New Online Flight Booking Service
Book online and get low airfares with the back up of a reputable ABTA bonded travel agent. Once you have booked your international flights online we can help you with add-on flights, hotels, airport transfers, adventure tours, excursions and travel insurance.

Island hopping in The Azores
The Azores, located in the Atlantic 1000 miles west of Portugal, are well known to trans-Atlantic sailors but receive few visitors. This is changing as there is now a direct 3 ½ hour flight from Gatwick to Ponta Delgada, the capital, on Sao Miguel island, a small town with cobbled streets, pretty churches and an excellent choice of restaurants and shops.

There are 9 volcanic islands, all very different and offering something for everyone, with flights and ferries between them. There are crater lakes, hot springs, beautiful botanical gardens, tea plantations, vineyards, local cheese producers and quiet roads with colourful hedgerows of hydrangeas, lilac and azaleas. The whale and dolphin watching is particularly good from Faial, Pico, Sao Jorge and Flores and a number of different species can be seen year round. The summer months are best for swimming with spotted dolphins.

Flores and Corvo are good for walking and sea kayaking and also have excellent wreck dive sites. Terceira and Graciosa are good for exploring volcanoes and swimming in natural rock pools. Explore offer a 15-day small group tour from £1039 with flights; Inntravel offer a 14-night selfguided walking holiday from £1275 without flights and Sunvil offer a wide range of tailor-made options using hotels or self-catering cottages. A week in a luxurious room with balcony and ocean view at the stylish Quinta do Mar in Caloura costs from £629 per person with flights and a car. Please call for a brochure on 0117 929 4123.

Malaysia
Malaysia is a delightful country, the people are warm and welcoming, and it has much to offer all types of visitors. Kuala Lumpur is a vibrant city with a huge choice of hotels to suit every pocket; there are enticing shopping centres with many bargains and delicious Malaysian food. Off the West coast are the beautiful islands of Langkawi and Pangkor Laut. The Datai and The Andaman, on Langkawi, are on the most beautiful beach backed by verdant virgin rainforest. Both have superb spas and offer a high level of service. The Datai is suitable for couples and The Andaman is good for families and single travellers.

A 5-night stay at The Andaman costs from £980 per person including flights. Romantic Pangkor Laut Resort, on its own private island, has a choice of accommodation including rainforest villas with open air bathrooms and over-water bungalows. A 7 night stay in a Hill Villa costs from £1085 per person including flights and ferry. Exodus have a fantastic 14-day small group family trip to the Malaysian state of Sabah in Borneo, “Orang-Utangs and Turtles” visiting National Parks, exploring the rainforest, and discovering Sepilok Orang Utan sanctuary. Children must be 6 or over at the departure date and the cost is £1649 per adult and £1499 per child. Call us for a brochure on 0117 929 4123.

The exciting city of New York has attracted people for many years and now with direct flights from Bristol and the current fantastic dollar rate there is no better time to go.

In a long weekend you can sample many of the city's attractions as well as good value shopping in the famous stores. Why not take a cruise along the Hudson River towards the Statue of Liberty with spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline, or from the air by helicopter, both are good value. Spend the afternoon relaxing in Central Park or in one of the wonderful art galleries and the evening enjoying cocktails or the theatre. (Tony & Tina's Wedding is great fun and has become an institution). We can book theatre tickets and excursions.

A 3-night hotel stay with flights from Gatwick costs from £478 per person, based on 2 people sharing or £487 from Bristol. We can also book apartments if you contact us well in advance. Call us to discuss your ideas and we'll be happy to make suggestions

Riads in Morocco
When we first suggested weekend breaks in Morocco back in 1989 we had no idea that it would take off in quite the way that it has done. With daily flights to Marrakech and Casablanca it is now more popular than ever. One of the best ways to immerse yourself in traditional Moroccan culture is to stay in one of the many delightful riads, former merchant's homes, now small, charming hotels with just a handful of rooms and an intimate interior courtyard.

Out of the many riads available in Marrakech, we have two special favourites. Riad Farnatchi has 5 good-sized bedrooms decorated in a fusion of styles making it a perfect choice if you want to take the whole house for a small party to celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday. La Sultana is decorated in a typical Moroccan style and has a spa, pool and roof terrace with panoramic views of the Koutoubia and the snow-capped Atlas Mountains.

The Heure Bleue Palais in the delightful seaside town of Essaouira, is decorated in a mix of styles such as colonial, Portuguese and oriental, set around a plant-filled courtyard with open-air dining.

Fez has been described as the greatest medieval city in the world. Wandering through the Medina, you really can believe that you have been transported back in time a few hundred years. Fez is now easier to reach with direct flights from Stansted and an indirect option from Heathrow via Casablanca and whilst it does not have the range of riad hotels of Marrakech, there are some excellent options available.

A 3-night break at the luxurious Riad Farnatchi starts at £598 per person on a B&B basis including flights. Exodus offer a 5 day small group tour using more simple accommodation from £399 per person. Call us for more information on these or any of our old favourites on 0117 929 4123.

Private tours
Have you thought of putting together your own small group tour? Would you like to do a Kilimanjaro trek, Galapagos cruise or Gorilla safari but prefer to travel with your own group of friends or family? We can arrange private tours to a wide range of destinations for groups as small as four and using a wide range of accommodation, depending on the destination. Prices start at £180 per person for a Gecko's 9 day private tour of Bali staying in local guesthouses, excluding flights. Call us to discuss your private tour on 0117 929 4123

Loyalty Discounts
Many tour operators offer loyalty discounts to regular travellers e.g Intrepid give 5% off your second tour, The Adventure Company give £50 off your second tour, Explore and Exodus give 5% off when you book your 5th trip or 10% off when you book your 10th trip, Explore give 5% off your second and subsequent Family Adventure. These discounts DO APPLY WHEN YOU BOOK WITH US, even though it says you must book direct in the brochure and newsletter. As Explore's first ever travel agent we have many clients who have booked over 10 tours and you do get the 10% discount when you book with Marco Polo.

LOW AIRFARES WORLDWIDE
We offer discounted airfares worldwide. We can hold a provisional booking for 3 days and then require a £75 deposit to secure the seats. We are experts at arranging Round the World flights and these are such good value for those with plenty of time to visit a number of places. One of the best is The Great Escapade fare from £860 plus taxes and allows unlimited stops worldwide with a particularly good choice of destinations in Asia, the Antipodes and the Pacific. It is valid for a year and dates are completely flexible.

We can also offer:

• Airport parking & hotels. We have excellent rates on airport hotels and car parks, and often the hotel costs hardly any more than just the parking e.g Gatwick on-airport parking costs £48 for 8 days. Gatwick hotel rooms start at £42 whilst hotel with 8 days parking costs £62.
• Car hire worldwide at the most competitive rates available
• Accommodation only bookings for Europe and worldwide
• Travel Library – a research facility available to all clients booking through Marco Polo
• Travel Insurance. Marco Polo offers a range of policies to suit all types of travel and activities. Our 16-day Europe policy is £16.50 or £41.25 for a family of 5. Our annual multi-trip policy is £82.50, £130 per couple or family (with unlimited number of children or grandchildren) & includes 17 days winter sports and scuba diving.

New Regional Flights
     from Sunvil Holidays
For many years we have been fans of the traditional Greek holidays offered by Sunvil. Until this year, Sunvil have only had departures from Gatwick or Manchester, but in 2006 they are offering flights from Bristol to Skiathos and East Midlands to the Peloponnese and Preveza.

The Bristol flights mean that you can choose a holiday on the contrasting Islands of Skiathos, Skopelos or Alonissos. Skiathos is lively and good for young families as it has many sandy beaches; Skopelos is more relaxed and has great walking and Alonissos is a sleepy, quiet retreat.

The two departures from East Midlands to Preveza and Kalamata open up a range of options for those who prefer to be on the mainland. Preveza is the gateway for Lefkada, a region with many delights to offer, and Kalamata opens up the Peloponnese which has dramatic scenery and a plethora of ancient sites.

For further details of these excellent holidays, please call us on 0117 9294123

Peru
Peru is a magical place, from the beauty and majesty of the ruins of Machu Picchu, nestled high in the Andes and reached by the Inca Trail, to the islands of Lake Titicaca where families lead simple but hard lives in reed homes they have built themselves. Many make souvenirs such as home-spun llama wool ponchos for visitors, which are a very important part of their income. It is possible to arrange home stays with local families offering a rare insight into their way of life.

Other places of interest include the intriguing patterns of the Nasca Lines, spectacular Colca Canyon where condors soar high in the sky and the Amazon, rich in wildlife. Marco Polo Travel can arrange itineraries travelling in small groups or independently, giving you as much freedom as you would like. Peregrine's 15 day group tour “Highlights of Peru” costs from £1206 per person on a land only basis. Explore's 14 day “High Trail of the Incas” tour costs from £1499, including flights, with a local payment of USD210. Cox and Kings use 4 & 5 star hotels on their 11 day “Highlights of Peru” tour which is good value at £1590 including flights, and this can be taken with a group or independently. Book early for the Inca Trail. To avoid disappointment we suggest that you book at least three months ahead in order to secure the Inca Trail permits which are now restricted. Call us for dossiers on any of these tours on 0117 929 4123.

Egypt
The appeal of Egypt is as enduring as ever and is busy already for the Autumn and Winter 07. One of the best ways to experience the main Ancient sites is on a Nile cruise, visiting the evocative temples that line the banks of the river. Explore Worldwide have a lead-in price of £695 on a 10-day tour including 4 nights on the riverboat M/S Doma, with time in Cairo and Luxor including flights. For those wanting a relaxing 7 night cruise there is the M/S Ra, a 4 star cruiser, with all cabins having opening French doors; prices from just £729 including all meals and sightseeing.

For Egypt in style, there is an 11-day trip with 6 nights on the Oberoi Philae vessel and 4 nights at the Mena House Oberoi in Cairo with prices starting at £1120 per person. The Philae is one of the best boats cruising the Nile on which all cabins have their own private balcony and the Mena House is a luxurious property with spectacular views of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The elegance and languor of colonial times are recreated on the Zahra, a beautifully crafted wooden 'dahabiyya'. With only 6 cabins and an on-board chef serving appetizing meals on the top deck or barbecues on the riverbank, the voyage from Luxor to Aswan will be truly memorable. The 12 day tour, including 7 nights on the Zahra starts at £1699. If you would like more information on any of these please call us on 0117 929 4123.

Celebrate
with a private jet
A great idea for a special celebration is to take a day trip or short break on a private jet. Paris for lunch at the renowned 2 Michelin starred restaurant Grand Vefour, which includes champagne and canapés during the flight, is from £887 per person based on 6 people in the party. Lunch at Les Crayeres in Reims is a similar cost and the day includes some time visiting a few of the champagne houses, not usually open to the public, on an exclusive basis.

A weekend in St.Moritz at the Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains in a Classic Junior Suite on half board is from £2452 per person which gives you three days skiing with only 2 hours 40 minutes travelling time from your house to the slopes. Call us for more ideas and a quote for your special celebration on 0117 929 4123.

Brazil
Brazil is a huge country and on almost any itinerary you will need some domestic flights. The good news is that the main domestic airline, TAM, is an extremely high quality organisation with new aircraft and excellent cabin crew. You will need to allow three weeks to visit and enjoy all the main highlights that the country has to offer. If you have less than that we can help you make some choices. The options are the vibrant and beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro, Iguacu Falls, the Pantanal wilderness area, the Amazon rain forest, the historic state of Minais Gerais, Recife, Olinda and the beautiful beaches of Porto de Galinhas.

Explore Worldwide have regular departures on their Pure Brazil tour with prices starting at £1899. Sunvil Latin America offer a 12 day Essential Brazil itinerary starting at £2412 and we are experts at tailor making private itineraries throughout Brazil. Call us to discuss your Brazil trip.

Antarctica and the High Arctic
The Polar regions have never been so popular and the lure of the dramatic snowscapes and extraordinary wildlife of Antarctica and the High Arctic is increasing. You can explore isolated ice-filled bays by inflatable boat or sea kayak, hike across the polar icecap, view massive penguin colonies, countless seabirds and gargantuan elephant seals and even camp out overnight on the ice, weather permitting. Each voyage has a polar leader on board who brings it all to life with their particular interest such as ocean sciences, polar history and zoology.

We recommend the small ships which can get closer to the ice and wildlife and with capacity for just over 100 passengers our advice is to book early, particularly for the longer voyages that take in the Falklands and South Georgia. Peregrine have an 11 day cruise with prices starting at £3799 per person including flights and accommodation en route in Ushuaia and Buenos Aires. Please call us for a Polar brochure.

New small group operators
Marco Polo Travel is particularly well known for its expertise with small group adventure holidays and many people are familiar with the larger tour operators we offer, such as Explore Worldwide, Exodus and The Adventure Company. However, we also sell an unrivalled selection of smaller adventure companies, each with their own specialist area.

High & Wild offer groundbreaking adventures in different habitats around the world, such as wildlife in Socotra, an island off Yemen, or chasing tornadoes in the USA; Classic Journeys organise walks and treks amongst the world's highest mountain ranges; On the Menu teach you to cook sensational food in spectacular locations such as Morocco or Mexico; On the Go Tours organise small group cultural and adventure tours for people with a semiindependent streak; Inntravel offer comfortable hotels with wonderful food and a choice of activities such as cycling or walking or to be completely Inn-active and Brightwater Holidays visit some of the world's most beautiful gardens ranging from Ireland to Japan.

However, there are dozens more so do get in touch with us – we may be able to help with that dream trip to go truffle hunting in Umbria

The Bristol Travellers Club
The Club is run by Marco Polo and any profit is donated to charity. It usually meets on the 2nd Tuesday of each month (with a break in July, August and December) at the YHA and the entrance fee is £3.00. Look at the programme on-line.