Wanderlust…
In a normal year airline suppliers from around the world would be converging on a convention centre for the IFSA Expo this month. As we all know, those plans have changed and we will have to visit San Diego another time. For this month’s blog, (in lieu of exotic, work related travel – and if you come from Yorkshire then California is very definitely exotic) we asked the team to share their travel day-dreams with us and, although strictly speaking a ‘staycation’ means staying at home and travelling for day trips, the word has taken a new twist this year. So, where did we go in our ‘stay at home’ holidays and if we could fly right now, where would we venture to?
Michael – Head of Sourcing & Product Development
Years at JH: 18 months
Favourite pre-Covid Holiday destination?
Turkey
Perfect for our family holidays, armed with a few words of Turkish, the people are friendly and it’s almost guaranteed weather every day. I like anywhere that you can roar around in a taxi at night with the windows down as the heat of the day is easing off. Food-wise everything usually comes down to a simple choice of grilled meat or fish, all really nicely done with no dodgy stomachs to be concerned over the next day! Istanbul is one of the great cities also.
Favourite pre-Covid work trip destination?
Hong Kong
I am sure I won’t have seen the best it had to offer, but HK still provides a rush of adrenaline and it’s a really sensory place in terms of food, smells, sights and noise.
Favourite staycation UK destination / where have you visited this year because overseas plans were cancelled?
Walton-on-the-Naze in Essex
Cornwall it’s not! It’s a backwater, there’s really nothing to do there other than to be outdoors and away from people. There’s an estuary and nature reserve area; you can hunt for sharks’ teeth on the beach and at the other end there is a faded town with an old-school bowling alley on the pier. Finish off with some well-earned fish and chips.
If you could get on a flight now…where would you go?
Venice
Having been when it’s very busy, I’d like to start over with Venice again!
Rachel – Accounts Administrator
Years at JH: 25
Favourite pre-Covid Holiday destination?
Barcelona
It’s the perfect combination for us; a city break and a beach holiday all rolled into one
Favourite staycation UK destination / where have you visited this year because overseas plans were cancelled?
Been to Broadstairs in Kent and Lytham St Anne’s (instead of Majorca!)
We love the good old British seaside (when the sun is out…which luckily it was!)
If you could get on a flight now…where would you go?
Any of the Canary Islands
Being from the UK, we love the warm sunshine & it’s not too long sat on a plane.
Kirsty – Product Manager
Years at JH: 23
Favourite pre-Covid Holiday destination?
Olhao in Portugal
Sun, relaxed atmosphere, history, islands, good coffee, markets, the Atlantic ocean and spectacular long beaches; all in one place – a really short hop from Faro airport.
Favourite pre-Covid work trip destination?
Hamburg
Clean, cool, friendly, interesting. Having been several times, it feels like a place I want to spend more time in – perhaps visit on a family weekend break. You need to watch out for the almost invisible cycle lanes though, I’ve been caught out by that a few times!
Favourite staycation UK destination / where have you visited this year because overseas plans were cancelled?
I have two: St Ives in Cornwall and Edinburgh.
St Ives is our usual summer destination, even pre-Covid – being a very fair family, we don’t cope well with ‘abroad’ hot summer weather. The beach in Cornwall is a perfect compromise, and even on a grey day it’s beautiful. If it does rain where you are, the light is spectacular – the area has always been popular with artists and when you’re there you can see why – everything looks good under a Cornish sky, whether sunny or grey.
Edinburgh is my family’s comfortable place, it’s where both sides of our extended family have spent time in their lives too. We like to visit at least once a year, to get a look at the skyline and see the local sights. Particular highlights in recent years are the Camera Obscura up near the Castle, going to see a show at the Playhouse and the lions at the Zoo. Last time we stayed in a top floor apartment in the Georgian New Town, making us nearly locals for the weekend. The jewellers where my mum and dad bought their wedding rings almost 50 years ago was still there, just around the corner.
If you could get on a flight now…where would you go?
Honestly? Right at the moment, somewhere calm and deserted. Somewhere I can watch the sea.
Perhaps back to Olhao in the Algarve and sit on the beach and watch the ocean. Or is autumn too wild at the Atlantic coast to do that? If I could choose a place and a season I would go to Calgary in early summer and drive through the Rockies and onto Vancouver – climb a mountain, see the lakes and glaciers then onto the city and the bright lights.
Ellie – Business Development Manager
Years at JH: 7
Favourite pre-Covid Holiday destination?
Almyrida, Crete
Coming from the north of England, it had to be somewhere warm and sunny. This village 20km from Chania Airport is formed around a beautiful shallow bay and is surrounded by steep rugged hills limiting the development to just a couple of hotels. It’s perfect for swimming, sunbathing and hiking. Peaceful & laid back, with super friendly locals, great food and just enough night life.
Favourite pre-Covid work trip destination?
I’ve been very lucky to visit our airline clients & suppliers around the world including the UAE, China, Finland, Singapore, Netherlands and the USA; but if I had to pick one it would be Mauritius.
The tropical climate is unlike anywhere else I’ve been and the landscape of the Black River Gorges National Park is breath-taking. The hospitality and friendliness of the people is wonderful and the fascinating mix of cultures, religions and cuisines make this a really interesting place.
Favourite staycation UK destination / where have you visited this year because overseas plans were cancelled?
I haven’t strayed far from home in the UK, but the North East coast is a firm favourite.
National Parks, plenty of space. Clean beaches, and if you’re lucky you might spot a pod of Dolphins too.
If you could get on a flight now…where would you go?
I really fancy touring Scandinavia. Sweden, Norway & Denmark seem to have a great mix of stunning countryside & coastline together with buzzing cosmopolitan cities.
If you also have a strong case of Wanderlust and need more inspiration for dream travel destinations, why not try out our top 10 travel and aviation bloggers here…
