Wren Elite Travel

10 mile ice cracks appear in the Arctic

The northern most Arctic is at the top of my list of places I really want to visit (as is Antarctica! I just have a fondness for those brilliant white and magical icescapes - and The Snow Queen was always my favourite story as I grew up!), so it is worrying to read on BBC news that some major cracks have been found during an assessment of the state of the giant ice shelves in Canada's far north.

The ice cracks, measured to be more than 10 miles wide, are seen as a key indicator of climate change. When ice shelves break apart, they drift offshore into the ocean as 'ice islands', transforming the geography of the coastline.

May sale with Etihad Airways, holidays with great prices!

Fly with Etihad Airways and Travel2 to Abu Dhabi and beyond from London Heathrow and Manchester, and get fantastic discounts in their May sale. Booking on Coral Economy, Pearl Business, and Diamond First Class with Etihad Airways will not disappoint, since their services are renowned for world class comfort.

The May sale (book by May 31st) includes:

I'm off to Tasmania next week!

This bank holiday weekend is a very one exciting one for me. I need to start my packing for Australia, after I recently won a place on the Tourism Australia and Emirates travel agent trip to the destination!

Hard to believe it has come around so fast, and that by Wednesday I'll be 'downunder', if not yet at my final destination. I'll be heading off to the fascinating destination of Tasmania, and while it might be a little chilly at this time of year, I'm sure it won't stop me from being in awe of this southern state of Oz.

First Aborigine owner-managed resort opens this summer in Australia!

The first ever Aborigine owner-managed resort opens this May in the north of Australia! Dugong Beach Resort on Groote Eylandt is an Australian paradise island, about 1.5 hours east of Darwin in the Northern Territories and previously unvisited by international tourists, even though in the far north of the country is when the weather is best during the British summer: not scorching, but plenty of sunshine hours and temperatures up to 29 degrees.

Thought to be the first tourism programme of its kind, owned and managed by an Aboriginal community, Dugong Beach Resort provides visitors with a unique indigenous experience with 4-star comforts.

Top Ten Activities on Hamilton Island, Australia

HAMILTON ISLAND is a beautiful year round resort found in the heart of the Whitsundays - the group of 74 tropical islands - more or less untouched - in the Coral Sea between the Australian Queensland coast and the Great Barrier Reef. Hamilton is the largest of the inhabited islands, 5 kms north to south and 3.5 kms east to west, and is easily reached by a range of direct Jetstar, Virgin Blue and Qantas Link flights from Sydney, Cairns, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Over 70% of Hamilton Island remains in its original natural state, offering unspoilt beaches and pristine nature trails. Cars are prohibited on this 5kms x 3.5kms island, so guests get around in golf buggies or by foot.

Big savings on worldwide escorted tours for selected departures in 2008!

One of our tour operators, luxury holidays specialist Bales Worldwide, is offering many discounts on their worldwide escorted tours throughout 2008. If you fancy a Galapagos Island cruise or exploring the glaciers of Southern Patagonia in Chile, and you've always wanted to do it style, now is the time to book.

I have highlighted some of the tours which I feel are the best value or most exciting, offering great discounts of up to £216 per person and fabulous single supplement savings.

Rocky Mountaineer Rail and the Canadian Rockies

Voted the ‘Worlds Leading Travel Experience by Train’ at the World Travel Awards in 2005 and 2006, the spectacular trip through the Canadian Rockies onboard the Rocky Mountaineer is an unforgettable experience, and is world-renowned as a classic tour.

On the Rocky, you can travel the vast Canadian World Heritage wilderness through western Canada and the Rockies, by way of the famous Kicking Horse and Yellowhead rail routes. Follow these historic trails, constructed over 100 years ago, via Fraser Valley and Kamloops (with an overnight stop) onto Banff or Jasper.

Breaking the stereotypes of escorted tours

What's your impression of an escorted tour? Hundreds of people cramped on a coach, whistle-stop tours of destinations with 5 minutes at each attraction, no time to take a snap (never mind a pee), and geeky guides with bad breath who bore the pants off you?

If so, then you've either been on the wrong tours (and they have moved onwards somewhat from days of old), or you've never tried one. With such a huge range of updated, upmarket and premium tour companies catering for all kinds of people - and many with strict stipulations on the maximum numbers for one tour - you'll find that if the match is right for you, then you could end up being addicted to this way of holidaying.

'Explorations' small group tours launched by Collette Worldwide Holidays

Created specifically for those who wish to travel in a smaller group setting, Explorations by Collette Worldwide Holidays is a new way to experience an escorted tour. Launched from May 2008, it differs from Collette's regular tours in the following that there are a maximum of 16-24 passengers, the holidays offer unique and individual accommodations, dining experiences give new meaning to ‘local flavour’, and there is a chance to learn more about the destinations through authentic experiences.

What makes Explorations particularly special is that it combines the benefits of group travel with the freedom to pursue individual experiences, offering you the best of both worlds.

Experience a 4* short break in Toronto from only £285 per person!

If you've never been to Canada, now is the time for a taster of this fantastic and friendly country. 3 night breaks for a 4* Toronto experience, staying in the Delta Chelsea Hotel, can be had from only £285 per person. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, this hotel is just a short stroll from the city’s best theatre, shopping and sight-seeing attractions. With over 80 different cultures and numerous activities, Toronto is a popular holiday destination for many - and Canada anyway is just amazing.