Travel Bulletin 7th March 2014

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March 7 2014 | ISSUE NO 1,863 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

Far East

Operators promote tour launches, special itineraries & savings

this week agent bulletin 9 agent booking incentives, fam trips & training updates

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puzzle bulletin play Su Doku for your chance to win a ÂŁ50 M&S voucher

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bulletin briefing Elite Travel Group looks at recent issues that have affected holiday bookings

spain & her islands operators add new tours & special offers

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LOUNGING AROUND…The Global Travel Group agent member, Off Broadway Travel, recently won a Beachcomber competition to have Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen open its new Luxury Travel Lounge. Pictured with Laurence (centre), are, from left the agency's Claire Conroy-Oldham, Tricia Conroy-Smith and Paul Rice with The Global Travel Group’s Natalie Bennett and Joanne Briggs and Vicky Banks from Off Broadway Travel.

This Week

Cover Pictures: Main - Kyoto Tourism Council

Inset - Teide National Park

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news this week's latest product announcements & special deals

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at home with eileen

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agent bulletin

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puzzle bulletin

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bulletin briefing

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personality bulletin

find out what homeworker Eileen has been up to lately

agent booking incentives, fam trips and training updates

play Su Doku for your chance to win a £50 M&S voucher

Elite Travel Group looks at recent issues that have affected holiday bookings

Thomas Bachinger from the Vienna Tourist Board answers our quick-fire questions

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spain & her islands

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far east

this popular destination sees operators add new tours & special offers

operators promote tour launches, special itineraries & savings

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Expedia reveals the rise of the 'Bonus Break' EXPEDIA.CO.UK HAS revealed the rise of the 'Bonus Break' and is encouraging travellers to consider shorter breaks to unplug from work for better work-life balance.

Figures from the company's Travel Wellbeing Report reveal that the lines between work and leisure are increasingly blurring, with both positive and negative effects. UK holidaymakers are not only continuing to work whilst on holiday, they're increasingly looking to merge work trips with leisure time, with 35% of Brits noting they have added on a holiday to a work trip, particularly when abroad.

The operator's managing director, Andy Washington, said: "With the ever-increasing pressures of day-to-day life, people are getting creative and adding on holiday time when they can. Bonus Breaks are a great way to add a short break and briefly unplug from work without using up too much of your holiday allowance. The key is to use technology and flexible working to enhance - rather than interfere with - our holidays and much-needed time off."

The impact of holidays from work can be seen within our general attitudes toward happiness. Professor Cary Cooper, an occupational health psychologist, notes that people who are able to truly unplug from work whilst on holiday actually return to work more productive, with the vacation being central to our wellbeing.

He said: "Adding holiday to your work can be a great way to unwind and get the best of mixing business with pleasure, but adding work to your holiday can actually reduce productivity in the long run. It's important that people separate 'work' and 'me' time. We all use our devices while travelling - for many it is essential to navigating our way and sharing our experiences with friends and family at home - but simply switching your work email 'off' in settings can make it less tempting to check in. Clearly allotted moments to work and enjoy personal time when travelling will reduce stress and leave you feeling more rested."

Brits shun 'travel light' concept in favour of electronic devices NEW RESEARCH from Nokia suggests that Brits may be planning to pack more than ten million electronic devices, the equivalent weight of 20 jumbo jets, over the summer holiday.

The research, which was undertaken to support the company's first tablet, the Nokia Lumia 2520, revealed that despite the holiday ideal of ‘travelling light’, half of Brits (48%) are packing two or more electronic devices, excluding a Smartphone, when they travel. This growing dependence on numerous electronic devices forces 90% of travellers to check in their bags if they are to pack all the gadgets and clothes they feel they need, as well as all the chargers and adaptors, leaving little luggage room for other holiday essentials.

The research, which surveyed more than 4,000 US and UK adults, also found that travellers feel an overwhelming pressure to pack every device they own in order to always stay connected to work - a quarter of people admit to checking their work emails more than twice a day (25%) on holiday and one in ten take their laptops to the beach.

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newsbulletin City Cruises unveils expansion plans CITY CRUISES, which operates sightseeing tours on the Thames, has announced the introduction of two new products and extended capacity of Riverdays and Show Boat dining sails.

The news comes shortly after the company experienced its strongest year to date in 2013, with year-on-year growth of 22%.

The company is also planning a new Thames Circular Cruise and a second Thamesjet RIB, BlueLightening, following the success of BlueThunder, launched in September last year.

The Thames Circular Cruise, due to launch in April, will see a £250,000 revamp of the Eleanor Rose vessel and offers a 45-minute round trip seven times daily from Tower Pier, with prices from £13 for adults and £6.50 for children.

BlueLightening will meanwhile be available for booking from March as an identical sister product to the 315-horsepower BlueThunder. The sister vessels will operate seven days weekly throughout the summer and up to four trips daily during school holidays.

Capacity will also be increased on the Riverdays lunch and afternoon teas from three days a week to five, and evening Show Boat dining from five days to seven days a week.

For further information or to book visit www.citycruises.com

Champagne-Ardenne Tourisme commemorates Napoleonic era CHAMPAGNE-ARDENNE Tourisme is co-ordinating a programme of events throughout the year to commemorate the bicentennial of the historic campaign by Emperor Napoleon I and the Armies of the sixth Coalition, ending with the abdication of the Emperor and his subsequent exile on Elba.

The events follow in the footsteps of the leaders of the armed forces with Napoleonic Festival, Brienne-le-Château reconstructed camps and battles, exhibitions and conferences and live entertainment in towns throughout the area, including Châlons-enChampagne, Reims, Troyes, Montmirail and Brienne-le-Château.

Highlights include the Napoleonic Festival at Tinqueux, Reims (www.tinqueuxfetenapoleon.com) from April 5-6, which commemorates the bicentenary of the Battle of Reims with camps, bands, conferences, exhibitions, re-enactment and demonstrations of military strategy, parades, light and sound and two re-enactments of the Battle of Reims; the Napoleonic Festival at Brienne-le-Château (www.museenapoleon-brienne.fr) from May 17-18, which features more than 300 re-enactors at a camp, battle re-enactment of the capture of the castle of Brienne, war game demonstrations, parade, children’s games, and an evening show outlining the First and Second Empires; and the Napoleonic Festival at Montmirail from May 31-June 1, which reenacts the Battle of Montmirail-Marchais in 1814 and celebrates the ‘Campaign of France 1814’. For more information visit www.champagne-ardenne-tourism.co.uk A two-night break combining Napoleon and Champagne is available at the hotelrestaurant Le Tadorne from €158 per person. The price includes admission to the Napoleonic museum in Brienne-le-Château, a tour of a Champagne wine cellar with tasting, two dinners (excluding drinks), one Champagne aperitif and a free bottle of Champagne per couple.

For further details see www.le-tadorne.com/sejour-troyes-foret-orient.html BELGIUM BREAK....Riviera Travel ran a daily prize giveaway (Juggling Joseph’s Jadvent) for agents throughout January, with prizes ranging from an iPad and tea for two at the Ritz to £100 in High Street vouchers and a case of wine.

Pictured is the operator's agency sales manager, Joseph Grimley, with one of the prizewinners - Jen Coxall of HPB in Newmarket, Suffolk, who won Eurostar tickets to Brussels for two.

4,600-year-old step pyramid uncovered by archaeologists in southern Egypt A STEP pyramid, a few decades older than the Great Pyramid of Giza (the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World), has been uncovered by archaeologists in southern Egypt.

Although scientists were aware of the pyramid's existence, it remained buried under a thick layer of sand until a group of archaeologists started excavation works in 2010, according to a report by LiveScience.

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The step pyramid, which when built around 4,600 years ago was 13 metres (43ft) high, is now about one third of that, as the blocks it was constructed with have been pillaged throughout its centuries-long existence.

It is one of seven so-called ‘provincial’ pyramids built across central and southern Egypt by either the Pharaoh Huni (reign c. 2635-2610 BC) or Snefru (reign c. 2610-2590 BC).

These do not have internal chambers and were not intended for burial. The purpose of the constructions remains a mystery but the most likely explanation so far is that they were used as symbolic monuments scattered over Egypt as confirmation of the pharaohs' divine powers.

For more information visit www.egypt.travel and www.gotoegypt.org

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Newsbites ●

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ON THE Beach has extended its long-haul beach holiday offering by introducing a range of flights and hotels to Thailand and Florida and increasing the number of flights and hotels it offers in Dubai. The company will be working with new GDS partner Travelport to provide access to more than 48,000 flights across the three destinations.

THE ISRAEL Ministry of Tourism has launched an interactive video offering potential visitors 72 touring itineraries to Israel. Viewers can choose a virtual tour tailored to individual tastes and can select from three characters who will lead them through places in Israel that best suit their personalities. The video can be downloaded via the app store for iPod and iPhones under the name ‘Intour il’ or viewed at www.goisrael.com/intouril DOLPHIN DYNAMICS has opened an office in Sydney to accelerate its international expansion following its strategic partnership with Amadeus in Australia and New Zealand last year.

THE GRENADA Ministry of Tourism has unveiled its new branding in a move aimed at repositioning the country as a major tourist destination. The ministry has introduced a ‘Pure Grenada’ tag-line, emphasising the off-the-beaten-track nature of the destination, plus a new logo aiming to reflect the island’s Amerindian roots.

VIENNA HAS been named the world’s ‘most liveable city’ for the fifth time in a row by international consultants Mercer.

INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES Group (IAG) has renewed its full content agreements for British Airways and Iberia with Travelport.

Fly direct to Malta, 4+ Hotel

7 Nights BB from £379 MALTA SPECIALISTS: KIDS GO FREE for summer 2014 UNMATCHED range of accommodation: from Luxury 5+ hotels to rustic farmhouses 19 UK DEPARTURE AIRPORTS for summer 2014 OVER 40 YEARS experience providing holidays to Malta, Gozo & Comino

CBeebies star to unveil new toddler’s playground at Leeds Castle ON SATURDAY March 15, BAFTA-nominated BBC presenter and star of CBeebies ‘Andy’s Wild Adventures’, Andy Day, will reopen Leeds Castle’s toddlers’ playground.

The attraction, which features climbing turrets, zip lines, swings, slides, an undercover sandpit and a dungeon, has had a ‘medieval makeover’ and has been designed for children under the age of seven in mind.

The official opening offers families the chance to meet Andy in person, see the new name for the playground unveiled and join in with a host of free activities including face-painting, storytelling and wildlife walks.

The event starts at 12:00, with chances to have photos taken with Andy followed by a falconry display at 14:00.

The event is included in the price of an annual Key to the Castle ticket. Tickets cost £21 for adults; £18.50 for seniors and visitors with disabilities (carer goes free); and £13.50 for children (under-fours go free).

Tickets are valid for 12 months meaning that guests can pay once and visit year-round.

Leeds Castle is located near Maidstone in Kent just off Junction 8 of the M20. Grounds open at 10:00 daily and the castle is open from 10:30. The last admission is 15:00 and gates close at 17:00 (October-March).

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To book, call reservations

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newsbulletin Tweets of the Week Who’s saying what on Twitter... @UKAndyHarmer In our new Resources Centre you will find our new Family Cruise Report and our new River Cruise Bulletin: http://ow.ly/tFAU8 @VisitBritain Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms including: a cinema, swimming pool, police station and even a post office! http://bit.ly/WjsVyz @Shearings 18 Reasons Coaches are a Wonderful Way to #Travel - http://s.shr.lc/1gZlCVg @OnTheBeachUK Get 40% off the 4* Falcon Naama Star in #SharmElSheikh this March and April. http://goo.gl/Wmr0Yi @SunvilTeam Summer of fun in the #Faroes - a look at some of the summer festivals to be enjoyed in the Faroe Islands http://fb.me/6IC0NwawD @AirFranceUK Planning a special trip to Paris? £49 Paris trips: http://bit.ly/1buY99M

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Orient-Express Hotels launches new brand ORIENT-EXPRESS Hotels has announced that it will market its collection under a new brand, Belmond, from March 10.

The launch of the brand is expected to heighten awareness of the company’s collection of hotels, trains, safaris and river cruises amongst existing and potential new guests by making it easier to recognise, navigate and explore.

A new website will also be unveiled on March 10 at www.belmond.com

PRINCE OF FLIGHTS…Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield has announced the launch of two new routes with LinksAir. The carrier is set to base an aircraft at the airport and will launch new routes to Belfast City and the Isle of Man. The 70-minute Belfast flights, which start on April 7, lead in at £64 and include all taxes and airport charges, hold baggage of up to 15kg, fast-track security access, seat assignment and on-board products. The Isle of Man service will commence on April 14. Pictured celebrating the new routes are the airport's Chris Harcombe (left) and Roger Hage from LinksAir. For details call 0844-800 2411 or visit www.linksair.co.uk

Iru Fushi Beach & Spa rebrands as The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi IRU FUSHI Beach & Spa Resort in the Maldives has rebranded as The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives.

The property is the premier brand of Sun Siyam Resorts that also includes the boutique ‘Beach House Collection’ and the ‘Sun Ray’ brands, together with five further luxury resort openings planned, across three countries, in the next few years.

The resort offers 221 luxury ocean-front villas, including 70 over-water bungalows, 11 bar and restaurant choices, a 20-room tropical spa, plus a range of activities and local explorations.

All ‘Villa’ guests can now personally tailor their accommodation with the introduction of pillow and fragrance menus, while ‘Retreat’ accommodation guests receive a foot massage on arrival and a 24-hour butler service.

The resort has also launched 22 new Deluxe Beach Villas with private pools, while the food and beverage menus have

The Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Maldives

seen the introduction of new dining experiences that include an ice-cream parlour and ‘destination dining’ options.

The Experience Travel Group is offering seven nights at the property from £1,800 per person based on two people sharing a Beach Villa on a bed-and breakfast-basis. Flights with Qatar from Heathrow and seaplane transfers are also included, based on travel from May until September. The price also includes a stay for seven nights, pay for five deal running up until December 23.

For more information see www.thesunsiyam.com/irufushi

Hurtigruten boosts Norwegian experiences for winter 2014/15 HURTIGRUTEN’S NEW Norway brochure for winter 2014/15 has launched with a focus on giving customers more ‘authentic’ experiences including snow cabins, a new whale safari and an astronomy tour.

Voyages start from £811 per person for a six-day Classic Voyage South, departing in November or December, when travelling in an inside cabin on a full-board basis. Flights and transfers can be added for an additional cost.

For clients looking to visit the Snow Hotel in Kirkenes, there is now the choice of staying inside the hotel itself or in one of the new ‘Gamme’ snow-cabins. The wooden cabins are based at the hotel but offer contemporary style accommodation with en-suite facilities. Prices lead in at

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£198 per person including dinner and breakfast, based on two sharing.

Guests who want to get up close to whales can embark on an Arctic whale-watching voyage as they journey to a feeding ground off the coast of Troms county. The trip is available in November and December and costs from £159 per person.

Meanwhile, an extra Astronomy Voyage has been added, with six dates available in winter. The 12-day voyages offer a series of lectures and a guided tour of the night sky. Prices start from £1,666 based on a November 20 departure from London with transfers and two sharing an inside cabin.

For details call 0208-846 2666 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk/agents

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newsbulletin April deals from Belleair Holidays

e m o h At en...

e l i E with

ileen orker E w e m o as h th?

What h p to this mon u n e be

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HERE SEEMS to be so many trade events taking place at the moment and hardly a day goes by without some invitation arriving in my inbox. It’s impossible to go to all of them but I do try to go to a range of different events as they are always informative and enjoyable.

I recently attended an Orient Express evening event at the RAC Club in London. Unfortunately, the event coincided with the London Tube strike which resulted in a number of cancellations due to the anticipated problems of getting to the venue.

It didn’t put me off though and I headed up to London as planned. As expected, getting across town wasn’t easy and the traffic was horrendous. I sat on a crowded bus for nearly 2 hours for a journey that should have taken about 25 minutes.

Organisers invest a lot of their time and money putting on these events and it must be really disappointing when people don’t turn up, for whatever reason. As we arrived, the organisers thanked us all for making the effort to get there. They said they had real concerns that nobody would turn up but fortunately despite some last minute “no-shows” there was a really good turn-out and the evening was a great success.

It was an informal evening with drinks and canapés provided and it offered a great opportunity to find out more about not only the Orient Express luxury train journeys but also their range of top-quality hotels throughout the world, many of which are in the most amazing locations.

I had a very enjoyable evening despite the difficulty getting there and I was very glad I made the effort to go.

Having heard no mention at the event, it was a big surprise this week to hear the announcement that Orient Express Hotels is discarding its iconic - albeit licenced brand name and that from March 10th everything apart from the “Venice-Simplon Orient Express” will be rebranded to Belmond (which means “beautiful world” in Latin).

I don’t know about you but the new name just doesn’t seem have the same cachet as “Orient Express”, does it?

BELLEAIR HOLIDAYS is offering a selection of special deals for April holidays, including exclusive deals at the Topaz Hotel.

Situated in the Northern part of the island in St. Paul’s Bay, the hotel is located in the seaside resort of Bugibba and is less than ten minutes’ walk from the seafront promenade.

With an average temperature of 18°C and Easter celebrations, April is an ideal time to visit Malta. In addition, visitors can spectate and in some cases join in at The Festa Frawli; the Annual Strawberry Festival; The Eco Gozo 55K Trail (run and bike); The Gozo Half Marathon; The 21st International Age Group Swimming Meeting; The Malta International Fireworks Festival; live stage adaptations; and music festivals.

Example packages include seven nights’ breakfast accommodation at the three-star Topaz Hotel from £415 per person. It includes flights from Heathrow, accommodation in a standard room, transfers and complimentary entrance to a selected Malta attraction. The offer, which is based on two adults sharing, is valid for travel on April 22. For the same holiday departing on May 6, prices lead in at £395 per person.

Alternatively, seven nights’ breakfast accommodation at the five-star Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa costs from £679 per person. The price includes flights from Edinburgh, accommodation in a deluxe room, transfers and complimentary entrance to a selected Malta attraction. The offer is based on two adults sharing and is valid for travel on April 1.

For further information or to book call 0845-365 3412 or visit www.belleair.co.uk/agents

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by EILEEN SAUNDERS of Travel Counsellors To respond to any of Eileen’s comments email jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk

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agentbulletin Booking incentives ●

BOOKINGS FOR Regent Seven Seas Cruises' new 2015 Summer-Autumn collection are now open and to mark the launch the cruise line is offering a new booking incentive.

Agents who make a booking on any sailing from the line's new 2015 Summer-Autumn Collection will be entered into a prize draw to win a luxury meal for two at a Michelin-star restaurant (worth £130), near to where they live. Celebrating the 2015 launch, 15 agents will be drawn at random following the closing date, which is March 15.

To make a booking call 02380-682280 or visit www.rssc.com

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AGENTS BOOKING any holiday with Cosmos Tours & Cruises or river cruise with Avalon Waterways before March 16 can earn a £50 Love2Shop voucher. To claim for Cosmos bookings, email the reference and your details to agencysales@cosmos.co.uk and email bookings Avalon for agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk.

Avalon’s 2015 range of deluxe river cruises are on sale now with up to £1,400 off per couple on bookings made before April 23.

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ATTRACTION WORLD is offering a £5 Love2Shop voucher to agents making a Blue Man Group Orlando booking for a minimum of two people by March 31.

To claim, email the booking reference to bmg@attractionworld.com

Training updates

SATOA IS hosting a Tour Operato r Dinner on March 18 in Brighton and a Travel Age nt Dinner on March 27 in Solihull.

For details call 0844-880 2421 or email info@satoa.com AGENTS TAKING part in one of Affordable Car Hire’s webinars this month hav e the chance to win a chocolate hamper. The com pany is holding 14 one-hour-long webinars betwee n now and March 19 which cover a range of top ics, from up-selling and selling optional extras to overcoming obstacles with local supplier charges and becoming a US car hire expert. Agents joining the webinars will be automatically entered into the prize draw.

For details visit the agents’ sec tion at www.affordablecarhire.com

Fancy a fam?

AGENTS CAN win a place on a fam trip to Thailand as well as one of four beauty vouchers worth £200 as part of Travel 2’s ‘Beauty and the Beach: Thailand and Beyond’ campaign. The operator has teamed up with Tourism Authority of Thailand, Centara Hotels and Resorts, Dusit International, Outrigger Hotels and Resorts, Sala Resorts, EVA Air and Bangkok Airways to highlight the range of attractions and experiences available for customers visiting Thailand including elephant trekking, ancient temples, white beaches and offshore islands.

To be entered into the prize draw, agents need to make a booking to Thailand by March 31 including flights with either EVA Air or Bangkok Airways and five days’ ground arrangements with the operator.

To receive two entries into the draws the booking must include any of the campaign partners.

For details visit www.travel2.com

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BEACH BABE....Pictured is Emma O'Donovan of the Gloucester brand of Co-operative Travel on Miami Beach with her Tipto bag. Tipto’s competition encourages entrants to submit a picture of themselves holding their Tipto bag in a glamorous, weird and wonderful location to win a range of prizes. The competition runs until the end of July and pictures can be sent to tipto@thenetwork-uk .com March 7 2014

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newsbulletin Avalon Waterways launches 2015 preview brochure and agent booking incentive AVALON WATERWAYS has launched its 2015 preview brochure with the announcement of two new suite ships, new cruises, savings of up to £1,400 per couple plus an agents’ booking incentive of £50 Love2Shop vouchers.

Due for delivery in spring 2015, the two new suite ships, Avalon Tapestry II and Avalon Tranquility II, will bring the total in the fleet to ten as well as introducing river cruising to France for the first time.

With demand for themed holidays on the increase, the cruise line has also expanded the choice of departures for 2015 which combine an interest or hobby with discovering new destinations along Europe’s rivers. Examples include a special Author’s Cruise (August 9) priced from £2,255 per person and an Opera Cruise (July 15) from £2,235, both

available on the nine-day ‘Blue Danube Discovery.’

Agents will be able to secure the lowest prices for customers with a series of early booking offers including savings of up to £1,400 per couple and a half price deposit of £150 per person. The savings include £300 per person on all 2015 cruises, an additional £300 per person on selected dates and £100 per person on stateroom upgrades.

All offers are available on bookings made before April 23 and prices lead in at £1,105 for an eight-day A Taste of the Danube.

Agents booking any cruise for 2014/15 before March 16 will be eligible for £50 Love2Shop vouchers by emailing the booking reference to agencysales@avaloncruises.co.uk within seven days of the booking deadline.

Haven announces launch of Segway tours at two parks from £15 HAVEN HAS announced that it is launching sunset Segway tours at its flagship holiday parks in England and Wales – Devon Cliffs and Hafan y Mor respectively.

The new tours are for groups of five people (aged 14 years and above) accompanied by an instructor and each session lasts 45 minutes.

At Devon Cliffs guests will take a tour of the Sandy Bay beach whilst at Hafan y Mor guests will take a tour of the company's new adventure trail which will take them along a path out to the

coast. The tours cost £15 per person or can be paid for with two activity passes.

A three-night break at Devon Cliffs costs from £112 per family based on up to six sharing a standard two-bedroom caravan arriving on March 28.

Meanwhile, the company is offering four-night breaks this spring from £69 based on a family of four sharing a standard two-bedroom caravan for four nights on selected dates from March 17 to May 19, subject to availability.

For more information see www.bourneleisuresales.co.uk or call 0871-230 1919.

Bahamas promotes twin-centre breaks

SPAIN'S LA Manga Club will host a 'Perfect Health Weekend' from March 28-30, with two-night packages starting from €257 per person.

Run by a team of experts from the Chopra Center in California, the three-day programme offers a combination of meditative techniques and lectures and will include a number of presentations designed to give participants knowledge that they can use to lead healthier lives.

For details email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com

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THE BAHAMAS Tourist Office is encouraging tourists to combine breaks to the US with a trip to the Bahamas.

Nassau, the capital of the islands, is a 50-minute flight from Miami and 90 minutes from Orlando, so the Bahamas is an ideal destination to visit following a trip to Disney World.

With a range of spa treatments, beaches and duty-free shopping available in the Bahamas, guests can stay at a number of resorts, including the Atlantis Paradise Island, which features a waterpark.

Alternatively, guests can have their own private hideaway on one of the Out Islands. Travelling direct from Florida, they will have a choice of commercial or private flights or, to see more along the way, they will be able to cross the Gulf Stream by boat.

Examples of twin-centre breaks include a ten-night trip to Miami and the Bahamas from Funway, staying at the fourstar Sonesta Bayfront Hotel Coconut Grove in Miami for three nights and then the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island in the Bahamas for seven nights. Prices lead in at £1,899 per person based on a September 13 departure.

Alternatively, for those wanting to combine their trip to the Bahamas with a visit to New York, the operator offers three nights at the four-star W New York followed by seven nights at the Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island. The ten-night break costs from £2,089 per person and is based on a November 21 departure. Both prices include flights with American Airlines. For more information or to book call 0844-557 0626.

For further details on twin-centre holidays to the Bahamas call the tourist office on 020-7355 0800.

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puzzlebulletin Travagrams

Su Doku Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle

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

Number: 009

Teary Pig

A➠

B➠ Visit the pyramids with this flagship carrier

C➠

Ant Oar

D➠ 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: competition@travelbulletin.co.uk Closing date for entries is Thursday, February 13th. Solution and new puzzle will appear next week.

The winner for 21st February is Virgina Hunt, Premier Travel in Haywards Heath.

February 21 Solution: A=1 B=3 C=5 D=8

Crossword

The last four letters of this dried fruit’s name match those of this hotel chain

Where Am I?

Squared cake in Germany?

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

Number: 009

Across 1. Major American airline (5) 3. Puppet often found at the seaside, sounds alcoholic (5) 5. East African capital city (7) 7. Dangerous current (3) 9. City and province in Tuscany (6) 10. Denpasar is the capital of this island (4) 12. West African country (4) 14. Mobile computer, sounds medicinal (6) 17. Scenic East Sussex town and Cinque Port (3) 18. Birds of a Feather actress, ___ Quirke (7) 19. Jordan Holidays can take you to this Lost City (5) 20. Capital of Antiqua and Barbuda, St. ___ (4,'1)

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Down 1. Louis of One Direction recently played for this town's football team (9) 2. French river and valley (5) 3. Co-presenter of Location, Location, Location (4) 4. Costa del Sol resort, known for its Balcon de Europa (5) 6. Popular Greek aperitif (4) 8. Hosted by Alexander Armstrong, this game show sounds futile (9) 11. Capital of Azerbaijan (4) 13. Historic Flemish city (5) 15. HMY Britannia is berthed here (5) 16. Capital of Samoa (4)

For the solution to the Crossword, Where Am I? and Travagrams, please see page 22 March 7 2014

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newsbulletin El Gouna announces plans to become first carbon-neutral city in Africa EGYPT’S RED Sea city, El Gouna, has its sights on becoming the first carbonneutral city in Africa.

The Egyptian Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs is devising a strategy to transform the city into a carbon-neutral area. Once achieved, El Gouna will officially be the first carbon-neutral city in Africa and one of the leading carbon-neutral cities in the world.

The project has been devised to stimulate Egypt’s tourism industry and make an impression on a wider international audience. It will also strengthen the Egyptian government's efforts to develop the environment and tourism sectors, and will have significant advantages for Egypt in protecting the environment and promoting tourism at local, regional and international levels by incorporating the new transition to renewable energy.

El Gouna is already recognised as Egypt's most environmentallyfriendly holiday destination. The city’s management has worked hard in cooperation with local hotels, businesses, residents and visitors to maintain, protect, and preserve its unique environment. The town’s environmental programmes and grassroots environmental organisation paved the way for several awards including the Green Globe and Travelife, leading to El Gouna’s selection as the pilot location for the Green Star Hotel Programme (GSHP).

For more information visit www.elgouna.com

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GREAT RAIL Journeys has introduced a new 14-day tour of the Calabria region of Italy. The ‘Beauty of Calabria’ itinerary costs from £2,195 per person and includes First Class rail travel, 13 nights' breakfast accommodation in a hotel, nine dinners, two rustic ‘agruturisimo’ lunches, guided tours of Rome and Tropea, an excursion to Gerace and Stilo, an evening volcano-watching cruise to Stromboli, an excursion to Serra San Bruno and Pizzo including a guided tour of Pizzo Castle and the Church of Piedigrotta, a rail excursion to Scilla including a tour of the castle and cathedral, a guided walking tour of the castle and cathedral, a guided walking tour of Bologna, all transfers, porterage for certain sections of the tour and a tour manager.

For details call 01904-521980 or visit www.greatrail.com

Saint Lucia Tourist Board highlights 'one night free' promotion THE SAINT Lucia Tourist Board is launching a new promotion offering an additional night free for holidays booked this month.

The offer, set up to encourage holidaymakers to experience more of the island, is in conjunction with 25 hotels, 22 tour operators (including Kuoni, Caribtours, Hayes & Jarvis, Virgin Holidays, ITC Classics and Abercrombie & Kent) and a selection of airlines.

The tourist board's director of marketing,

Jean-Marc Flambert, said: "There are a huge range of activities and attractions as well as stunning scenery and palm fringed beaches to enjoy in Saint Lucia. By offering an additional, complimentary night we can extend the time holidaymakers spend on the island to really add value to their stay."

Bookings must be made in March for travel in the months of May, June, September and October.

For more information visit www.stlucia.org

Fred.\ launches first stand-alone river cruise brochure FRED.\ HAS launched its first stand-alone river cruise brochure and to mark the launch the operator is giving agents a £20 Marks & Spencer voucher with each booking made.

Since its establishment last April, the operator has acted as general sales agent (GSA) for the five-star MS Mozart river cruise ship which operates on the River Danube. Five other European rivers are also featured the Rhine, Moselle, Seine, Douro and the Volga. Overall, there are a total of 11 river cruise itineraries and all products can be packaged together with air and tailormade ground and city break products.

Brochure prices lead in at £1,065 per person for a seven-night 'The Tulip Cruise' on the Rhine. It includes flights, transfers, seven nights’ full board deluxe cruise accommodation, drinks with dinner, a cocktail reception, welcome dinner, captain’s gala dinner, daily entertainment, taxes and tour audio system for shore excursions.

For more information call 0808-159 5256 or visit www.fredrivercruises.co.uk

March 7 2014

Budapest

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bulletinbriefing

Industry Insight by...

Neil Basnett, chief executive of Elite Travel Group, examines recent issues affecting holiday bookings NTO MARCH already and the indications are that there has been a good early booking season, which bodes well for 2014. Although bookings made in February seem to have slowed, January for many turned out to be one of the busiest trading months and much of the doom and gloom that has been prevalent in the travel industry over the last few years has dissipated.

There appears to be more of a feel-good factor, which presumably is on the back of the state of the economy improving (or so we are being told by economists rather than politicians!). One often hears talk about the north/south divide, particularly applicable to house prices. As far as travel is concerned, there does not seem to be so much of a divide as bookings generally have improved throughout the country. Only Scotland seems to have got off to a slower start than the rest of the UK; perhaps their minds are being distracted by worries about whether they will be able to spend pounds or euros on their High Streets as their currency and whether they will have to apply for membership of the E.E.C. after their Independence Referendum later this year!

The appalling recent winter weather that many of us have experienced can also play havoc with holiday booking patterns. Farmers for example that have lost livestock or crops will be counting their losses to the extent that booking a holiday will be the last thing on their mind! People whose homes have been flooded will either relish the opportunity of booking a holiday to get away from their ruined home for a while or their minds will be set on sorting out the mess, which will be very time-consuming and potentially costly: booking a holiday will be way down the list of priorities for many! Arguments will continue as to whether protecting this country from weather-related issues is more of a priority than spending billions on foreign aid, often to countries that have very strong economies of their own e.g. India. The Netherlands spends five times more than the UK on flood defences so lessons need to be learnt quickly as our climate has changed hugely and more extremes of weather are likely to be the norm in the future.

It is always sad to see long-standing companies cease trading and the loss of the Preston Holidays Group was one such recent situation. In addition to the stress caused to the travelling public, it places a

I

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great burden on others involved in this industry to unscramble clients’ holiday arrangements, to assist them with the claims process and to make new travel arrangements. This is a classic example of the need to highlight to the travelling public the benefits of booking holidays through travel agents, who take the worry out of the situation: ABTA please note! A large number of good staff employed by Preston now suddenly have to secure alternative employment. As is always the case when compxanies fail, others swoop immediately like vultures to try and claim the spoils: although their intentions may be good, it just smarts of poor taste and good agents will know of these other companies anyway!

"People whose homes have been flooded will either relish the opportunity of booking a holiday to get away from their ruined home or their minds will be set on sorting out the mess" Without knowing the details behind Preston’s failure, some could argue that they did not help their cause by offering to direct clients holidays, especially to Egypt (via Longwood Holidays), at prices that vastly undercut the prices available for the same holidays via agents, who turned against them in big numbers.

This was at a time when selling Egypt was difficult owing to the political situation. Many tour operators e.g. Inghams have acknowledged that selling their products through travel agents is one of the most cost-effective distribution methods available to them and they have ensured total price parity. Tour operators supporting travel agents who in turn support them: this is the perfect scenario. Why therefore do some travel agents risk jeopardising price parity by giving away most of their hard-earned commission? This only upsets operators who have agreed to total price parity and other travel agents who have decided that the industry profit margins are small enough as it is! What a tangled web we weave!

March 7 2014

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personalitybulletin

Thomas Bachinger Market manager USA & Great Britain, Vienna Tourist Board At home

At play

What's your favourite household gadget?

Washing machine (I love washing clothes!)

What are your hobbies?

Going to the theatre, musicals and travelling.

What's your favourite (non-work related) website?

Google Maps (I love city maps!)

What are your favourite TV programmes?

American Horror Story Seasons 1-3 & reality TV.

Do you use social media for work and play?

Yes, Facebook mainly.

What's a typical weekend for you like?

A long sleep followed by a good breakfast, then meet friends and relax.

What's your guilty pleasure?

Chocolate.

What do you do to relax?

Listen to music & watch TV. What's your favourite movie?

The Hunger Games, The Bodyguard & Harry Potter.

What trait do you dislike in other people?

Unpunctuality and unreliability.

Where would you most like to visit and why?

Australia and New Zealand because of all the amazing pictures you always see.

“

Most of the time I keep calm and relaxed and I am very well organised

At work What other companies/ organisations have you previously worked for?

AIM Group International in Vienna, Jonview in Toronto and New World Travel in New York City.

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March 7 2014

What is your best quality?

Most of the time I keep calm and relaxed and I am very well organised.

�

Who has been your inspiration in the travel industry?

A former client of mine - she always said: "If it was easy, anybody could do it."

If you could change one thing in the industry what would it be?

Cheaper Business Class for all.

What was the last email you received?

One of my colleagues asking for more information about my last marketing activity in London.

What personal item do you have on your desk at work?

A coffee mug.

What skill are you most proud of?

My sense of orientation, my network of contacts and my organisational skills.

What's the best thing about your job?

The product - my beautiful hometown of Vienna.

What do you love about the travel industry?

The different people you meet and travelling of course!

What's a typical day like?

Working out creative marketing plans and activities and giving information about Vienna.

What item do you always take with you when travelling?

My iPhone and headphones for listening to music.

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spain&herislands

Experience Spain’s capital and coast with Leger Holidays LEGER HOLIDAYS is offering a Spanish Coast and Barcelona allinclusive tour which gives guests the opportunity to relax in the resort of Calella and sightsee in Catalonia.

Travellers can visit the historic coastal towns of Catalonia’s Costa Brava before they take in Barcelona, followed by visits to the medieval towns of Girona and Besalu.

Prices start from £579 per person and include eight nights’ breakfast accommodation, six evening meals and doorto-door transfers or transfers from a local joining point by Silver Service luxury coach.

Optional excursions to Montserrat are also available on the Catalan country tour as well as the Barcelona city tour.

For more information or to book call 0844-324 9256 or visit www.legerbreaks.info

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UNDER THE title ‘Beginnings: the making of the modern cosmos’, the second edition of the Starmus Festival will take place in Tenerife from September 22-28. Guests can learn and share their knowledge and experiences about astronomy and science at the event, accompanied by special guests including Nobel Prize winners Robert W. Wilson and Sir Harold W. Kroto, as well as astrophysicist and guitarist for British rock band ‘Queen’, Brian May. The festival will centre around a programme focused on the world of astronomy and science, including roundtables, an ‘astrophotography’ competition, lectures and the ‘Teide Star Party’, an evening of stargazing at the lunar-like landscaped Teide National Park World Heritage Site.

Tickets are available to book at www.starmus.com

Visit Calvia launches 2014 ‘Magaluf Revolution’ VISIT CALVIA has launched its 2014 ‘Magaluf Revolution’ marketing strategy which focuses on the quality of the holiday experiences available in the region.

A municipality located in the south west corner of Mallorca, Calvia is best known for being home to popular party spot Magaluf.

However, during the past year the tourist board has worked hard to change the perception of the region and to promote its vast range of outdoor activities.

With an average winter temperature of 15°C, Calvia is a hikers’ and cyclists’ paradise and this year the

tourist board will add two more hiking routes to its collection, both easily accessible from Magaluf.

Route 11 is called Torrent De Santa Ponsa and starts in the resort of Santa Ponsa, before going through the village of Calvia and finishing at Es Capdella. The second new option, Route 12, is called Na Burgeusa Mirador Alzamora and takes in both mountains and the sea, as visitors hike from the resort next to Magaluf, Palmanova, before finishing the hike in the resort of Illetas.

The route maps can be picked up from any of the tourist offices for €2.

As well as outdoor activities, the tourist board is emphasising the region’s gastronomical offering with Gastronomy Month taking place in October. More than 50 restaurants from around the region plan to participate in the event by putting on planned set menus costing between €10 and €16. The event will take place every Friday throughout October in four different areas, all offering menus designed to celebrate Calvia’s culinary scene.

For more information visit www.calvia.com

The Spanish Thyme Traveller celebrates fiesta season THE SPANISH Thyme Traveller is offering guests the chance to celebrate the final days of winter and the arrival of spring with the fiesta season in Valencia this month.

From March 15-19, the city welcomes Las Fallas or The Fires. On show will be giant papier-mâché figures, daily fireworks, the concert of gunpowder, parades of thousands of Falleras plus Falleros in traditional costume honouring

the Virgin. On the final night a fireworks display will take place in the Paseo de la Alameda, called the Nit del Foc (The Night of Fire).

The company’s Patrick Waller has joined the festivities for many years, offering trips to the fiestas which give visitors the chance to see the events through local eyes, with cultural explanations in English.

For more information see www.thespanishthymetraveller.com

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spain&herislands Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa launches The Oasis to offer health & fitness options THE FIVE-star Don Carlos Leisure Resort & Spa, part of Spanish Expo Hotels Group, has recently launched The Oasis.

Situated in Marbella, the hotel hopes to tap into an expanding market of holidaymakers looking for relaxation and at the same time working on improving their fitness levels through various sporting activities. Ángeles Martínez, the resort's general manager, said, “As people continue to lead increasingly hectic and time-poor lifestyles, there is a growing awareness

that a fit lifestyle leads to a better standard of life. It’s clear to see why people want to combine a relaxing beach holiday with fitness. Here at the Don Carlos Resort we are always looking for ways to enhance and improve our guests’ experience and launching The Oasis by Don Carlos Resort was the next natural step for us to take. We hope this new offering will please new and returning guests alike and help us to stand out in this crowded market.”

Centred around different wellness

pillars - Be Fit, Be Relaxed, Be Sporty and Be Young - the hotel offers health and fitness programmes designed by fitness and sport professionals. Each guest is assigned an Experience Advisor on arrival, who will be on hand at all times to help guests achieve their fitness goals.

Facilities at the hotel include four swimming pools, five restaurants and bars, a spa, Beach Club and access to the Nikki Beach Marbella.

To book or for more information visit www.theoasisdoncarlos.com/en

Contiki offers two-week 'Spanish Spree' tour from £1,421 CONTIKI HOLIDAYS is offering a 14-day 'Spanish Spree' itinerary that begins in Madrid to explore the sights, followed by a visit to Bilbao to take in the iconic Guggenheim Museum.

After some free time in the seaside resort of San Sebastian, the journey continues on to Pamplona where the tour manager will walk guests along the route taken for the world famous Running of the Bulls event. The next stop is Barcelona for some shopping, followed by a flight to Ibiza to sample the island's nightclubs.

The following day can be spent at leisure before heading back to the mainland to stop off in Granada. Seville and Cordoba are next on the agenda before guests head to Madrid to round off the trip.

Prices lead in at £1,421 per person including 13 nights’ accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis, four additional meals and a tour manager and driver.

For more information visit www.contiki.com

FRED.\ IS offering a three-night breakfast stay at Hotel Jardin Tecina from £589 per person including flights and transfers. The hotel is located on the Canary Island of La Gomera, which is the setting of the new Ron Howard film, ‘The Heart of The Sea’ and offers 434 rooms and suites. A range of leisure and sporting activities are offered including an 18-hole golf course.

For details call 0808-159 5256 or visit www.fredhoteljardintecina.co.uk

Superbreak adds new Barcelona hotels with one-night rates from £40 per person SUPERBREAK HAS added more hotels to its portfolio in Spain, with the launch of two new hotels in Barcelona.

The three-star Praktik Bakery is within walking distance of the main sights and takes its name from the bakery featured inside. One night’s breakfast accommodation costs from £75.50 per person and two-night packages, including flights from Gatwick with easyJet, cost from £300 per person, based on departures in mid-May.

Meanwhile, the four-star Amister Art Hotel is located a 20-minute walk from the main sights and has its own art and sculpture exhibition. A night’s breakfast accommodation leads in at £40 per person, per night, while two-night packages with easyJet flights from Gatwick cost from £248, based on departures in early May. For more information call 0871-221 4444 or visit www.superbreak.com/agents

Classic Collection increases presence in Balearic Islands with new properties SPURRED ON by the success of the adult-only Ushaia Ibiza Beach Hotel & Ushaia Tower in Playa d’en Bossa, Classic Collection Holidays has introduced another adult-only property, the Destino Pacha Ibiza Resort in Talamanca.

As part of the Pacha brand, the hotel will appeal to those who enjoy Ibiza’s club, music, fashion and DJ scene. Three-night breaks during the peak season start from £926 per person with seven night breaks from £1,610.

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March 7 2014

In the heart of Ibiza Town, El Hotel Pacha has also been introduced alongside the Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza in Playa d’en Bossa. This is Europe’s first Hard Rock beach hotel featuring the brand's music-inspired style and energy. Seven-night breaks in July start from £1,764.

In a similar young and vibrant vein, on the neighbouring Balearic island of Mallorca, the ME Mallorca on Calvia Beach makes its debut for the operator. Entertainment is a feature of the hotel with a resident DJ and

weekend parties. Three-night breaks in July start from £780.

Meanwhile, traditionalists might be tempted to opt for Castell Son Claret, a castellated 18th century manor house set in 326 acres of parkland close to the Tramuntana Mountains, or the Iberostar Son Antem Golf Resort & Spa which offers two 18-hole golf courses and Mallorca’s largest golf academy. Seven-night holidays start from £1,779 and £698 respectively.

For details call 0800-008 7288 or visit www.classic-collection.co.uk

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spain&herislands LD Lines offers gateway to Spain LD LINES’ new ferry services to Northern Spain from Poole-Santander and Poole-Gijón offer new travel options for motorists to take in unexplored destinations, regional events and attractions that Spain has to offer.

In Santander, the city centre includes a network of museums including the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Santander and Cantabria, Museum of Cantabria, Museum of Prehistory, the cathedral and the Interpretation Centre of the Ancient Springs Santander.

In summer, cultural activities include the Semana Grande festival, which features a Day Fair with dining booths, musical entertainment and children’s activities.

Parks, gardens and theatres are also major features of Gijón and events in spring include the Week of the Ocean; street art; International Folk Festival; Gijón Asturias Day; Natural Cider Festival; and Bullfighting Begonia.

The line's new fares start from £399 return for a car and two passengers which includes cabin accommodation. The company’s network of ferry services is operated by two sister ships, Norman Asturias and Norman Atlanticeach, with capacity for up to 500 passengers and 200 cars.

On board facilities include two and four berth cabins, a bar, restaurant, shop and a range of passenger entertainment.

For more information call 0844-856 5498 or visit www.ldlines.co.uk

La Manga Club offers golf breaks from €243 SPAIN’S LA MANGA Club is offering three nights’ breakfast accommodation including three rounds of golf from €243 per person (approximately £200).

Accommodation, including 18 holes on one of its three courses, is available from €81 (£67) per person per night.

As well as golf, the rates include half-price buggy hire, accommodation in the fully serviced, four-star Las Lomas Village apartments, breakfast and access to the spa which features a fitness centre, indoor pool, saunas and steam rooms.

Golfers seeking a touch of luxury during their visit can stay in the resort’s five-star Principe Felipe Hotel and receive the same benefits from €292.50 (£245) for a threenight stay.

If guests fancy taking a break from the course for a day, they can exchange their session for another activity including a 45-minute tennis lesson or two hours’ tennis court hire, a selected spa treatment or dinner.

Prices for the Best Golf and More packages include VAT and are based on two sharing a twin or double room and green fees.

For more information or to book email reservas@lamangaclub.com or visit www.lamangaclub.com

La Manga Club

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spain&herislands Trafalgar adds new insider travel experiences including specialty wine tasting TRAFALGAR’S NEWLY released 2014 Europe and Britain programme has been designed to provide more in-depth insider travel options, with more than 320 experiences available.

Two of the latest itineraries feature new Local Specialties that include cider tasting at a traditional bar in Oviedo in Northern Spain and a visit to Guidecca Island for an insider look at Venetian arts and traditional crafts on the Wonders of Europe tour.

As an example, a new 11-day Northern Spain itinerary showcases the ultra-modern urban treats of Bilbao, such as the Guggenheim Museum and rural spots such as Covadonga and the Picos de Europa National Park. Kicking off in Madrid, the journey travels through Burgos, Argomaniz, San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander, Picos de Europa, Covadonga, Oviedo, Luarca, Santiago de Compostela, Zamora and Salamanca.

Highlights include Local Specialty wine tasting at a typical bodega in the northern wine regions, visiting the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao and exploring the grotto of ‘Our Lady of Ovadonga’. Also included is a Be My Guest dinner at a cider mill to sample Asturian cuisine, and in Santiago de Compostela, guests will learn about the ‘Way of St. James’ from a local expert. Prices lead in at £1,650

San Sebastian

per person based on two sharing and include private doorto-door airport transfers, ten nights’ breakfast accommodation with a further six meals, included sightseeing and the services of a travel director.

For more information visit www.trafalgar.com

Katmandu Park & Resort adds enhancements for 2014 KATMANDU PARK & Resort, which opened last year in Mallorca and was the result of a partnership between Katmandu Park and Meliá Hotels International, is installing a number of new additions for its opening this summer.

They include a kids’ club; a new lagoon style swimming pool; the Katmandu Character Breakfast starring Boro the Great, the resort’s icon yeti tasked with guarding the resort’s magic jewel; an underwater themed wonderland; a multi-level climbing adventure; a Splash park where water powered Splash Battles will be held; and a Flying Phoenix Zip-line.

For more information visit www.katmandupark.com

GRJ introduces new Spanish tour

COLLETTE HAS announced that its popular ‘Spain’s Classics’ tour is now available to book for departures through to April 2016, with prices from £1,799 per person. The ten-day tour starts in Madrid, with visits to the Royal Palace and nearby Toledo. It includes two nights in Seville, with a visit en route to Cordoba and opportunities to sample an authentic flamenco show and explore the Maria Luisa Park. After a night in Granada, the itinerary continues to Valencia for two nights before ending in Barcelona.

For details visit www.gocollette.com or call 0800-804 8700.

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March 7 2014

GREAT RAIL Journeys has introduced a new Spanish tour for 2014 following demand.

Andalucia In Spring explores southern Spain and offers guests the chance to taste sherry in Jerez, tour the sights of Seville, join in with local festival celebrations, see the Alhambra in Granada and return home via the Catalan city of Barcelona.

Prices start from £2,018 per person based on two sharing, and departures on March 27 and April 3, 10 and 24.

The ten-day tour includes First Class rail travel from St Pancras, eight nights’ breakfast accommodation, one night on the overnight Francisco de Goya sleeper service from Paris to Madrid, two dinners and two lunches in Andalucian restaurants, an excursion to Jerez including sherry tasting, an excursion to Seville including a guided walking tour, a guided tour of the Alhambra, all transfers, porterage for certain sections of the tour and the services of a tour manager.

For more information visit www.greatrail.com

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15-day Journey on the Mekong itinerary from £2,799 with Riviera Travel RIVIERA TRAVEL is highlighting a selection of tour itineraries across the Far East.

As examples, a 15-day Journey on the Mekong, which visits Saigon, Phnom Penh and Angkor Wat, leads in at £2,799 per person with selected departures between April and November.

The tour includes flights from Gatwick or Heathrow; a seven-night river cruise on the fivestar RV Jayavarman or four-star superior RV Mekong Prestige II; breakfast accommodation in four- and five-star hotels; and all shore excursions and meals whilst on the cruise.

In Burma, a 12-day 'Golden Land' option departs between September and November and leads in at £2,369.

Highlights of the trip include visits to cities, lakes, hill stations, rivers and temples. The price includes scheduled flights from Heathrow, accommodation in three-, four- and five-star hotels and a tour manager.

Meanwhile, a 17-day Grand Tour of China leads in at £2,699 with selected departures between May and October.

Guests are offered a comprehensive tour of China to take in its cultural legacies, iconic monuments, palaces and scenery, with accommodation in handpicked four-star hotels.

The price includes scheduled flights from Heathrow and highlights range from a five-star Yangtze river cruise to a visit to the Forbidden City and Great Wall of China.

For more information visit www.rivieratravel.co.uk

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fareast

ACCOR HAS announced the opening of Pullman Shanghai South, the second Pullman hotel in Shanghai and the 15th in China.

Located in the heart of Shanghai South, the 23storey hotel offers 338 rooms and suites with convenient access to Hongqiao International Airport, Shanghai South Railway Station, Shanghai Stadium and Caohejing High-tech Park. Xujiahui, one of the city’s most visited commercial precincts, is also close to dining, shopping and entertainment.

For details see www.pullmanhotels.com

Japan Airlines' London - Tokyo flights take off this month JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL) has announced the commencement of a new daily service between Heathrow and Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo’s more centrally located airport.

The new non-stop service will commence on March 30 and will replace the airline's existing daily direct service between London and Narita.

The route will be operated by a B777-300ER aircraft

with four classes of cabin featuring market-leading seats and cabin interiors with in-flight dining and entertainment enhancements all-round.

The carrier already offers a five times weekly codeshare service between London and Tokyo Haneda operated by British Airways, which departs the UK in the morning. BA plans to increase this to a daily

service from the end of April, enabling JAL to offer two flights daily between Heathrow and Haneda, when including codeshares.

From the end of April, the total number of flights per week offered by the airline between the UK and Japan will increase to 21, when including the daily JAL codeshare flight operated by BA between Heathrow and Narita.

Safe to visit Bangkok?

by PR specialist, DOUG GOODMAN THIS IS a question faced by many agents. Since anti-government demonstrations began earlier this year, visitors with bookings to the Thai capital have been concerned about safety. Advice from The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says avoid any protests, gatherings and marches and allow extra time to get to the airport.

Having recently visited Bangkok, I only have praise for the Tourism Authority of Thailand and its London Bangkok demonstrations PR office for their regular, helpful information.

There has been violence and deaths during the riots so no one should underestimate the seriousness of the situation, but I personally found a peaceful almost 'carnival-like' atmosphere when I joined the protesters on the streets.

Protest camps had been established, loud music played as protesters paraded through central Bangkok causing long traffic delays. T-shirts, flags and banners were on sale and people were anxious to explain to visitors their frustration with the Government's inaction and corruption. Hotels also posted daily bulletins to advise about areas to be avoided and any transport disruptions, and everyone tried to ensure that there was no inconvenience to tourists, even to the extent that taxis and tourist buses had priority.

So is it safe to visit Bangkok? Yes, most certainly - I had no problems whatsoever - except perhaps from the 35°C heat! The Chinese and Koreans may be staying away and several conferences have been cancelled but the Brits go on holiday come what may.

For information on Bangkok contact The Tourist Authority of Thailand on 0870-900 2007 or see www.tourismthailand.co.uk

March 7 2014

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fareast China Links Travel launches ceramic study tours to Japan & China CHINA LINKS Travel has launched two new ceramic study tours to Japan and China, available at www.chinalinkstravel.co.uk Both itineraries have been developed to offer potters an in-depth and authentic tour of the ceramic history of each destination.

Each tour is led by an English-speaking ceramic expert to ensure that travellers are offered a tailor-made and personalised experience.

Customers can choose from a 14-day tour of China's ceramic scene including a visit to the Ceramic Capital of the World, Jingdezhen, and a tour of Yixing County, home to the most expensive collection of teapots in the world, the famous Zisha.

For potters looking to immerse themselves in the sights and sounds of Japan, the 11-day ceramic study tour includes visits to the famous pottery centres of Kyoto, Shigaraki, Bizen, Tokoname and

Tamba, as well as a visit to one of Japan's most celebrated ceramic artists, Kawaii Kanjiro.

Prices for the China Ceramic Study Tour lead in at £2,090 and include domestic flights in China, accommodation, transfers, entrance fees to sights listed in the itinerary, a hands-on workshop in Sanbao Ceramic Institute, meals as stated in the brochure (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and visa fees.

Prices for the Explore Japanese Ceramics Tour start from £2,200 and include a sevenday Japanese Rail pass, train tickets for Meitetsu line (Nagoya - Tokoname RT), accommodation, an introduction to skilled potters and their studios, daily breakfast and all entrance fees to sights listed in the itinerary.

For more information or to book call 0843-506 4028 or visit www.chinalinkstravel.co.uk

GREAT RAIL Journeys has added new China by Rail options to its programme for the first time following investment into the railway lines between Beijing and Xian. As an example, a 17-day ‘Grand Tour of China’ costs from £2,995 per person.

For details call 01904-521980 or see www.greatrail.com

Regent Holidays introduces tailor-made trips to Borneo REGENT HOLIDAYS has added a new selection of tailor-made trips to Borneo for this year, with itineraries of up to 18 days and an extensive choice of activities such as jungle treks, Kinabatangan River cruises, climbing Mount Kinabalu or the chance to take in the white sand beaches along the Sulu Sea. In keeping with the preservation of the local wildlife, the operator has teamed up with Orangutan Appeal UK and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Sabah, Borneo. For every Borneo holiday booking made, the operator will sponsor their chosen Orangutan, ‘Gellison’, in the visitor’s name for a year.

As an example of prices, a 13-day ‘Borneo for Beginners’ itinerary leads in at £2,470 per person and includes visits to Kota Kinabalu, Kinabalu Park, Sepilok Park, the Kinabatangan River, Selingan Island and four days in the Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort.

The price includes flights with Malaysian Airlines from Heathrow, transfers, internal flights, breakfast accommodation plus additional meals and the services of a guide.

For details see www.regent-holidays.co.uk or call 020-7666 1244.

Ten-day Japan option from £2,300 with Tailor-madeadventures.com JAPAN HAS been revealed as the world's fastest-growing tourist destination by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

According to last year's figures, tourist numbers to Japan soared by 24% year-on-year, followed by Kazakhstan (+21.9%) and Thailand (+19.6%). Taiwan was the tenth fastest growing tourism destination ( up 9.7%).

According to Jim O'Brien, head of Tailormadeadventures.com, the growth in tourism figures reflects the company's increasing interest in the region, but, as tourism has grown and itineraries diversified, some prices have dropped making it a more affordable destination than it was previously.

He said: "We've just launched a new ten-day 'Spiritual Japan'

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adventure to our portfolio, which, by including some lesser visited and more rural destinations, like the Kii peninsula and hiking the pilgrim trail in Kumano, means we've been able to reduce costs by almost £2,000 per couple compared to a similar length trip which focuses purely on Japan's better-known cities."

The trip also includes a visit to the castle in Osaka, an overnight stay in a traditional ryokan in Koyasan (the centre of Shingon Buddhism), two days’ hiking in the Kumano region of Japan and a visit to Tokyo.

Prices lead in at £2,300 per person based on two people travelling and flights cost between £480 and £540 per person.

For more information call 01728-888030 or visit www.tailormadeadventures.com

March 7 2014

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fareast Crystal Cruises adds more than 40 new adventures in Asia plus Overland Adventure trips We asked our staff the following question this week: Have you ever won an award?

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe jeanette.ratcliffe@travelbulletin.co.uk Does a school prize every year for being a girlie swot count?

Editor: Lauretta Wright lauretta.wright@travelbulletin.co.uk Judo, skiing, swimming & gymnastics awards when I was a kid but nothing in adulthood :-(

Assistant Editor: Jill Sayles jill.sayles@travelbulletin.co.uk I won a piano competition years ago

Contributing Editor: Paul Scudamore post@travelbulletin.co.uk No, but I'm in high anticipation of a Travel Bulletin "Star" Award for long service/lifetime achievement gong

Sales Director: Simon Eddolls simon.eddolls@travelbulletin.co.uk

FROM DRINKS with former headhunters in Brunei to a monk induction ceremony in Myanmar, Crystal Cruises has unveiled new Crystal Adventures for its 2014 Asia voyages.

Monasteries, rainforests, royal residences and tuk-tuks are among the 40 new shoreside outings showcasing both off-the-beaten-path port calls and urban centres in Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, Indonesia, Japan and India.

Both Crystal Symphony and the recently-redesigned Crystal Serenity are now sailing 14 voyages in the region – twice as many as 2013 – through to spring 2014, with a Crystal Symphony return in late autumn. In all, the line is offering nearly 200 Adventures throughout Asia, with options to book them with a private car and driver in most ports.

Excursion highlights include Kota Kinabalu, where guests can trek the rainforest of Malaysia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site; a visit to Lombok to learn about the local craftsmanship of ikat dyed fabrics and pearl production or visit a traditional Sasak village; a visit to Surabaya to explore the archaeological ruins of the 14th century Majapahit Empire; and a visit to Penang to take in the 130-year-old Waterfall Gardens, followed by a cocktail at the Eastern & Oriental Hotel.

In addition to the day trips, two new multi-night Overland Adventures are offered from Shanghai and Chan May, visiting Xi-an and Beijing on the first and Hue, Hoi An and Ho Chi Minh City on the second.

For further information call 020-7399 7601 or visit www.crystalcruises.co.uk

The Travel Bulletin / BB&C Pool trophy many years ago nearest thing to an award!

InBrief

Advertisement Manager: Tim Podger tim.podger@travelbulletin.co.uk Top fax sales person at Travel Bulletin 1994!

Online Sales Manager: Nick Boocock nick.boocock@travelbulletin.co.uk Staindrop village carnival, best costume 1982 - as one half of Laurel & Hardy

Account Manager: Bill Coad bill.coad@travelbulletin.co.uk Footballer of the year for my local side

Sales Executive: Chris Gascoine chris.gascoine@travelbulletin.co.uk Second place in an ugly girl competition - Butlins '88

Sales Executive: Matt Gill matt.gill@travelbulletin.co.uk Club 18-30 Rep of the Year!

Senior Designer: Genaro Santos genaro.santos@travelbulletin.co.uk Mr Universe 2013

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Circulation Manager: Jim Merchant post@travelbulletin.co.uk 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 Limited Subscriptions are £125 p.a. £195 overseas ISSN: 0956-2419

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● OUTRIGGER LAGUNA Phuket Beach Resort has teamed up with Singapore-based

tennis coaching provider, Savitar, to launch a multi-faceted Tennis Centre for local residents and guests at the resort. The centre consists of three newly-renovated outdoor floodlit synthetic grass tennis courts and one indoor court. Guests staying at the property can opt for private tennis lessons, group lessons, hitting sessions, mini tennis for five-seven year olds, junior tennis for seven-12 year olds, teenage social tennis, fitness sessions, ladies morning tennis clinics and Friday evening social play.

For details see www.outrigger.com ● THE EASTERN & Oriental Express is hosting a special fund raising journey in aid of

Save Wild Tigers from October 2-6. The journey travels through the tiger’s historic habitat from Singapore, through Malaysia and Thailand and highlights include a Gala dinner at the Majestic Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, to be attended by distinguished members of the Malaysian Royal Family, international celebrities and VIPs. The fiveday adventure includes one night at Raffles, Singapore; two nights on the Eastern & Oriental Express; and one night at the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. Prices lead in at £2,960 per person and up to 30% of ticket prices will go directly to targeted tiger conservations programmes.

See www.easternandorientalexpress.com/tiger or call 0845-077 2222. ● THE MACAU Government Tourist Office has announced that 74 establishments in

Macau, including 18 hotels and 56 restaurants, have been selected for inclusion in The MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong & Macau 2014. The inclusion of ten new restaurants and two new hotels in Macau - an increase of 23 establishments on the previous year demonstrates the destination's diverse food scene.

For more information see www.macautourism.gov.mo

puzzlesolutions Crossword: Across: 1. DELTA, 3. PUNCH, 5. NAIROBI, 7. RIP, 9. AREZZO, 10. BALI, 12. TOGO, 14. TABLET, 17. RYE, 18. PAULINE, 19. PETRA, 20. JOHN 'S. Down: 1. DONCASTER, 2. LOIRE, 3. PHIL, 4. NERJA, 6. OUZO, 8. POINTLESS, 11. BAKU, 13. GHENT, 15. LEITH, 16. APIA.

Highlighted Word: DALLAS Travagrams: (top) EgyptAir

(bottom) Rotana

Where Am I?: Battenburg

22

March 7 2014

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