Travel Bulletin 25th July 2014

Operators unveil theirlatest packagesto entice clients

Southern Africa

July 25 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,882 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

agent bulletinnew bookingincentives plus what'sin store for Leo?

pix miximages from theYorkshire Travel Ball

baltic statesBaltic Sea regionwelcomes new portdevelopments

9 2415 this week

egyptoperators meet demand for Brits seeking Nile cruises

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HAT'S THE WAY...Elite hosted a day out at Ascot for selected travel agents, co-sponsored by Holiday Extras, DoSomethingDifferent, Flexible Car Hire, Mark Warnerand Prestige. Pictured glammed up and ready for the races are, from the left: Suzanne Warren, Prestige Holidays; Annabel Cove and Lucy Jones,DoSomethingDifferent; Leanne Kirkwood and Michelle Robinson, JTA Travel; Lynne Kirby, Enable Holidays; Anna Mavroulakis, Greece & Cyprus Travel; MellissaTaylor, JTA Travel; Chantal Tomlinson, Flexible Car Hire; Mary Baxter, Enable Holidays; Neil Bassnett, Elite Travel Group; and Jen Neuschaffer, Mark Warner.

This Week

3newsthis week's industry develop-ments, product launches &special offers

9 agent bulletinthe latest booking incentivesplus what's in store for Leo?

11puzzle bulletinplay Su Doku for yourchance to win a £50 M&Svoucher

13pix miximages from Jetset's annualgolf day at the De VereWych Wood Park in Crewe

15pix mixthe night in pictures fromthe annual Yorkshire TravelBall in Leeds

16personality bulletinIberostar's UK & Irelandsales & promotionsmanager is in the hot seatthis week

17egyptoperators meet demand forincrease in Brits seekingNile cruises

20short breaksHoseasons reports UKgetaways remain mostpopular choice for shortbreaks

24 baltic statesBaltic Sea region welcomesnew port developments

27southern africanew regulations for childrentravelling to and from SouthAfrica

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BRITS JETTING off on a foreign holiday packaround £1,000 worth of clothes, accessories,toiletries and valuables, including jewelleryand electronic gadgets, according to newresearch by Gocompare.com TravelInsurance. However, if their luggage is lostor stolen, many could find themselveshundreds of pounds out of pocket if they'vechecked-in their baggage without firstchecking-out their travel insurance.

The company asked more than 1,350people who holiday abroad to estimate thecollective value of the items they take withthem. The survey revealed that whileholidaymakers typically travel with £967worth of possessions, many are packing farmore: 29% estimate that they take morethan £1,000 worth of possessions on holidayand 18% thought the contents of theirluggage was worth more than £1,500.

The company is warning that ifholidaymakers don't check their travelinsurance small print, they could findthemselves hundreds of pounds out ofpocket if their bags are lost or stolen.

A comparison of more than 1,000 travelinsurance policies found an enormousvariation in the cover limits available.

As examples, in terms of baggage cover,the majority of travel insurance policiesprovide cover for luggage but the overalllimit for the value of possessions varieshugely - ranging from £200 to £10,000.Typically the total cover limit for baggage is£1,500, but 7% of annual and 6% of single-trip polices don't provide any cover.

For baggage excess, depending on thepolicy you buy, the amount you will have topay towards each claim for lost or stolenbaggage is typically £50 or over - but canrange from £25 to £250. Just under aquarter (24%) of annual and 27% of single-trip policies have an excess of £100 or more.

And pay-outs for lost or stolen valuables -such as photographic equipment, electronicgadgets, computers, iPads, jewellery andwatches - are limited to between £100 and£2,500 depending on the policy bought. Thehighest amount of cover under the policiesreviewed was £2,500 for annual and £1,000for single-trip policies, but most only provide£100 to £450 worth of cover.

The company's travel spokesperson,Caroline Lloyd, said: "While travel insuranceprimarily covers the cost of unexpectedmedical treatment and repatriation if you fallill or are injured abroad, most policies alsoinclude cover for lost or stolen possessions.However, cover limits, excesses andexclusions for holiday baggage vary widelyfrom policy to policy, so it's essential thatyou read the policy terms and conditions tofind a policy with the level of cover you need- rather than just opting for the cheapest.

"When you're choosing which items topack, bear in mind that most travel insurersdon't pay-out baggage claims on a new forold basis. They make allowance for wear andtear and will only pay-out the amount theitem was worth when it was lost or stolen.And most limit the amount that they willpay-out for a single item - typically in therange of £200 to £300. Cover for valuable or‘high-risk' items, such as jewellery or small,high-value electronics - which areparticularly attractive to thieves, is alsorestricted. You usually need cover for theseitems all year round - not just when you goabroad on holiday, so they are usuallyinsured by home contents or other specialistinsurance, not travel insurance. So if you'replanning on taking valuables on holiday, itwould be wise to check your existinginsurances to make sure these items arecovered away from home and top-up yourinsurance as necessary."

Holidaymakers urged to check travel insurance policy limits


WARNER LEISURE Hotels’ LittlecoteHouse Hotel in Berkshire has seen theintroduction of seven new historicrooms and suites to its Grade 1 listedTudor property which are available forbooking now.

The new accommodation is located inthe grade II listed Stables Courtyard,which was once The Carriage House forthe historic property. They are on the firstfloor just across from the main buildingand reception. Four of the new rooms aresuites, equipped with a lounge area, andall seven of the rooms feature a 32-inchtelevision, toiletries, fluffy bathrobe andslippers, en-suite, mini-fridge, spaciousrooms and reserved parking.

Nightly rates start from £90 while athree-night break costs from £324 perperson based on an October 17 arrival

and two people sharing. It includes theSimply Dine package (Full Englishbreakfast and three-course eveningmeals).

Meanwhile, the company has unveiledplans for new additions andrefurbishments to its BodelwyddanCastle Hotel in North Wales.

New Garden Lodges will open in twostages in February 2015 and April 2015;the Mulberry Coffee Lounge will berefurbished, extended and ready to enjoythis Christmas; and a glass atrium willopen next summer.

Work on the new additions will startthis September and will see the MulberryCoffee Lounge increase its capacity from40 to 70, opening in time for winter.

The biggest development at thehistorical castle is the addition of 45 new

Garden Lodges which will be builtaround landscaped gardens completewith ponds.

Three of the blocks will be two-storeyscomprising of ten lodges in each andthree will be single storey, containing fivelodges in each. The first 20 lodges willopen in February 2015 and the remaining25 will open in April 2015.

A three-night break costs from £154based on a January 16 arrival and twopeople sharing a standard room,including the Simply Dine package.

Agents are reminded they can earn a£5 Love2Shop voucher for everysummer booking with Bourne Leisureuntil August 31. For details seewww.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call0808-141 111.

VISIT GREECE is now hosting a comprehensive Greek ferryschedule via the Greek Travel Pages – GTP – a ferryschedule portal, which can be found atwww.visitgreece.gr/en/travelling_in_greece/by_sea

All Greek islands are linked to the mainland by a varietyof vessels including high-speed ferries, hydrofoils andcatamarans, which have recently been refurbished, and thenew schedule portal searches 85 ferry companies on morethan 13,000 routes.

When searching for an itinerary on visitgreece.gr fromthe mainland to the islands, between islands, or to othermainland destinations, agents will need to enter the mostsuitable port for their clients into the search engine. As aguide, Piraeus, Rafina and Lavrio are the three Athensports – and are best for destinations in eastern Greece;

Piraeus is the biggest of the ports and is the closest toAthens, situated south west of the city centre. There are

ferry routes from here to almost every island in theeastern portion of Greece, the island of Crete, theCyclades, the Dodecanese, and much of the northern andeastern Aegean Sea.

Normal ferries, catamarans and flying dolphins departfrom Piraeus to the islands several times a day andPiraeus is connected to Athens and the airport by metro,rail links and buses. Meanwhile, the ports of Patras andKyllini on the Peloponnese or Igoumenitsa on the westcoast of mainland Greece can be chosen for sea travelbetween the mainland and Ionian islands.

The new ferry link schedule includes all the mainGreek ferry companies and search results will providedetails of all available options to the major destinations,what kind of vessel is available, how many stops thereare, whether booking is recommended, maps of theroutes and links to the ferry companies.

Warner Leisure Hotels announces new historic suites at Littlecote House Hotel

www.travelbulletin.co.ukJuly 25 20144

SUMMER SELFIES...Agents have until the end of the month to enter Funway Holidays' #FunwaySelfie contest. To apply, agents should take aselfie with the operator's new USA brochure open on the destination they would most like to visit and submit the entry via Facebook, Twitteror Instagram. Agents can post the photo on the Funway wall via Facebook or tag a twitter post @FunwayHolidays or Instagram photo@FunwayHolidays. Prizes include a free place on a fam, a luxury USA-themed hamper and a half-price fam for £75. Pictured showing agentshow it should be done are the company's sales team, from the left: Andy Travis, Gary McIntyre, Paul Mellon and Anna Barnes.

Visit Greece adds ferry schedules to website

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New brochure fromSki IndependenceSKI INDEPENDENCE hasissued its 2014/15Worldwide Collection whichfeatures more than 55 skiresorts across Canada, theUS, France, Switzerland,Austria and Japan. A rangeof ski hotels, apartments,condos and self-cateringresidences are offered andall holidays are tailor-made.For more information call0131-243 8097 or seewww.ski-i.com

Innstant Travel adds Châteaux &

Hôtels chain INNSTANT TRAVEL hasannounced the addition ofChâteaux & Hôtelscollection to its portfolio.

The collection offers agroup of individually ownedproperties ranging fromcharming boutique hotels inboth rural and city locationsto grand Chateaux Hotelswith an emphasis on classicstyle.

One of the uniquefeatures of the collectionare the various themeswhich incorporate thecharacter of their locality.As examples, seaside andocean front hotels lead in at€54, charming hotels 2kmfrom Paris start from €55,family and weekend breakscost from €55 and golfweekend breaks lead in at€89. For further information visitwww.innstanttravel.com [email protected]

MSC CRUISES has confirmeddetails of its Caribbeansailings for winter 2015/16.For the first time, the linewill offer fly/cruiseitineraries on its two ships inthe region, MSC Divina andMSC Orchestra, beginning inMiami and Barbadosrespectively.

MSC Divina will return tothe Caribbean in November2015 after a summer in theMediterranean and will offera one-off, ten-night sailingtaking in both Colombia andCosta Rica in CentralAmerica. Divina will thensettle in to its familiarpattern of two alternatingseven-night round-trips fromFlorida. At the end of the

season in April 2016 the shipwill also offer an exclusive14-night trip which includestwo days and two nights inBermuda.

Meanwhile, MSC Orchestrawill operate a longer 14-night Eastern Caribbeanoption embarking fromBarbados. The company hastaken a committed allocationof seats on British Airways’regular service to the islandto give guests the option of asimple fortnight’s packageholiday. While the companyhas operated the EasternCaribbean itinerary before,the winter 2014/15 has beenaltered to include a stop inBarbados specifically so Britscan join the ship.

Highlights for winter2014/15 include a ten-nightround-trip from Miami onDivina visiting Falmouth,Jamaica; Cartagena,Colombia; Cristobel,Panama; Puerto Limon,Costa Rica; Cozumel, Mexicoand Miami, with cruise-onlyprices from £829 per personand fly/cruise prices from£1,429. Also available is aseven-night cruise fromMiami on Divina featuring thenew ports of La Romana,Dominican Republic;Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas,USVI; and Nassau, Bahamas,with cruise-only prices from£399. See www.msccruises.co.uk or call 020-3426 3010.

MSC confirms Caribbean winter 2015/16 programme

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A SLICE OF MADEIRA...Passengers were served a slice of Madeira cake by Jet2.com earlier this monthto mark the launch of its new Madeira route from Newcastle, with fares available from £75 per personand package holidays with sister company, Jet2holidays, available from £369. Pictured ready to offerslices of cake are, from the left: the airline's cabin crew Emma Tomey, Laura Wilkinson and HelenScrymgeour, with First Officer, Will Hurford.

BRAND USA, the destinationmarketing organisation for theUnited States, has announced thatits USA Discovery Program, an onlinetraining website for the UK andIreland, will be encouraging agentmembers to vote for and decide onthe next two training modules to bedeveloped.

Voting for the new training

modules allows agents theopportunity to choose one of fiveproposed future training modules.

The options shortlisted fordevelopment are: luxury experiences,cattle/dude ranches, shoppingbreaks, national & state parks andsports and sporting events.

Registered members should voteon the Community Poll button under

the Knowledge Forum page.The new voting option follows the

introduction of the new MemberPhotos page, which enables agentsto share their snaps of the US, eitherfrom a fam trip or from a recentholiday, to inspire their colleagues tofurther discover the US. For details seewww.usadiscoveryprogram.co.uk

Brand USA lets agents decide on new module for USA Discovery Program

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THE 2015/2016 previewbrochure from escortedtours specialist, Collette,has been launched threemonths earlier than before,offering 27 high qualitytours that span the globe.

Previous years have seenthe company producingsmaller, A5 size previewbrochures in September,but the earlier timing of thenewly launched brochurereflects the growingconfidence of the company,which has seen its salesincrease by 26% in the last12 months.

Tours in the newbrochure are priced fromJanuary 2015 through toApril 2016, and the majorityoffer long-haul choices indestinations such as the US,Canada, Australia, NewZealand, China, South

America and South Africa. While agents will have to

wait until September todiscover what new tours willbe on offer from theoperator for 2015, they willbe able to start sellingseveral newly expanded andimproved itineraries thatfeature in the previewbrochure, with early bookingsavings of up to £250 perperson on offer.

For example, the NationalParks of America tour nowcomes with an option tofinish with a Denver citybreak, offering theopportunity to enjoy a fewdays in the city and fly backdirect from Denver. Theprice of the 15-day day tourstarts from £3,149 perperson.

As with all the company'sescorted tours, prices

include many meals andexcursions, high qualityaccommodation, theservices of a tour managerand free door-to-doortransfers within 100 milesof a UK departure airport.For a copy of the latestpreview brochure visitwww.trade-gate.co.uk andfor reservations call 0800-804 8701.

A NEW route from Southendto Bern will be taking offtwice daily from October 27.

The SkyWork Airlinesservice is scheduled to easilyallow business and leisuretravellers to make a swift andhassle free day – or longertrip to the capital city ofSwitzerland.

Flights will departSouthend daily at 08:15 for a10:55 arrival in Bern, with thereturn flight taking off fromBern at 18.40, arriving back inEssex at 19.30.

Southend airport's railway

station is 100 paces from theterminal building with up toeight trains per hour direct toLondon Liverpool Street in 53minutes. The airport alsopromises its customers thatthey will wait for a maximumof four minutes to go throughsecurity, and those arrivingwith hand-luggage only canexpect to travel from plane totrain in just 15 minutes of theaircraft doors opening (30minutes maximum ifcollecting luggage).

The airport's managingdirector, Roger Clements,

said: “We are delighted thatSkyWork has taken thedecision to move itsoperations from City Airportto Southend. It is the uniquecustomer servicecommitments that only weoffer, along with unrivalledonward transport links, whichhave led to this move. Welook forward to working withSkyWork and hope they arethe first of many newpartners we will bewelcoming.”For more information visitwww.flyskywork.com

SkyWork moves London service to Southend Airport


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SUPERBREAK IS offering agents a newway to make rail bookings online, whichoffers guaranteed seats at no extracost, best fare options and confirmedtrain times and routes at the time ofbooking.

The new system packages hotel andrail options together as part of the mainbooking process and the new searchcapability is flexible to use: agentsselect the hotel plus rail option, select adeparture date, departure station andapproximate departure and return traintimes. The company will thenrecommend packages showing thelowest fare rail options and its

recommended hotels based on value formoney or special offers.

The system then provides a grid thatdetails the departure times and returntimes based on the customer's journeychoice and the best value fares. Pricesoffered are per person and include thereturn rail fare and hotel stay andupgrades to First Class can be done atthis point, with confirmed seatreservations made at no extra cost.

The operator's national salesmanager, Graham Balmforth, said:“This makes things so much clearerand convenient for agents. Previouslyrail tickets were added as an add-on at

the end of a booking but now they arean integral part of the process. Agentscan find the cheapest routes forcustomers, show them clearly howprices change depending on when theytravel during the day and then confirmtheir seats and times so everything isbooked and sorted."

All major UK rail operators arefeatured with fares both into Londonand around the UK, with prices from £7per person, one-way from Birminghamto London.For more information seewww.superbreak.com/agents or call 01904-436000.

SuperBreak unveils new online rail booking system for agents

Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

@SuperBreakAfter rockingGlastonbury, The BlackKeys are heading to TheO2 as part of their 2015tour! Don't miss outhttp://bit.ly/TmynxP#tickets

@visitlondon101 things to do inLondon for teenagers: goon a ghost bus tour.#KidsLondonhttp://ow.ly/z7zjK

@ClassicHolsDeal of the Day: 4* GloriaPalace San AgustinThalasso Hotel,#GranCanaria, 7 nights,B&B dep from 8 Oct,from £649pphttp://www.classic-collection.co.uk/deal-of-the-day

@visitseychellesSeychelles Tourism tradeputs forward suggestionsto boost up the industryas their mid-yearmarketing meetingcloseshttp://buff.ly/WoLJ2n

Follow us on Twitter!http://twitter.com/

TravelBulletin

2015/16 preview launch from Collette


Call: 0844 357 7973Email: [email protected]: www.digital-trip.com

Working with Digital Trip, your travel business can operate online with all the sophistication of a big operator at a fraction of the cost, inspiring your customers with the best deals and services from around the globe.

We don’t just build your website... we give you complete control

www.digital-trip.com

We don’t just build your website... we give you complete control

September deals from PandawPANDAW RIVER Cruises is offering new sailings in theArakan region of Burma and is highlighting sailing dealson the Mekong in Vietnam this September.

A seven-night Saigon and Siem Reap cruise-onlyitinerary leads in at £833 per person including a 20%discount and no single supplement. The RV MekongPandaw sets sail on September 15 from Siem Reap andcalls at Kampong Cham, the Tonle River, Phnom Penh,Chau Doc, Sa Dec and My Tho.

Alternatively, a seven-night Chindwin Monywa –Homalin sailing costs from £1,840, including a 10% earlybooking discount, and departs on September 26 onKalay Pandaw. Departing from Monywa, ports of callinclude Phowin Taung, Mingkin, Mawlaik, Sitthaung andToungdoot before arriving into Homalin.

A seven-night Exploring Ancient Arakan cruise-onlyoption is also available and leads in at £1,840 includinga 10% early booking discount. Sailing on RV KaladanPandaw, guests depart on November 6, 2015 fromSittwe, and ports of call include Wabo, Mrauk U for anovernight stay, The Tattoo villages, Kyauktaw andreturning to Sittwe for an overnight stay.

Prices are based on two people sharing a room andinclude all tips and gratuities, dining and non-premiumdrinks. For reservations or further information seewww.pandaw.com

Newsbites● ETIHAD AIRWAYS has announced a three-year

partnership deal which will see the carrier becomethe first official airline partner of the England CricketTeams.

● ARUNDEL CASTLE in West Sussex will again welcomethe GB Theatre Company for three evenings ofalfresco Shakespeare as part of the Arundel Festivalon August 21-23.

● A NEW guided walk company has been launchedwhich promises tourists and walking enthusiasts achance to explore areas the tour buses cannot reachin and around Scotland’s capital city. EdinburghWalks places emphasis on private, guided walks thatare interesting, informative, entertaining andaffordable. For details see www.edinburghwalks.com

● THE GERMAN National Tourist Board is anticipating asignificant increase in interest in holidays to Germanyfollowing the world cup final in Brazil. The touristboard predicts that it will see up to 5.4 millionovernight stays by visitors from the UK by 2020.

● TUCAN TRAVEL has released a new 18-day grouptour through Peru. The Amazon & Andes Group Tourruns once a week and prices lead in at £1,739 perperson or £96 per day.

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COSMOS HOLIDAYS has launched its winter holidays2014/15 brochure with the new concept ‘UltimateFamily’ as well as an enhanced focus on its brand tohighlight the choice, flexibility, customer service andfinancial protection available to customers.

The ‘Ultimate Family’ properties offer outstandingfamily facilities including family rooms, suites or inter-connecting rooms, entertainment and playgrounds pluskids’ clubs and menus. The range includes more than 22hotels across eight destinations offering convenientlocations close to the resort centre or family-friendlybeaches and attractions.

Also available are a choice of ‘Family Friendly’branded properties providing a choice of facilities andvalue-for-money. Water parks either at, or near to thenewly branded family hotels are also flagged up in thebrochure.

Early bookers can take advantage of a deposit of £59per person available on bookings made before August31, as well as a range of low child prices across manydestinations.

Seven-night package prices are from £179 per personfor short-haul and £625 per person for long-haulincluding flights, accommodation and transfers.

MGM Resorts'Delano Las Vegasscheduled forSeptember opening

MGM Delano Las Vegas

Launch of 'Ultimate Family' brand for winter 2014/15 from

Cosmos Holidays


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WEBSCLUSIVES

● Agents it’s your last chance to win an iPad Mini bydevising a new slogan for the China National TouristOffice. Make your suggestion atww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Win two round-trip Condor Economy Class ticketsfrom London to Brazil, courtesy of Condor. Go towww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Win a £1,000 shopping spree at Selfridges, courtesy ofthe Lufthansa Group. Enter now atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Win a place on a fam trip to Fiji, courtesy of FijiAirways. See www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Win £75 worth of World Duty Free shopping vouchersfrom Birmingham Airport atwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

All this and more at:

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

The home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

BELMOND BREAK... Elite hosted a ‘once in a lifetime’ event on theBelmond Northern Belle earlier this month where members,board members and head office staff were treated to a day ofluxury. Pictured travelling to London are, from the left: HowardBarclay, Belmond; Nigel Armitage, Millington Travel; JackieStandridge, Spa Travel; and Laura Duncan, Elite Travel Group. Thetrip was sponsored by Belmond, Classic Collection and ITC.

MGM RESORTS International has announced that therenovation of The Hotel at Mandalay Bay into the DelanoLas Vegas is scheduled to be completed by the beginningof September.

The all suite luxury boutique hotel will have a definedseparation from Mandalay Bay, and its new design,inspired by the desert, will feature different materials,tones and textures throughout the 1,100 guestrooms.

The hotel's general manager, Matthew Chilton, said:"Our typical client will be a well travelled individual whoknow what luxury is and expect something more creativeduring their stay in Las Vegas. The hotel will feature itsown identity, offering separate social spaces andgastronomy options for guests."

Standard rooms have separate living and sleepingareas and nightly rates start from $200.For more information visit www.delanolasvegas.com


● AGENTS HAVE the chance to win a giant box ofnostalgic sweets from the decade of your choicefrom Your Car Hire. From the 50s Mini ParmaViolets, through to the Wham Bars of the 80s,relive your childhood and be transported back tothose heady days! To be entered into the draw,agents need to make at least two car hirebookings this month for any date, duration orlocation. The company has also extended its cashincentive, where agents can earn £5 for everybooking that includes the Damage Excess Waiverand £10 if it includes the Super Damage ExcessWaiver, redeemable at love2reward.com Agentscan visit www.your-carhire.com/Car_rental/offers/claim-form.htmland fill out the form, which should be submittedbefore the seventh of next month i.e. Bookingsmade in July should be submitted no later thanAugust 7.

● TRAVEL 2 is celebrating Lufthansa’s newPremium Economy launch by offering agents thechance to win an iPad Air as part of its latestcampaign. Any agent who makes a Lufthansabooking with a minimum three nights' groundarrangements by July 31 will be entered into theprize draw. The company is also giving agents thechance to earn shopping vouchers on allqualifying Australia bookings made by July 31 andagents can also win a seven-night holiday, a WII Ugames console or £100 shopping vouchers whenthey make a qualifying booking to aCommonwealth country with a minimum of threenights' stay by August 3. For details seewww.travel2.com or call 0800-022 4182.

● AGENTS WHO are members of Funway Holidays'MoneyCard, which celebrates its birthday thismonth, have the chance to win a 'Birthday Bonus'of £5 in a daily draw when they make a booking toany of the operator's US, Mexico and Caribbeandestinations by the end of this month. See www.yourmoneycard.co.uk

A PISA THE ACTION...Karen MacLeodfrom Toucan Travel Limited poses with herTipto bag in front of the leaning tower ofPisa. Agents can submit their ‘Bag YourselfA Prize’ entries by email to [email protected] by the end of this month forthe chance to win prizes.

Booking incentives

It’s in the stars…What’s in store for Leo?

FROM NOW until mid-September you are more tiedto domestic affairs - perhaps it's time to make somehouse updates or swap your living arrangements?Relationships with friends also see an improvement,while your increased energy levels and confidencesuggest you should try something new - just for you.

Lucky day: Sunday

Lucky number: 18


agentbulletin

Fam tripAGENTS CAN earn themselves a place on a fam trip to

Florida by completing SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment’s

new online training course at www.seaworldpark-

sagents.co.uk before August 15. To celebrate the 50th

anniversary of SeaWorld, the 50th agent to complete the

new online training course will also win a party for

themselves and their colleagues.

TOURISM VANCOUVER is hosting a specialist fam to

Vancouver in early October. To be eligible to register,

agents need to complete the online training programme

at www.tourismvancouver.com/vsp by August 8, and use

the promo code VAN during registration.


AVALON WATERWAYS has launchedits Asia programme for 2015featuring the Irrawaddy River inMyanmar for the first time with anewly designed Suite Ship, the‘Avalon Myanmar’ and a sister ship,the ‘Avalon Siem Reap’ which will sailthe River Mekong through Vietnam &Cambodia.

The company is offering a 15-day‘Golden Myanmar & the Irrawaddy’holiday including a ten-night cruiseon the Irrawaddy River combined witha three-night Yangon city stay. Thecruise is available on a north orsouthbound itinerary with the optionof pre/post cruise hotel stays inYangon, Bangkok or the scenic lakearea of Inle. Highlights of the newcruise include the capital city ofYangon, the ancient city of Bagan, theU Bein Bridge at Amarapura, thesights of Mandalay, Bhamo, the

religious site of Sagaing as well asthe Islands of Kyun Daw.

Prices lead in at £5,369 per person.Built by local craftsmen, both new

Suite Ships have a passengercapacity of 36 and are speciallydesigned to provide the best way ofexperiencing the unique sights andlandscapes from the river. Allstaterooms offer 245sq.ft (larger thanthe European Avalon Suite Ships) andfeature a wall-to-wall panoramicwindow measuring 14ft wide whichopens to transform the living spaceinto a large open air balcony, a largebathroom, spacious storage spaceand Comfort Collection beds.

Both smaller ships have beendesigned so that they can cruise toplaces currently not available withother cruise companies. Myanar willsail on the Upper Northern Irrawaddyand Siem Reap will be able to sail

into Ho Chi Minh City harbour.A 16-day ‘Fascinating Vietnam,

Cambodia & the Mekong’ itineraryprovides an insight into the culture,scenery and history of the area. Thetour includes two nights atInterContinental Asiana Saigon Hotelin Ho Chi Minh City, a seven-nightcruise on the River Mekong on AvalonAngkor and two nights at VictoriaAngkor Resort & Spa Hotel in SiemReap. Highlights of the cruise, whichleads in at £3,675, include Ho ChiMinh City and Siem Reap guided citysightseeing, Cu Chi Tunnels, Cai Be,Phnom Penh and the Temples ofAngkor.

Early bookers can take advantageof £600 off per couple on cruisebookings made from the Asiaprogramme before September 30.For details call 0800-668 1801 or visitwww.avaloncruises.co.uk

THE HOLIDAY Team has launched a180-page Dubai and Indian Oceanbrochure, exclusively for the traveltrade.

The major destinations featuredinclude Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ajman,Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah,Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Goa, Kerala,Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius andSeychelles.

The brochure also offers morethan 210 properties, ranging fromvalue accommodation, to complete

luxury holiday packages, as wellas guided touring products andcruises.

For multi-centre holidays, thereare 16 suggestions and more than35 day trips, which can all betailored to clients' needs.

Agents will receive 15%commission for bookings made -either online or via a dedicatedand specialised call centre, whichis open seven days a week, yearround.

The Holiday Team issues Dubai & Indian Ocean brochure with 15% agent commission

Avalon Waterways introduces new suite ships to 2015 Asia programme


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BRAVO FOR BRAVA...Agents were invited to a Costa Brava Gironaroadshow which recently visited London, Glasgow, Edinburgh andDublin to raise awareness of the Spanish region. Pictured at theLondon event are, from the left: Donata Spasciani, Odisea Charte;Miquel Calm, Girona Provincial Council; Paula Álvarez, EmpordàGolf Resort; holiday prize winner, Simon Zacconi from SteamondTravel; and Sandra Perich, Costa Brava Girona Tourist Board.

Newsbites● AITO HAS announced that it will be heading to Istanbul

for its 30th Overseas Conference in late November.● NEW RESEARCH from Gocompare.com has found that

4,479,132 European Health Insurance Cards (EHICs)expire this year and the company is urgingholidaymakers to check the expiry date on their cardbefore they travel.

● IN CELEBRATION of its 90th anniversary, the Gleneagleshotel in Scotland has signed an exclusive partnershipwith Virgin Balloon Flights to offer guests the chance toexplore the Scottish landscape from the sky.

● HOTEL INDIGO, InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG)boutique brand, and the World PhotographyOrganisation (WPO) have announced that they are toexpand their partnership across Europe, invitingphotographers to bring the local neighbourhood to lifethrough the theme of ‘Flavours of the Neighbourhood’,designed to inspire people to discover and experiencethe local destination when travelling.


puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Indian State popularly known as God's OwnCountry

Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the

3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9.Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate

to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name,

company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if

applicable to:

[email protected]

Closing date for entries is Thursday, July 30th. Solution and new puzzle will

appear next week.

The winner for 11th July is Angela Phillips, Bath Travel in

Dorset.

July 11 Solution: A=4 B=2 C=6 D=7

Number: 029

Travagrams

Across 1. Holiday parks operator (7)6. One of the Arab emirates (5)8. Sounds like a place to store data in the sky

(5)9. Currency used in 3 Down (4)10. Name of the Commonwealth Games mascot

(5)13. Kathmandu is the capital (5)14. Dame who recently broke a record with her

album of wartime songs (4)17. River border between Suffolk and Essex (5)18. Florida city and Bay (5)19. Country of more than 700 islands, The ___

(7)

Down 1. Cheeky canine with his own movie, at a

cinema near you (6)2. Popular Rhodes resort (4)3. Largest island in the Mediterranean (6)4. This city was originally Norway's capital (9)5. Andy Murray's mum, rumoured to be

appearing on Strictly (4)7. Popular Spanish city break destination (9)11. Capital of Croatia (6)12. P&O Ferries operates from Dover to this

port (6)15. Continent (4)16. Bryce Canyon National Park is located in

this state (4)

Where Am I?

Fill in the crossword to reveal the mystery location highlighted by the green squares.

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 30

Crossword

Num

ber:

029

King/queen of the airlines

This hotel brand is present among continents

Charm On

Ancient Linen Trot

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the destination & tour operator?

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Su DokuWin a £50 Love2Shop voucher in the Su Doku prize puzzle

Imag

e Cr

edit

: Jea

n-P

ierr

e D

albé

ra


NORWEGIAN IS expanding its routenetwork from Gatwick with four newdestinations to choose from this winter -Madeira and La Palma for the sun-seekers and Grenoble and Salzburg forthe ski enthusiasts.

The carrier is also increasing thenumber of weekly departures on itsroutes from Gatwick to Lanzarote, Rome

and Larnaca. From October 28 andNovember 1, respectively, sun-seekersare offered two weekly flights fromGatwick to the Portuguese island ofMadeira and one weekly flight to LaPalma in the Canary Islands. Meanwhile,clients more keen on white and powderyconditions in the Alps this winter, canfrom December 13, fly direct to Grenoble

and Salzburg once a week.Twice weekly flights to Madeira

commence on October 28, with faresfrom £39.90 one-way, while the La Palmaflight is offered weekly from November 1with fares from £45.90.

Weekly flights to Grenoble andSalzburg commence on December 13,with fares from £29.90.

OMAN AIR has made iteasier for its Sindbadmembers to claim theirmissing miles, following theintroduction of a real-time‘Missing miles claim’function on the airline’swebsite atsindbad.omanair.com

Occasionally, for a varietyof reasons, Sindbad milesdo not get registered tomembers’ accounts andmembers have to claim forthem. With the systemimprovement, members cansubmit these claims onlineand they will be processedinstantly in real-time,

Accepted claims will beupdated in member’saccount immediately. Ifclaims are rejected,members will be notified ofthe reason for the decisionstraight away.

By flying with the carrier,or any of its partner airlines,or by purchasing goods andservices from the airline'smany global partners,Sindbad members earnmiles both in the air and onthe ground, which can thenbe used for free flights,flight upgrades, raffles andpromotions. Membershiphas three tiers, starting with

Sindbad Blue membershipand progressing throughSilver to Gold membership.Each tier offers a range ofbenefits, with higher

membership status bringingexclusive lounge access,extra baggage allowance,priority check-in and otherprivileges.

Oman Air’s Sindbad programme now processes missing miles claims in real-time

New Gatwick departures & boost in frequency from Norwegian this winter


airlinebulletin

FROM AUGUST 22, Germanwings is offering a new connection fromDusseldorf to Stansted Airport. The new route will be available astwice-daily morning flights and evening flights on weekdays, andone flight on both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for the newStansted connection can be booked at www.germanwings.com

InBrief● FLYBE HAS launched a new six times weekly route to Maastrict

in the Netherlands from Southend Airport, operated by itsfranchise partner Stobart Air.

● AIR INDIA is now a member of Star Alliance.● ETIHAD AIRWAYS has launched daily services to Perth, Australia.

UK travellers can depart from either Heathrow or Manchester,connecting in Abu Dhabi to the new service, with EconomyClass fares starting from £725 return. The carrier will also launchits first service from Edinburgh in Scotland from June 8, 2015,with non-stop daily flights to its home base of Abu Dhabi. For details see www.etihad.com or call 0845-608 1225.

● MALAYSIA AIRLINES has signed an agreement with PremiumPlaza Lounge at Kuala Lumpur International Airport to offer itsEconomy class passengers transiting through the airportdiscounts of 25% off from now until the end of December 2015.

● FOLLOWING THE redesign of its swiss.com website, SWISS isfurther expanding its products and services over the next fewmonths to offer customers greater scope and flexibility. Allpassengers can now reserve their preferred seat for a feeonline in advance of their flight. A new 'Special Surprise'service will be introduced on July 29 where passengers will beable to treat a travel companion on board. The selection,which will all be available to order online will steadily expand,but will initially include a bottle of Champagne forapproximately £39, a bottle of fine red wine for around £36,and on long-haul flights, a fruit or chocolate cake forapproximately £31.



pixmixJetset held its annual golfing event on

July 10 at Wychwood Park, Cheshire. This year saw the largest field of playersand sponsors so far. Cathay Pacific were the headline sponsor, with media

sponsorship by Travel Bulletin bringing you a flavour of the day...

July 25 2014

TOP DOGS...Enjoying a snack are PhilNutall (left) from Travel Village Group andGreg Garner from Orbital Travel.

SPECIAL AGENTS...From the left are:Damien Nicholson, Cruise First; CliveBarlow, Mulberry Travel; Darren Bond,GTG; Neil Jones, Magenta; Paul Molyneux,Jetset; and Nilo Sirinivasan, Travelport.

Photos: Justine at Magenta Creative

HAVING A BLONDE MOMENT...are, Amanda

Galvin (left), Qatar Airways; Adrian Smyth,

Jetset; and Jane Hoyes, Qatar Airways. LINK(ED) ON COURSE...are, from the left: ChrisSaunders, Trailstream; Julian Bartlam, Downes andBartlam; Neil Jones, Magenta Creative; Andy Rogerson,Eshores; and Richard Fenton, Future Travel.

THE MAIN SPONSORS...are James Hancock

(left) and Jerome Cartier from Cathay

Pacific, pictured with the airline’s cabin

crew members.

HANDS FREE...Jonathan Ditte (left) fromJetset and Rob Kenton from TriangleTravel get to grips with their driving skills.

OVER THE BUUGY BLUES...are Warren Joy,JDA; and Simon Eddolls, Travel Bulletin.



LEEDS BRADFORD InternationalAirport is giving agents the chance to win their own Yorkshire goody bag. For your


pixmix

LEEDS BRADFORD International Airport is giving agents the chance to win a Yorkshire goody bag. To enter, send an emailwith your full contact details to [email protected] with the answer to the following question by August 31:How much money does Reuben's Retreat hope to raise by the end of the year? For details see www.reubensretreat.org

The annual Yorkshire Travel Ball,which is now in its second year, took place at the new venue at the Village Hotel

in south Leeds last week. Sponsors included Leeds Bradford InternationalAirport and Jet2, and agents had the chance to win a range of prizes...

THE GIFT OF GIVING...Mikeand Nicola Graham from

Reuben’s Retreat receive a£1,000 cheque for the charity

from Sandy Murray.

(29) GREECE IS THE WORD...MikeBridges from Travel Counsellors won

seven nights' self-cateringaccommodation in Greece, courtesy of

Lynne Brocklesby from Olympic Holidays.

SHOPPING GALORE...MartinHolling from Travel Empirecollected £50 in Love2Shop

vouchers from SarahRowbotham of Hoseasons.

YORKSHIRE GALS...Elle Boulonois fromMarion Owen Travel won a Yorkshirehamper courtesy of Emma Hollidayfrom Leeds Bradford International

Airport (LBIA).

RULE BRITANNIA...Gina Cassidy fromAndrew Earl Travel won two nights

on P&O Cruises' new ship Britannia.She is pictured with the line's

Jonathan Davies.

WINE AROUND...HelenWoodward from Spa Travel

picked up an Italian box of winefrom Daniele Broccoli from

Typically Italian Hols.

CHOCS AWAY...Organiser of the YorkshireTravel Ball, Sandy Murray, kindly

donated a Thorntons hamper as part ofthe prize draw, which was won by Julie

Bangham from Travel Experience/

SANDY'S SURPRISE...James Broughtonand Emma Holliday from LBIA present

Sandy Murray from Sandy’s TravelEscapes with flowers and gifts to

congratulate her on a great evening.

PAUL'S PAMPER...PaulRushby from Direct Travelcollects a spa box courtesy

of Wayne Beard from Cruise& Maritime Voyages.


The travel industry is a serious business but most people inthe industry don't take themselves too

seriously, and I've had some greatlaughs over the years

personalitybulletin


Sales & promotions manager UK & Ireland, IBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts

What's your favourite household gadget?The coffee machine - I would not functionwithout my morning cup of coffee so it'sa necessity!

What are your favourite TV programmes?Game of Thrones is fantastic and TheWalking Dead, Nashville...a bit of a mixed list. I'm also afraid to say, realityshows are a fav too...The RealHousewives programmes are veryentertaining!

What's a typical weekend for you like?Spending Saturday with my daughtersand Sunday is family day when Daddy isoff work and we always try to make themost of it by going out for the day.

What's your guilty pleasure?Reading, Reality TV and chocolate!

What do you do to relax?Go for a massage, I absolutely love them.And to read a good book.

What other companies/organisationshave you previously worked for?I have expanded the UK & Irish markets forother hotel chains, including my first role in thisfield with Hesperia Hotels.

If you could change one thing in theindustry what would it be?The travel industry is unique and I wouldn'tchange much, possibly only how easily affectedit is during tough financial times. It's very sadto see our fellow industry companies suffer.

What personal item do you have onyour desk at work?A picture of me drawn by my daughter. It's notexactly flattering but it makes me smile everytime I look at it.

What's the best thing about your job?The hotels I'm lucky enough to represent. Wehave some stunning hotels and I'm very luckyto 'have' to stay in them all the time.

What's a typical day like?After a manic morning at home with everyone

getting ready for the day (not easy with a fiveyear old and a baby!), I then either head off tothe office or jump in my car to head offsomewhere for a meeting or event whichhappens quite often.

Who has been your inspiration in the travel industry?I've been very lucky in all my roles within thetravel industry to have great bosses, so I wouldsay each one of them have inspired me,starting with Keith Pope at TUI, to the mostrecent one Luis Sanchez, commercial director atIBEROSTAR Hotels & Resorts. Luis is such apro-active, knowledgeable and focused 'jefe'who has introduced many new tools andreports to enable my colleagues and I in ourjobs, and he supports us all the way.

What was the last email you received?An email from an agent requesting a login tomake a booking for a client onwww.iberostarpro.com - always a welcomeemail to see.

What skill are you most proud of?My self motivation and dedication to my job,which is a necessity for me as I work on myown a lot and I wouldn't get anything done if Ididn't have these skills.

What do you love about the travel industry?The people. It's a serious business but mostpeople in the industry don't take themselvestoo seriously, and I've had some great laughsover the years.

Aishling McLoughlin

”

Where would you most like to visit and why?So many places to name but they includeThailand, Canada, Las Vegas andMaldives.

Do you use social media for workand play?For work I have a Facebook page for ouragents and partners and I also have aLinkedIn account which is great. For play,Facebook is enough to keep me busy!

What's your most embarrassing moment?Oh there are a few...one that springs tomind is when I fell over on a date in themiddle of Oxford St (I blame the highheels) but I now have children with thesaid date so it can't have been too bad,but I just wanted to die with theembarrassment at the time!

At home At work

At play

“



ANATOLIAN SKY is offering aselection of cruises alongthe Nile. With an early starteach day, the itineraries aimto avoid the heat of themidday sun and allow gueststhe afternoon to relax after amorning of sightseeing.

The cruises take place onthe five-star MS NilePremium, a luxury, modernriver cruiser featuring asmall pool, cocktail bar,fitness room and restaurantserving a range of regionaland international cuisine.

There are 56 standardcabins and two Ambassadorsuites with a balcony and

Jacuzzi, plus twoPresidential suites.

The operator reports thatit has seen a recent surge ofinterest in Nile cruising. Thecompany's managingdirector, Akin Koc, said:"Egypt has a unique historyand now that the politicalsituation has calmed downwe are finding that clientsare starting to return. Ofcourse, the Nile cruises andthe Valley of the Kings andValley of the Queens areproving to be the biggestdraw and we are finding thatclients are seeing thebenefit of visiting now, to

avoid the crowds and thequeues.

"As a specialist, we canalso arrange tailor-madeholidays, so if a client wantsto spend time in Luxor orAswan at either end of theircruise we can arrange thatfor them."

Prices for a seven-night

stay on MS Nile Premiumstart from £1,045 per personbased on two sharing astandard cabin. The priceincludes full boardaccommodation, flights fromGatwick and transfers.For more information visitwww.anatoliansky.co.uk orcall 0844-273 3585.

RED SEA Holidays plans to increasesummer 2015 capacity by 30-35%, addingfurther regional departures, includingBelfast, to its current 13 UK airports.

The operator's sales director, JasonHilton, said: “We’re seeing very optimisticsigns that the market will continue togrow over the coming months and we’realso increasing our programme in toLuxor and our Nile cruise options.

"Our fixed child prices, from £439 and

available on any date or duration, arealso proving incredibly popular withcustomers, especially during the schoolholidays.

"Sales are very strong over the springBank holiday next year and we’reexpecting that demand to grow,particularly with our guaranteed savingsof £100 per booking for summer 2015.”

To coincide with increased capacityplans, the company is also focusing on

increasing consumer brand awareness,with plans to roll out further regionalTV ads in September and December.The operator is also adding two newhotels, the Movenpick Resort andIberotel II Mercato, both in Sharm elSheikh to its portfolio.

Summer 2015 holidays start from£459 per person, based on two sharingfor a May 28 departure from Gatwick,including breakfast accommodation.

Red Sea Holidays boosts summer 2015 capacity by up to 35% to meet demand

egyptEXODUS IS offering a nine-night Nile cruise from £1,149 including flights from London,accommodation and most meals, with the first departure on November 15. The trip allows guests tovisit all the major sites and attractions along the Nile including the Edfu and Kom Ombo temples. To book call 0845-287 3647 or visit www.exodus.co.uk

Anatolian Sky Holidays welcomes increase in Brits seeking Nile cruises

S04 TB2507 Egypt_Layout 1 23/07/2014 14:10 Page 17

Discover Egypt offers long stay & Nile cruise option from £1,899

DISCOVER EGYPT has announced a new long stay holiday inEgypt that combines a seven-night Nile cruise, with a 21-night stay at the five-star Maritim Jolie Ville Resort in Luxor.

The price is valid for departures on November 17 and 24,January 5 and 21, 2015 and April 20 and 27, 2015, based ontwo people sharing.

Agents can offer the new long stay winter sun packagewhich includes flights from Heathrow, a seven-night fullboard cruise on the five-star Viking Princess with tenguided excursions, followed by 21 nights on a half-boardbasis at the Maritim Jolie Ville Resort, plus all transfers inresort.

The Viking Princess features 49 air-conditioned en-suitecabins that face out over the Nile. Facilities include aswimming pool, restaurant, pool bar and lounge bar.Highlights of the cruise include visiting the Valley of theKing and Queens, the Temples of Karnak and Luxor, theColossi of Memnon, Esna and Edfu, Aswan and its HighDam, as well as an optional excursion to Abu Simbel to seethe four colossal statues of Ramses II. To book or for further information call 0844-880 0462 or visitwww.discoveregypt.co.uk

Maritim Jolie Ville Resort, Luxor

ATTRACTION WORLD is offering 15% off a trip on the SeascopeSemi Submarine for adults, while children (aged three-12) go for£1. Adult prices lead in at £29 and the glass-sided vessel givesguests the opportunity to take in the delights of the Red Sea,three metres below the surface.

SOMETIMES IT’S easy to think of travel as a recentarrival, especially when compared to the history ofEgypt. However, touring holidays have been around

for quite a while. For example, on 25th January, 1869 aThomas Cook tour left London Bridge station and arrivedin Cairo ten days later.

According to Paul Smith, Thomas Cook’s companyarchivist, the group travelled to Paris by rail (crossing byboat from Newhaven to Dieppe). From Paris they travelledby rail to Brindisi, via Dijon, Chambery, Mont Cenis, Turinand Ancona, then by boat to Alexandria. That’s quite ajourney before they finally reached their cabin. I can’timagine today’s traveller putting up with that. After all,some complain if their flight has been delayed by just tenminutes.

Something else that wouldn’t be accepted today is thestandard of the Nile streamers used back then. In the firstfew tours these were very basic. Paul couldn’t confirm howthe toilets worked, but I can’t imagine that they wereanything more than a hole in the floor. Happily forpassengers, their onboard living improved once ThomasCook started its own fleet of first class tourist steamers in1886. One thing from back then I would enjoy today is theonboard entertainment. You can’t go wrong with eating,reading, chatting and playing cards. Who needs a gift shopand a disco?

The Thomas Cook archive has dozens of books, photosand brochures from these early Egyptian tours. Standardsin travel may have improved in the last 145 years, butunfortunately the quality in the associated paperwork hasfallen. For example, ‘Cook’s Handbook for Egypt, The Nileand the Desert’ warns the traveller that there may beperiods of monotony while taking a tour that lasts fromthree to five weeks, but it does advise that ‘this cannot bemore pleasurably relieved than by cheerful socialintercourse'. I wonder how far you would get today if youapproached someone and asked if they would like toparticipate in some cheerful social intercourse. Thehandbook also goes on to suggest that gentlemen shouldtravel in light tweed suits. By a happy coincidence that’salso my fashion tip for the summer.

Perhaps instead of minimal emails, travel companiesshould return to the standards set by these traveldocuments from two centuries ago. However, I doubt thatanyone would be brave enough to warn their clients thatthere may be periods of monotony during their holiday.

John travelsback in timeon a trip toCairo...

by John Guinn, holiday researcher

John Guinn runs Holiday Hut and has a weeklytravel show on internet radio station, SecklowSounds. He also contributes regularly to UK HealthRadio.

egypt



The Egyptian Experts

ABTA No.Y2507

Call today on 0845 072 2477Visit redseaholidays.co.uk/agentSubject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Lead-in price shown is based on 2 adults sharing, and is available on at least one departure date from at least one UK airport. Correct at 02 May 2014. Once sold out there is no guarantee that alternative holidays will be available at that price. Other conditions apply; see brochure for details. ATOL protected 9749. ® Red Sea Holidays logo is a registered trade mark of Red Sea Holidays UK Ltd. © 2014.

Bright here.Bright now.

All Inclusive

Award-winning holidays

4 and 5 hotels

Named accommodation

Every holiday includes 20kg luggage,

resort transfers and full rep service.

Most include free late check out, too.

Dazzling last minute deals to Egypt From

£299All

Inclusive


Shorter cruisesegments from

SilverseaSILVERSEA IS offeringshorter segment voyagesthis October on cruisesthat would normally benine days.

As an example, SilverCloud departs Istanbul onOctober 13 for a four-dayvoyage to Piraeus (Athens),Greece, with ports of callat Kavala, Thessalonikiand Volos.

The voyage offers aninsight into Greek historywith trips to some of Greek'smost famous sights.

Prices lead in at £1,360per person based on twosharing a Vista suite. For details seewww.silversea.com or call0844-251 0837.

FUNWAY HOLIDAYS isoffering 'Broom' packagesthat give soon-to-be-wedsthe chance to mark their lastnight as 'singletons'together with a mini break.

The operator's marketingmanager, Nick Talbot, said:“For many, a jointcelebration is the perfectchoice, especially forcouples with lots of sharedfriends also in couples. ABroom weekend is an idealopportunity to put the

madness of weddingpreparation on hold for awhile and create somefantastic memories togetherbefore the big day.”

'Broom' weekends see theengaged couple and theirfriends getting together tocelebrate together.

As examples, a three-nightstay at the five-star WaldorfAstoria New York includingflights with United Airlinescosts from £749 per person,based on two sharing.

A ‘Broom Blow Out’ inLas Vegas leads in at £699,based on two sharing forfive nights at the three-starRiviera Hotel, includingflights with Virgin Atlantic,a deluxe Las Vegashelicopter night ride andVIP transport. Agents cansave their clients anadditional £50 per bookingby quoting promotionalcode Trip5.For further information seewww.funway4agents.co.uk

WITH PRIME NorthernLights season just a fewmonths away, the four-starHotel Ranga, situated 80-minutes outside ofReykjavik, is opening itsdoors to an advancedastronomical observatory inIceland. Free to use forguests of the hotel, theobservatory is equipped withtwo high quality 11-inchcomputerised telescopes.

The scopes can beturned towards the stars toview detail on Jupiter, seeCassini's Division in therings of Saturn and viewdetails on the surface ofMars. In the daytime,guests can hope to seehuge clouds of plasmaemulating from the sun.Even the distant Uranusand Neptune are withinreach. If guests are unsure

of which part of the MilkyWay they’re looking at, theobservatory can offer theassistance of its residentstargazing expert, SævarHelgi, who is also happy toarrange lectures forgroups.

The four-star HotelRanga is the main base forRegent Holidays' IcelandShort Break at HotelRanga. The five-day holiday

offers the freedom toexplore all that SouthernIceland has to offer, bothon land and in the sky, andis available from £855 perperson. Prices are basedon two sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis andincludes car hire andflights with Icelandair.For more information visitregent-holidays.co.uk orcall 020-7666 1290.

Funway offers 'Broom' breaks for hen & stag parties


shortbreaks

LA CALA Resort in Malaga,Spain is offering a Family

Summer Package for €134per room, per night. The deal

includes a stay in a superiordouble room, breakfast, free

access to the thermal spaarea, free access to the kids'

mini club, parking andtransfers to and from the

beach. One child, up to theage of 12, can also stay for

free. For details see

www.lacala.com/offers/summer/summer-in-costa-del-sol

Regent Holidays offers five-day Icelandic break for £855 with car hire & flights

S05 TB2507 Short breaks_Layout 1 23/07/2014 15:24 Page 20


AGENTS BOOKING shortbreaks to London betweennow and September 11 cantake advantage of a new freedinner offer available withSuperBreak.

Clients booking twoconsecutive nights or longerat the Imperial, Bedford,

President, Royal National orTavistock hotels will receivea complimentary three-course dinner on the firstnight of their stay.

Ideal for families, up totwo children under 16 canstay for free if sharing aroom with two full paying

adults. Children alsoreceive an evening meal onthe first night but will becharged for breakfast eachday.

These hotels, which arepart of the Imperial Hotelsgroup, are three-star andprices in August start from

£107 per person for twonights at the TavistockHotel up to £126 for twonights at the ImperialHotel.For more information or to book visitwww.superbreak.com/agentsor call 01904- 436000.

Four-day Bath &The Cotswolds from £139 with

ShearingsSHEARINGS IShighlighting a selection ofshort breaks withdepartures availablebetween October and May2015.

Examples include afour-day Bath & TheCotswolds option from£139 per person, withvisits to Cheddar andBourton-on-the-Water.

The price includes half-board accommodation atthe Lansdown Grove Hotel,as well as luxury coachtravel.

Alternatively, a five-dayScottish Borders &Edinburgh itinerary leadsin at £169 and gives gueststhe chance to exploreEdinburgh and thesurrounding area, withvisits to Melrose andKelso.

The price includes fournights’ half-boardaccommodation at theWaverley Castle Hotel, aswell as two excursions andluxury coach travel.

Also being offered is afive-day Tenby &Pembrokeshire optionfrom £169, wherehighlights include visits toSt David’s, Britain’ssmallest cathedral city,and Pembroke. Half-boardaccommodation at theImperial Hotel, as well astwo excursions and luxurycoach travel are included. For more information or tobook call 0844-824 6359 orvisit www.shearings.com

GRAND UK Holidays ishighlighting festive shortbreaks in Britain whichfeature it its latest brochure– covering winter 2014/15 –featuring more than 30 newholidays.

New seasonal optionsinclude Christmas escortedcoach tours, New Yearbreaks, Turkey & Tinseltrips, Christmas marketsand themed holidays.

Ten new Christmasbreaks have been added,featuring popular resortssuch as Morecambe,Chester and Blackpool, aswell as scenic locationssuch as Somerset and Kent.They cost from £319 perperson for five days.

Five New Year options arealso available, with breaksfrom £299 for four days,departing on December 30.

One of the most popularfestive options returnsagain this year - theThursford ChristmasSpectacular, with pricesfrom £239 for four days.The tour includesexcursions to local sightssuch as the Norfolk Broadsand Norwich.

The Turkey & Tinselbreaks feature a range of‘Festive Extras’ such astrips to local Christmasmarkets on selected dates.A new itinerary featuresMold in North Wales andoffers excursions to visit

Chester Christmas marketand Manchester Christmasmarket, with five days from£249.

There are two newadditions to the range of UKand Continental Christmasmarkets escorted holidays– one coach tour and oneriver cruise.

The new coach tour is‘Christmas Markets ofNorthern France’, whichincludes Amiens, Lille andArras – and the river cruiseis ‘Cruising the RhineChristmas Markets’, whichvisits Koblenz, Rudesheimand Mainz.For details seewww.grandukholidays.comor call 01603-619933.

Festive short breaks & new options from Grand UK Holidays

shortbreaks

Three-night Malta break with Belleair Holidays from £430BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS is offering the three-star Primera Hotel from £430 per person.

The price includes direct flights from Gatwick, three nights' breakfast accommodation in abalcony room, transfers and complimentary entrance to a selected Malta attraction. The offer issubject to availability and is based on two adults sharing for a September 5 departure. For more information see www.belleair.co.uk/agents or call 0845-365 3412.

BARCELÓ'S ADULT-only, four-star Illetas Albatros Hotel, located in Illetas – 7km from the centre of Palma,offers views over the Bay of Palma and direct access to a cove below the property. On-site facilities include aspa offering a range of treatments and a large swimming pool surrounded by Balinese-style day beds. Rateslead in at €100 (approximately £80) per room, per night based on two sharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis. For details see www.barceloilletasalbatros.com

Free three-course dining offer with Imperial Hotels from SuperBreak


HOSEASONS REPORTS that UK holidayscontinue to remain the most popularchoice for short breaks, with customersnot wanting to spend masses of timetravelling to the destination.

In response to this demand, and aboom in the UK lodge holiday market,the operator has launched a range ofholidays aimed at different customerprofiles. These include AutographLodge Holidays designed for coupleslooking for romantic, boutique lodgegetaways; Go-Active Breaks, for sportyfamilies and groups of friends; DaisyDoor Cottages for those looking forcontemporary cottage retreats; andEvermore Lodge Holidays for familieslooking for a luxury break away.

The 2014 flagship collection ofLodges and Holiday Parks in the UKand Europe is the company's largest todate, with 574 locations on offer – 448 inthe UK and 126 in Europe.

This year has also seen majorexpansion across the range of thecompany's specialist collectionsincluding four new Autograph LodgeHolidays locations in Shropshire, SouthWales, Lincolnshire and the Yorkshire

Dales, bringing the total to 28. Offeringstylish and contemporary lodgeholidays, each with a private hot tub,Autograph Lodge Holidays offer thehighest standard of accommodation,location and service for couples andgroups of friends.

In addition to new lodge openings,there have been three new EvermoreLodge Holiday Collection locations inSouth Cornwall, Derbyshire andCumbria; two new Go Active locations inScotland and Cornwall, bringing the totalnumber of destinations available to 18;and two new Daisy Door Cottage StyleCollection locations in South WestScotland and North Wales.

The company's managing director,Simon Altham, said: “Our range oflodges has really caught the imaginationfor a British family getaway, and ingeneral, lodges continue to be a popularchoice for shorter breaks.

"The demand for shorter breaks hasbeen steadily increasing over the lastfew years and 2014 is no different. Inaddition to booking their longer haulholidays, we’re finding that more andmore people are looking for UK based

options for their second or third holidayor mini-break. Lodges with hot tubsseem to be especially popular for minibreaks as these elements instantlycreate a luxurious, relaxing andoverseas atmosphere to a short breakexperience close-to-home.”

The company is offering savings of upto £240 on school summer holidaysplus August Bank Holiday getawaysstarting from £299.

Meanwhile, new research conductedby the operator's parent company,Wyndham Vacation Rentals, reveals thatmore than a quarter of us now book ourholidays a month or less before goingaway. Despite being well into thesummer, the research shows that manyhaven’t finalised their holiday getaways,preferring to wait until the last minuteto get a good deal. However, while Britsmight be becoming more spontaneouswhen it comes to booking last minuteshort breaks, millions are still creaturesof habit when it comes to destination,with more than 60% surveyed sayingthey have previously visited thedestination they are planning on goingto this summer.

Hoseasons announces new range of holidays to appeal to different client profiles

shortbreaks

For information on selling Riviera Travel holidays contact the Agency Sales TeamCall: 01283 744307 or Email: [email protected]

European & Worldwide Escorted tours

Terms & Conditions. Holidays organised by and subject to the booking conditions of Riviera Travel, ABTA V4744 and ATOL 3430 protected. Price based on two people sharing a twin room. *Supplement may apply for certain regional stations/airports. Single rooms and optional insurance available at a supplement. Additional entrance costs may apply. Images used in conjunction with Riviera Travel.

Reservations open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm & Sat 9am-2pm for Travel Agents 01283 744370 For bulk brochure supplies please visit www.trade-gate.co.uk

NEW 2014/2015 BROCHURE OUT NOW

The UK’s largest overseas escorted tour operator Escorted Tours by air from only £419pp with many

regional airport departures Short breaks by Eurostar from only £259pp including

connecting rail from over 30 regional stations* Fully Bonded Typically Four-star standard No discounting Much more included - no selling of extra excursions on holiday Excellent Tour Managers Online booking at www.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents

Experience truly unique tours with perfectly balanced itineraries, all escorted by experienced Tour Managers.


Save up to 40% with Warner Leisure Hotels WARNER LEISURE Hotels is giving guests more reason to stayat one of its 13 properties throughout the UK this summer withits offer of a range of activities and additional savings onselected breaks, plus a free lunch.

Guests looking for something different this summer canbook a Star Break at Alvaston Hall Hotel on August 22 to seeopera sensation Russell Watson singing his famous hits.

Amongst the entertainment on offer, guests also have theopportunity to get involved in a selection of fun activitiesincluding the new ‘BalletBeFit- feel young’ which is for bothladies and gents and is ideal for clients looking to feelenergised. Alternatively, guests can enjoy a spot of boules atselected properties, along with Zumba, archery and winetasting.

A three-night Star Break at Alvaston Hall Hotel in Cheshirefeaturing Russell Watson costs from £399 per person onAugust 22. The price is based on two adults sharing standardaccommodation on a half-board basis. For details visit www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0808-141111.

Bike riding is a popular activity withWLH’s guests

Malta

For more details call

shortbreaks


High Atlas short break from £525with Mountain Kingdoms MOUNTAIN KINGDOMS is promoting a long weekend ofgentle walking through Marrakech and the Atlas Mountains.

The five-day 'High Atlas Short Break' is led by a qualifiedBerber guide and prices start from £525 includingtransfers, accommodation, transport, sightseeing and aMountain Kingdoms’ kit bag. All meals are also includedexcept for lunches and dinners in Marrakech.

Highlights of the trip include a night in a centrallylocated riad in Marrakech, a walking tour of the Old City,two nights in the green valley of Ouirgane and a visit to atraditional hammam.

The company is also offering a five-day 'Northern Lights& Winter Walks' option in Northern Iceland, where guestscan explore the region's scenery and geothermal wonders.Highlights include two nights in a family run wildernesslodge, complete with mini spa and private chef in theremote Troll Peninsula; walks to explore the sub-arcticscenery of icy fjords, ancient Viking farmsteads and snow-covered mountains; and visits to the Goðafoss Falls andLake Mývatn.

Prices lead in at £1,875 excluding flights, and include alocal guide, transfers, accommodation, most meals, entryto the Mývatn Nature Baths, return ferry to Hrisey Islandand a Mountain Kingdoms’ kit bag.For more information or to book seewww.mountainkingdoms.com, [email protected] or call 01453-844400.

BUTLINS IS urging agents to encourage clients to visit its resortsin August to take advantage of a range of deals, with pricesstarting from £85 per person. A selection of activities areavailable throughout summer including live entertainment fromkids' TV heroes Thomas the Tank Engine, Mike the Knight andAngelina Ballerina, along with a family pantomime, SuperslamWrestling, Titan the Robot and live shows including Blues on theMove and Freddie Live. A three-night break at Butlins Mineheadcosts from £89 per person based on an August 1 arrival and twoadults and two children sharing a silver self-catering apartment.


MAY PROVED an exciting month in the Baltic Sea regionwith the ‘royal’ inauguration of four new terminals atCopenhagen Malmö Port; and the opening of a new€9.34million cruise ship quay at the Port of Tallinn.

Copenhagen Malmö Port has built four new dedicatedcruise terminals, three in the Danish capitalCopenhagen and one in Swedish city Malmo.

At a total investment in the region of DKK600million,the expansion of the Port of Copenhagen has takenplace not only to meet future demands but also tofurther develop facilities. The pier will allow space forthree large cruise ships along a 1,100m-long and 70m-wide dedicated cruise quay. There are three terminalbuildings, each of 3,300sq.m with green roofs and eachterminal building has 1,800sq.m for passenger handlingand 1,500sq.m for luggage handling.

Just across the sea in Malmö, Sweden, a 2,400sq.mwarehouse has been converted into a cruise terminal tohandle turnaround calls from Pullmantour who havemoved “Empress” from Copenhagen to Malmö, whereMalmö Airport is also being used as the gateway forthree Boeing 747 flights.

This year, more than 323 calls on 71 different ocean

cruise vessels from 37 international shipping companieswill visit the Port of Copenhagen and the Port of Malmö.

Meanwhile, the Port of Tallinn has opened a new€9.34million cruise ship quay, which allows larger cruiseships to be docked, therefore increasing thedestination's appeal to cruise operators. The opening ofthe quay on May 17 was marked with the mooring of the330m long Royal Princess, the largest cruise vessel tohave visited Estonia so far.

Board member of Port of Tallinn, Alan Kiil, said: “Forthe Port of Tallinn, the construction of the new quay wasthe largest single investment last year and will, on theone hand, satisfy the growing demand for Tallinn as atourist destination and, on the other hand, help us meetthe needs of cruise operators that want to use largerand larger vessels.”

During the 2014 cruise season, Tallinn will welcomearound 300 vessels bringing approximately 470,000cruise tourists to the capital of Estonia. The summercruise season lasts until September 26, however, cruisetourists are also expected to visit Tallinn in October andDecember.For further information visit www.cruisebaltic.com

INSIGHT VACATIONS is highlightingits 17-day Treasures of the Balkansoption to agents.

Starting out in Budapest, guestswill enjoy a welcome dinner as theylearn about local history, beforesailing to Serbia where the firstpoint of interest along the way isPalic, followed by Novi Sad andfinally Belgrade for a two-night stay.

Departing Belgrade, the shipheads to the religious city ofSarajevo, also known as Europe’s

Jerusalem, and then on toDubrovnik, after a stop at Mostar tosee the bridge, one of Bosnia andHerzegovina’s most recognisablelandmarks.

After the two-night stay in thecoastal city, the itinerary takesguests to Montenegro, stopping offin Kotor to see the only fjord outsideof Norway, followed by a trip to theAlbanian capital of Tirana.

Other highlights include a ventureeast to Ohrid in Macedonia and visits

to Skopje, Sofia, Veliko Turnovo,Brasov and Bucharest. In Sofia alocal expert takes guests to see thesights of St Sofia church and variousother sightseeing spots.

Prices start from £3,185 perperson and include flights, 16 nights’breakfast accommodation, VIP door-to-door airport transfers,sightseeing and the services of atour director. For more information seewww.insightvacations.com

Baltic Sea region welcomes port developments including new Tallinn quay

Dubrovnik


balticstates

17-day Treasures of the Balkans option from Insight Vacations

S06 TB2507 Baltic States_Layout 1 23/07/2014 14:14 Page 24

LITHUANIA REPORTS that it has seen a boom in medicaltourism, with patients from the UK increasingly looking atexploring the destinations to rely on their healthcare. BodyBureau, a London-based facilitator and pre-assessment clinicwhich specialises in infertility treatment, health screeningand dentistry, says that healthcare visitors from the UK toLithuania have increased by 19.5% over the last two years.

Over the same period, the total number of patients visitingfrom abroad was up by 42.3%. One Vilnius-based infertilityclinic, Northway, reported a doubling of patient numbers inthe past year.

The company's director, Aaron Zukauskas, said: "Vilnius isone of the most affordable destinations, offering great valuefor money and has a lot to offer, including a beautiful OldTown and many cultural events throughout the year.

"Lithuania is rated one of the top countries in the world forthe quality of its health and hygiene. This helps make thecountry very attractive for people who want to improve theirhealth or receive quality healthcare services for a fraction ofthe price.

"Some eligible travellers can also receive NHS-fundedprivate treatment abroad thanks to the EU Cross-borderHealthcare Directive, helping them skip waiting lists at home.”

A single course of IVF in the UK can cost between £5,000 and£8,000. However, by going abroad couples can expect to payaround £2,800-£3,800, including travel and accommodation.Savings of up to 60% on dentistry, health screening and manyother healthcare services also make Lithuania an increasinglyattractive destination for medical tourism. For more information visit www.lithuania.travel/uk

balticstates


INTORUSSIA IS offering an eight-dayClassic Baltics Holiday from £555per person.

The operator reports that it hasseen a steady increase in demandfor packages over the last 12months, particularly for guidedcoach tours visiting the capital ofeach Baltic State, all of which havesomething unique to offer.

The capital of Latvia, Riga, is the

largest city in the Baltic States and themost popular for tourism with a wealthof cultural attractions and a thrivingrestaurant and bar scene. The RigaRadio and TV Tower, the tallest structurein the EU standing at 368m, offers viewsof the city from its viewing platform.

Tallinn, in Estonia, is the smallest ofthe Baltic States and is home to aplethora of museums and galleries. Amust-see is the Old Town, a UNESCO

Heritage Site with well preservedbuildings dating back to the 11thcentury.

The capital of Lithuania, Vilnius is anup and coming tourist hot spot withexcursions available to Trakai, a hugecastle built in the middle of a lake. As ayear-round destination, the Old Towncomes alive in the summer andtransforms into a crystallisedwonderland in the winter.

Eight-day Classic Baltics Holiday from £555 per person with IntoRussia

Lithuania sees increased demand for medical tourism over last two years

ESTONIAN AIR has announced that it is allowing the use ofportable electronic devices (PED) during all phases of itsflights if set in 'flight mode' or an equivalent profile, withwireless and Bluetooth functions disabled.

Portable electronic devices include smartphones, tablets, e-readers, cameras and small handheld game consoles.

The carrier's chief commercial officer, Indrek Randveer,said: "This provides more convenience for customers spendingtime on board of our flights, as use was currently prohibitedduring take-off and landing, and is our first step in a largerconcept to make flying with us more fun." For further information see www.estonian-air.com

Estonian Air allows use of portable electronic devices

REGENT HOLIDAYS’ Highlights of Estonia tour is beingescorted by one of the UK’s leading experts on thecountry, Neil Taylor, author of the Bradt Guide toEstonia. Designed with his guidance, the eight-day touruncovers the country’s historical highlights, as well asthe Estonia of today. Departing on August 27, the tourjourneys from the country’s capital, Tallinn to theuniversity town of Tartu and on to the windmill-strewnIsland of Saaremaa, before arriving in historic Haapsalu- a favourite health resort of the Russian Tsars. Prices start from £1,365 per person based on twosharing on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Flights, transfersand entrance fees are also included.For details see www.regent-holidays.co.uk or call 020-7666 1244.

Highlights of Estonia from Regent


+44 (0)207 647 1018 [email protected] botswanatourism.org.uk

indulgence with romance as standard.honeymoons on the wild side...



MOUNTAIN KINGDOMS isoffering a 17-day 'GentleWalking Namibia'itinerary which exploresNamibia’s naturalhighlights on foot.

The experience startsin the rugged TsarisMountains, beforecontinuing on to thesouthern Namib Desertwhere guests can walkthe world famous dunesat Sossusvlei. The sleepycoastal town ofSwakupmund provides achange of scenery for twodays and includes a boattrip out to the lagoon andtime at leisure, followedby the Skeleton Coastwith its seals andshipwrecks andDamaraland to trackdesert elephant andblack rhino.

Guests will also havethe opportunity toexperience further gameviewing and walkingsafaris at a privateconcession at the edge ofEtosha National Park.The park is famous for itsfloodlit waterholeoffering excellentevening sightings.

The holiday concludesat the Okonjima PrivateReserve where guestscan observe the leopardand cheetah conservationwork of the AfriCatFoundation.

The price of the tripincludes a guide, mostmeals, airport transfers,accommodation,transport, sightseeingand a kit bag.

Prices lead in at £2,695per person excludingflights and £3,795including flights.For further informationsee www.mountainkingdoms.com, [email protected] or call01453-844400.

'Gentle WalkingNamibia' option fromMountain Kingdoms

southernafrica

BELMOND IS offering guests a free 35-minute helicopter safari when they book four nights ormore at its luxury lodges in Botswana in July, August and September, including at least one nightat Belmond Eagle Island Lodge. The 'Discover Botswana with Belmond’ offer also includes asecluded picnic in the bush and a fishing excursion.To book or for more information call 0845-077 2222 or visit www.belmond.com

REAL AFRICA has added KwaZulu-Natal to its tailor-made portfolio this summer.Lodges featured include Cleopatra's Mountain Farm House, Phinda Private GameReserve, The Oyster Box in Manaar, Isandlwana and Fugitives Drift.

Meanwhile, the company reports that it still has availability on its Five Rivers safarispecial in Botswana, which is available from November to March and offers an idealway to experience the destination at a fraction of the usual cost. Accommodation is atKwando lodges throughout, and prices lead in at £3,095 for nine days which includes asafari to three diverse habitats - the Linyanti grasslands, the Linyanti wetlands andthe Moremi Reserve in the Okavango Delta. For more information call 01603-283517, email [email protected] or visit www.realafrica.co.uk

KwaZulu-Natal addition from Real Africa

S07 TB2507 Southern Africa_Layout 1 23/07/2014 14:16 Page 27

Savuti Camp introduces ‘Sleep-out’experience in the Botswana Delta

WILDERNESS SAFARIS' Savuti Camp has introduced asleep-out option for adventurous guests on outdoordecks overlooking the wildlife-rich Savute Channel inthe Okavango’s Linyanti Concession.

Situated a 20-minute drive or 45-minute boat tripaway from the camp, the two new ‘sleep-out’ decks offerguests a secluded, up-close-and-personal wildernessexperience and the opportunity of sleeping under thestars in the Okavango Delta.

The Savute Channel is a deep, clear waterway thatattracts a variety of wildlife including hippo, kudu,buffalo, waterbuck, impala, baboon and birds.

The two sleep-out decks, accommodating up to fourpeople each, will be set up complete with comfortablebeds and mosquito nets and basic ablution facilitiesnearby. A highly qualified guide will be on standby toensure guests’ safety at all times and in case they needany assistance during the night.

Accommodation comprises seven large en suitecanvas-and-thatch walk-in tents that are raised off theground and face the channel. From the thatched diningarea, a plunge pool and large viewing area with a fire pitextend outwards on raised wooden decks towards thewaters that flow past the camp. Activities include dayand night drives and nature walks with a guide.

Free phone calls with Virgin Atlantic & Virgin Mobile from South AfricaPASSENGERS TRAVELLING on Virgin Atlantic’s flights fromHeathrow to Johannesburg or Tambo International will beable to phone home for free.

In order to take the hassle out of trying to connect and finda SIM card in an unfamiliar airport, the airline has teamed upwith Virgin Mobile South Africa to provide its 300 dailypassengers landing in from Heathrow with a free VirginMobile SIM which are pre-loaded with R20.00 airtime,equivalent to a 20-minute international call to the UK, and100 MBs of data for talking, texting and internet access.

Virgin Mobile's chief operating officer, Jason Hair, said: “Weknow how important it is to connect with your loved ones whenyou land in a new country and we’re delighted to be able tooffer our passengers connecting from London and the US toJohannesburg that all-important first call home, for free.

“We’re offering Virgin customers the whole package –we’re connecting our customers literally via Virgin Atlanticflights and figuratively through Virgin Mobile airtime and dataservices the minute they land."

The Virgin Mobile international calling rate is R0.99 (5p)per minute, whereas average international roaming rates areR26.10 (£1.45) per minute. An international SMS on VirginMobile will cost R1.50, where international roaming ratescost around R9.00 (50p). Virgin Mobile International datarates cost R0.99 per MB, compared to an averageinternational roaming rate of R144.00 (£8).

Blyde River Canyon


southernafrica

TRAVEL 2 reports that it is seeing an increase in customersopting to take escorted touring trips in Southern Africa.

The company's product manager, Michael Creighton, said:“With the rate of exchange now in our favour, escortedtouring trips have become more affordable and are the bestway to see a country. They take the stress out of a self-drivetour and provide guests with a guide who accompanies thegroup throughout and provides interesting local knowledge.

"We highly recommend the 16-day Grand Tour of South

Africa. The Benjamin Boutique Hotel in Durban has recentlybeen added to this itinerary and is one of the city’s mosthistoric buildings. We also have an exclusive offer of 25%discount for selected departures in August and September.”

As an example, a 16-day Grand Tour of South Africa,including flights with KLM from Heathrow and transfers,costs from £1,799 per person.

Savings of up to £550 per couple are available as anexclusive offer and the trip departs on September 6 and 27.

Escorted touring demand on the rise for Travel 2



A NEW, five-night Northern Kruger Combo package is beingoffered by Seasons in Africa, with accommodation at two ofthe operator's five-star lodges to offer guests a 'Big Five'African safari experience.

With prices starting from ZAR 30600 (approximately£1,673) per person in a luxury suite at both properties, theNorthern Kruger Combo includes five nights accommodation(two nights at Kings Camp, two nights at The Outpost withthe fifth night in the lodge of the client's choice), air transfersfrom Johannesburg's or Tambo International to Kings Camp,air transfers from Kings Camp to Punda Maria, roadtransfers to The Outpost through the park, air transfers fromPunda Maria to Phalaborwa Airport, three meals daily andall beverages (excluding premium brands and cellar wines),plus two games drives daily together with the choice ofoptional walking safaris.

The Kings Camp Private Game Reserve is located in theTimbavati Private Nature Reserve bordering the Kruger

National Park while The Outpost is located at Pafuri in theNorthern Kruger National Park. Game drives and walkingsafaris are available in Kruger National Park.

Commenting on the new package, Ailsa Tavares, thecompany's sales manager UK & Asia, said: "The Five NightNorthern Kruger Combo is an exciting combination and sofar has gained significant interest from the trade due to theunique offering of arguably the most spectacular andremote location in South Africa, The Outpost, outstandingfor walking safaris and birding in the Northern Kruger,coupled with a Greater Kruger Reserve and camp thatnever fails to disappoint with outstanding game viewing.

"All agents need to do is add a one-way flight fromPhalaborwa to Johannesburg or onwards to their clients’other selected destination – it is the perfect base for anotherwise complex safari itinerary."To book or for further information [email protected]

ACACIA AFRICA says that while the more developedcountries including South Africa, Botswana and Namibia aresome of its best sellers, it's the up and coming destinationswhere the travel company is seeing real growth.

The operator's sales and marketing manager, ArnoDelport, said: "Southern Africa offers something for allbudgets and Zimbabwe is one of the region's rising stars.Once a major hub for the backpacking brigade, the countryis now attracting a broader array of clients including,families and first time safari goers.

"Competitive on price, Zimbabwe boasts some majorwildlife highlights including the Hwange National Park, oneof the world's last great elephant sanctuaries, and theMatobo National Park, home to significant numbers ofendangered white rhino. Likewise, the landlocked countryof Swaziland is gaining ground with many clients in searchof a more intimate game drive experience."

The company is also expecting to see increased interestfor Botswana following the Okavango Delta recentlyachieving UNESCO World Heritage status. The news istimely, as the dry season is one of the best times to view

the wildlife, the continent's last remaining wetlandwilderness, home to some of the most endangered speciesof large mammal including the lion, cheetah, painted dogand white and black rhino.

Overlanding is still one of the most affordable ways tosee Southern Africa, and the operator's 20-day Cape Dunes& Falls accommodated overland expedition, covering fourcountries including South Africa, Namibia, Botswana andZimbabwe, is ideal for first time travellers and families.Prices (excluding flights) start from £1,995 per personbased on two sharing, plus a local payment from £301 perperson including transport, accommodation, most mealsand the services of a tour leader/driver.

Alternatively, a nine-day Kruger, Swaziland & Durbansmall group safari leads in at £795 per person with nosingle supplement, plus a local payment from £71 perperson. It includes accommodation, transport, most mealsand the services of a tour leader/driver. For further information or to make a booking call 020-7706 4700, email [email protected] or visitwww.acacia-africa.com

Acacia Africa sees increased demand for trips to Zimbabwe

southernafrica

FROM OCTOBER 1, South AfricanAirways (SAA) will comply with newregulations relating to children whotravel to and from South Africa.

These new regulations were widelyknown in terms of the South AfricanImmigration Amendment Act of 2010and define children as persons underthe age of 18.

In terms of the new regulations,when parents are travelling with achild they need to produce anunabridged birth certificate that showsthe names of both parents. In caseswhere the certificate is in a languageother than English, it must beaccompanied by a sworn translationissued by a competent authority in thecountry concerned.

When a child travels with only one

parent, additional documents shouldinclude an affidavit in which the absentparent gives consent for the child totravel, a court order granting fullparental responsibilities or legalguardianship of the child, or the deathcertificate of the absent parent. Theaffidavit should be no more than threemonths old from the date of travel.

In the case of a child travelling witha person other than a parent, theunabridged birth certificate must besupplemented by affidavits from theparents or legal guardians confirmingthat the child may travel with thatperson, copies of the identitydocuments or passports of the parentsor legal guardian, and the contactdetails of the parents or legal guardian.

Similarly, a child travelling as an

unaccompanied minor would have toproduce not only the unabridged birthcertificate, but also proof of consentfrom both parents, or legal guardianand contact details, plus documentationrelating to the person receiving thechild in the republic. The latterdocumentation should include a letterstating the person’s contact details andresidential address and contact detailswhere the child will be residing, plus acopy of his or her identity document,passport or residence permit.

All documents must either beoriginal or certified as true copies of theoriginal, by a competent authority.Documents not in English must beaccompanied by a sworn translation.For more information visitwww.flysaa.com

SAA complies with new regulations for children travelling to and from South Africa

Seasons in Africa offers five-night Northern Kruger combo


Riviera highlights best-selling tour for agents to promoteRIVIERA TRAVEL reports that its South Africa itinerary is currently itsmost popular and best-selling long-haul tour.

Selected departures are available until November 2014 and thenJanuary through to November 2015, with prices leading in at £1,899 perperson for 16 days.

The fully escorted price includes scheduled flights from Heathrow;breakfast accommodation plus five other meals in three- and four-starhotels; a full day guided safari in Kruger National Park; a tour of theZulu War battlefields of Isandlwana and Rorke’s Drift; an internal flightto the ‘Garden Route’; whale-watching in Hermanus (depending onseason); a scenic drive through Swaziland; a stay in the Western Cape’sWinelands with a cellar tour and tasting at a 300-year old wine estate;visits to the Cape of Good Hope, the Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens inCape Town and Johannesburg’s Apartheid Museum; a three-night stay inCape Town; a trip to the Blyde River Canyon; the option to stay a night ina tented safari camp and experience a sunrise bushwalk; and theservices of a tour manager. For further information or to make a booking seewww.rivieratravel.co.uk/agents or call agency sales 01283-744307 or reservations on 01283-744370.

Experiential family safaris from andBeyondANDBEYOND IS offering families exciting, fun and rewarding safarisacross Africa through its WILDchild programme and, in particular a newbush & beach itinerary ‘Black Spots and Beach Balls’, which has beencreated with kids in mind.

The new South African journey starts with a four-night safari at thefamily-friendly andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge in the Phinda GameReserve, followed by a four-night beach break on the Umhlanga coastline.

Known for its abundant wildlife, The Phinda Private Game Reserveoffers the chance to see the Big Five as well as rare species includingthe elusive cheetah and more than 415 bird species. Theaccommodation offers spacious family suites and trained staff to helpchildren feel at home.

While adults take part in twice-daily game drives, nature walks andriver cruises, children are kept entertained with a variety of age-appropriate adventures including fishing trips, scavenger hunts andshortened game-drives. Following an active few days, guests journey onto discover the Umhlanga coast, staying at the Oyster Box Hotel for fournights. This scenic stretch of coastline is on KwaZulu-Natal’s GoldenMile, 20km from the port city of Durban. The Kids’ Holiday Club at TheOyster Box offers a wide range of activities for children, as well asprofessional child-minding services.

The bush-focused WILDchild programme, which is available at all thecompany’s African lodges, is offered to children as young as six and theadventure begins on arrival, when each young guest receives a backpackfilled with goodies. Activities for children are focused on the environmentand celebrate the local culture of each destination.

As an example of prices, an eight-night 'Black Spots and Beach Ballsitinerary' costs from £1,953 per adult, with children under six staying free.It includes one free night at The Oyster Box Hotel and free flights betweenJohannesburg and Phinda Private Game Reserve. Children aged betweensix and 16 pay half price.For more information visit www.andbeyond.com

We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

Who in your life hasinfluenced you the most?Publisher: Jeanette [email protected] lovely mum

Editor: Lauretta [email protected] my brother - we have always been in competition with each other!

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected], sister, mum, dad.

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected] people, but primarily my late father and currentwife of 39 years (married, not age)

Sales Director: Simon [email protected] mum

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected] mum, her genes and my upbringing

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] don't know about "influenced", but the work of SteveJobs has made my life a whole lot more convenient

Account Manager: Bill [email protected]

Account Manager: Chris [email protected] Draper from Mad Men

Account Manager: Matt [email protected] Branson

Senior Designer: Nicky [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Lee [email protected]

Production: Erica Sesay [email protected] mother

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

southernafrica

Crossword:Across: 1. PONTINS, 6. DUBAI, 8. CLOUD, 9. EURO, 10. CLYDE, 13. NEPAL, 14. VERA, 17. STOUR, 18. TAMPA, 19. BAHAMAS.

Down:1. PUDSEY, 2. IXIA, 3. SICILY, 4. TRONDHEIM, 5. JUDY, 7. BARCELONA, 11. ZAGREB, 12. CALAIS, 15. ASIA,16. UTAH.

Highlighted Word: CYPRUS

Travagrams: (top) Monarch (bottom) InterContinental

Where Am I?: Kerala

puzzlesolutions


Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd - University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London,SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Wyndeham Grange LimitedSubscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseasISSN: 0956-2419

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