Rare Earth Travel

08/06/2026

A cooking experience with the chef at Meat-in Point restaurant

We made Tzatziki and Cretan Dakos and enjoyed a delicious lunch of seafood and salads.

It’s a lovely experience to cook and eat local dishes as part of a familiarisation trip.

06/06/2026

Step back in time at Knossos, the largest and most famous Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete and widely considered Europe’s oldest city.

Just 5km from Heraklion, Knossos was the ceremonial and political heart of the ancient Minoan civilisation and the legendary home of King Minos and the Minotaur.

✨ Highlights:

🔹 Explore the vast palace complex with over 1,000 interconnected rooms

🔹 Visit the iconic Throne Room and its famous griffin frescoes

🔹 Discover the fascinating restorations by Sir Arthur Evans that bring the site to life

Top Tip:
Arrive early in the morning to avoid the heat and crowds. Bring water, comfortable shoes, and your camera!

Have you visited Knossos, or is it on your Crete bucket list?
me know your thoughts in the comments.

06/06/2026

Discover the Ancient Wonders of Knossos.

Located just 5 km southeast of Heraklion, Knossos is the largest and most celebrated Bronze Age archaeological site on Crete.

Often regarded as Europe’s oldest city, it served as the ceremonial and political center of the remarkable Minoan civilisation and is famously linked to the legends of King Minos and the Minotaur.

What makes Knossos so special?

✨ The Palace Complex with a vast labyrinth of more than 1,000 interconnected rooms, including royal quarters, storage areas and workshops.

✨ The Throne Room is home to the original stone throne believed to have belonged to Minoan rulers, surrounded by impressive griffin frescoes.

✨ Unique Restorations - Excavated by Sir Arthur Evans between 1900 and 1931, the site features bold reconstructions that continue to spark debate while helping visitors visualise the ancient palace.

📍 Visiting Knossos:

Easily reached by car, taxi, or Bus No. 2 from Heraklion.

Guided tours are available, including skip the queue options.

Check official sources for current opening hours and ticket information.

Top Tip:
Knossos offers little shade, and exploring the site involves a fair amount of walking. For the most comfortable experience, visit early in the morning before temperatures rise and tour groups arrive.

Have you visited the legendary home of the Minotaur? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

05/06/2026

Loving my stay at Nana Princess Hotel in Crete.

A beautiful hotel and so relaxed and quiet. Great for families and couples alike. Fabulous restaurants, spa and pools. All suites have their own pool too.

You can also access Nana Golden next door for additional restaurants, kids club, tennis, football, 25m pool and full equipped gym. Access is only one way, so Nana Princess remains peaceful.

04/06/2026

01/06/2026

Some of you have already guessed from my post a couple of days ago that I'm off to Crete tomorrow on a familiarisation trip.

One thing I've learned about Crete already?

It's a destination of contrasts.

Ancient history and mythology sit alongside some of the most impressive luxury hotels in the Mediterranean.

I'll be staying at Nana Princess, exploring the resort and finding out what makes it such a popular choice for travellers looking for a little extra space, privacy and relaxation. I'll also be visiting some traditional local sights and doing a city tour of Heraklion.

These educational trips are one of the most valuable parts of my job. Seeing a destination and hotels in person tells you far more than any brochure or website ever can.

I'll be sharing my thoughts and highlights from the trip over the next few days.

If you've been to Crete, I'd love to know your favourite part of the island. Let me know in the comments below 👇

30/05/2026

'They couldn’t believe how easy it felt.'

After they returned home, that was one of the first things my clients said.

Everything worked. The flights, the transfers, the accommodation, the experiences. More importantly, the holiday felt like it truly suited them.

No rushing from place to place.

No wondering if they’d chosen the right hotel.

No spending hours researching every detail.

Just a holiday that matched exactly what they were hoping for.

That’s often the difference when travel is planned around the traveller rather than around a package or promotion.

The goal isn’t to just book a trip, it’s to create an experience that feels easy, enjoyable, and completely right for the people taking it.

Holidays should feel like a break from stress, not an extension of it.

What does your ideal holiday look like? Comment below 👇

28/05/2026

Let’s play a game. 👀

I’m heading off on a work trip and thought I’d see if anyone can guess where I’m going from these clues…

☀️ It’s home to over 30 million olive trees
🏛️ Europe’s oldest civilisation was discovered there
🏖️ It has more than 100 Blue Flag beaches
🌴 One beach looks more Caribbean than Mediterranean
❄️ It even has snow-covered mountains in spring
⚡ According to mythology, Zeus was born there

Any guesses?

I’ll be sharing plenty while I’m away, so tune in for all the bits that make a destination really worth recommending.

Let’s see who gets the right answer first… 😄

26/05/2026

“The kids will only remember the expensive excursions.”

Said no parent ever.

What families tend to remember most are the moments in between:
– laughing over dinner
– getting lost in a little town
– spotting wildlife together
– swimming at sunset
– talking properly without the usual day-to-day distractions

One of the biggest mistakes I see is trying to cram too much into a holiday because people worry they’ll “miss out”.

So when I help families plan trips, I often encourage:
• fewer hotel moves
• downtime between excursions
• experiences everyone can enjoy together
• and destinations that naturally slow people down

The real luxury is time together.

22/05/2026

One of the things I love most about working in travel is discovering hotels and resorts that genuinely feel different. Not just luxurious, but thoughtful, memorable and deeply connected to where they are.

I had a lovely meeting today with Vicky Smith-Davis from Susan Presents, learning more about the beautiful collection of hotels and resorts they represent across Europe, Asia Pacific and the Indian Ocean.

A few highlights that really stayed with me:

• Forestis Dolomites - an adults-only wellness retreat surrounded by mountains and forests
• Monastero Santa Rosa Hotel & Spa - a stunning former monastery on the Amalfi Coast with one of the most beautiful infinity pools imaginable
• Resplendent Ceylon in Sri Lanka, combining tea country, safari and beach experiences beautifully
• Bawah Reserve in Indonesia - sustainable barefoot luxury across six private islands
• Capella Hotels and Resorts and Patina Hotels & Resorts - immersive, design-led luxury with exceptional personalised service

What I particularly loved is that many of these properties focus on experiences, wellbeing, sustainability and a real sense of place rather than just 'five-star luxury'.

Exactly the sort of travel I know many of my clients are increasingly looking for.

If any of these destinations are already on your wish list, I’d love to chat.