https://notjusttravel.net/shannonmurphy

Shannon Murphy t/as Not Just Travel, 3 Conqueror Court, Sittingbourne (2026)

15/09/2026

The Pearl of the Indian Ocean

If you are craving a taste of the exotic, Sri Lanka delivers. From palm-fringed beaches and tranquil lagoons ideal for paddle boarding to mouth-watering cuisine and rich culture, it is perfect for both relaxation and adventure.

Poised just above the equator, south-east of the subcontinent, this island packs over 2,000 years of history into a space roughly the size of Scotland. You can wander through ancient sacred cities, marvel at temples, scale the iconic UNESCO-listed Sigiriya Rock Fortress, or sample a fresh cup of traditional brew right on a lush tea plantation. Plus, with English widely spoken, getting around is effortless.

Wildlife lovers are in for a treat: Sri Lanka is home to around 4,000 wild Asian elephants. During the dry months of July and August, gathering herds congregate at the reservoirs of Minneriya and Kaudulla National Parks to graze, bathe, and play—a sight you'll never forget.

Good to Know:

Flight Time: ~10 hours 45 minutes from the UK (direct)

Timezone: GMT +5:30

Best Time to Visit: Temperatures remain warm year-round (often in the low 30s°C). Because monsoon rains hit different parts of the island at different times of the year, there is always a great region to visit no matter when you travel.

Did You Know? Sri Lanka holds two iconic nicknames. It is called the "Pearl of the Indian Ocean" due to its rich biodiversity and world-famous gemstone exports. It is also known as the "Teardrop of India" because of its distinctive shape and location just off the coast of the subcontinent.

Ready to start planning your tropical getaway?

Contact us today to unlock exclusive offers and let us craft your dream Sri Lankan escape.

Get in touch:

📞 Tel/WhatsApp: 07897 790864

✉️ Email: [email protected]

🇱🇰

11/09/2026

Weekly Roundup.

I landed my first cruise booking at the end of last week, and it was a great feeling. Cruise is the fastest growing segment of the travel industry, I used to imagine cruises as something you did when you retired, but it has a much broader appeal and younger demographics such as the Gen X and Millennials now entering the market. Growth driven by a number of factors including increased capacity, more regional departures and strong marketing from the cruise lines.

All my customers are heroes for placing their trust in me as a start-up, but I do have a great back-up team with over 25 years of travel experience. I will ensure all customers get value for money, great itineraries to their wonderful destinations, and first class support and service.

If you haven't thought of a cruise, it has everything including immersive itineraries, unique dining, wellness, and entertainment.
Such a great way to see so many destinations and soaking up the culture and the sight-seeing in one holiday.

Otherwise, hundreds of thousands of people were impacted by the flight cancellations and delays caused by the technical problems at Air Traffic Control. If you book independent components (DIY flights and hotels separately), your hotel contract remains completely separate and potentially non-refundable. So please always book your holiday as part of a package deal.

I wish you all a great weekend. 😎 🚢 🌍

🛳⚓️

09/09/2026

Ready for your next unforgettable escape? ✈️

✨ Whether it’s a relaxing beach break, an action-packed adventure, or a custom itinerary anywhere in the world, I’m here to make it happen.

From initial planning to the moment you return, you’ll have full support every step of the way—just a call or WhatsApp message away!

📲 Call/WhatsApp: 07897 790864

✉️ Email: [email protected]

What’s your dream destination? Let's get planning! 🌍👇

08/09/2026

Imagine waking up to views like this every morning... 🇳🇴✨

Another confirmed booking, Sailing from Southampton next March on a stunning 7-night Norwegian Fjords cruise! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or a family adventure, this ship has it all—endless dining options, world-class entertainment, full wellness facilities, and amazing kids' clubs.

Your Itinerary Highlights:

⚓ Haugesund – A charming coastal gem packed with rich history, vibrant arts, and stunning seaside views. Haugesund offers a memorable experience for all types of travellers.

🏔️ Olden – Gateway to Europe’s largest mainland glacier, roaring waterfalls, and breathtaking fjord cruising through Innvikfjorden & Nordfjord.

🎨 Ålesund – Famous for its fairytale-like Art Nouveau architecture and dramatic coastal scenery. It is often said to be one of the most beautiful towns in Norway and in 1998 was awarded the coveted Houens National Memorial Prize for the preservation of its unique architecture.

⛪ Stavanger – Explore cobblestone streets, vibrant culture, and the historic 12th-century Stavanger Cathedral. The city centre was the birthplace of Alexander Kielland, one of the great 19th century Norwegian novelists. (I did google his name as I hadn’t heard of him, he also has a Norwegian semi-submersible drilling rig named after him).

📩 Interested in dates and pricing? Drop a comment below or send me a DM to start planning your fjord escape! Cabins, drinks package supplements can be adjusted for travel style/budget.

✈️🍸❤️

03/09/2026

The week so far.

After a Route 66 enquiry earlier this week, I've got the real urge to hit America’s most legendary highway myself! Nothing defines the spirit of open-road adventure quite like it. 🚗🇺🇸

It’s been a busy week of enquiries and planning and putting quotes together.

🏝️ Tropical Paradise: A few enquiries for Mauritius, with Beachcomber Tours and their current 30% off sale, these Indian Ocean resorts look like an absolute dream surrounded by sparkling turquoise waters.

🚢 Cruising in Style: My first cruise enquiry, very excited about this. The customer is still deciding, it’s a tough choice between the Caribbean or the Mediterranean—both look incredible.

⛩️ Booking Confirmed! I was absolutely delighted with a booking for a fantastic multi-destination tour starting with a few days in Seoul, before heading to Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, and finishing in Osaka). It's an amazing country to explore, and with the weak Yen right now, it’s an even more incredible time to visit as your Pound stretches so much further! 🇯🇵💴

As much fun as it is crafting these exotic, bespoke getaways, remember we’re equally happy booking your classic TUI, Jet2, or EasyJet package holidays too—backed by our personal, hands-on customer service. We’re only ever a WhatsApp message or phone call away! 📱✨

Where’s next on your travel bucket list? Drop me a message and let's start planning! ✈️

01/09/2026

The week started off with an enquiry I wasn't expecting, although you never know what to expect in the travel industry.
This was someone looking for the ultimate American road trip? 🚗💨
2026 marks 100 years of Route 66, making this the perfect year to drive the legendary Mother Road! Year's ago I would have dreamt doing this on a Harley Davidson, not so sure now.
From Chicago to Santa Monica, this 2,500-mile, 8-state icon isn't a race—it’s meant to be savored. Plan for ~2 weeks (150-200 miles/day) to soak in retro diners, classic motels, and eccentric roadside stops. The route was immortilised in the powerful John Steinbeck 1939 novel, The Grapes of Wrath, when hundreds of thousands of farmers used the highway to reach California in search of work. In the book, Route 66 was called the "Mother Road".

Chicago is the traditional starting point, it's the historic gateway to the West, and you'll mostly have the sun behind you for the journey. Amid the skyscrapers of the windy City's downturn district, once you set off, you'll soon find yourself in another world.
📍 Must-See Highlights: 🚀 Wilmington, IL: The 30ft Gemini Giant, a 30 foot fiberglass astronaut holding a rocket.
⛽ Dwight, IL: Vintage 1930s Ambler’s Texaco Station, beautifully preserved.
🐳 Catoosa, OK: The cheerful Blue Whale, an 80 foot long bright blue concrete whale.
🚗 Amarillo, TX: Spray-painting Cadillac Ranch, visitors are encouraged to leave their own painted mark.
🫏 Oatman, AZ: Wild burros in a retro ghost town, where 'gunmen' stage Wild West shootouts.
🎡 Santa Monica, CA: The iconic "End of the Trail" sign!
⚠️ Pro Tip: Skip standard GPS—Route 66 is a patchwork of historic segments, not one continuous highway. We can map out original sections ahead of time and plan the ideal scenic route.
It's all about the journey and the experience, small town charm, diverse landscapes, fascinating locals and unique charactors that keep the spirit of the Mother Road alive.
Who’s adding this centennial drive to their bucket list? 👇

28/08/2026

Valencia: Spain’s third-largest city, where vibrant culture, incredible food, and sun-kissed beaches meet! 🇪🇸

If you’re looking for the ultimate city break with a coastal vibe, Valencia is a must-add to your travel list. It gives you the best of both worlds, a great city to explore and wonderful beaches to relax.

🗓️ Best Time to Visit

May, June, September & October: The sweet spot! Great weather and fewer crowds.

July & August: Peak summer—hotter and much busier.

Winter: Mild and quiet, though keep in mind some beachside spots close for the season.

🌟 Key Highlights from Our Week-Long Trip

Wandering the Old Town: Historic, charming, and extremely walkable!

City of Arts & Sciences: Home to Europe’s largest aquarium (Oceanogràfic).

Playa de la Malvarrosa: Valencia’s most famous beach—perfect for unwinding after a day of sightseeing.

We spent a week here and fell in love with the friendly locals, delicious cuisine, and relaxed vibe.

Have you ever visited Valencia, or is it on your list?

25/08/2026

Berlin: A City That Far Exceeded Expectations 🇩🇪✨

If you haven’t added Berlin to your travel list yet, I would recommend you do so. I was discussing with Jacquie some of our more memorable long weekend city breaks. Between iconic landmarks, a vibrant arts scene, and rich culture, Berlin offered a lot to be discovered.

Highlights from our weekend:

🏛️ Brandenburg Gate – Seeing this historic symbol of peace and unity in person after watching it in so many films was a true bucket-list moment.

🗼 Berlin TV Tower – Heading up to the observation deck ~200 meters above the ground gave us the most incredible panoramic views across the whole city.

🎨 East Side Gallery – Walking along this open-air gallery painted directly on surviving sections of the Berlin Wall was memorable.

🚤 Cruising the Spree – One of our absolute favorite memories was seeing the landmarks from a completely different perspective on a River Spree boat trip. I would highly recommend this.

🏛️ Cold War History – Some of the museums here truly feel like stepping back in time—a fascinating and moving history lesson.

To top it off, I even found an Irish pub called Murphy’s for a perfectly poured pint of Guinness! What more could you ask for? Jacquie stuck with her usual Gin and Tonic.

Berlin is a remarkably vibrant, multicultural city that has something for everyone.

👇 Over to you: What’s a city break you’ve taken that far exceeded your expectations? Let me know in the comments!

21/08/2026

Really, you want to fly out tomorrow morning?

Beach resorts in Turkey and Cyprus are cutting prices to attract tourists, as consumer concern over the Middle East conflict and a growing tendency for last-minute bookings combine to leave vacancies during the traditional peak season.

The delay with customers booking their holidays until closer to their intended date of travel leaves airlines, tour operators and hotels with less visibility of likely revenues during what should be the busiest weeks of the year.

Steve Witt, the co-founder of agency Not Just Travel, said he had taken on extra staff to respond to an influx of last minute reservations in August, including an unusually high volume of holidays booked less than two weeks in advance.

My own experience is the same, with very late enquiries for booking a holiday, my shortest was just two days from booking until date of travel, great fun to deal with and gives you a real adrenaline rush.

We can help you avoid any anxiety if you're feeling overwhelmed, as we have access to some great deals to find you the perfect holiday. I would love to hear from you so we can book you a great last minute deal.

📲 Get in touch: 📞 Tel/WhatsApp: 07897 790864
📧 Email: [email protected]

19/08/2026

Ready for your next getaway, we've just booked up for Marrakech and can't wait. If you're thinking of getting away, I would love to hear from you as we have some great offers.

📲 Get in touch: 📞 Tel/WhatsApp: 07897 790864

📧 Email: [email protected]

Shannon Murphy t/as Not Just Travel

15/09/2026

11/09/2026

09/09/2026

08/09/2026

03/09/2026

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