Amy's blog posts

If you are heading on holiday to Croatia this year the chances are that you have started to compile a list of places that you would love to visit once you are there. My guess would be that there are certain places that are bound to make the list. For example, you have probably included Dubrovnik, the Plitvice Lakes National Park and maybe even the Elaphiti Islands. However, there is one place that I would guess probably doesn’t feature on your list and that’s the Pelješac peninsula or more specifically the town of Ston.

Unless you have been living under a rock, the chances are that you have either heard of or seen a picture of Dubrovnik. If you are currently thinking that you aren’t aware of Croatia’s most famous destination then think again!

I love Croatia. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been there. The most recent was last summer, the next time is in a couple of weeks, and the first time was my honeymoon.

The honeymoon was way back in 1999 and I’m happy to say that Kate and I are still going strong and still heading for Croatia. This year, we are heading for a stunning island called Korcula - “Cor-chew-lar” - and the staying in the hotel where we spent the first night of our honeymoon.

1. When you use an offer, you accept our terms and conditions relating to that offer (in legal terms you are deemed to have accepted them and agree to be bound by them).
2. Unless the offer states otherwise, the offer can only be applied once and is valid for single use only on one booking. Offers cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions or discounts.
3. The offer will only be available when booking directly with The Artisan Travel Company and cannot be used by customers booking indirectly through travel agencies or by customers who reach us via a third-party referral website, such as Responsible Travel. For offers listed on third party websites, please refer to their terms and conditions.
4. Bookings must be made on or before the dates specified on the applicable offer.
5. All discounts are valid on selected dates, as specified on the applicable offer.
6. All offers are subject to promotional availability, dates and accommodation. Depending on popularity or availability offers may be amended, extended or withdrawn. 
7. Offer is non-exchangeable.
8. All offers are only valid on flight-inclusive holidays.
9. There will be no cash alternative.
10. If you decide to cancel/amend your holiday and a refund is needed, it'll be for the price you actually paid, taking into account the offer or discount.
11. We can decline your booking, if we don't think the promo code or offer used is valid for the product(s) ordered, or if we reasonably suspect fraud.
12. The offer must be quoted at the time of booking and cannot be applied retrospectively to existing bookings.
13. Customer must be aged 18 or over to place a booking.
14. We can change these terms and conditions or withdraw an offer at any time, with reasonable notice.
15. Our standard booking conditions and privacy policy apply.
16. These terms and conditions are governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
17. The promoter of these offers is Artisan Travel Company: Company registration: No. 04482022. Registered office: Maling Exchange, Hoults Yard, Walker Road, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE6 1AB. ABTA No. Y6261, ATOL No. 6865, AITO No. 5180.

Current offers:

Repeat Clients – Save 5%

• Save 5% on your next holiday when you book with one of our three brands; The Aurora Zone, Artisan Travel and Activities Abroad.
• Offer is valid when used within 24 months of travel.

Refer a friend (repeat clients)

• Refer a friend to travel with any one of our three brands (The Aurora Zone, Artisan Travel and Activities Abroad) and they’ll receive £50 off their booking.
• Additionally, for every booking that quotes your name and address, you'll also receive £50 towards your next holiday.
• Offer is based on a per booking basis and only valid when used within 24 months of travel.

Free Upgrade to Funken Lodge - Worth £792 Per Couple - Summer Departures Only - Ends 31st July 2023

• Offer applies to the following trip: Summer Arctic Wilderness of Spitsbergen (Trip Code: 5212)
• Valid on departures between 01st June and 31st August 2023 only
• Free upgrade to Funken Lodge (based on two sharing a double room)
• Offer applies to bookings made between 18th April 2023 and 30th June 2023
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not later
• This offer is subject to availability
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only
• Please quote 'FUNKEN LODGE UPGRADE' at the time of booking 

Save up to £100 per person - SELECT SUMMER DEPARTURES ONLY

• Offer is based on a per booking basis
• Valid on the following summer trips: Bergen - Tromsø & Sommarøy - City & Islands Under the Midnight Sun (Trip Code 5225), Tromsø - Midnight Sun City Break (Trip Code 5224)
• Valid on July departures only
• Offer valid on bookings made up to 31 July 2023
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not later
• This offer is subject to availability
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only
• Please quote 'SUMMER2023' at the time of booking

Save up to £50 per person + 1 x Free Dinner - SELECT SUMMER DEPARTURES ONLY

• Offer is based on a per booking basis
• Valid on the following summer trips: Bergen and Flåm - City Culture and Fantastic Fjords (Trip Code 5226), Bergen - City Break and Fjord Cruise (Trip Code 5220)
• Valid on July departures only
• Offer valid on bookings made up to 31 July 2023
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not later
• This offer is subject to availability
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only
• Please quote 'DINNER50' at the time of booking

Save up to £50 per person - Gozo Activity Short Break only

• Offer is based on a per booking basis
• Valid on the following summer trip: Activity Short Break (Trip Code 553)
• Valid on July departures only
• Offer valid on bookings made up to 31 July 2023
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not later
• This offer is subject to availability
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only
• Please quote 'SUMMER2023' at the time of booking

WIN A CASE OF 12 BOTTLES OF RED OR WHITE WINE - BOOKINGS MADE FROM 18TH MAY 2023 - 31ST MAY 2023 - EXPIRED

• Offer applies to all bookings made from 18th May-31st May 2023
• Deposit must be paid
• No cash or non-alcoholic alternative
• Wine case is worth up to £115
• The winner will be announced and contacted in the first of June 2023
• Wine would be posted out to the winner by the 16th June 2023#This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only

Free Upgrade to Deluxe Room on all bookings made in April 2023 - EXPIRED

• Offer applies to the following trip: Madeira - Landscapes Forged by Fire 
• Valid on bookings made up to the 30th April 2023
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not later
• This offer is subject to availability
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only
• Please quote 'MADEIRA UPGRADE' at the time of booking 

Save £50 per person on the 11th December 2022 departure date - EXPIRED

• Offer applies to the following trip: Ranua - Tailor Made
• Valid on 11th December 2022 departure dates only
• Offer valid on bookings made after 02 November 2022
• Offer includes £50 off per person
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not later
• This offer is subject to availability
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer
• This offer applies to clients travelling from the UK only
• Please quote 'SAVE50PP' at the time of booking 

 Free UK Airport Lounge Access – Azores Holiday – AITO Newsbites - EXPIRED

• Offer applies to the following trips - A Volcanic Island Short Break (Brochure Code: 5552).
• Valid on all bookings made after 21^st March 2022.
• Offer expires Friday 8^th April 2022.
• This offer must be claimed at the time of booking and not at a later date
• Quote: 'FREE-LOUNGE-ACCESS' when booking.
• This offer is subject to availability.
• This offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.
• This offer is valid for the first 10 people to claim the offer.
• This offer provides one complimentary visit to a UK airport departure lounge for each person listed on the booking.
• This offer is valid for passengers travelling from the UK only.

Usually, when the Artisan team travel to Finnish Lapland we visit during the winter season between the end of November and the beginning of April. However, this year we were given the opportunity to travel to Finland and Norway in the month of May. Lapland in spring provides a very different type of trip to the ones that we offer in the winter months.

When I was asked to drive in Norway for the first time, it is fair to say that I was a little apprehensive! Not only because I would be driving on the other side of the road but also because I knew very little about the country either.

Despite it being May I have to say that I was surprised to be greeted in Finland by blazing sun and a nice warm temperature of 21°C! Having got off the plane it was time to jump into the hire car and start our Finnish adventure.

Growing up in Northumberland, Lauren has been lucky enough to spend much of her life enjoying the beautiful beaches on the North Eastern coast of England with her family and friends. Lauren’s love of the beach is reflected in the fact that her favourite holidays have involved exploring various beaches and coastlines around the world. 

The Arctic Circle is generally associated with winter and long, dark nights but I have always found the prospect of the Midnight Sun and the endless summer days to be alluring. It is something which is hard to understand when you come from a world that has both light and dark each day. In fact, this natural phenomenon seems so unnatural to us in the UK that it can divide opinion. I have since returned from the far north of Finland and having just experienced the Midnight Sun for myself I can honestly say that it should be on every bucket list, and don’t worry, the hotels in Finland have excellent blackout blinds!