British Airways has announced that following the airline's suspension of its First Class service to Mauritius over the low season summer period this year, it has reintroduced its exclusive First cabin back to the route.
Offering exceptional comfort and refined surroundings, each individual First cabin seat converts into a completely flat six foot six inch bed at the touch of a button and a Turndown Service means beds will be made up upon request at any time of day. New soft touches have been added in 2009 including a range of well-being products from D.R Harris enclosed in a new stylish Anya Hindmarch bag, exclusively designed for First.
During the new winter schedule, British Airways will continue to operate three weekly direct flights from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Mauritius on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The route will be operated by Boeing 747 aircraft with a four-class configuration: World Traveller, World Traveller Plus, Club World and First, almost doubling the number of premium seats available on the flight.
Mauritius holidays are associated with blue lagoons, picture-perfect white-sand beaches and delectable food. Exceptional service and attention to detail is the standard during a luxury holidays in Mauritius. Customers can find the finest hotels on the island, elegant properties varying from stylish, modern designs to traditional, colonial style hotels, spread across the large number of different beaches.
Almost 70% of British Airways customers book a 5* hotel for their holiday in Mauritius. British Airways' most popular Mauritius hotel is the contemporary and sophisticated 5* Le Touessrok, the ideal choice for ultimate relaxation. The recently renovated 5* Les Pavillions located on the turquoise lagoon of Le Morne Peninsula, nestled in lush tropical gardens and the 5* Four Seasons Resort at Anahita, opened towards the end of 2008, take tropical luxury to an even higher level. Or, by staying at the 5* The Oberoi Mauritius, customers will feel like stepping into another world - exclusivity and discreet service - the idyllic retreat for romance and relaxation.
In 2010 British Airways will commence its upgrade of First on all flights, with only the best designers and chefs being asked to contribute their skills to create the ultimate First experience. This level of detail will culminate in a luxurious new cabin and seat, for which the British Airways designers have taken their inspiration from the craftsmanship in the world's most prestigious vehicles.
Monday, November 9, 2009
A new magazine: The Pleasure of Bordeaux
The Bordeaux Wine Council (CIVB) presents “The Pleasure of Bordeaux”; a solo magazine that reveals the famous wine region as a welcoming, enticing and enchanting place to visit.
Published for the CIVB by Food and Travel magazine, 1.8 million copies have been produced and will be distributed with The Sunday Times on 8th November and The Sunday Telegraph on 22nd November. The magazine will also be available at appropriate consumer events.
“The Pleasure of Bordeaux” includes everything that wine enthusiasts have come to expect from Bordeaux: cookery schools, tourist festivals, traditional recipes, food markets and gentle education about the different appellations.
Other contents in the magazine examine the unexpected, alternative and more challenging ways to view the vineyards; canoeing the waterways, driving golf balls down fairways named after châteaux, riding on horseback through vines, cycling old rail routes, or even flying overhead in hot-air balloons.
Douglas Morton, UK consultant to the CIVB, says: “For every large Bordeaux property with a well-known label and official visitor centre, there are a dozen smaller, family-run estates, ready to welcome you and share their way of life, usually over a glass of the latest vintage. Exploring the region is key because, as the locals well know, Bordeaux is not simply about wine – it offers opportunities and itineraries for all types of visitor.”
Contributing Editor Jane Anson has lived in Bordeaux since 2003 and offers an insight into some of the more secret activities – fishing in Pauillac, indulging in wine spas and surfing the Mascaret wave.
Other highlights in the magazine include a heartfelt article by Oz Clarke on his passion for Bordeaux, and wine critic, Charles Metcalfe, matching food and wine to show how Bordeaux wines help good food taste even better.
Douglas Morton adds: “The magic of Bordeaux lies in the fact that the personalities of the 10,000 châteaux are reflected in their wines. There is no mass production here – more an annual labour of love.”
Published for the CIVB by Food and Travel magazine, 1.8 million copies have been produced and will be distributed with The Sunday Times on 8th November and The Sunday Telegraph on 22nd November. The magazine will also be available at appropriate consumer events.
“The Pleasure of Bordeaux” includes everything that wine enthusiasts have come to expect from Bordeaux: cookery schools, tourist festivals, traditional recipes, food markets and gentle education about the different appellations.
Other contents in the magazine examine the unexpected, alternative and more challenging ways to view the vineyards; canoeing the waterways, driving golf balls down fairways named after châteaux, riding on horseback through vines, cycling old rail routes, or even flying overhead in hot-air balloons.
Douglas Morton, UK consultant to the CIVB, says: “For every large Bordeaux property with a well-known label and official visitor centre, there are a dozen smaller, family-run estates, ready to welcome you and share their way of life, usually over a glass of the latest vintage. Exploring the region is key because, as the locals well know, Bordeaux is not simply about wine – it offers opportunities and itineraries for all types of visitor.”
Contributing Editor Jane Anson has lived in Bordeaux since 2003 and offers an insight into some of the more secret activities – fishing in Pauillac, indulging in wine spas and surfing the Mascaret wave.
Other highlights in the magazine include a heartfelt article by Oz Clarke on his passion for Bordeaux, and wine critic, Charles Metcalfe, matching food and wine to show how Bordeaux wines help good food taste even better.
Douglas Morton adds: “The magic of Bordeaux lies in the fact that the personalities of the 10,000 châteaux are reflected in their wines. There is no mass production here – more an annual labour of love.”
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Get more from Thomson and First
Thomson and First Choice have today announced a further addition to their long-haul programme with the introduction of Costa Rica for winter 2010. This is a brand new holiday destination for Thomson and will be the first time that First Choice has featured this destination within its winter programme.
Thomson Airways, which operates flights for Thomson and First Choice holidaymakers, will now be the only UK airline to offer direct flights to Costa Rica making this destination more accessible to British holidaymakers looking to travel somewhere that little bit different. Flights will begin on a weekly basis from 10 November 2010 and will depart from Gatwick airport.
Costa Rica offers breathtaking natural beauty with stunning beaches, vibrantly coloured wildlife, lush natural parks and incredible cloud forests contrasted with mighty volcanoes, bubbling mud pits and cascading waterfalls. A number of exciting tours will allow holidaymakers to explore this unique destination including: a two night Adventure Taster Tour, a four night Cloud Forest Tour or a seven night Grand Tour of Costa Rica.
Marie Wilson, head of long-haul product for Thomson and First Choice said: “We are always looking at new and exciting ways to expand our long-haul programme to ensure that we offer a wide range of holidays to cater for all tastes. With our direct flights, great variety of hotels and exciting tours, Thomson and First Choice customers will now be able to easily discover the laid-back vibe and unforgettable charm of this adventure-filled tropical playground.”
Thomson and First Choice will be offering customers 7, 14 or 21 night holidays in a range of different resorts in Costa Rica. So whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s a relaxing holiday by the beach, an active getaway or a natural adventure in the rainforest you can choose from some of these exciting hotels:
RIU Guanacaste - Thomson (Platinum) & First Choice (Premier )
For those looking for a peaceful and luxurious breakaway then the RIU Guanacaste is the place to be. Hidden away in acres of Costa Rican forest and right on the beachfront, this grand hotel has got a real back-to-nature feel. But it isn’t all relaxation, for those wanting to venture from their sun beds there’s tons of all inclusive facilities including outdoor pools, watersports and an entertainment programme for grown ups and kids.
First Choice offers seven night holidays to Costa Rica staying all-inclusive at the brand new, 4 Sun plus, RIU Guancaste from £1069 per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November 2010.
Paradisus Playa Conchal – Thomson (Platinum) & First Choice (Premier)
If you want an active tropical adventure mixed with good food and relaxation, the Paradisus Playa Conchal offers all three. Set on a long stretch of beach, there’s lots to keep you occupied from watersports, tennis courts and even a climbing wall. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you’ll be struggling to decide where to eat as there’s five à la carte restaurants, plus the usual buffet set-up offering.
Thomson offers 7 night holidays to Costa Rica staying all-inclusive at the 5T Paradisus Playa Conchal from £1359 per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November 2010.
Occidental Grand Papagayo - First Choice
For a real flavour of Costa Rican nature, the Occidental Grand Papagayo is set in the beautiful surroundings of Costa Rica’s northern coastline. It offers top service, great food and excellent activities. There’s a big lagoon-style pool, while the sands of Buena Beach are seconds away.
First Choice offers 7 night holidays to Costa Ricastaying at all inclusive at the 4 Sun plus Occidental Grand Papagayo from £1069 per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November 2010.
Occidental Allegro Papagayo- Thomson
If you’re looking for a big resort with an array of facilities then the Occidental Allegro has it all. The hotel is a series of three-storey buildings terraced down a hillside and it’s so big there’s a shuttle bus between buildings. The star attraction here, is the lagoon pool that features a large swim-up bar for in-water cocktails and bouquet of palms is set in the middle of the water. Plus there’s a separate area for children.
Thomson offers seven night holidays to Costa Rica staying all-inclusive at the 3T+ Occidental Allegro from £979* per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November, 2010.
Thomson Airways, which operates flights for Thomson and First Choice holidaymakers, will now be the only UK airline to offer direct flights to Costa Rica making this destination more accessible to British holidaymakers looking to travel somewhere that little bit different. Flights will begin on a weekly basis from 10 November 2010 and will depart from Gatwick airport.
Costa Rica offers breathtaking natural beauty with stunning beaches, vibrantly coloured wildlife, lush natural parks and incredible cloud forests contrasted with mighty volcanoes, bubbling mud pits and cascading waterfalls. A number of exciting tours will allow holidaymakers to explore this unique destination including: a two night Adventure Taster Tour, a four night Cloud Forest Tour or a seven night Grand Tour of Costa Rica.
Marie Wilson, head of long-haul product for Thomson and First Choice said: “We are always looking at new and exciting ways to expand our long-haul programme to ensure that we offer a wide range of holidays to cater for all tastes. With our direct flights, great variety of hotels and exciting tours, Thomson and First Choice customers will now be able to easily discover the laid-back vibe and unforgettable charm of this adventure-filled tropical playground.”
Thomson and First Choice will be offering customers 7, 14 or 21 night holidays in a range of different resorts in Costa Rica. So whatever you’re looking for, whether it’s a relaxing holiday by the beach, an active getaway or a natural adventure in the rainforest you can choose from some of these exciting hotels:
RIU Guanacaste - Thomson (Platinum) & First Choice (Premier )
For those looking for a peaceful and luxurious breakaway then the RIU Guanacaste is the place to be. Hidden away in acres of Costa Rican forest and right on the beachfront, this grand hotel has got a real back-to-nature feel. But it isn’t all relaxation, for those wanting to venture from their sun beds there’s tons of all inclusive facilities including outdoor pools, watersports and an entertainment programme for grown ups and kids.
First Choice offers seven night holidays to Costa Rica staying all-inclusive at the brand new, 4 Sun plus, RIU Guancaste from £1069 per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November 2010.
Paradisus Playa Conchal – Thomson (Platinum) & First Choice (Premier)
If you want an active tropical adventure mixed with good food and relaxation, the Paradisus Playa Conchal offers all three. Set on a long stretch of beach, there’s lots to keep you occupied from watersports, tennis courts and even a climbing wall. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you’ll be struggling to decide where to eat as there’s five à la carte restaurants, plus the usual buffet set-up offering.
Thomson offers 7 night holidays to Costa Rica staying all-inclusive at the 5T Paradisus Playa Conchal from £1359 per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November 2010.
Occidental Grand Papagayo - First Choice
For a real flavour of Costa Rican nature, the Occidental Grand Papagayo is set in the beautiful surroundings of Costa Rica’s northern coastline. It offers top service, great food and excellent activities. There’s a big lagoon-style pool, while the sands of Buena Beach are seconds away.
First Choice offers 7 night holidays to Costa Ricastaying at all inclusive at the 4 Sun plus Occidental Grand Papagayo from £1069 per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November 2010.
Occidental Allegro Papagayo- Thomson
If you’re looking for a big resort with an array of facilities then the Occidental Allegro has it all. The hotel is a series of three-storey buildings terraced down a hillside and it’s so big there’s a shuttle bus between buildings. The star attraction here, is the lagoon pool that features a large swim-up bar for in-water cocktails and bouquet of palms is set in the middle of the water. Plus there’s a separate area for children.
Thomson offers seven night holidays to Costa Rica staying all-inclusive at the 3T+ Occidental Allegro from £979* per person. Departing from London Gatwick on 15th November, 2010.
Superbreak announce winner of Dream Break competition
Superbreak, the short break specialist, has announced the end of its 'Win a Dream Break' competition, with Paul Marshall of Oldham, Greater Manchester picking up the £1000 prize fund with which to build his own dream break. The prize can be customised to the winner's content, so long as all components are purchased through Superbreak's site.
Superbreak asked entrants to describe their ideal break in 20 words or less before 31 October 2009, with the winner's draw taking place on the following day.
Since the launch of the competition in September, the 'Build Your Dream Break' Facebook page has attained over 100 fans and Superbreak received 551 entries for the competition itself.
Paul Marshall has decided to spend his £1000 prize fund on a short break to Lake Garda, Italy, located in the Italian Lakes region, which is home to 17 of Superbreak's 300 Italian hotels.
Will Dunnett, Marketing Director at Superbreak said: "We never expected the Dream Break Competition to be so popular, with suggestions from right across the UK and Europe's most popular destinations. From day one we've literally been inundated with entries and are proud to announce the winner. We hope that we are able to pack more in to Paul's dream break with Superbreak's range of hotels, excursions and entertainments."
Superbreak asked entrants to describe their ideal break in 20 words or less before 31 October 2009, with the winner's draw taking place on the following day.
Since the launch of the competition in September, the 'Build Your Dream Break' Facebook page has attained over 100 fans and Superbreak received 551 entries for the competition itself.
Paul Marshall has decided to spend his £1000 prize fund on a short break to Lake Garda, Italy, located in the Italian Lakes region, which is home to 17 of Superbreak's 300 Italian hotels.
Will Dunnett, Marketing Director at Superbreak said: "We never expected the Dream Break Competition to be so popular, with suggestions from right across the UK and Europe's most popular destinations. From day one we've literally been inundated with entries and are proud to announce the winner. We hope that we are able to pack more in to Paul's dream break with Superbreak's range of hotels, excursions and entertainments."
Monday, November 2, 2009
Late deals sales surge as we flee to warmer climates
Leading online travel agent On the Beach reports a rise in sales of last minute flight and hotel deals to winter sun destinations, with latest figures up almost 40% compared to October 2008.
Sales of late deals to beach destinations across the globe are outperforming sales of 2008. The most popular destinations and the biggest movers include the USA (up 11%), the Caribbean (up 16%) and the Canary Islands (up 19%).
The Canary Island of Tenerife is proving to be the most popular winter sun destination with sales up 11% year on year.
Holidaymakers are grabbing late deals with the news that hoteliers around the world are reducing prices by up to 30% due to occupancy levels at an all time low.
Winter sun holidays are being extended this year, with the average stay up to nine nights compared to seven nights in 2008. With many Britons taking a shorter summer holiday this year, this increase may be due to many still have much of their annual holiday entitlement left.
With the UK slowly dragging itself out of recession, summer 2010 also seems set to be busy with On the Beach reporting forward sales up more than 20% year on year. At the moment, Turkey is a favourite to be the number one choice yet again, however sales to Spain are also looking very positive.
Simon Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at On the Beach comments; “With more people choosing to holiday at home in summer 2009 than in previous years, it’s encouraging to see the late deals market picking up. With hoteliers and airlines slashing prices, there are so many fantastic deals around at the moment. Summer 2010 is set to be another good season for Turkey but I expect Euro destinations to fare much better next year.”
Sales of late deals to beach destinations across the globe are outperforming sales of 2008. The most popular destinations and the biggest movers include the USA (up 11%), the Caribbean (up 16%) and the Canary Islands (up 19%).
The Canary Island of Tenerife is proving to be the most popular winter sun destination with sales up 11% year on year.
Holidaymakers are grabbing late deals with the news that hoteliers around the world are reducing prices by up to 30% due to occupancy levels at an all time low.
Winter sun holidays are being extended this year, with the average stay up to nine nights compared to seven nights in 2008. With many Britons taking a shorter summer holiday this year, this increase may be due to many still have much of their annual holiday entitlement left.
With the UK slowly dragging itself out of recession, summer 2010 also seems set to be busy with On the Beach reporting forward sales up more than 20% year on year. At the moment, Turkey is a favourite to be the number one choice yet again, however sales to Spain are also looking very positive.
Simon Cooper, Chief Executive Officer at On the Beach comments; “With more people choosing to holiday at home in summer 2009 than in previous years, it’s encouraging to see the late deals market picking up. With hoteliers and airlines slashing prices, there are so many fantastic deals around at the moment. Summer 2010 is set to be another good season for Turkey but I expect Euro destinations to fare much better next year.”
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Independent Holidays in Cairo Beat Cheap Egypt Package Holidays this Winter
This new breed of backpackers are shunning cheap package deals for a more authentic travel experience, choosing Cairo and Dahab over traditional package holiday favourite Sharm el Sheikh.
Cairo is the booking site’s most popular destination year-round in Egypt, with its mix of ancient relics, buzzing bazaars and lively nightlife. Temperatures are at a pleasant 25 degrees in November, ideal for sightseeing and exploring this exotic city.
HostelBookers have hostels close to all the main attractions downtown, so travellers can save money and see the real Egypt at the same time on a Cairo Holiday.
The top six hostels in Cairo were rated at 90% or higher by HostelBookers customers. Recommended for being safe, clean and away from downtown noise, travellers also rated their Cairo hostel for arranging personalised tours around the city and sharing essential travel tips.
With rooms starting at just 5 Euros per person per night for a shared room, here are some of the best Cairo Hostels:
WakeUp Hostel Cairo
Wake Up is popular for its plum location smack in the heart of downtown. Rooms have views of the Nile and Old Cairo, and there’s a kitchen and common room with internet access.
A guest writes:
“We loved Wake Up! Small and cosy, the staff were more helpful than words can describe. Always ready to write out directions, phonetic translations, or just plain hang out with you. The Room had Air Conditioning and was mosquito free - a very tough thing to find in Egypt!”
Meramees Hostel
The Meramees has a laid-back atmosphere and homely touches like fresh flowers, comfy sofas and art on the walls. In a safe and central location, it’s easy to explore the city on foot. There’s even free airport pickup, and a travel desk offering cheap tours.
A guest writes:
“The staff were absolutely wonderful! Rooms are large and clean...Great location for wandering through downtown and very helpful staff for arranging tours and drivers. I would recommend to anyone travelling on a budget.”
Luna Hotel and Hostel
Another downtown favourite, the Luna’s rooms are clean and secure, with comfortable beds and air-conditioning. The facilities and hospitality are second to none- there’s a professional tour advisor on site, authentic Egyptian breakfasts, 24-hour room service, and a ‘Bedouin Corner’ for chilling after a day of sightseeing.
A guest writes:
“Here, unlike most of the hotels, you can learn Arabic, taste Egyptian cuisine and get familiar with Egyptian culture. With the help of professional tour advisers, you can organize great, unforgettable journeys to places like Aswan, Luxor and many others”
Are we choosing to give the UK the cold shoulder this winter?
Is the The ‘stay-cation’ set to be a thing of the past with 41% of British people bucking the trend in October alone?
With the doors being closed on our disappointing UK summer and early predictions pointing to yet another chilly winter with temperatures hitting an icy average of 3.7 degrees**, more and more consumers are making the last-minute dash overseas in search of some winter sun.
New travel site, hotelly.com, has already seen a significant increase in Brits desperate to escape the impending winter blues with 41% of users opting to fly off into the sun-set already this month.
“In the past few weeks, our site has seen a large amount of users searching for pre-Christmas beach holidays. This is a direct result of Brits taking a ‘stay-cation’ in the summer and, quite frankly, being let down by the weather. For a lot of people, it was a lousy summer and they want to make up for it now,” said Vishal Jain, Director at Hotelly.com. “It’s no surprise that people are snapping up these best value deals to winter sun locations – we expect this to continue well into the New Year.”
According to Hotelly.com, the top five destinations booked in October are
• Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• Tenerife, Canary Islands
• Goa, India
• Lanzarote, Canary Islands
• Dalaman, Turkey
Top five tips to ensure you get the best value for your winter get-away
1. Research your holidays online but always call to book
- Your computer can’t negotiate discounts!
2. Make sure you shop around – the average consumer looks at 23 sites before booking their holiday and spends an average of 46 hours researching holidays
- Even easier, let a comparison site do all the work for you
3. Always beware of the total booking price being different to the original one quoted
- A lot of sites don’t include add-ons at the outset including baggage, check-in, credit card fees, online check-in
4. Don’t trust star ratings. These are given when hotels are opened and can be up to 10 years out of date. You need to research the latest user reviews
- Look at comments, videos, images – not just the glossy hotel brochures that say they’re great
5. In terms of insurance, ensure you ask for supplier failure cover as opposed to ATOL as the former gives you the replacement cost of a flight, not just what you paid
- When an airline goes bust, competitors automatically hike prices by up to hundreds of pounds for immediate departures to those destinations served
These tips are brought to you in association with Hotelly.com.
With the doors being closed on our disappointing UK summer and early predictions pointing to yet another chilly winter with temperatures hitting an icy average of 3.7 degrees**, more and more consumers are making the last-minute dash overseas in search of some winter sun.
New travel site, hotelly.com, has already seen a significant increase in Brits desperate to escape the impending winter blues with 41% of users opting to fly off into the sun-set already this month.
“In the past few weeks, our site has seen a large amount of users searching for pre-Christmas beach holidays. This is a direct result of Brits taking a ‘stay-cation’ in the summer and, quite frankly, being let down by the weather. For a lot of people, it was a lousy summer and they want to make up for it now,” said Vishal Jain, Director at Hotelly.com. “It’s no surprise that people are snapping up these best value deals to winter sun locations – we expect this to continue well into the New Year.”
According to Hotelly.com, the top five destinations booked in October are
• Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
• Tenerife, Canary Islands
• Goa, India
• Lanzarote, Canary Islands
• Dalaman, Turkey
Top five tips to ensure you get the best value for your winter get-away
1. Research your holidays online but always call to book
- Your computer can’t negotiate discounts!
2. Make sure you shop around – the average consumer looks at 23 sites before booking their holiday and spends an average of 46 hours researching holidays
- Even easier, let a comparison site do all the work for you
3. Always beware of the total booking price being different to the original one quoted
- A lot of sites don’t include add-ons at the outset including baggage, check-in, credit card fees, online check-in
4. Don’t trust star ratings. These are given when hotels are opened and can be up to 10 years out of date. You need to research the latest user reviews
- Look at comments, videos, images – not just the glossy hotel brochures that say they’re great
5. In terms of insurance, ensure you ask for supplier failure cover as opposed to ATOL as the former gives you the replacement cost of a flight, not just what you paid
- When an airline goes bust, competitors automatically hike prices by up to hundreds of pounds for immediate departures to those destinations served
These tips are brought to you in association with Hotelly.com.
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