An email from Ebookers has landed in my inbox this morning, advising that the Bonus+ loyalty program is shutting down in September. It will be replaced by an all-new program called ‘One Key’ managed by Expedia, the parent company of Ebookers. For semi-budget travellers like us, the closure of Ebookers Bonus+ is a shame. It wasn’t the best program, but it did allow us to earn some loyalty benefits without having to be loyal to a specific hotel chain. Ebookers Bonus+ Closes – what now? Reading between the lines, the Ebookers website itself will probably shut down in September too, with all produ ..read more

The UK’s favourite middle class holiday camp is offering another Center Parcs discount code to American Express cardholders. This is highly unusual in the run-up to the summer holidays. A Center Parcs discount code could allow you to enjoy a view like this at the Woburn park As always, the discount is not earth-shattering. Amex card holders will receive a £75 ‘statement credit’ when they spend over £1000 on a Center Parcs break. That’s the equivalent of a 7.5% discount. The Center Parcs discount code is available to the first 10,000 American Express card holders who activate the deal from the ..read more

We have seen the Aurora Borealis a couple of times over the past few years, usually somewhere up near the Arctic Circle. Last night we were lucky enough to catch sight of the Northern Lights from our own back yard in Eastern England. And it was spectacular. Looking north westLooking north east Obviously, it is incredibly rare to see the Aurora Borealis this far south. Even more so to see this level of colour and detail. As always, Norway and Iceland offer a far greater chance of seeing the phenomenon in real life, but sometimes even the UK gets lucky. If you happen to be in the UK, you can mon ..read more

Our travel options are still quite limited so time must be filled in other ways. In my case, that’s through writing which has led to the creation of DI Carson. DI Carson is the ‘star’ of my latest novel Misadvertised, a gritty crime thriller set in London. Here’s what you need to know: ‘Yes’. A perfectly harmless message. Except for when it is written in the blood of an innocent man. In the heart-pounding thriller Misadvertised, DI Carson is thrust into a grisly murder case that sends shockwaves through London. When a young man is found brutally murdered, his head severed with an axe, DI Cars ..read more

Unusually we managed to catch both boys at home and in a good mood, so we arranged another family trip – The Illusionist escape room hosted by Escape Basildon. Because of the relatively short notice, we had to book by phone (not a problem) and pay over the phone (big problem). The escape room itself is located close to the pedestrianised city centre of Basildon opposite one of the more run-down looking buildings. Once inside however, the shop itself is fine, looking very much like any of the other games arenas we have visited over the years.  After a shortened introduction and safety brie ..read more

What’s the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day? Chocolates? Breakfast in bed? Flowers? Meal out? No. It’s a trip to Twilight Manor. As Linda’s recovery from her hip replacement operation continues apace, we decided to have a family day out to try a new escape room – Twilight Manor. Hosted by Cluetopia, this is a ‘haunted house’ style room housed in an old building down near Ipswich Marina. From the blurb: You managed to buy Twilight Manor at a fraction of its true cost. You knew it needed some work. However, you didn’t know it was HAUNTED! A local urban legend states the only way to rid the hou ..read more

Everything you need to know about catching a National Express Coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal. Can I catch a coach to Southampton Cruise Terminal? No, not directly. National Express Coaches stop at the bus station in Southampton town centre. All four cruise terminals are a short distance away on foot or by taxi ( approximately 1 mile). Which is the nearest hotel to Southampton coach station? Both the Premier Inn and the Moxy are a short walk away. Can I catch a taxi from the coach station? Without pre-booking, probably not. There is a taxi rank just out the front of the coach statio ..read more

Journey into Darkness is a travel blog. However, I am also a professional writer – I even have to work on the road sometimes. But that’s just part of having the best job in the world. In between family life, customer projects and this blog, I have also managed to complete my first ever novel, The Warsaw Gambit. It only took 45 years. From the blurb: Russia has invaded Ukraine. Europe is in chaos. NATO refuses to get involved.  Faced by overwhelming military might and dwindling support from its allies, Ukraine is about to fall. And the rest of Eastern Europe could be next.  Then ..read more

An email from British Airways this morning announces a genuinely useful change to the Executive Club frequent flyer program. From 1st April 2025 all club members will operate according to the same tier point earning period dates. Earning tier points should be rewarding – and simple. Earning tier points should be rewarding – and simple. Earning tier points should be rewarding – and simple. So what? With British Airways, frequent flyer status is earned by collecting ‘Tier Points’ (not to be confused with Avios). Tier Points are awarded based on the flights flown with British Airways and esse ..read more

Which is the nearest airport for Sunny Beach? It’s a common question asked by visitors to the Journey into Darkness blog. TLDR; it’s Burgas. Also known as Slynchev Bryag, Sunny Beach is a Magaluf-like resort on the Black Sea in Bulgaria. It is a popular destination for bargain hunters who want to enjoy nice, warm weather without the negative connotations of the Balearics or Costa Brava. Nesebar is a must-see when you visit Sunny Beach Nesebar is a must-see when you visit Sunny Beach Nesebar is a must-see when you visit Sunny Beach And because Bulgaria has retained the Lev, your holiday mon ..read more