Ski in Bulgaria

The skiing season will be upon us before you know it.

So, where will you ski this year? The same old places?

What about trying somewhere entirely new, this time?

What about the beautiful Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria?

There you'll find Bulgaria's second largest ski resort, Pamporovo.

Enjoy 37 km of pistes for downhill skiing and 25 km of great cross country skiing, there is a good variety of runs for the amateur to the advanced skier or snowboarder.

The number of ski canons are increased every year ensuring that there is a good cover of snow regardless of the winter weather.

The resort has nine chair lifts and six drag lifts, looked after by the experts, Austrian-based Axess.

What's the capacity? 11,600 people per hour. There's even night skiing under the guidance of a special ski patrol.

Even during the holiday rush skiers never wait for more than 15 minutes to get onto a lift and an experienced English speaking ski guide charges EU25 per hour, the lifts cost EU25 for a full day pass.

Ask at your local travel agents for details.

One place you could stay at is Villa Gella, just visit www.villagella.com for details.

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Women do more work on organising family holidays

Women spend so much time preparing for their holiday including shopping, packing and arranging holiday insurance that they are exhausted by the time they reach their holiday destination, according to new research by UK holiday rentals specialists Owners Direct. www.ownersdirect.co.uk

It seems when it comes to planning and booking a family or couples holiday, women take on the lion’s share Whilst men like to ensure they are involved in the initial decision on where to go including accommodation choices, they are happy to take a back seat from thereon in.

Once the destination has been jointly chosen, 82 per cent of women admit to taking sole responsibility for booking flights, accommodation and car hire. They then go on to arrange insurance, (64%) order currency (55%) buy holiday items like clothes and sun cream (80%) arrange for plants to be watered (69%) and do the packing (64%).

“I do the research, consult my family, but after two minutes my husband does not care anymore and I do the rest,” admitted one woman.

Some women admitted the reasons they take on all responsibility for organising a holiday is that they don’t trust their other half to get things right.

“Last time I let hubby pack he took my underwear out to put something else in the case and I had to go and buy new when we got there,” said one female respondent.

“I gave my husband responsibility for passports one year and he informed me on the way to the airport that mine ran out whilst we were away! No flight for me, just a trip to Glasgow passport office, then the travel agents. £450 later, I was able to join them in Portugal,” recalled another.

The fact that women take on the main responsibility for booking a holiday is backed up by holiday home owners too.

Owners Direct holiday home owner Gillian Chappell who owns a villa in Murcia, southern Spain with her husband Philip says most of their enquiries from the site come from women.

But once women have arrived on holiday, their partners usually take control again with 69 per cent of men saying they do the driving on holiday.

Almost 93 per cent of those questioned in the Owners Direct survey travel with a partner or with their family with 78 per cent opting for European destinations such as Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. Only 16 per cent went further afield in summer 2012 with the remaining 38 per cent deciding on a UK staycation.

Angela Southall, Marketing Manager for Owners Direct said: “As women seem to do all the preparation before they go on holiday, they really need a good rest and a chance to unwind as soon as they arrive. Fortunately, many of our owners work hard to ensure those little extras are there to help them do this like luxurious bedding, pampering toiletries and imaginative welcome hampers – so it’s worthwhile in the end!”

British Airways launch winter sun holidays value offers

British Airways has launched a whole host of great value winter sun holidays. But a word of advice: You must book them by October 24.

Destinations include: Barbados, St Kitts, Tobago, Grenada, St Lucia in the Caribbean; Miami, Orlando and Phoenix in the USA, Bermuda, Dubai and the Maldives, as well as closer to home, Malaga, Faro and newly launched Alicante, plus many others, based on departure dates up to March 31, 2013.

In the Caribbean, customers can save £150 each on seven night holidays in Barbados based on departures from November 1 to December 5 (including return British Airways flights from Gatwick plus room only accommodation at the 3 star All Seasons Resort Europa). Great value all-Inclusive packages are on offer in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic with seven nights accommodation based on departures from January 5 to 25 (including return British Airways flights from Gatwick at the 4 star Now Larimar Punta Cana Resort and Spa). Travellers can also save up to £250 per person in Bermuda on a seven night holiday staying at the 4 star Grotto Bay Beach Resort with room only accommodation and return flights from Heathrow.

US winter sun holidays are also included, with seven night Florida fly-drive holidays with Avis car hire included for the duration and return flights from Gatwick for travel between October 22 and December 14.

Other offers include three nights in Dubai based on departures until December 12 (including return British Airways flights from Heathrow and accommodation with breakfast at the 3.5 star Holiday Inn Express - Dubai Jumeirah). Or closer to home, seven night fly-drive holidays in Malaga can be snapped up with flights and Avis car hire for the duration. Seven night holidays in Faro in the Algarve can be found for travel between January 4 and March 13 (including room only accommodation at the 3 star Atismar and return flights to from Gatwick).

British Airways will also launch new flights to Alicante at the end of October and seven night winter holidays can be taken between December 1 and March 22 with room only accommodation at the 3 star Holiday Inn Alicante - Playa de San Juan and flights from Heathrow.

To make budgeting for holidays even easier, British Airways has introduced a new online deposits service for customers who book a flight and hotel or flight and car package for travel in 2013. Holidays can be secured from as little as £150 per booking with final payment required 10 weeks before departure.

All British Airways flights include a generous free luggage allowance, free on-line check-in and seat selection 24 hours before departure and complimentary food and drink on board.

Etihad Airways set to expand in South America

Etihad Airways is keen to expand its footprint in South America, said President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan.

Mr Hogan said that the airline is currently in discussions with South American-based carriers about potential commercial partnerships.

Etihad Airways currently has 38 codeshare partnerships with airlines around the globe, resulting in a combined network of 323 destinations, more than any other Middle Eastern airline.

Beyond its own organic growth, codeshare partnerships and equity stakes are a significant and growing part of the airline’s expansion strategy. Etihad Airways holds a 30 per cent stake of airberlin, 40 per cent of Air Seychelles, 3 per cent of Aer Lingus and 10 per cent of Virgin Australia.

The airline will launch its first route in South America on June 1, 2013, with daily non-stop flights between Sao Paulo, Brazil and its home base of Abu Dhabi, the capitol of the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways' service will also provide seamless connections from Brazil to the airline's global network, offering connectivity over Abu Dhabi to markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia.

Mr Hogan spoke of the significance of the new route, in particular the economic impact. "Brazil is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, now ranking as the sixth largest since overtaking the UK in 2011. Bi-lateral trade between Brazil and the UAE is valued at nearly US$3 billion annually, with authorities aiming to lift this to US$10 billion within five years.

"There are 25 major Brazilian companies with offices in Abu Dhabi. Mubadala, the development company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, last year signalled its intent to begin investments in Brazil, valued at up to US$13 billion.

"According to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Brazil trade volumes with the Arab world grew by 28 per cent in 2011 to reach US$25 billion. This is forecasted to grow by a further 10-15% this year.

"In addition to supporting the growing ties between Brazil and the Middle East, this new route complements Etihad Airways' recent expansion in North Asia, including the recent introduction of services to Chengdu and Shanghai and the upcoming increase to daily Tokyo services with connections to Nagoya from April 2013.

"With some of the fastest connecting flight times to China and Japan, Brazil's largest and fifth largest trade partner, respectively, Etihad Airways is providing vital air links between the world's major emerging markets."

Mr Hogan was in Sao Paulo late last week to meet prominent local diplomats, travel industry executives, media and corporate representatives.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia and North America and Asia, including Japan flights. The airline has a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.