-eclipses
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/uk/england

My next post will share a cruise with you 😁🚢...
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Travelling Dreams Kerry Elliott
Independent Travel Agent
Partner since 2019