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DESTINATIONS
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February15
Three hot travel
destinations for 2015
We asked Graham to peer into the crystal ball and tell
us which three destinations would be the “big thing”
among travellers this year.
• New Zealand – perfect for couples and parents
with older children; so many amazing adventures
to be had and a wide range of activities for all ages.
• Sri Lanka – a wonderful destination for couples and
families alike; twinning with the Maldives makes for
a great culture and beach itinerary.
• NIYAMA, the Maldives – with our new Explorers
children’s club launching in Spring this year, this
is a fantastic place for those families looking for a
relaxing island getaway.
Give us a background to the Scott Dunn brand; when
and where did it launch? What does it offer?
We’re a luxury tour operator that has been creating tailor-made
holidays for over 28 years.
The story began in 1986 when our founder, Andrew Dunn,
had the idea of organising better ski chalet holidays. That idea
became a reality, and before long, Andrew was leading a team
and crafting luxury ski experiences for guests.
Since then, we’ve taken our expertise and focus on service
worldwide, and we can now organise luxury holidays to almost
anywhere – we’re rarely defeated by an enquiry! All our holidays
are tailored to our guests’ requirements and budget.
Our travel consultants won’t sell properties or experiences
they haven’t tried themselves, and they spend at least a month
a year travelling in their specialist destinations, which I think is
a real point of differentiation from other operators. I’m proud to
say that in 2014 we were again voted by readers of
Conde Nast
Traveller
in the UK as their favourite specialist tour operator.
What types of trips can Scott Dunn help arrange for
our readers?
Pretty much anything required, from exploring Borneo’s caves,
rivers andmountains beforeheading to thebeaches of Langkawi.
Or taking a journey across Japan, fromTokyo toHakoneNational
Park’s volcanic valley and hot springs. Maybe you want to head
to the Alps for a stay in one of our wonderful catered ski chalets
or have some time on the beach at Soneva Kiri in Thailand or
NIYAMA in the Maldives where your children can enjoy our
Explorers children’s clubs. Anything is possible.
Tell us about the children’s clubs that are a feature of
Scott Dunn trips.
We run wonderful Explorers children’s clubs at luxury hotels in
Europe, Thailand and theMaldives that are available for children
aged from four months to 13 years. All our clubs are staffed by
fully qualified childcare professionals who provide an exciting,
tailor-made programme of on- and off-site activities. The children
are divided into four age groups, and we offer one of the best
nanny-to-child ratios in the industry, so the children get plenty of
individual attention. For those who want more private childcare,
our villas in the Mediterranean and ski chalets in the Alps can
come with a fully qualified nanny if required, alongside the Scott
Dunn private chef and host which come as standard. These
great childcare options ensure that everyone has an enjoyable
and relaxing holiday.
What’s been your most memorable travel destination
or experience to date?
Difficult question! It sounds predictable but it’s hard to beat my
first sight of the Taj Mahal. I’d seen a thousand pictures but when
I finally got there in person, it surpassed all my expectations. I
was utterly mesmerised. The fact that it is surrounded by the
chaos anddirt of Agra only adds to its serenity andmagnificence.
Have you travelled much
in Asia? Got a favourite
city, sight or experience
in the region?
Asia is my favourite region of
the world to travel in. More than
anything it’s the food – giveme
something hot and salty from
a street stall and I am a happy
man! I spent my honeymoon in
Thailand, Cambodia and Laos.
Laos really captured my imagination – the people were gentle
and welcoming; and it felt less frantic than the other places
we visited. We were there during Songkran; I remember being
repeatedly doused by kids with buckets of water, which was
the perfect antidote to the humidity.
You’re a father of three children who you’ve travelled
with quite widely. What’s the secret to successful
family travel?
Don’t stop! A lot of people think exotic holidays are over the
minute their first baby is born. But that needn’t be the case. Kids
love to travel; and the more you keep travelling with them, the
more relaxed you become. You just need to adjust your habits:
don’t try and cram somuch in; fly overnight if you’re going long-
haul; and make sure you’ve always got the next meal planned.
What’s the one item you’d never leave out of your
suitcase, and out of your children’s suitcase?
My suitcase: my swimming trunks. I can’t imagine being in the
presence of a swimming pool and not being able to dive straight
in. My children’s suitcase: iPads. What did we ever do before?
For more information about destinations, trips, bookings,
Explorers children’s clubs and more, visit scottdunn.com.
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