Travel Bulletin Mediterranean Islands supplements 2016

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June 2016

Mediterranean Islands All about the

Your one-stop guide to all latest news and developments in Mediterranean Islands Produced by

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Mediterranean Islands All about the

CONTENTS

S

o much can happen in a year, so it seems.This time last year when I was writing the All About the Mediterranean Islands supplement, Cyprus was reeling from the demise of flag carrier Cyprus AIrways and the Foreign Office was advising Britons heading to Greece to take cash and not just credit cards with them due to concerns over the Greek economy.

Fast forward a year and the picture could not be rosier. The islands in the Mediterranean are poised for a busy year as concerns over security and terrorist threats prevent Britons from heading further afield.

This year’s supplement kicks off with a focus on the Balearic Islands, which, despite introducing a new tourism tax this year, are set to enjoy a bumper year due to the perception that they are “safe destinations”.

And as a consequence, there is a great deal of development on the property front, particularly on the island of Majorca.

Malta says family bookings are up for August with the peak season expanding into October and Greece too is poised for a strong year.

The Greek National Tourism Organisation says bookings for this summer are healthy with significant growth in demand for the lesser-known islands as well as the traditional favourites of Corfu, Crete, Rhodes and Zante.

Cyprus has really suffered over the last few years with the economic crisis hitting the island hard, but the destination is also seeing a surge in bookings from Britons with bookings already up by 15% for summer and 20% for winter. This is a clear indication that the Cyprus Tourism Organisation’s work with the trade has helped to communicate the CTO’s message that Cyprus is a great yearround destination.

Finally, we catch up on the latest news from operators that feature the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily as well as the exclusive French destination of Corsica, followed by a round-up of all of the latest packages from operators to the Med with our Holidays for Less Than… section.

Angela Cronin Supplements editor

Balearics - 4

Malta - 7

Greece - 11

Cyprus - 16

Best of the rest - 18

Holidays for less than - 19 Published by

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Miriam Brtkova, Ranganath GS, Nicky Valsamakis Printed by: Buxton Press - Cover Picture: samott, Fotolia.

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Balearic Islands

Balearics

bonanza

It’s boom time for the Balearics as Brits favour the Spanish islands for their summer getaways

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AJORCA HAS historically been the number one holiday destination with Britons who head overseas for their annual break every year.

And this summer, operators across the board have reported a surge in demand for holidays in destinations that are perceived to be “safe”.

Earlier this year, ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer urged Britons to book early to ensure they get the holiday they want as “the significant increase in summer holiday bookings to western Mediterranean destinations is also being mirrored in other northern European markets,” while price comparison site TravelSupermarket.com said Spain was its “most searched for destination”.

Steven Purdham, European product manager at HF Holidays, agreed that “Majorca’s reputation has been bolstered slightly by a perception of being ‘safe Spain’, but this is also coupled with a bit of a revival for resorts such as the Balearics and the Maltese islands”.

Purdham said: “The UK market seems to be rediscovering what is and always has been great about some of the more traditional destinations, such as the amazing variety of walks in Majorca’s Tramuntana Mountains, as well as the walks between unspoilt villages and secluded coves on the island.

“Our hotel in Majorca has recently undergone an extensive and high standard refurbishment so this, coupled with incredible views over the colourful harbour to the majestic mountains of the Serra du Tramuntana, has also boosted sales of our holidays here as the word has spread among the HF Holidays community.”

Hotel developments are high on the agenda for the Balearic Islands this year so we catch up on the latest property additions for 2016.

Pure Salt Luxury Hotels Joining the Majorcan jet-set this year is Pure Salt Luxury Hotels, a new brand of adult-only hotels.

All About The Mediterranean Islands

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Balearic Islands Pure Salt Garonda in Playa de Palma and Pure Salt Port Adriano, both owned by the Amengual family a well-established name with the Majorcan hospitality world, have reopened following a complete refurbishment.

The flagship of the portfolio is Pure Salt Port Adriano which sits in the southwest of the island and is the only five-star hotel in Calviá. From its clifftop position, it overlooks the renowned Philippe Starckdesigned marina and all 94 guestrooms and suites enjoy Mediterranean views.

The marina is a popular resting place for many of the island’s grandest super yachts and it is also home to an array of restaurants, cafés, fashion boutiques and water sports, including sailing, paddle surfing, jet skiing, diving and kayaking, which can be booked through the Pure Salt concierge.

The property also has a gym and hair salon.

Pure Salt Port Adriano’s redesign has kept the historic charm of the hotel while adding new elements such as a river-style swimming pool that runs along the front of the hotel, new restaurants, a bar and a fully refurbished and enlarged spa.

Sister hotel, the five-star Pure Salt Garonda, has a beach-front location in the heart of Playa de Palma, so it is a great example of the urban beach hotel concept.

The property has a spa with Turkish baths, sensation showers and an indoor pool.

Pure Salt Luxury Hotels offers a range of different golf experiences, special discounts to a variety of courses and access to Pure Salt Port Adriano’s own Golf Academy, coaching school and indoor simulator experience.

How much? Double rooms start at £276 for Pure Salt Port Adriano and £126 for Pure Salt Garonda. Rates are based on two

One of the new luxury villas at Cap Vermell Estate

All About The Mediterranean Islands

sharing a double room and include breakfast. puresaltluxuryhotels.com Cap Vermell Estate Twelve new luxury villas, a new country club and the only Park Hyatt Resort in the Mediterranean will be opening in the Cap Vermell Estate in the valley of Canyamel near the east coast of Majorca next month.

The villas are for sale but potential owners can “try before they buy” and holiday in one of the three, four and fivebedroom luxury villas, which will have full access to the Cap Vermell Estate’s exclusive facilities including the Cap Vermell Beach Hotel, the new Cap Vermell Country Club and the new Park Hyatt Majorca.

The villas boast an array of features including wine cellars, private pools, walkin wardrobes, underfloor heating and even in certain properties, panic rooms.

An integrated domotic system is installed for each villa, whereby the pool, alarm, lights, windows and pool temperature can all be controlled using a smartphone or tablet. Each villa will also have private security, CCTV and surveillance.

Within 15 minutes of the villas, guests have a choice of four golf courses including a full 18-hole course adjacent to the estate.

The Cap Vermell Group will also provide full management of the properties for homeowners if required, including gardening, maintenance, lettings and furnishing.

Prices for the three, four and five-bedroom villas on the Cap Vermell Estate start at 2,200,000 euros capvermellestate.com/en/

Operator opinions Classic Collection Holidays head of purchasing Gary Boyer says that sales to Majorca are currently 9% up year on year. “This is not surprising as the western Mediterranean flourishes and the island continues to innovate to maintain the interest of its high-end clientele offering hotel products with the comfort, style and personal service to match the most illustrious hotels in the world.

“Following on from Jumeirah and Castell Son Claret are two contrasting, but luxurious, openings this year, Iberostar Grand Hotel Portal Nous, and Park Hyatt Majorca in the east coast resort of Canyamel. The Marcel Wandersdesigned Iberostar is avant-garde, ultra-stylish and contemporary, Park Hyatt is built in the style of a traditional Majorcan hilltop village.

“Overall Majorca is generating some extremely high value bookings for seriously discerning customers, which is seeing agents reap the rewards of the high commission levels that good, high-value bookings bring,” added Boyer.

Seven nights’ bed and breakfast in July start at £1,441 per person at the Iberostar and £2,990 per person at the Park Hyatt. classic-collection.co.uk Sovereign The upmarket specialist has some new hotels in the Balearics, including the Melia Cala Galdana in Minorca, which enjoys a great location on the beautiful Blue Flag Cala Galdana Beach, plus sea-view restaurants and contemporary rooms after a refurbishment last year. A spokesman for Sovereign said it’s a great spot for families with direct access to the beach, babysitting facilities, and children’s clubs during the summer months.

Sovereign is offering seven nights’ B&B at the four-star Melia Cala Galdana from £699 per person. sovereign.com 5

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Malta

Maltese DELIGHTS From immersion travellers to silence tourism, Malta is revelling in satisfying the changing demands of today’s travellers

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alta is also one of those islands in the Mediterranean that is benefitting from being perceived as a “safe” destination, according to the tourist office.

Peter Vella, UK and Ireland director of the Malta Tourist Office, says that family bookings are up in August as a result of political unrest in other countries.

“The peak season has expanded to October too,” says Vella, “with bookings also increasing in November and December this year; the lates market is also strong.”

Over the next three pages, we catch up on all the latest news from the island as well as find out about emerging travel trends that are affecting the way that Brits holiday on the island.

Light news Ryanair has increased the frequency of its flights between Malta and the UK this summer. The no-frills airline will be

All About The Mediterranean Islands

operating thrice-weekly flights from Birmingham to the Maltese capital of Valletta, while its services from Edinburgh will go to five times a week with daily flights from London.

Ryanair also serves the island from Liverpool, Bournemouth, Leeds-Bradford, Bristol, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Prestwick.

The new services from Ryanair join existing daily services from flag carrier Air Malta, which serves the island daily from Gatwick and Heathrow, four times a week out of Manchester and a weekly service from Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter and Birmingham every Tuesday, EasyJet operates from London Gatwick, Manchester and Newcastle Airports.

British Airways operates daily direct flights from Gatwick in the summer and flies five times per week in the winter.

Jet2 flies from Leeds-Bradford, Manchester, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Newcastle.

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Malta Operator update

Hotel news

Battered Suitcase has put together a seven-day tour of Malta, and neighbouring Gozo taking in both Mediterranean islands’ natural treasures and history including visits to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a traditional fishing village.

The seven-day private tour takes visitors to the World Heritage Sites of Valletta, Hypogeum and the Megalithic Temples of Malta on the ancient Gozo Island, which is also home to the oldest free-standing monuments in the world, pre-dating Egyptian pyramids.

Other tour highlights include Malta’s ancient medieval capital of Mdina and its impressive palaces; the origin of Maltese Christianity at Rabat; local catacombs and the island’s cultural and religious treasures.

Prices for the seven-day tour lead in at £1,200 per person including return flights from London; six nights’ bed and breakfast in a five-star hotel, three fullday and two half-day excursions with personal itineraries. battered-suitcase.com

The Phoenicia Malta has just undergone a complete refurbishment, which has seen all of its 136 guest rooms upgraded, the introduction of a new outdoor infinity pool overlooking the harbour and new look for the hotel's grounds and terraces.

The Grand Ballroom will also be refurbished and Hotel Phoenicia Malta’s classic façade will be restored.

The hotel will reopen at the end of this month with a new health club and spa offering eight rooms, a gym and an indoor swimming pool, which is poised to open in October.

The luxury hotel has also joined The Leading Hotels of the World, following the recent move by CampbellGray to add the property to its portfolio. phoeniciamalta.com The Intercontinental Malta has added another new floor of 32 luxury suites to the top of the hotel. These new suites range in size with large terraces that command breathtaking views of the bay and surrounding area.

Recent research has shown that parents are keen to use holidays to strengthen their bonds with their children and discovering the great outdoors in destinations such as Malta is one of the pastimes that all members of families can enjoy together

The new suites will benefit from their own exclusive executive lounge area with complimentary food and drinks as well as a new roof top terrace with a pool and restaurant. intercontinental.com The Hilton Malta has reopened its doors after being closed for 10 weeks following an intensive refurbishment The £11 million renovation project includes the overhaul of 293 bedrooms, new food and beverage outlets, extended executive lounge facilities, new elevators, as well as new engineering technology to provide more energyefficient operation. hilton.com Locanda La Gelsomina A new luxury boutique hotel with just four suites has opened in the heart of Birgu on the island.

Each of the four suites at Locanda La Gelsomina feature furnishings that come from as far afield as Mongolia and which are set against exposed stone walls from centuries past.

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Malta The property also features a boutique that sells a wide range of exotic furnishings as well as a tea house that features a collection of handcrafted teas from Bellocq as well as Mary artisanal Belgian chocolates and Pasticceria Fausto sweet delights from the isle of Giglio.

The retreat regularly holds Vinyasa yoga and sound bath escapes that last between two and four days and are customised in accordance to personal preferences and tastes. Dates for the next retreats are 1-4 September and 14-17 October. locandalagelsomina.com

Emerging trends The Malta Tourist Office has identified a number of travel trends that are changing the way that people holiday and are particularly significant for the destination.

The first one is immersion travel, which describes travellers constantly looking for unique experiences in destinations rather than a unique destination. Countries that can offer unique adventures are becoming more popular as it enables travellers to connect with it by experiencing its history and culture on a very native, street level.

It’s also connected with social media, where travellers love to post their travel adventures if it has the ‘wow’ factor.

Malta has a packed calendar of cultural events every year that give visitors the opportunity to really experience the island’s history and customs, and in 2018, Valletta will become the smallest capital ever to enjoy the accolade of being European Capital of Culture.

As part of the Valletta 2018 initiative, there will be a full programme of events that will give visitors the chance to immerse themselves in the culture and history of the islands.

Family-focused holidays According to the Malta Tourist Office, research has shown that parents want to get to know their children again and see the bond between siblings strengthen again, which has led to an increase in family groups travelling together searching for destinations that have activities designed for all the families to enjoy together.

Malta and its sister islands of Gozo and Comino have activities in abundance for families to get involved in. They can explore the islands’ landscapes by bicycle or foot while older children can enjoy horse riding, rock climbing or abseiling.

Alternatively, make the most of the Med’s warm waters with windsurfing, sea kayaking, fishing, kite surfing or dingy All About The Mediterranean Islands

All of the 136 guest rooms at The Phoenicia Malta have been upgraded as part of the luxury hotel’s extensive refurbishment project

sailing. There’s also the chance to learn to sail as a family with Royal Yacht Association-recognised sailing school.

Holidays for foodies According to research by the Malta Tourist Office, travellers are now visiting destinations not just to experience a country’s culture and history but for the food offering also. ‘Foodies’ are choosing their foreign destination based on the location’s food culture. Guests want to learn how to participate in local foodmaking classes or take it further and do peer-to-peer dining that focuses on hosted meals in a home.

Malta is popular with gastronomes who land on the island to seek out the finedining experiences at island’s high-end restaurants. There’s also the opportunity to experience Maltese delicacies in many of the island’s smaller restaurants. Maltese delights include pastizzi a delicious savoury filo pastry pasty filled with either rich ricotta cheese or mushy peas; and ftira, the Maltese answer to pizza – a type of flatbread topped or filled with potatoes, eggs, grated cheese, tomatoes, anchovies, olives, ricotta and Maltese sausage and Gozitan cheeselet from Gozo.

Silence tourism While the kids struggle to go anywhere without uttering the words, “what’s the wifi code” the Malta Tourist Office has noticed

an increase in visitors looking to go on holiday for peace and quietness, walk in nature and not necessarily have access to wifi or a mobile phone service.

Malta is the perfect place to escape the demands of modern technology, particularly on the islands of Gozo and Comino.

Gozo is a 25-minute ferry ride from northern Malta and the island is smaller, greener and much quieter, and its countryside makes it the perfect place to go cycling, walking, horse riding, climbing and abseiling.

Comino is the smaller of the three islands, and only a handful of people live permanently on the island, So small, the island only has one hotel and it is easy to walk around the island in a few hours. So if you really want to drop out from the digital world, then Comino is the place for you.

For agents Sunspot Tours has more than 35 years of travel expertise and to celebrate this milestone, the Malta specialist has teamed up with Marks and Spencer to give away up to £22 per adult when an agent makes a booking to Malta or Gozo. sunspottours.com 9

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Greece The infinity pool at Grace Santorini, the perfect place for first-timers to experience Greece

Hide and

go Greek From island hopping to walking adventures on the mainland, it’s easy to see why Greece remains one of the most popular holiday destinations with UK travellers

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espite the economic woes that pushed Greece to the brink last year, Britons showed their support for this magical destination in 2015, with 1.8 million UK visitors opting to holiday there from January to August.

This figure represented a 25% increase on the same period in 2014, and this year, booking figures are following the same pattern.

Christina Kalogera, director, Greek National Tourism Organisation UK and Ireland Office, says “bookings ahead of the summer season are looking healthy with multiple new flight routes and properties becoming available from various UK tour operators and airlines so we’re looking forward to welcoming even more UK visitors to the country.”

And it looks like Britons are being more adventurous and looking to explore the smaller islands too. “Traditionally the most popular summer destinations have been the Greek islands of Corfu, Heraklion in Crete, Rhodes and Zante,” says Kalogera. “But lately we are also seeing a significant growth in lesser-known islands as well.

“This summer alone will see a number of new routes to the Greek islands including new flights from Jet2, Thomas Cook, British Airways, Aegean Airlines, EasyJet and Norwegian with new Greek islands added such as Thassos in northern Greece, Kefalonia and Chania in Crete.”

The GNTO is looking to work with the trade to spread the message about the wide variety of tourism product available, adds Kalogera.

“This year we are planning several fam trips for the UK travel trade including a walking tour to northern Greece for adventure

All About The Mediterranean Islands

operators and an educational to the islands of Tinos, Paros and Naxos to introduce the wine routes of the Cyclades islands.

First-timers Think of Greece and images of picture-perfect white buildings clinging to a cliff side overlooking a calm blue sea spring to mind.

Many of these iconic images of Greece have been taken on the Cyclades island of Santorini, famous for its dramatic views, stunning sunsets and its very own active volcano.

So where better to suggest that a newcomer to Greece head to than one of the most breathtakingly beautiful islands in Greece.

The luxury boutique hotel Grace Santorini’s location overlooking the caldera from the main island makes the property a highly desirable one. And the resort reopened last month after undergoing extensive enhancements.

The renovation project included the refurbishment of rooms and suites, introducing double vanity units with marble carved basins and spacious rain showers with mosaic feature walls.

A new and in-room bar will offer a cocktail-making kit for guests to create their favourite cocktails, either by themselves or with the help of an expert mixologist.

The new champagne and cocktail lounge will provide breathtaking views of the caldera from its location 363 metres above sea level, while the hotel will create a new yoga and pilates studio with adjoining fitness area featuring the latest Technogym equipment.

Complimentary group yoga sessions will be offered twice daily while those wanting a more tailored approach can reserve private training.

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Greece How much? Room rates start at £464 per night including breakfast and taxes.

To book: email res.santorini@gracehotels.com.

Kalamata Ruben Cabezuelo, short-haul product and purchasing manager, Simply Luxury Short Haul by Travel 2, recommends Kalamata, a bustling seaside city in a historic and beautiful region in the Peloponnese.

The city is the perfect destination for first-time visitors who want to experience a taste of ancient Greece. Just 20 miles from Kalamata is the ancient site of Messene. The beginnings of this site date back to the 10th century BC, and today, you can see the fortification walls, parts of the old theatre, the temples of Zeus and Poseidon and the sanctuaries of Ithomi.

Cabezuelo says the best hotels to stay in are the Westin Resort and the Romanos. “The two hotels are joined by a traditional Greek village which is home to 25 restaurants and bars. The resort is great for couples and families and has a bowling alley, cinema, two golf courses and an award-winning spa. And there is a new direct BA flight route to Kalamata operating from April to October 2016.”

How much? Travel 2 features seven nights’ bed and breakfast at The Westin Resort in Costa Navarino from £729 per person include flights and transfers.

To book: travel2.com

Families Daios Cove, Crete This luxury hotel in the resort of Agios Nikolaos on the island of Crete is putting children at the heart of its summer events with a programme of fun new Greece-inspired activities for

children, created by resort childcare specialists Worldwide Kids.

The first new activity theme – Mythical Greece – is a nod to the rich history on the famous Greek island. Guests aged between four and 12 will have the chance to channel their creativity and energy.

Kids can get messy, arty and creative in Greek Mosaic classes; show off their sporty side throwing discuses and having running races in the Hellenic Olympics; and become budding chefs in the kitchen in Meze Chefs classes. In these sessions, children will learn about healthy eating while creating delicious Greek dishes using ingredients that make the most of the island’s rich natural produce, including olives, tomatoes and cheese.

Under the Sea is also a new set of activities aimed at the underfours and includes the seaside atlas activity, which gives young guests the chance to make their own secret treasure map with brightly coloured paints, string and other craft materials. The children will then be taken on a beach safari where the young explorers will follow the trails plotted on their new friends’ maps and head off in search of glittering treasure.

Meanwhile, children over four will learn to use aqua scopes that they have made in the kids’ club to explore the shallow, crystalclear water of Daios Cove’s private beach.

Daois Cove has introduced new accommodation for families for 2016 which includes premium sea view suites that sleep up to two adults, two children and one infant. Family rooms are equipped with all the necessary gear so families can travel light.

And for the parents? Well of course, there’s an extensive selection of restaurants serving-up gourmet Mediterranean cuisine, a range of bars, a water-sport and diving centre, two tennis courts and a state-of-the art spa.

How much? Nightly rates at Daios Cove start from £482 based on two adults and one child sharing a deluxe sea view room.

To book: daioscove.com

Culture vultures should use the Westin Resort close to the seaside city of Kalamata to explore the ancient site of Messene in the Peloponnese

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Greece Ikos Olivia Travel 2 suggests that families looking for a relaxing Greek break should check into Ikos Olivia on the tranquil coast of Halkidiki, which is opening four brand new, two-bedroom beach-front bungalow suites for 2016.

Travel 2’s Cabezuelo says: “The Ikos Olivia Resort is a popular choice for family all-inclusive holidays. All restaurant at the hotel offer kids’ menus and there is an a la carte restaurants at the resort which has a range of cuisines including French, Italian and Asian with many of the menus created by Michelin-starred chefs.

The resort also gives guests the chance to dine at a selection of local Greek restaurants as part of the all-inclusive package. There are three kids’ pools at the resort as well as the Heros' Kids’ Club which have team games, mini-discos and beach activities.�

How much? Prices lead in at £1,029 per person for seven nights’ all-inclusive in a double garden view room, including return flights from London and return private transfers To book: travel2.com

Couples Couples keen to avoid resorts where they might be sharing a pool with hordes of toddlers should look no further than the latest offering from Unique Kefalonia.

The villa specialist has opened F Zeen, its first boutique hotel, which is adults-only, and the first hotel of its kind on Kefalonia.The 28-room hotel is situated in a beachfront location in Lourdas, southern Kefalonia and is equipped with an outdoor gym, built into the mountainside.

New for 2016, yoga classes will be offered every other day on an outdoor deck next to the gym offering views of the turquoise blue sea.

The hotel’s restaurant, F Ble serves traditional, healthy Greek food, including freshly marinated grilled vegetables and Ionian sea foods, and will be introducing more vegetarian and vegan options this year.

Also new for this year is wine-tasting at the hotel, hosted by Gentilini, Kefalonia’s boutique vineyard which produces six core organic wines as well as some experimental wines each year.

An outdoor cinema, nestled among the olive trees and colourful plants, will take place regularly showing a mix of classic films.

The new hotel complements Unique’s existing portfolio of 35 beautiful villas dotted across the island.

How much? Jet2holidays is offering seven nights at F Zeen from ÂŁ1,320. This is based on two adults sharing a classic retreat room and is on a bed and breakfast basis. Flights depart from Manchester.

To book: jet2holidays.com Culture vultures Classic Collection Holidays recommends Crete for culture vultures as it offers a richly diverse culture. Head of purchasing Gary Boyer says: “The first civilisation in Europe, the Minoans, began here and was followed by Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Venetians and Turks. “Those wanting to explore Crete’s third largest town, Rethymnon, with its Venetian architecture, fortress, mosques and loggias would do well to stay at the Rimondi Boutique Hotel ideally situated in the heart of the medieval old town. Parts of the building date back to the Venetian occupation of Crete (1200 – 1600 AD), with obvious influences from the Renaissance. “The architects had the vision to preserve the local history and highlight the historical and cultural significance of the building and its location.�

All About The Mediterranean Islands

Book into the Domes of Elounda and explore the magical and mythical island of Crete

Boyer says smaller boutique hotels on the island, the Antica Dimore, Rimondi and Grecotel Caramel Boutique Resort, have sold exceptionally well, and as a result Classic has added the 48bedroom Castello Boutique Resort and Spa, a chic and charming, adults-only property in Sissi.

Travel 2 also recommends Crete for those wanting a cultural break, and in particular a stay at the Domes of Elounda hotel in Crete, is one of Travel 2’s best-selling properties.

Travel 2’s Cabezuelo says: “The historic coastal town of Aghios Nikolaos is a must visit for those on a cultural holiday. The town faces the sea from three different angles, the port, the Kitroplatia

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Greece The first-ever, adults-only hotel from Unique Kefalonia

beach and the marina. According to the Greek myth, the goddesses Athena and Artemis bathed in this ‘bottomless’ lake.

“A must visit for foodies is the village of Plaka located in Mirabello Bay, right opposite the island of Spinalonga, a former leper colony, which is a huge tourist attraction today. Plaka used to be a tiny fishing village and it’s now a charming little place frequently visited by travellers wanting to enjoy some traditional local recipes.”

How much? Classic Collection Holidays offers seven nights at Rimondi Boutique Hotel in Rethymnon from £954 in June.

To book: classic-collection.co.uk Peloponnese Lonely Planet has just named the Peloponnese in Greece as Europe's top destination for summer 2016 pointing out that this ‘diverse and vibrant’ region is both affordable and culturally stimulating for visitors.

Widely recognised as the true Greece, the region is home to Olympia, the site of the Olympic Games that were held every four years between the 8th century BC and the 4th century AD. There’s also the town of Mycenae, which was the kingdom of the mighty Agamemnon, leader of the Greek army during the Trojan war, and Mystras, built as an amphitheatre around the fortress in 1249. There’s also a new hiking trail between Stemnitas and Lagkadia - and the Nemean wine region, one of Greece’s most important red wine producing areas with around 40 wineries.

All About The Mediterranean Islands

And not forgetting, some of the best beaches in Greece; stunning landscapes with plenty of nature trails that will appeal to walkers and traditional villages in which to experience Greek life as it has been for centuries.

Greek independent hotel group, Aldemar Resorts offers two hotels in Skafidia, west Peloponnese - the five-star Aldemar Royal Olympian, which is ideal for couples and the five-star Aldemar Olympian Village, which is great for families.

Both offer ultra-stylish accommodation, an beachfront location and plenty of facilities.

How much? Prices start at £168 for a double room at the Olympian Village on a half board basis, based on two people sharing. This price is quoted on a minimum five-night stay in the summer.

To book: aldemar-resorts.gr

Do the knowledge Agents interested in becoming Greece experts can complete the newly update Greece course and get a chance to win some amazing prizes throughout the year. The Greece course is available on the Travel Gym platform. travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym/destination-training 15

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Cyprus

SEASONAL INGRED A new website, an increase in flight capacity and lots for agents to get involved help to put Cyprus on the map as a year-round destination

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T

he Cyprus Tourism Organisation has a lot to be upbeat about at the moment.

More than one million British holidaymakers headed to the Mediterranean island last year, representing a 19.5% increase on the previous year.

And latest data shows that bookings to Cyprus from the UK were up by 20% winter 2015/16 and are already 15% up for this summer.

For a number of years now, the CTO has been promoting the island as a year-round holiday destination, by highlighting the winter activities that visitors can take part in such as golf, road cycling and mountain biking. And it seems these winter sun campaigns have finally started to pay off with visitor numbers up by 20% for last winter.

The CTO is working hard with the trade to communicate the message that Cyprus

is a year-round destination, with more to offer than just sun, sea and sand.

Lillian Panayi, assistant to the director of the CTO, says: “We have a schedule of activities to promote the island as a yearround destination and highlight our winter tourism product. These include joint events with our key partners, such as workshops, training sessions, roadshows, as well as educational visits.

“We have already hosted fam trips for mainstream travel agents this year so that they get to experience the main resorts, key attractions and new developments. And there are further educational visits to follow in the autumn.

“We have also held a special-interest educational to promote spa and gastronomy for a group of nine upmarket tour operators. There are various other activities planned throughout the year to promote our special-interest product, for

All About The Mediterranean Islands

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Cyprus Alex Babic from Constantinou Bros Hotels says winter bookings are already up by 20% at its properties on the island, which includes the Athena Beach Hotel

Glasgow and Cardiff next month, while Romanian-based Blue Air began flights between Luton and Larnaca in April. The new direct service is scheduled to operate three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

These new routes will increase flight options significantly between the UK and Cyprus and offer more flexible options for Brits heading to Cypriot shores this year.

Hotel groups on the island have welcomed the increase in flight capacity.

Alex Babic, UK sales and marketing director of Constantinou Bros Hotels, which owns four luxury properties in Cyprus, says the winter market is very buoyant thanks to the increase in flight capacity from the likes of Thomson and Jet2.

“Sales for summer are up 10% on last year and winter is 20%n up and we are performing well in all four of our hotels which cater for families as well as our adult-only hotels.

“The groups market is also performing very well with bowls, dance and bridge groups returning in ever larger numbers as well as new walking and cycling groups attracting a younger market.” visitcyprus.com

Jet2Holidays

DIENTS

example, a pro-am golf tournament is being organised in December,” adds Panayi “However, the main objective when organising educational visits is for the agents to experience our product first hand.”

The CTO has invested in a new website that is designed to make it easier for visitors to conduct searches based on their individual searches. New video clips have also been produced for the website, highlighting certain themes, such as ‘sun and sea’, ‘activity’, ‘rural Cyprus’ , ‘history and culture’.

Panayi says: “We hope this will provide a useful tool both for the agents to improve their knowledge, but also to show their clients.”

The CTO has also welcomed the launch of new flights from Larnaca to the UK. Cobalt Air will start flying from Larnaca to London, Manchester, East Midlands,

All About The Mediterranean Islands

The operator, which serves Cyprus from six UK airports, including East Midlands, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle, has introduced a new resort in Cyprus for 2016.

The four-star St Elias Resort in Protaras has a children’s play park, kids’ club, and kids’ pool all on site, and for the adults, there’s a chance to keep active on the basketball, tennis and volleyball courts before unwinding in the spa.

Prices lead in at £539 per person for seven nights’ all-inclusive based on two adults and one child sharing, including flights and return transfers. jet2holidays.com

Sunvil The Cypriot specialist has long been a proponent of sustainable tourism initiatives on the island, says Dudley der Parthog, Sunvil director of its Greek programme.

“At Sunvil, we like to encourage our customers, especially our off-peak ones, to follow self-drive routes to the wine villages, to see how wine is produced, to learn how to harvest olives in November, how to make the famous halloumi cheese, and to go walking in the Troodos

Mountains or in the lovely Akamas National Park, rich in flowering orchids in spring.

“In fact, in spring, the whole island is awash with spring flowers – quite beautiful. There are lace-making villages, there’s vibrant yellow mimosa blossom in spring and turtles nest on many of the beaches of Cyprus from April to June, hatching in August.

“Gastronomy is a good reason to visit Cyprus out of season, too – to sample at a relaxed pace the Cypriot welcome in the villages, without the crowds but with the sunshine, as you dine outdoors and savour the home-cooked, traditional flavours of the superb cuisine of the island,” adds der Parthog.

“Paphos will of course be European Capital of Culture in 2017 – a chance for visitors to see the wonderful mosaics at the huge site right on the edge of Paphos town and to enjoy world-class cultural events throughout the year. sunvil.co.uk

BookYourWeddingDay A new website is poised to launch later this month that aims to make the process of booking weddings overseas much easier for agents, operators and wedding planners.

BookYourWeddingDay.com will be the first online booking system that will allow trade partners and wedding planners to secure confirmed overseas wedding dates and venues instantly – and Cyprus and Greece will be the first destinations to be featured.

All they will have to do is log on to the site, browse destinations, choose the preferred venue, and view availability over a three-week period around the ideal date. Every venue will also list the available time slots for the actual ceremony, which are all synchronised with the local town hall’s calendar.

Once the venue, date and time are chosen, the booking can be made online, using any credit card. The booking fee is £100 to secure the desired venue on the selected date and time without any waiting time; once the payment is made, an instant confirmation will be sent to the registered email address.

Previously, agents would have to contact a local wedding planner, who would then have to contact local authorities, meaning the whole process could take up to six weeks.

For more information, email info@bookyourweddingday.com

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Best of the rest The Sardinian resort of Chia Laguna has teamed up with Juventas football legend Fabrizio Ravanelli to launch a summer football camp for children staying at the resort

Best of the rest

Venture to the Italian islands of Sardinia and Sicily and the French destination of Corsica for that ultimate, exclusive Mediterranean feel Sardinia The exclusive resort of Chia Laguna on the glitzy and glamourous Italian island of Sardinia is taking a tactical approach to keeping the kids entertained this summer.

The hotel has teamed up Italian football player and Juventus Legend Fabrizio Ravanelli to launch the in-resort, all-new Juventus Training Experience, aimed at young footballers aged between five and 14 years old.

The new football experience including five-day courses are available from 30 July until the 11 September, and are a one-off opportunity for keen young footballers to have fun and hone their ball skills under the expert coaches from Juventus Football Club.

Fabrizio Ravanelli will be mentoring the children from 1-5 August, while UK Premier League players Andrew Johnson and Bobby Zamora will also be hosting the courses throughout August.

How much? The new Juventus Training Experience will take place every Monday to Friday, and will cost £418 per child, including a black and white Adidas Juventus Training Experience kit to take home.

Nightly rates at Chia Laguna’s Hotel Village start at £372 based on a family of three sharing a Classic Room on a halfboard basis.

To book: email travel@chialagunaresort.com

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Sardinian Places has bolstered its accommodation offering with the inclusion of the three-bedroom Villa Blue Coral close to the exclusive Marina of Porto Cervo.

The villa features a private pool, wifi, a private garden, open-plan lounge and living room with separate kitchen, double, twin and single bedrooms all with en-suite shower rooms and all the usual mod cons including satellite TV and air-conditioning.

How much? Prices lead in at £864 per person for seven nights including flights from Luton, car hire and a welcome pack on arrival.

To book: SardinianPlaces.co.uk

Sicily Battered Suitcase has launched a 10-day cultural tour of Sicily that takes visitors on a tour of the island’s historical gems and UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

The first two nights of the tour are spent in the island’s capital of Palermo with a day’s guided sightseeing, followed by two nights in Agrigento with visits to Segesta, one of the best preserved and most beautiful of all the Greek archaeological sites, the medieval mountain top town of Erice and the Valley of the Temples World Heritage Site.

Other highlights include an overnight stay in Noto and visits to the third-century Roman Villa del Casale, a World Heritage site containing a large and complex

collection of Roman mosaics. The tour also stops in at the ancient Greek city of Syracuse, the city of Catania and nearby Mount Etna, Europe’s largest active volcano for a cable-car ride to its summit to enjoy stunning views and lunar landscape.

The tour ends with free time in the famous city of Taormina that dates from the third and fourth centuries BC, and is also home to the ancient Greek amphitheatre, Teatro Greco.

How much? Prices for the Sicilian Cultural Tour are from £4,594 per person based on two sharing a room. The price includes international flights from a London airport, private transfers to and from the airport in Sicily, a car with an English-speaking driver/guide for eight days as well as local guides at the major sites and cities plus entry fees into attractions.

To book: battered-suitcase.com

Corsica Corsican Places has introduced Casa Joséphine, a romantic hideaway for two in the southern region of Corsica.

Casa Joséphine, which is just 10 miles outside of the main town of Porto Vecchio, has an open plan living and dining room with kitchen area, double bedroom and shower room, along with a private pool, wifi, barbecue and air-conditioning How much? Prices lead in at £649 per person including flights and care hire.

To book: Corsica.co.uk All About The Mediterranean Islands

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Holidays for less than

Holidays

Kirker Holidays' Chopin Festival tour of Majorca spends a day in the island's capital of Palma

for less than...

From breaks in the Balearics to solo holidays in Greece, here is a round-up of the latest hot deals £1,000 Jet2Holidays has introduced a brand new property to its summer 2016 programme.

The Zante Maris Suites is an adult-only hillside retreat with stunning views of Tsilivi and the Ionian Sea. How much? Prices lead in at £679 per person for seven nights’ bed and breakfast.

To book: jet2holidays.com To book: sovereign.com Solos Holidays, single travel specialist has added a new Greek itinerary to its walking programme for 2016. Corfu Trails is a seven-night holiday, staying at the familyrun Liapades Beach Hotel, just a stone’s throw from Yefira Beach and close to Rovinia Beach.

How much? Corfu Trails costs from £899 per person with flights from Gatwick. The price is based on 23 September departures and includes breakfast and dinner daily, welcome drink and information meeting, four guided walks, a Greek music evening All About The Mediterranean Islands

and the services of an accompanying Solos Tour Leader.

To book: solosholidays.co.uk Inntravel has reintroduced walking holidays to Sardinia for 2016 with Golden Dunes of the Costa Verde self-guided walking which gives hikers the chance to discover the surprisingly varied landscapes of Sardinia, walking from the dramatic mountains to the spectacular coastal dunes with their pristine beaches.

How much? Inntravel offers a week’s walking on Sardinia from £715pp based on two sharing, including seven nights’ half board, five picnics, walking maps and notes and luggage transfers.

To book: inntravel.co.uk

£2,000 Kirker Holidays has just confirmed a spring 2017 date for its popular Chopin Festival in Majorca. The tour will depart on 4 May.

How much? Prices for the six-night escorted tour lead in at £1,795 per person including British Airways flights to Palma from Heathrow, six nights’ accommodation with breakfast at the three-star, family-run Mar i Vent in the small village of Banyalbufar, six dinners, two lunches, all sightseeing, transfers, entrance fees and gratuities, five concerts and the services of the Kirker tour leader.

£3,000 Sunshine is offering seven nights at the five-star Abi D’Oru resort in Olbia, Sardinia.

How much? Prices lead in at £1,483 per person for seven nights’ half-board based on two people sharing and including flights from Gatwick with EasyJet. The price is based on 2 August departures.

To book: sunshine.co.uk/hotels/Abi_D’Oru_ Hotel-3515.html

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