Travel Bulletin 4th October 2013

Research reveals cruisingoffers best value for

family holidays

October 4 2013 | ISSUE NO 1,844 | www.travelbulletin.co.uk

bulletin briefingANTOR highlights therole of roadshows inthe modern day travelindustry

ABTA preview the latest ABTA newsin the run-up to itsannual convention

southern africacolumnist John Guinnreminisces about avolunteering trip toNamibia

12 2913this week

indian oceanoperators unveil theirlatest savings &programme additions

15

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S01 TB0410 Start_Layout 1 02/10/2013 10:58 Page 2

SEAL OF APPROVAL....The Nassau Paradise Island Promotions Board recently hosted its annual Tour Operator GrandFAM to reward booking achievers. Staying at the Atlantis Resort, Paradise Island, Bahamas, the group took a behindthe scenes look at Dolphin Cay – a marine habitat and animal rescue-rehabilitation facility. Pictured getting friendlywith one of the sea lions are, from the left: Macey Webber, TUI; Jessica Read and Lucy Barton, Carrier; Melisa Oliver,Kenwood; Susan Brooks, ITC; Nicola Kirkup, Kuoni; Paul Chorley, British Airways Holidays; Joanna Anderson, ThomsonMega Store; Carla Wharton, Gold Medal; Lee Barker, Kersner International and Suzy Trott, AMG Ltd.

This Week3 news

new survey reveals rise insingle female travellers

8 at home with eileenfind out if Eileen enjoyed herfam trip to Jordan

9 agent bulletinGlobalVisas.com reveals thestrangest reasons for visaapplications

10 agent reviewfind out what one agentthought of Brand USA’smegafam

11 puzzle bulletinwin a £50 M&S voucher byplaying Su Doku

12 bulletin briefingANTOR highlights the role ofroadshows in the modernday travel industry

13 ABTA preview the latest ABTA news in therun-up to its annual convention

14 personality bulletinwhich group agency salesmanager likes to sleep onbig decisions?

15 indian oceanoperators unveil latestsavings & programmeadditions

21 cruisingnew research revealscruising is one of best valuefamily holidays

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newsbulletin

Small Luxury Hotels of the World seesrise in single female travellersTHE NUMBER of females travelling alone is on the riseaccording to figures from Small Luxury Hotels of theWorld (SLH), which has seen increasing trends in soleoccupancy across its portfolio.

Between 2011 and 2012, the company saw growth insingle-occupancy travel across the board in terms of bothrevenue and number of room nights, with the number ofsole occupancy room nights jumping from 4,115 to 5,841,and revenue from global solo bookings increasing byalmost $400,000 year-on-year.

In the company's core markets, the surge of femalebookings is particularly notable, with a 53% increase inroom nights booked by single occupancy females between2011 and 2012 (from 973 room nights in 2011 to 1,489room nights in 2012), compared to an increase of 38% inroom nights by solo males across the same period.

According to the company, properties in the UK and USare the most popular for solo travellers of both genders,with 1,222 room nights in the US and 844 room nights inthe UK last year. Following this, Australia is a favourabledestination for solo female travellers, who spent in excessof $50,000 on SLH accommodation in 2012, whileGermany is the hot country among male independenttravellers, spending more than $65,000 in the same year.

According to the results of a survey on female travellersin the UK and US by CAP Strategic Research in 2011,women represent the most important and fastest growingsegment of the travel market, in terms of both leisure andbusiness travel. Not only did the survey find that 48% oftravel website users are now women, but a significant 66%

New surveysuggests WiFi wake-up call for hotelsIPASS, A provider of mobileservices for enterprises andtelecom service providers,has published its Q3 MobileWorkforce Report whichfound that hotel WiFi wassecond only to having acomfortable bed.

The report highlightedthat WiFi has become a"must-have" for businesstravellers, trumping otherstandard amenities such ashotel restaurants, in-roommini-bars and gymfacilities. However,according to results fromthe survey, some 82% ofthose questioned feel thatfree hotel WiFi services arelimited, slow, andunreliable and 81% havehad an unsatisfactoryexperience with hotel WiFiin the past year. Some 74%of those questioned statedthat a bad WiFi experiencein a hotel would prevent areturn visit.

27 gambiaOlympic reports strongrepeat business for destination

29 southern africacolumnist John Guinnreminisces about avolunteering trip to Namibia

● continues on next page


SUPERBREAK HASlaunched its 2013 Christmasand New Year brochurefeaturing festive breaks foragents to promote in themonths running up toChristmas. The brochureoffers a selection of newhotel packages and newthemed products such asThe Gathering in Dublinfeaturing Madness and aspecial New Year party inHull on P&O’s Pride of Hullfor those looking forsomething a little different.

The brochure covers 272Christmas breaks and 223New Year breaks, totalling495 – 40 more than last year,alongside other festive treats

such as a night out at thepanto, themed short breaksand Christmas Markets bothin the UK and Europe.

As examples, new hotelpackages include Christmasin Edinburgh, where a three-night stay at the four-starCrown Plaza Edinburgh theRoxburghe Hotel costs from£385 per person includingpantomime tickets. The priceis based on a December 24arrival and includes carolsinging, a three-coursedinner and post-MidnightMass hot chocolate andmince pies on ChristmasEve. On Christmas Day,guests receive a Buck’s Fizzbreakfast, traditional

Christmas lunch with a visitfrom Santa plus a buffetdinner evening. Other treatsinclude Boxing Day tickets tosee the Peter PanPantomime.

The New Year's Eve P&Oparty leads in at £75 andoffers live music on thePride of Hull. While the shipis docked in Hull, the partywill see 2014 in with specialentertainment throughoutthe evening including a liveband and comedy act. Aspecial New Year’s Eve mealis also available for an extra£25 per person, and thepackage also includes anen-suite cabin with breakfastand parking.

For more information or to book call 0871-221 4444 or visitwww.superbreak.com/agents

Transun launches Arctic whale-watchingpackage from £1,099 for three nightsTRANSUN HAS launched a new Arctic whale-watchingpackage, which gives agents the opportunity to sell arare wildlife travel experience.

The package includes a trip to see large pods ofhumpback and killer whales in Tromso, Norway inNovember and December, where they gather to feast onshoals of migrating herring in the Arctic fjords. It alsoincludes a Northern Lights snowmobile safari and ahusky sledding experience.

The three-night trip costs from £1,099 per personbased on two sharing.

An option for a four-night version of the holiday isalso available.

Specially chartered flights depart from six regionalairports including Gatwick from November 19 untilJanuary 2014.

The price includes flights and relevant taxes; transfers;two nights’ half-board accommodation in Tromso; onenight’s full-board accommodation in Karesuando, Sweden; athree-hour whale-watching boat trip; a two-hour NorthernLights snowmobile safari; and a husky ride experience.For further information or to book call 01865-265200 orvisit www.transun.co.uk/agents

New packages & themed products in Superbreak's Xmas & New Year brochure

www.travelbulletin.co.ukOctober 4 20134

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CENTARA RAS Fushi Resort & Spa Maldives offers wedding blessingsand renewal of vows blessings on the beach. As an example, an UmuruDhvahuge wedding blessing ceremony costs US$2,050 inclusive of taxand service charge until October 31, 2014 and includes a briefing witha personal wedding coordinator, a tropical beachside setup, atraditional Bodu Beru drums performance, a ceremony to plant a palmtree, a bridal bouquet, Champagne toast, cake, photographer, candlelitdinner, sunset cruise on a traditional dhoni with wine, a Champagnebreakfast served in the villa and a massage for two.For details see www.centarahotelsresorts.com

of women said that travel companies would see an increasein business if they tried harder to serve women travellers.However, as part of SLH's focus on creating unique luxuryexperiences for their guests, SLH properties arerecognising the potential of this growing global trend andare now actively catering for women travellers. Women-onlyfloors, for example, have been introduced at Naumi Hotel inSingapore, Dukes London, and The Chesterfield PalmBeach, while The Capital Hotel has created a list of localrestaurants and bars that are particularly recommended forsolo female travellers, as well as also offering a femaleprivate guide to accompany women guests to shops andmuseums on their first trip to London.

Meanwhile, The Chester Grosvenor finds that the serviceoffered by its female chauffeur is particularly appreciatedby women staying alone as they feel more comfortable witha woman in the closed environment of a car.

Packages tailored especially towards its female guestsare also a particularly popular offering at SLH hotels, suchas The Women’s Shopping Package at Das Tyrol, located onVienna’s longest shopping street, and a Mediterraneanculinary journey exclusively for women at La Maltese Estatein Santorini. Meanwhile, Grand Hotel Toplice holds a weeklyladies day at the Bled Golf Club, Slovenia’s oldest andlargest course, while at Hotel Punta Islita in Costa Rica,solo female travellers are encouraged to embrace the localcommunities surrounding the property.

● continued from previous page


HOL I DAYSThe home of Mediterranean holidays

Birthplace of Myths & Legends

Greece ABTA No.V5573

byDesign

or visit www.cyplon.co.uk


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I READ with interest Eileen’s column (At Home WithEileen) in the issue dated September 16 and theproblems she experienced finding a hotel suitablefor a family with a severely disabled son.Finding hotels with accessible rooms has long beena challenge facing the travel industry, which is whyI decided to launch Enable Holidays back in 2004.My main aim then, as it is now, was to provideEnable Holidays’ customers with reliable andaccurate information, which is why I introduced a150-point auditing process. Of the successes we’veenjoyed over the past nine years perhaps myproudest achievement is becoming the first UK touroperator to be accredited for auditing theaccessibility and grading the suitability of overseasholiday accommodation for people with mobilityimpairments.Our unique personal auditing process not onlyincludes access and wheelchair manoeuvrability inand around the hotel, but also covers everythingfrom door widths, bed heights and ramp gradientsto detail about floor surfaces, the number of stepsand the availability of special equipment.To make it easier for holidaymakers to identify themost suitable holidays for their specificrequirements, each property is graded by a fullyqualified Enable auditor according to itsaccessibility –E1 (reasonably good level access), E2(good access and manoeuvrability)) or E3 (veryaccessible with adapted bathrooms). But sourcing and checking the accessibility of hotelaccommodation overseas is only half the story. TheEnable service also covers contacting airports andairlines to arrange any assistance that may berequired, organising adapted transfers andproviding a tailor-made holiday service to meetprecise requirements. We are currently expandingour programme for 2014, with Madeira, Poland,France, Italy and India being just some of the newdestinations. The accessible travel business iscertainly much more sophisticated than when wefirst entered the market, but we’d like to thinkwe’ve played a major role in its revolution and cannow look forward to an even brighter future.

Lynne Kirby, managing director, Enable Holidays

Crusader marks 40th anniversaryCRUSADER HOLIDAYS has introduced 40 newtours/itineraries to celebrate its 40th birthday next year.

Prices in the new brochure lead in at £149 per person for aCotswolds & Georgian Bath Weekend. Among the new toursinclude a 12-day trip to Croatia, Opatija & The Crystal Cavesfrom £989 per person for a twin room on half-board and athree-day Call the Midwife & Kent & East Sussex RailwayWeekend Break, which costs from £189. The company offersfree departures from more than 120 joining points.For details see www.crusader-holidays.co.uk or call 01255-425453.

COX & Kings has launched its new Africa brochure for 2014,featuring new escorted tours to West Africa, Republic ofCongo, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania, plus newsuggestions for tailor-made itineraries throughout Africa.

The company reports that passenger numbers to Africahave continued to increase, with a 20% growth this yearcompared to 2012 and an 50% increase in tailor-madebookings over the same period.

In response to demand, the operator has introduced newtours to Ghana, Gambia and Republic of Congo.

As examples, an 11-day Colours of Ghana escorted tourcosts from £2,745 per person and includes meeting localfarmers, artisans and chiefs. Each group departure coincideswith the Akwisadae festival and there is an optional extensionto Togo and Benin.

A new 11-day Rivers of West Africa cruise gives guests thechance to explore the lesser-known fishing villages, nationalparks, craft markets and historic river towns of Gambia.Prices lead in at £2,595 per person and there is an optionalextension to a beach resort hotel in Senegal after the cruise.

The operator is also promoting a 12-day Congo: RainforestSafari from £6,895 which stays in the exclusive WildernessCollection camps in the rarely visited Odzala-KokouaNational Park. The highlight of the trip is a visit to thenational park for the opportunity to track western lowlandgorilla in the Ndzedhi Forest.For more information see www.coxandkings.co.uk/africa orcall 020-7873 5000.

Cox & Kings' 2014 Africa brochureintroduces Ghana & Republic of Congo

S02 TB0410 News 1_Layout 1 02/10/2013 11:27 Page 5

ONE OF the biggest problems for today'stravellers is keeping their smartphonesand tablets powered up. Cumbersomeplugs, cables and chargers are essentialkit to pack in the suitcase. And nowwhen most of us have several devices,the decision has to made as to whichgets charged first. The new InnergiePocketCell (TM) Duo helps to overcomethis and most of the other problems. Therecharge unit consists of a sleekcompact power cell with two outputports capable of serving two devices atonce and an ingenious multi-plug cable,

that can be adapted to anumber of different models.

The PocketCell (TM) Duoproved its worth recently when itaccompanied Travel Bulletin along theSilk Road in Uzbekistan. It showed that itcould recharge both the iPhone and theiPad twice before needing to be chargeditself. The Innergie PocketCell (TM) Duowas recently launched in the UK at aprice of £99.

Although not the cheapest charger, itcertainly proved its worth in the desertsof Central Asia.

New device offers more power for travellers


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Tweets of

the WeekWho’s saying what

on Twitter...

@WendyWuToursUK

Our fantastic agentshaving a great time inExeter...pic.twitter.com/NDOyfvpj9Z

@Black_Tomato

Cute fact of the day: TokyoZoo shuts for two monthsevery year to give theanimals a break from thegawking people

@ukcruising

Royal CaribbeanInternational BeginsConstruction On ThirdOasis-Class Ship -http://bit.ly/16FpP9p

@ABTAtravel

We're already half full forour popular ComplaintsHandling Workshop on 13November - don't miss out.http://abta.com/events-and-training/event/complaints-handling-workshop6 …

@STATravel_UK

7 amazing volunteeringprojects abroad that costless than £500:http://sta.travel/1h7GWpe

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

TravelBulletin

Newsbites● THE GERMAN Tourist Office has launched

its major tourism campaigns for 2014,which included a ‘Royal Heritage Route’campaign and microsite(www.germany.travel/royalheritage),exclusive to the UK and Ireland. GermanTravel Centre is one of only four UK touroperators featured and will be sellingflights to Hannover from Heathrow,Manchester and Birmingham to link upwith locally organised group tours toexplore these heritage routes thatencompasses the ‘Sieben Schlösser’ –the seven palaces that lie in the Leineand Weser Mountain area of northernGermany.For details seewww.germantravelcentre.co.uk

● TRAVELPORT HAS announced the multi-year renewal of its content agreementwith Jet Airways. The renewal allowscontinued access to the airline's mostup-to-date route information andpublished fares for Travelport-connectedtravel agents globally. The company hasalso announced the implementation ofTravelport Rapid Reprice with Greek

carrier, Olympic Air. Agents booking withthe airline can now recalculate a fare inseconds as Rapid Reprice yields thecorrect rules, taxes, additionalcollections, refunds or change fees,reducing the average transaction time toless than one minute.For details see www.travelport.com

● ADDING TO its existing clubs in Crete,Sicily, the Algarve, Cyprus, Val d’Isère andCourchevel 1650, Scott Dunn will open anew ‘Intrepid Explorers Club’ at SonevaKiri in Thailand this month, its firstExplorers Club outside Europe.For details see www.scottdunn.com

● AGENTS CAN now earn commission frombooking new ‘Diamond Tour’ and ‘BajanGems Tour’ packages on Barbados, whichhave been designed to visit pop starRihanna’s childhood haunts and offervisitors an insight into the star’s early lifeon the island. A Diamond Tour takesapproximately four hours and costs from£30 per person while The Bajan GemsTour costs from £32 per person. Tours canbe booked at www.wiit.net.For details see www.visitbarbados.org

A LUXURY hotel on the coast near Marmaris re-opened earlier this year after a majorupgrade which saw the addition of new restaurants and an extended spa to serveguests at its 200 rooms and suites. The D-Hotel Maris, one of only four Leading Hotelsof the World members in Turkey, also has a Presidential Suite and a villa with privatepool, while most of its deluxe rooms feature a bathtub on the balcony.

In all, there are five on-site restaurants, three of which are beachside, and six bars,plus an Executive Club lounge. The hotel also offers a 100ft super yacht for privatecharter, and transfers by luxury seaplane, private helicopter or chauffeur. The hotel is130km from Dalaman International airport and 155km from Bodrum International.

As an example of prices, Classic Collection Holidays is offering seven nights withbreakfast for £1,140 per person based on two sharing, including flights from Gatwick toDalaman and private transfer. Details on 0800-008 7288 or at www.classic-collection.co.uk

Luxury hotel in Marmaris offers real taste of the good life

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with Eileen...At home

What has homeworker Eileen

been up to this month?

I’VE JUST returned from an excellent familiarisation tripto Jordan, organised by the Jordan Tourism Board.When I first mentioned where I was going, most people

responded the same way: “Isn’t Jordan near Syria? Is itsafe?” It was not altogether surprising that people raisedconcerns as Jordan actually borders Syria and Amman isonly about 100-miles from Damascus. However, oncethere, it may as well have been a million miles away aswe felt totally safe throughout our trip. Jordan is themost stable country in the region and the people thereare some of the friendliest I’ve ever met. Also, unlikesome other Arabic countries, you can walk aroundwithout being hassled.

Petra is the main draw for visitors to Jordan and isundoubtedly the highlight of any trip. However, there areso many other wonderful sights to see; our group wasdivided into two, with half of us, including myself,concentrating on historical and cultural sights and theother half concentrating on adventure activities such ashiking and canyoning.

Jordan is only a five-hour flight from London which isa real bonus and a great selling point. The city of Ammanis a blend of old and new and there are many interestingplaces to visit from here including the ancient Romancity of Jerash which is without doubt a ‘must-see’ on anyitinerary to Jordan.

After spending a couple of nights in Amman, weheaded south to the Dead Sea along the Kings Highway,stopping at Madaba and Mount Nebo en route. The nextday we made our way to Petra, then finally to the RedSea resort of Aqaba.

The hotels we stayed at were different in character andall provided excellent facilities and service. The qualityand choice of food was very good but alcoholic drinkswere extremely expensive. We enjoyed so manywonderful experiences during our week in Jordanincluding a ‘hands-on’ Arabic cookery class, jeep andcamel riding in Wadi Rum and floating in the Dead Sea.

Jordan really has something to appeal to everyoneand my lasting impression is of a safe, fascinating,culturally rich country and the genuine warmth andfriendliness of its people.

by EILEEN SAUNDERS of Travel Counsellors To respond to any of Eileen’s comments email

[email protected]

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WEBSCLUSIVES

● Win an iPad 4, courtesy of the island of St Helena, in our new competition. All you haveto do is answer 3 questions. Go to www.travelbulletin.co.uk/competitions

● Need to step up your travel training? Hit theTravel Gym. We’re adding new training coursesevery week, so bookmarkwww.travelbulletin.co.uk/training/travel-gymand become a regular.

● Catch up on some of the latest Travel Bulletin

events by visiting our Youtube channel. Go to: www.youtube.com/travelbulletin

All this and more at:


The home of the web savvy travel agent

Go

Blaggers &

Who's doing what on social networking sites

Bloggers● THE LONDON-BASED Turkish Culture & Tourism

Office (TCTO) has announced new social mediaaddresses to accompany a new social mediacampaign. The first campaign includes thechance to win dinner for two in London byfollowing @GoToTurkeyUK on Twitter. In Octoberand November the TCTO is offering the chance towin a trip to Istanbul, as well as highlightingevents and activities in the city in the lead up tothe festive season and beyond.For more details seewww.facebook.com/gototurkeyuk,www.youtube.com/gototurkeyuk and www.gototurkey.co.uk


● TO CELEBRATE the launch of their new globalpartnership, Rocky Mountaineer and NorwegianCruise Line (NCL) have launched a new bookingincentive which allows agents to earn £30 forevery 2014 Rocky Mountaineer/NorwegianCruise Line combination when a booking ismade directly with NCL. The incentive runs untilOctober 31. For details see www.rockymountaineer.com

● AS PART of its month-long ‘MemorableMaldives’ campaign, Travel 2 is giving agents thechance to win a luxury six-night holiday for twoto the Maldives. The operator has teamed upwith Emirates and a selection of luxury hotels onthe islands to give agents the chance to win astay in the Dusit Thani Hotel along with flightsand transfers. To be entered into the prize drawagents need to make a new Simply Luxurybooking by November 16 with the operator thatincludes accommodation at one of the featuredhotels: Anantara Kihavah, Constance Moofushi,Cocoa Island, Conrad Maldives Rangali Island,Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Jumeirah Vitavelli orDusit Thani Maldives, along with Emiratesflights for travel at any time. For details see www.travel2.com

Train to gain with TravelBulletin's new Travel Gym

TRAVEL BULLETIN is proud to announce thelaunch of its new online travel training portal,Travel Gym.Designed specifically for travel agents, the new

learning portal means that agents can check-in for

a spot of online training, flex their travel muscles

and stay ahead of the pack. New courses will be

launched over the coming weeks and there's some

great rewards to keep you motivated as you train.

For more information and to give your brain cells aworkout visit www.travelbulletin.co.uk/travelgym

iPAD to go…Specialist Holidays Group’sJames Golding (right) awards The GlobalTravel Group member Sherie Stembridgefrom Travel Designers with a new iPadMini for being the top selling agent in aGlobal exclusive incentive competition.Pictured with Sherie and James is NickHarding-McKay, owner of Travel Designers.

ALL UK agents can experience Aruba first-handthrough the island’s latest TRAM (Travel AgentMonths) programme, available until December15. Operated by the Aruba Hotel and TourismAssociation (AHATA), the scheme offers agentsaccommodation in an assortment of hotels,costing US$260 for four nights or US$390 for sixnights. Agents applying for the scheme throughATA’s UK office need to quote their IATA or ABTAnumber. Meanwhile, new accommodation-onlycompany, The Caribbean Hotel Company, hasadded five Aruba hotels to its range and is nowselling the destination through the trade.


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Booking incentives

AGENTOFFERSNO TRAIN NO GAIN


GNTO unveils new website campaignsTHE GERMAN National Tourist Office (GNTO) haslaunched two new websites – ‘Discover Germany BarrierFree’ and ‘Royal Heritage Route’.

The aim of the new accessible tourism website is toprovide travel advice, information and inspiration forpeople of all ages who may have limited mobility, sightor hearing impairments or who are seeking specialisttravel assistance. It will also provide links to holidayproviders with expertise and experience in accessibletourism.

Klaus Lohmann, director of the GNTO UK and Ireland,said: “Barrier Free travel has always been included onour main website but this new exclusive site for the UKand Ireland will be a permanent addition to that and wewill be continually striving to offer the highest standardsof service, from one source, when it comes to planninga ‘Barrier Free’ trip to Germany.”

The new ‘British Royal Heritage Route’ website marksthe 300th anniversary of Hanoverian accession to thethrones of the UK and Ireland. The new holiday routeand travel website (www.germany.travel/royalheritage)enables visitors and enthusiasts of all things Royal totrace the footsteps of British monarchs in Germany, aheritage dating from the first Georgians in 1714 to theaccession of Queen Victoria in 1837.

Initially the route will focus on Lower Saxony andHanover, eventually expanding more widely throughoutother German states, from the beginning of theGeorgian era through to Victoria and Albert, as part ofan ongoing and developing campaign.

Major tour operators are offering special ‘Royal Tours’of German cities including Hanover, Brunswick, Celleand Hamelin, along with the UNESCO designated townof Goslar and the island of Norderney. For more information see www.germany.travel

ARUNDEL CASTLE in West Sussex recently held a 'Pirates &Smugglers' event (pictured) where demonstrations on weapons,combat, costume, crafts and activities from the 18th century wereheld. The next event at the castle will be 'Normans and Crusadersin the Keep' on October 30 and 31, with tickets starting from £8.Reduced ticket prices are available for group bookings alongsidefree admission for group organisers, tour guides, teachers andsupervisors. Coach drivers bringing groups to the castle are alsogiven free coach parking, free admission, and a restaurantvoucher. Arundel Castle is keen to work with the travel trade, todiscuss commission and special rates please call the information& bookings Administrator on 01903-882173, extension 230. For further information visit www.arundelcastle.org

agentreviewKevin Russell from TUI UK & Ireland Specialist Holidays

Division went on Brand USA's 2013 Inaugural Megafam

for a week. Here's what he thought of the experience...

Kevin receives a £10 Love2Shop voucher for his review.

If you'd like to take part and receive a free Love2Shop

voucher please email [email protected]

or call 020-7834 6661 with your name and contact details.

Accommodation highlight ........................9/10

The state of Washington & Oregon area offers a variety ofaccommodation and the hospitality at these properties is whatimpressed me the most. Although we had limited time at eachproperty, from what I did experience I would rate as five-star.

Highlight of the trip................................10/10

For my particular trip I was able to experience areas ofAmerica that had fewer visitors than other destinations.Having the guides who live in the state provide knowledge andexamples of their own experience was a bonus, and everyonewho was involved (from the local tourism boards, suppliersand guides) made this trip even more special.

Service ..................................................10/10

Every day we got to experience a wide range of cuisine - fromthe award-winning fish in Oregon to the local selection ofmeats in Washington. And at each eatery we were treated toimpeccable service, not only from the owners of the establish-ment, but the chefs and waiting staff. Being on a fam trip youexpect this at all time, however, during all the free time wehad, we received exactly the same treatment - and this iscertainly something which left a lasting impression.

Good to know ..................................................The Pacific Playground trip was more about diversity and itreally opened my eyes to what was available - I was soprivileged that I went to Oregon and Washington and I wouldalways recommend anyone to push the US.

Overall scoring: ..............................................

1010/

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puzzlebulletin


Where Am I?

Pattern found in Scotland?

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

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

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

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

applicable to:

[email protected]

Closing date for entries is Thursday, October 10th. Solution and new puzzle

will appear next week.

The winner for 20th September is Vaughan Kirby, Radnor

Travel Service Ltd. in Llandrindod Wells.

September 20 Solution: A=7 B=1 C=8 D=3

➠A

➠B

➠C

➠D

Number: 130

Travagrams

Across 1. Major European airline (9)6. Zakynthos is one of the islands in this

group (6)7. Charter flight-only operator, part of

Monarch (4)9. Mr Robinson, illustrator of convoluted

contraptions (5)10. Sea off the coast of Queensland (5)12. One of the Florida Keys (5)13. Puccini opera, set in Rome (5)15. Sign of the zodiac found on a beach (4)17. First name of former Girls Aloud

mum-to-be (6)18. National park in Wales (9)

Down 1. The movie, Sunshine on ___, features the

music of The Proclaimers (5)2. Carrier with a Helsinki hub (7)3. Major UK airport (8)4. IATA code for Seattle - Tacoma international (3)5. Capital of South Korea (5)8. Country setting for 1 Down (8)11. Nationality of Strictly dancer, Artem

Chigvintsev (7)12. Castries is the capital of St ___ (5)14. Huge entertainment / sports venue found in

major cities (5)16. First name of English Olympic sailor who

helped the USA to victory in the America'sCup (3)

Where Am I?

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

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

Crossword

Su Doku

Num

ber:

130

The first name of this operator is similar to a regionsurrounded by the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

A Norwegian city that, despite its name, is not famous for its burgers

Atlas Okay Inn

Greenb

Can you solve the following anagrams to decipher the destination & tour operator?Win a £50 M&S voucher in the travelbulletin Su Doku prize puzzle


MEMBERS OF ANTOR observe best businesspractice and maintain and enhance thereputation of ANTOR, and in doing so they

follow a code of conduct in which they agree to“Provide a form of training programme or a trainingfacility for the travel trade and specify this on theANTOR website page”.

Currently, half of our members offer an onlinetraining programme - 77% through Travel Uni and23% through OTTC. These can be accessed eitherdirectly or through the ANTOR website. Theremainder either offer their own bespoke trainingprogramme or prefer to train in-house or throughfam trips and roadshows.

We are currently polling our members to see whatpercentage still organise their own roadshows asopposed to joining third party road shows such asPATA or Unite, and results to date show that mostmembers organise their own roadshow of one kind oranother, while 83% attend third party roadshows and92% would like to join forces for an "ANTOR Meetsthe Travel Trade Event" or series of events. Theresults also found that members would prefer it totake place in June rather than March, however, wewould also like to hear back from the travel trade asto what their preferences are and the best timings forthem.

Often tourist boards are asked by their head officesto organise roadshows around events such as WTM orITB when the private sector partners are over and arekeen to maximise their travel costs. This is notnecessarily the right time for the travel trade and italso means that a large number of tourist boards arecompeting to invite the same or similar people.

April and September seem to be the busiestperiods for roadshows and workshops not justorganised by tourist boards but also private sectorcompanies such as hotel groups or the travel trademedia.

The organisation of an event in an interesting venuewith entertainment, good food and drinks can be verycostly and time consuming. And when there is a no-show factor of 20-30% it is not surprising that touristboards are re-evaluating this method of training theindustry on their ever evolving products anddecreasing budgets.

Rather than personal contact are travel agentseither showing preference for, or only have the timefor online training? As some travel companies have toimpose restrictions on their staff as to which eventsthey can attend, maybe due to the larger numberavailable and their relevance to their staff, this isdifficult to measure.

The MICE market has started online or virtual famtrips, while there has also been a few luxury webinarspopping up in the leisure industry.

ANTOR members consider roadshows to be thesecond best means of training after fam trips as themost effective training tool. We would love to hearfrom travel agents themselves about their thoughtson this - please visitwww.facebook.com/ANTORMembership

Industry Insight by...

ANTOR's chair, Tracey Poggio, looks at the role of roadshows in the modern day travel industry...

bulletinbriefing

"April and September seem to be

the busiest periods for roadshows

and workshops not just organised by

tourist boards but also private sector

companies such as hotel groups or

the travel trade media"


Pictured at the recent ANTOR Meets the Media event are, from theleft: Lucy Daltroff, freelancer; Liz Fay and Jean Marc Flambert, StLucia Tourist Board; and freelancer Linda Jackson.


A city for conventions...DUBROVNIK IS Croatia’s main convention centre with thefirst International conference held in the city in 1887. TheValamar Lacroma Dubrovnik Hotel (pictured) will host theABTA convention this year and opened as a four-star hotel in2009. Its Elafiti conference hall is the largest in Croatia witha capacity of up to 1,299 people. There are 401 rooms withsea or park views, with or without balcony. Free WiFi isavailable along with a public bus service to the Old Town,indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sports cardio fitness,sauna, spa and terraces with Adriatic backdrop suitable forbanquets and receptions. The Lacroma restaurant offersCroatian and international cuisine, while the Langustorestaurant offers fine dining - lobster, crayfish and seafoodspecialities. The Nocturno wine & cocktail barhas a selection of more than 100 winesand cocktails.

abtapreview


Dubrovnik: the lowdown…DUBROVNIK CONTINUES to be a popular destination forUK visitors with 77,040 arrivals until August 31 this year -a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2012. The city has 1,000 years of history and has been protected

by UNESCO World Heritage status since 1979. Located in thesouth of the eastern Adriatic coast, it is surrounded by1,940m of medieval rampart, the city’s flagship attraction.The old walled part of the city is home to 1,500 habitants,while 42,461 people live in the administrative, cultural andeconomical centre of Dubrovnik-Neretva county. The city’sclimate is mostly warm and dry with an annual averagetemperature of 18°C. Although it joined the EU this July,Croatia will keep the Croatian Kuna for at least two years(9HRK/£1)

Dubrovnik airport is located 22km from the city andserved by several international airlines. The UK isconnected directly to the city with flights from London,Manchester and regional airports, with a flight time of twohours. BA offers year-round flights, while summer flightsare available with easyJet, Monarch and Norwegian.Gatwick flights with BA cost from £98. Seewww.britishairways.com

Accommodation options include some 27,840 beds. Thereare 46 hotels made up of 13 five-star, nine four-star, 22three-star and two two-star. The Valamar LacromaDubrovnik Hotel will host the convention and accommodatedelegates as well as the nearby Hotel Dubrovnik Palace.

Top Dubrovnik attractions:

● City Walls – walk the city walls (90HRK/£10) stretchingmore than 1,940m for spectacular views over the Old Town,the island of Lokrum and the Adriatic Sea.

● The Old Town – enter via the Pile gate to wander the mainstreet, Placa-Stradun, which offers craft shops and localspecialities, along with the Maritime Museum, FranciscanMonastery Museum, the Bell Tower and Orlando’s Column.

● Cable Car – take a ride up to Mount Srd (94HRK return,50HRK one-way then walk down) for panoramic views ofthe Old Town, coastal sights and the Elafiti Islands.

● Island of Lokrum – take a 30-minute ferry ride(60HRK/£6.50 return) from Dubrovnik Old Port. Walkround the island and take a swim in the lake. Valamar Lacroma Dubrovnik Hotel

With just over two weeks to go before the ABTA Conference takesplace in Dubrovnik, here’s a round up of what’s in store fordelegates in terms of the city and the host convention centre.


Who is your ideal travelling companion? My wife and daughter. I met my wifeworking overseas and we share a lovefor food and travelling.

What's your earliest childhood memory?Being packed in the back of the carwhen driving to the South of France.The whole family used to go, includinggrandparents, this meant that I had tobe put in the car boot then the luggagepacked around me!

Where was your last work-related trip? Slovenia – easily one of the bestdestinations I have been to for a while,stunning landscapes, great value andfriendly people.

What three words would yourfriends use to describe you? Passionate, level-headed & driven.

What have your travels taught you?There are always two sides to every story.

What is the best advice you recall?Sleep on big decisions.

If you could have a room full of any one thing, what would it be?Snow.

Who has been the biggestinspiration/influence in your career?I’ve been lucky enough to have workedand continue to work with someamazing people, both staff andmanagers, and I take something fromeveryone I work with and this continuesto influence and inspire me.

What's your favourite city and why?Munich – it offers a perfect mix ofculture and exciting activities. The foodand wine are also fabulous.

If you were not doing this job, what would you be doing?I’d be a ski instructor or a climbinginstructor.

What is your motto in life?The harder you try the luckier youbecome.

What is your favourite mode of travel?As a child I was subjected to long carjourneys across Europe so I now preferto fly.

If you had a super power what would it be and why? I would be able to remove chewing gumfrom items of clothing.

Simon McIntyre The group agency sales manager for Hotelplan –

Inghams, Ski Total and Esprit, likes to sleep on bigdecisions and dislikes operators who don't

support agents...

What was your nickname at school and why?Nothing special - Mac, my second nameis McIntyre, pronounced ‘Mac-In-tyre’.

What item do you always take with you when travelling?A good book.

How do you deal with stress?Cooking.

What song would you have played at your funeral? Ceremony – New Order.

Is there anything that you dislike about the travel industry?Tour operators who don’t support agents.

What special skill do you have?I can eat rice with chop sticks – I had tolearn this after skiing in Japan manyyears ago.

How do you cope with the advances in technology?Embrace it, you have to move withadvances in technology. It’s alsoimportant to make sure you havepeople around you that understandadvances and evolution.

What’s your favourite movie of all time?Platoon.

If your life was turned into a movie,which actor would play you?Tom Hanks.

What do you love about your job?Getting out and meeting our agentpartners, whether it’s a small agent in thesouth or a call centre in the north. I reallyenjoy meeting the people who supportus and love to sell the Inghams, Ski Totaland Esprit products because they believewe are the best ski tour operator.

Career path● Nine seasons overseas as a rep/head

rep for My Travel● Sales Manager – Specialist Ski Travel

Agency Skitracer.com (Part ofSkiworld)

● Sales Team Manager – Inghams Travel(Part of the Hotelplan UK group)

● Reservations Manager – Inghams (Partof the Hotelplan UK group)

● Group Agency Sales Manager –Hotelplan UK (Inghams, Esprit, SkiTotal)

”I can eatrice with chop

sticks – I had tolearn this afterskiing in Japan

many years ago”

personalitybulletin




ENCHANTING HOLIDAYS, which has recently launched its 2014dedicated Enchanting Mauritius brochure, reports that sales toMauritius this year have been 'sensational'. The operator's headof product, contracting & marketing, Shafique Cockar, said: “Iam delighted that our Mauritius sales are so far 45% up on2012. I think one of the reasons why Mauritius is doing so well isbecause of the recent influx of new upmarket properties. Thismeans that the product is comprehensive and the stiffcompetition means that great offers are to be readily found.

“The hotels are all fighting for business and are regularlycoming up with fantastic deals.”

The company's 2014 brochure features its largest selectionof hotels to Mauritius with a choice of 51 hotels that rangefrom exclusive resorts to popular five-star luxury and firstclass hotels.

Cockar said: “We encourage agents to talk to us anduse our expertise on Mauritius as our sales staff havefirst-hand knowledge of the hotels. We are dedicated toworking with our trade partners and provide travelagents with a high basic commission of 13% withopportunities to earn even higher levels.

“Our programme to Mauritius is essentially a luxuryproduct with an average booking value of around £5,000per couple. Therefore, with our base rate being 13%,agents can earn some extremely rewarding commissionlevels.

“In 2014 we shall again be hosting some luxury famtrips to Mauritius. Agents should watch out for these andalso for our regular and special agency staff bookingincentives.”

GREAT RAIL Journeys ispromoting its new SriLanka,Temple and Tea’stour for 2013 and 2014.

The 14-day tour leads inat £2,198 per person andincludes scheduled flightsfrom London to Colombo,including taxes andcharges; 12 nights'breakfast accommodation;11 dinners; a sightseeingtour of Colombo including avisit to the ColomboMuseum; a guided tour ofKandy; an excursion to the

Elephant Orphanage inPinnawela; a visit toDambulla Cave Temple andthe Lion's Rock Fortress; atrip to Nanu Oya teaplantation; morning andafternoon game drives inYala National Park; a citytour of Galle, all transfersand the services of a tourmanager throughout.

The operator's nationalsales manager Tony Byrnesaid: "I think the fact thatwe offer a completelydifferent type of holiday in

the Indian Ocean will stickwith the agents. As weexpand our worldwideoffering and having hadsuch success with ourIndian rail programme, SriLanka, we are sure, will bea big success as we goforward. With the exotic mixof city, mountains, beachand dramatic sceneryagents will find ouritineraries perhaps slightlyunusual, but have an appealto the more discerning,adventurous traveller.”

Sri Lanka tour debut from Great Rail Journeys

indianocean

ATMOSPHERE KANIFUSHI Maldives is the latest resort on Kanifushi Island, located in the remoteLhaviyani Atoll. Officially opening its doors to visitors on November 15, (with a soft opening fromOctober 15), the five-star resort offers 2km of white sandy beaches, an expansive turquoise lagoon,lush green vegetation and a natural coral reef.The property offers 150 ‘Sunset View’ detached villas offering direct access to the coastline. Onsitefacilities include a spa, dive centre and a range of dining options including a premium all-inclusiveplan, ‘Platinum Plus’. For details see www.atmosphere-kanifushi.com

'Sensational' sales for Enchanting Holidays

Four SeasonsMauritius marksbirthday celebrations TO CELEBRATE its fifthanniversary, Four SeasonsResort Mauritius at Anahitahas teamed up with theisland’s agricultural rumproducer, Rhumerie deChamarel, which alsocelebrates five years in2013, for a week ofexclusive events fromNovember 9-16. The anniversary week willbe hosted at the resort andwill offer a line-up of eventsincluding a golf tournament,complimentary rumtastings and a gala dinner. For more information [email protected]

S04 TB0410 Indian Ocean_Layout 1 02/10/2013 15:42 Page 15

Lily Beach Resor t & Spa a t Huvahendhoo Sou th Ar i Ato ll , The Mald ivesTel : +960 668 00 13 | Fax : +960 668 06 46 | sales@lil y beachmald ives .com | w w w. li l y beachmald ives .com

Value Redefined ...The Firs t Premium All-Inclusive Resor t in Maldives…



Anahita waivesgreen fees for

golfersANAHITA THE Resort inMauritius is offering freegolf to guests, offering asaving of up to £175 perperson per day.

Two golf courses areavailable; the 18-holeErnie Els ChampionshipGolf Course on site andthe 18-hole Ils aux CerfsGolf Course, which is setwithin its own privateisland.

For guests looking forsome guidance duringtheir stay, the GolfAcademy, run by FourSeasons, covers allaspects of the game,including the full-swing,the short game, coursemanagement, practicetechniques, mentaltraining, golf-fitness andproperly fittedequipment.

Elegant Golf Resortsoffers a number ofpackages, with pricesleading in at £1,799 perperson for seven nights,including the use of abuggy and boat shuttle toIle aux Cerfs, Economyflights from Heathrowwith Air Mauritius,private transfers, half-board accommodationand free dail y golf.For details seewww.elegantgolfresorts.com

TRAVEL 2 is promoting a range of savings to destinationsincluding the Maldives and Sri Lanka.

As examples, a seven-night all-inclusive stay in anocean front beach villa at the four-star Centara Ras Fushiin the Maldives leads in at £1,899 per person for travelbetween May 1 and June 30, 2014. It includes flights fromLondon and speedboat transfers and offers a saving of upto £240 per couple when booked by November 30.

Alternatively, the same holiday in a deluxe water villaleads in at £1,999 and includes a free upgrade from anocean front beach villa to a deluxe water villa.

Meanwhile, a seven-day ‘Discover Sri Lanka Tour’ costsfrom £1,389 including flights and seven nights’ breakfastaccommodation in a superior room at Cinnamon BeyBeruwula. The offer includes one free night and an earlybird discount of £120 per couple, and is available for travel

between May 1 and June 30 when booked by November 30.Clients can also add a one-night wildlife safari to their tourfrom £189 per person.

The operator’s product manager for the Indian Ocean,Carolina Svensson, said: “For agents looking for adestination in the Indian Ocean that offers holidaymakers agood level of privacy, the Maldives offers a ‘one island oneresort’ concept. Holidaymakers travelling to the destinationwill never find more than one resort on an island. Inaddition, the availability of the water villa concept – villason stilts above the water – offers couples added privacyand services for those guests who want to avoid leavingtheir villa. For one of the best snorkelling and dive sites inthe Maldives, we suggest a stay at the recently openedCentara Ras Fushi Resort.”For more information visit www.travel2.com

THE NEWLY opened Centara Passikudah Resort & Spa Sri Lanka has launched a new package that,along with half-board accommodation with breakfast and lunch or dinner, includes flights fromColombo’s Rathmalana Airport to Trincomalee or Batticaloa airports, and roundtrip airport transfersbetween the resort and the domestic airport. The Meet Sri Lanka package is valid until October 31 andalso includes 20% discounts on other dining options in the restaurants, and on selected spatreatments. The minimum requirement is for a two-night stay, with three, four and seven nights alsoavailable under the package. Prices for a superior room start from approximately £235 per person fortwo nights, including tax and service charges, while an upgrade to a deluxe ocean facing room(pictured) is available for an additional £5 per night. For details see www.centarahotelsresorts.com/Meet-Sri-Lanka

indianocean

Maldives & Sri Lanka savings of up to £240 per couple from Travel 2

INSIGHT VACATIONS ispromoting a six-day ClassicalSri Lanka tour which leads inat £975 per person. Ideal for clients looking toextend their trip to India andexperience another colourfulcountry, the itinerary beginsin Colombo for a stay at thefive-star Galadari Hotel. Daytwo then offers a sightseeingtour of the capital, followedby a visit to the PinnawelaElephant Orphanage to viewbaby elephants feeding andbathing in the river. Travelling

north to Dambulla, guestswill visit the famousDambulla Rock CaveTemples, before checking into Green Paradise Agro Hotelfor two nights, a new ecohotel in the heart of a lushforest in Dambulla. On daythree, guests will visit SigiriyaFort, the ‘fortress in the sky’,see the Lion Gate and the‘Heavenly Maidens’ frescoes,before taking a stroll aroundPolonnaruwa, the medievalcapital of Sri Lanka. Other highlights include a

visit to the fragrant gardensof Matale’s Spice Gardens,watching a Kandyan danceshow, a city tour of Kandy anda visit to the PeradeniyaBotanical Garden.The price includes flights toColombo from Deli, Jaipur orUdaipur, all transfers, fivenight’s breakfastaccommodation with afurther four meals,sightseeing and the servicesof a local guide. For more information visitwww.insightvacations.com

Insight offers six-day Classical Sri Lanka option from £975


Maldives Dhoni Cruise from ExploreEXPLORE IS highlighting its eight-day holiday, whereclients can cruise among the atolls of the Maldives on atraditional dhoni, visiting islands including South Male,Felidhoo and Meemu.

Highlights include visiting small fishing villages andsnorkelling in the coral reefs. Departing from Novemberthrough to April 2014, prices lead in at £1,453 perperson including flights; seven nights’ cabinaccommodation; all meals; and the service of arepresentative, captain, crew and cook.For further information or to book visit www.explore.co.ukor call 0844-499 0901.

Mauritian Christmas savings of up to25% from Beachcomber HotelsBEACHCOMBER HOTELS in Mauritius is offering savingsof up to 25% on Christmas getaways this year. The offerapplies for arrivals between December 1-28 and gives25% off half-board accommodation costs.

As examples of prices, a seven-night half-board stayat Trou aux Biches Resort & Spa leads in at £3,820 perperson, based on two sharing a Junior Suite or from£13,810 per family in a family suite.

A seven-night half-board stay at Paradis Hotel Golf &Spa costs from £3,795.50 per person based on twosharing a deluxe room or from £17,380 per family in afamily suite.

Both packages include Economy Air Mauritius flightsfrom Heathrow on December 20 and transfers.For more information visit www.beachcombertours.co.uk or call 01483-445621.

indianocean

HERITAGE LE Telfair, a five-star resort in southwest Mauritius,has launched a ladies-only package through its trade partners forwomen who want to escape the 2014 World Cup. It includes twofree massages, 50% off any additional spa treatments, a cookingclass with one of Heritage’s chefs, a wine tasting session,complimentary yoga and Tai Chi session and no singlesupplement. The offer is valid on any seven-night (minimum) stayfrom June 1-July 31 and must be booked by February 28. For details see www.heritageresorts.mu


Strong multi-centre bookings for Virgin Holidays

VIRGIN HOLIDAYS reports that it is seeing an increasingtrend for agents requesting twin-centre breaks for theirclients.

The operator says that Mauritius is proving popularwith double digit growth from last year, and that part ofthis increase is being driven by guests wanting tocombine a short stay in Dubai at the Hilton Ras AlKhaimah Resort, Spa & Villas or even on safari in Kenyaor South Africa followed by a more relaxing week inMauritius.

The company also says that the Maldives hasremained strong this year and continues to grow for nextyear, particularly for properties such as the Chaaya ReefEllaidhoo and Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Huraa hotels.

Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka, the operator has increasedits touring options following demand for tours oncontinental India.

As an example of prices, a seven-night all-inclusivestay at Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Hura in the Maldivescosts from £1,800 per person, including scheduledflights with Emirates from Gatwick via Dubai andtransfers. The price is based on two sharing a waterbungalow for a November 18 departure and includes allapplicable taxes and fuel surcharges which are subjectto change. For more information or to book seewww.vhols4agents.co.uk or call 0844-557 3973.


Fantastic TWO WEEK

HOLIDAYS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

SAVE over £600 per couple on Goa holidays in November and December*

TWO WEEKS FOR THE PRICE OF ONE on selected holidays

FROM £459pp for 14 night holidays**

MONARCH PREMIUM UPGRADE available from £179 per person

PRICES INCLUDE 20 kilos of baggage. TRANSFERS available for £22 per person

Reservations & Admin 0871 423 8518 (Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras)

Brochure requests: www.trade-gate.co.uk

* Available on new bookings only and on selected products** 14 night package based on 7 December ‘13 departure from Gatwick at the 2D+ rated Prazeres, Candolim

Cosmos holds an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence (ATOL) which is

granted by the Civil Aviation Authority.

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£600 per couple*


VILU REEF Beach & SpaResort in the Maldives isoffering a familywatersports packagewhich features a range ofactivities including anhour of canoeing, a two-hour catamaran excursion,three rounds on the funtube, an hour’s snorkellingand an hour’s stand-uppaddle boarding.

Available for up to sixpeople to share, priceslead in at US$500, offeringa saving of $206. Thepackage is subject to a10% service charge andincludes all equipment,fins and snorkels.

Rates for October at theresort start from $285 perroom per night on a bed-and-breakfast basis.

MAURITIUS RESORT Shanti Maurice has launched a SpaAway Journey where guests are offered massages in al frescospots throughout the hotel.

The package includes three treatments; a skin rejuvenatingFull Body Exfoliation, followed by a Synchronized Four-Handed Traditional Balinese Massage and a BespokeAfricology Facial.

Prices lead in at approximately £313 and nightly rates start

from approximately £477 per room on a half-board basis.Turquoise Holidays offers seven nights' half-board in a

junior suite ocean view room from £1,649 per person,including private transfers and flights with Emirates. Thepackage is valid from October through to December 22 andincludes a saving of up to £1,680. For details see www.turquoiseholidays.co.uk, call 01494-678400 or email [email protected]

VELASSARU IN theMaldives is promoting a'Beach Villa with Pool'package and is offering arange of extra benefitswhen guests book topcategory rooms. Theseinclude snorkellingequipment in the room,high quality ‘Ploh’bedlinen and a pillowmenu. The extra benefitsare available for arrivalsfrom November 1 and anyguests booking a watervilla or water villa withpool will also receive anin-villa check-in andcomplimentary latecheckout subject toavailability (until 20:00).

Honeymooners can alsoreceive a free 30-minutemassage based on aminimum stay of fournights.

Kuoni offers sevennights' breakfast stay atthe five-star property from£2,469 based on twosharing beach villa withpool. It includes flightswith Turkish Airlines fromHeathrow and grouptransfers. For details or to book call01306-747008 or seewww.kuoni.co.uk quotingIO0001. For more information onthe property seewww.velassaru.com

Mauritian Massage goes al fresco with Shanti Maurice’s Spa Away Journey

Family watersportspackage from ViluReef Beach Resort


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RAFFLES PRASLINSeychelles has

introduced a Body& Soul experience

for guests whichincludes a specialist

spa consultation, dailytreatments and

recommended fitness andwellness classes. Guests can

also choose from a variety ofhealth dishes, with calorie and

nutrition information included on themenu. ITC Classics offers four nights at

the property from £3,339 per person, based ontwo sharing a Bay View pool villa. It includes

breakfast, the Body & Soul package, Economy Class flightsand private transfers. For details call 01244-355527 or see www.itcclassics.co.uk

A NEW eight-hectare private island, Maalifushi by COMO, is set toopen this December, which will offer children a range of activitiesand facilities. These include a kids' club complete with a marinebiologist with activities including snorkelling, dolphin dhonicruises, fishing and beach picnics on neighbouring desertedislands. Agents can save clients £600 per family with theproperty's opening offer for a February 18 departure. Carrieroffers a seven-night stay from £2,595 per person, based on twoadults and one child sharing a Garden room. It includes Emiratesflights, seaplane transfers and breakfast. For details call 0161-492 1358 or see www.carrier.co.uk.

Maldives property Velassaru highlightsextra benefits for guests


HURTIGRUTEN IS inviting clients toexperience autumn in Norway byembarking on one of the line’s new‘Autumn Gold’ themed tours, runningfrom now until October 31.

A highlight of the theme is theaddition of the ship’s journey into a newfjord - Hjørundfjord - which cuts itsway for 35 kilometres into the alpinemountains and offers the chance to getaway from the tourist bustle, takingguests along steep rock walls, pastgreen meadows, mountain farms andsecluded small villages.

In addition, ‘A Taste of Norway’excursion offers passengers thechance to explore the Hjørundfjordregion further, visiting the village ofUrke, Lake Lyngnstøyl and the HotelUnion in Øye. Food will also play animportant role, with the on board menubeing tailored to the seasonaldelicacies of the regions the ships visit.

As well as the on board experience,the company has expanded its on shoreexcursion programme for autumn, withthree new trips now available,including ‘Munkholmen’, ‘SamiAutumn’ and ‘Arctic Bushcraft’.

A 12-day Classic Round Voyage,including flights and a free excursion toNorth Cape on selected dates thismonth leads in at £1,398 per person.The price also includes full board onthe ship and transfers.

The company is also promoting a rangeof Northern Lights packages for thosetravelling to the Arctic Circle.

A Classic Voyage South leads in at£756 per person and cruises along thecoast of Norway. The voyage begins inKirkenes and sails south via 34 ports ofcall, taking in the northern landscapeand the Norwegian fjords before arrivingin Bergen.

An Arctic Highlights and the NorthernLights itinerary costs from £999 perperson and explores areas of the ArcticCircle seldom seen by tourists.

Alternatively, clients wishing to obtaina more comprehensive knowledge of theregion can opt for a 12-day ClassicRound Voyage, which leads in at £1,372per person including flights and travelsfrom Bergen to Kirkenes and back.

Alternatively, clients interested in thescience behind the Northern Lights canembark on a 12-day Astronomy Voyagewhich leads in at £1,608 per person. Thecruise teaches passengers about theArctic night sky and the aurora borealiswith a series of lectures plus a guidedtour to observe the night sky from thedeck of the ship.

Meanwhile, the line’s expedition ship,MS Fram, is setting off on an extendedvoyage next summer to explore thenorth-west of Greenland, including newharbours and points of disembarkation.

The Arctic Wilderness Adventure

itinerary is available as an 11- or 13-day voyage from June.

Ice landscapes, nature, wilderness,trips to small settlements andencounters with the Inuit and theirculture are the focal points of the twonew expeditions which begin inKangerlussuaq and set a northerncourse across Disko Bay along the westcoast of Greenland.

New stops include Upernavik,located on Melville Bay andQasigiannguit, 'the pearl of Disko Bay'.

Along with the new harbours, theship will visit the town of Uummannaq,the glaciers of Eqip Sermia and the icefjord of Ilulissat, a UNESCO WorldHeritage site.

The 11-day tour, which runs fromJune 26-July 6, costs from £4,900 perperson, while the 13-day tour, whichruns from June 14-26, costs from£5,341. Both prices include earlybooking discounts, flights fromCopenhagen to Kangerlussuaq (thedeparture point), transfers and cabinon full board basis, based on twosharing. Flights to Copenhagen areavailable for an additional £360 perperson.

Clients who book before October 31will receive an additional on boardcredit of £120 per person.For more information call 0844-4487601 or visit www.hurtigruten.co.uk

Hurtigruten offers Autumn Gold themed tours and Northern Lights itineraries


CRYSTAL CRUISES has launched a new ‘mind, body andspirit’ themed cruise on Symphony’s first voyage of the year,a 12-night ‘Southern Seas Soliloquy’ itinerary, which departson January 8, 2014 in Valparaíso, Chile.

The itinerary sails across the southern Pacific to theSociety/Tahitian, Easter and Pitcairn Islands and theschedule includes a yoga instructor, extreme athlete, health

and wellness expert and a Zumba teacher, as well as aselection of active excursions and complimentary fitnessclasses.

Fares lead in at £160 per person per day on an all-inclusive basis if booked by October 31. For details call 020-7399 7601 or visitwww.crystalcruises.co.uk

‘Mind, body & spirit’ cruise from Crystal Cruises

cruising

Lofoten Vesterålen, Norway

S05 TB0410 Cruising_Layout 1 02/10/2013 15:42 Page 21

The World’s Best River Cruises

EUROPE | RUSSIA | CHINA | VIETNAM & CAMBODIA

Now all inclusive on every 2014 European itinerary* Exclusive door-to-door holiday transfers

For more information visit www.titanagents.co.uk

or call free on 0800 988 5867

AGENT INCENTIVE £20 Love2shop voucher for every booking†

NEW 2014 BROCHURE OUT NOW!

T’s & C’s apply. *Excludes Russia. †See website for full details



RESEARCH BY Carnival Cruise Lines into the cost ofcruising has revealed that exploring by sea is one of thebest ways of experiencing a number of locations at greatvalue.

The research, which looked at a direct comparison ofthe cost of a five-day Western Caribbean cruise with alike for like land-based holiday, revealed a significantdifference in price.

It found that a family of four taking a five-day cruisecan expect to pay £2,902. To replicate the same trip ondry land visiting the same destinations, experiencingsimilar levels of service, accommodation and diningoptions, the costs could total £6,906.

With accommodation and transfers included in theprice, the line’s Caribbean five-day cruise allowsfamilies to take in the scenery of Florida, the CaymanIslands and Mexico for less than £3,000. Once on board,entertainment on the ship is free of charge and includesWest End style shows, comedy and live music. Toexperience similar activities on a multi-destinationholiday, families can expect to spend an extra £230 overa five-day period.

The research highlighted that feeding the family isanother consideration when it comes to balancingholiday budgets. When travelling from destination todestination, the cost of lunch, dinner and snacks willadd another £415 to the total cost of the holiday.

Meanwhile, guests opting for the cruise can takebreakfast, lunch and dinner at no extra charge, as wellas unlimited snacks 24-hours a day.

The line’s UK managing director, Adolfo Perez, said:“It’s no surprise to see a Carnival Cruise come in farless expensive compared to the land locked equivalent.Cruising offers fantastic value as well as the chance toexperience lots of stunning destinations within arelatively short space of time.”

TITAN TRAVEL has issued its 2014 Saga Cruises trade-onlybrochure, which focuses on the refurbished Saga Sapphireand the Saga Pearl II.

A range of packages are offered and include UK door-to-door chauffeur service, all gratuities, all meals, 24-hourroom service, 24-hour free tea and coffee andentertainment.

Itineraries include Saga Pearl II’s inaugural 24-nightAdriatic Homecoming cruise which sails in November. Itfeatures soprano Hayley Westenra, The Operababes andthe Gondolier Trio plus the Three Tenors tribute band toentertain guests on board. Prices start from £498 for afive-day Taste of the Continent cruise in May.

Cruises are discounted by up to 35% and the line’s pricepromise ensures passengers who book early do not findthemselves paying more than last-minute bookers. If theprice of the cruise is reduced, clients are refunded thedifference either by an on board credit, an upgraded cabinor cash.

As an added incentive, agents will receive a £15Love2Shop voucher for each passenger booked.For further details visit www.titanagents.co.uk

Titan Travel launches new Saga Cruisestrade-only brochure for 2014

cruisingCarnival research reveals cruising isone of best value family holidays

SEPTEMBER PROVED to be a very busy month in thecruise calendar with one key milestone being ourColumbus Day Conference in Liverpool. I was

joined by more than 360 delegates to hear presentationson a number of topics from a selection of great speakersincluding Michael Bayley, President & CEO of CelebrityCruises, Neil Palomba, MSC Cruises’ corporateoperating officer, Nathan Philpott, sales and marketingdirector for Fred. Olsen Cruises, and our own chiefexecutive, Christine Duffy.

It was great to be in Liverpool which has such astrong maritime history stretching back more than 800years. The conference was held next to the magnificentAlbert Dock, part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritagesite and which, after a number of years, is againwelcoming cruise ships. Arriving passengers must haveone of the most stunning views of any port - the RoyalLiver and Cunard Buildings which dominate one of theworld’s most famous waterfront skylines.

Columbus Day concluded with the CLIA UK & IrelandCruise Excellence Awards which recognised theextensive contributions made by members of the travelagent community within the cruise sector.

Another milestone in the calendar was NationalCruise Week, a time when we all come together topromote the many, great reasons why a cruise is suchan ideal holiday and to dispel some of those myths thatstill surround cruising. Travel agents up and down thecountry invited potential customers to join them forafternoon tea (and cup cakes!) to chat about cruise andwhy it’s such an ideal holiday choice.

We are now gearing up for our third River Cruise Expowhich this year is taking place in Cologne in November.In a first, agents will take to the water for theconference which is taking place on MS RheinEnergie, afloating business centre. On the second day, delegateswill be able to visit six river vessels provided byeWaterways, Lueftner Cruises, Riviera Travel,Shearings, The River Cruise Line and Uniworld.

With interest in river cruising still growing, it’s aunique opportunity for travel agents to see firsthand somany different styles of river ship.

Selling cruise is CLIA

by ANDY HARMER, director, CLIA UK & Ireland Director



cruising

Silversea unveils latest 2014 brochuresSILVERSEA HAS released two new brochures detailing itsrange of voyages next year, when its seven-ship fleet willvisit more than 500 destinations on seven continents.The new Voyage brochure, devoted to the journeys ofSilver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisperand Silver Spirit, is complemented by a separateAdventure guide highlighting the expedition cruises ofSilver Explorer and Silver Galapagos, ships known forexploring some of the world’s most remote regions.

The brochure features a ‘What’s New’ section,followed by worldwide cruise itineraries by region,including shore excursion recommendations,descriptions of land programmes, deck plans andgeneral information. A foldout voyage calendar isprovided in the back of the brochure.

Highlights include a Mediterranean cruise in May onSilver Spirit’s Voyage, which will take guests to Cannesduring the 67th Film Festival followed by a visit to theGrand Prix in Monte Carlo.

Meanwhile, three Asia cruises will feature multiple-night stopovers in Myanmar: Silver Wind’s 14-day round-trip voyage from Singapore departing on December 21;Silver Shadow’s 14-day round-trip voyage fromSingapore departing on February 13; and SilverWhisper’s 17-day sailing from Singapore to Muscat,departing on March 19.

The line has also launched its eighth ship, the 128-guest Silver Discoverer, which will sail to Micronesia,Melanesia, Polynesia, Russian Far East, Southeast Asia,Australia and New Zealand from March.

Highlights include an 11-day The Kimberley –Australia’s Hidden Treasure itinerary; a 19-day WildSiberia: The Sea of Okhotsk option; a 17-day The ManyFaces of Indonesia cruise; and an 18-day Micronesia,Melanesia, Polynesia tour.

Brochures can be viewed online at www.silversea.com,or to request a print brochure email [email protected]

InBrief● THE CLIA UK & Ireland Selling Cruise Conference is returning to

Southampton in May 2014 with two ships, MSC Cruises’ Opera andCelebrity Cruises’ Eclipse, making their conference debut. The eventwill take place from May 22-23, with an additional day on May 24for optional extra ship visits.

For details and to register visit www.cruiseexperts.org

● P&O CRUISES has changed the turnaround port from Savona toGenoa for all calls of the Ventura 2014 Fly-Med programme. Thechange to Genoa will apply to all sailings from N407A departingMarch 26, 2014 through to N421B departing October 15, 2014.Cruise-only prices start from £499 per person for seven nights,based on two sharing the lowest grade of inside cabin. An optionalholiday package add-on, which includes flights from Birmingham,London or Manchester and transfers, costs from £250 per person.

Call 0843-373 0111 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk

● ROYAL CARIBBEAN International has announced that cruises onSplendour of the Seas across Brazil and South America for winter2014/15 are now available to book. Sailing from Sao Paulo in Brazil,the ship will sail three- to eight-night Brazil cruises, calling at

Buzios, Ilha Grande, and Ilhabela, and seven-night Argentina andUruguay cruises, calling at Punta Del Este, Montevideo and BuenosAires.

● A SPECIAL eight-night sailing, departing on December 27, 2014, willtake guests to Porto Belo, Buzios, Ilha Grande and Ilhabela, and willsee in the New Year at Rio de Janeiro to catch the fireworks showat Copacabana Beach.

Details on 0844-493 2061 or visit www.royalcaribbean.co.uk

● SWAN HELLENIC’S latest brochure introduces seven new itinerariesthat encompass a range of destinations including the Far East,India, Israel and the Black Sea, as well as an inaugural cruise toJapan. To celebrate the launch of the new itineraries, the line isoffering an early booking offer of a 5% discount plus up to £200 onboard bar credit per cabin when clients book by October 21.Meanwhile, passengers looking to book a cruise on existingitineraries can take advantage of a newly launched autumn saleacross all categories of cabin on cruises departing from January-December, 2014.

For details call 0844-488 1051 or visit www.swanhellenic.com

Festive voyages from Paul Gauguin THIS CHRISTMAS, Paul Gauguin Cruises is offering two seven-night Tahiti & the Society Islands voyages on The Gauguin anda seven-night Caribbean voyage on the Tere Moana.

On December 21, The Gauguin will set off for a WhiteChristmas on French Polynesia’s white-sand beaches, whileon December 28, New Year will be celebrated on the ship inthe South Seas, with both trips leading in at £4,477 per person.On December 21, the Tere Moana will set sail for the islands ofthe Caribbean, with prices leading in at £2,810 per person. For details call 020-7399 7691 or visit www.pgcruises.com

Stay and cruise collection from KuoniA NEW collection of stay and cruise holiday options is beinglaunched by Kuoni, which will be available for customers tobook as part of worldwide tailor-made itineraries.

The operator will be working with a number of cruise linesincluding Celebrity, Azamara, Seabourn, Cunard, Crystal,Regent and Compagnie du Ponant, and options will beavailable to book from November in preparation for the peakJanuary sales campaign.

Derek Jones, the operator’s UK managing director, said:“Our own retail network has grown over the last five years andwe now have 22 High Street travel stores, four John Lewisconcessions, with another four due to open later this year, andsix partnership stores. They’re doing really well – however, weunderstand that our customers want to book different types ofholidays with us – and that includes cruise.

“We have thousands of loyal Kuoni customers, many whobook with us time and time again, so we want to introduce newcustomers who may not have previously considered a cruiseoption to the market.”

An example of itineraries is an 11-night US and Caribbeanholiday, which leads in at £2,704 per person. It embarks on aseven-night Caribbean voyage on Celebrity Silhouette and iscombined with a four-night stay at the Gotham Hotel in NewYork, plus an Artisan tour and New York helicopter tour.


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Luxury Cruising by Compagnie du Ponant

ARCTIC AND ANTARCTICA: A 5-STAR EXPEDITIONCruising with Compagnie du Ponant in the Arctic and Antarctica offers you the unique fusion of 5-star comfort and a polar expedition in the midst of majestic icebergs and spectacular scenery. The 132-cabin, 5-star yachts LE BORÉAL and L’AUSTRAL reach some of the World’s most unique destinations- many inaccessible to larger ships- while treating guests to unrivalled passenger service, the finest cuisine and a bilingual crew ready to tend to your every need. Discover the treasures of the World by sea.

Start your journey on ponant.com

Winter 2013 - 2014 & Summer 201423 departures from € 2600 (1)

0800 980 4027

Contact your travel agency or call our UK call centre


RIVIERA TRAVEL has launched the latest addition to its fleet – the five-star MS William Shakespeare –due to be launched in April. The ship will carry 140 passengers and 35 crew and features a four-deckdesign with a lobby on the Hamlet (upper) deck. At the front of the ship, guests will find the library andthe Globe lounge and bar, while to the rear is a 24-seater Midsummer bar, offering panoramic windowsand outdoor seating. Other features of the vessel include a restaurant, fitness suite, sauna andhairdressing salon. Eight-day itineraries next year include the Rhine & Moselle from £1,249 per person;Rhine, Strasbourg and Heidelberg from £1,299; and a Rhine Cruise to Switzerland from £1,349. Prices arebased on two sharing a lower deck cabin, including Eurostar travel and excursions. Flights are availableat a supplement. For details see www.rivieratravel.co.uk

THE RIVER Cruise Line has issued its latestbrochure for 2014 featuring six new itinerariesand increased options for four-star comfort.

In addition to the three-star MS Amsterdamand MS Lady Anne, clients can now choosefrom a choice of cruises on two four-starships: MS Switzerland II and MS Serenity.

The line’s head of sales Paul Sharp said:“We are delighted to see so many more agentsstarting to recognise the potential of thislucrative addition to their business. Thedecision to add a greater choice of four-starship options and new itineraries has beenmade in response to demand and we hope tosee this continue into 2014 and beyond.”

As an example, new tours on MSAmsterdam include a Bruges, Ghent, Ypresand the Battlefields itinerary, which covers theDutch waterways. It begins in Bruges andtravels from Ghent to Antwerp, with a full dayexcursion to the battlefields. Prices for thetour start from £329 per person and are basedon two sharing an en-suite cabin on a fullboard basis. Also included are ferry crossingsfrom Dover (unless otherwise specified),transport to join the cruise, eveningentertainment, a cruise manager and coachtransfers from regional departure points.For more information call 0844-544 7580 orvisit www.sellingrivercruises.com

VIKING RIVER Cruises is to be the official travel partner for the Victoria and Albert Museum’sMasterpieces of Chinese Painting 700-1900, running from October 26-January 19.

The exhibition gathers together more than 70 pieces across a 1,200-year period, includingsome of the earliest surviving Chinese paintings, many of which have made their maiden voyageto Europe and will be displayed for the first time in London.

Wendy Atkin-Smith, UK managing director of the cruise line, said: “This is our secondcollaboration with the V&A and provides a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse into the wonders ofChinese culture and life. Our Yangtze cruise travels through many of the destinations depicted inthis collection and we look forward to introducing the paintings to our guests past and present.”

Martin Roth, director of the museum, said: “It is an honour to present this once-in-a-lifetimeexperience of seeing the greatest examples of Chinese painting together and understandinghow they were created. We are indebted to our numerous lenders around the world for allowingus a rare opportunity to present these magnificent masterpieces, a number of which arenational treasures and have never before left Asia.”

As a main sponsor, the line will also host a competition on the museum’s website, with thewinner getting the chance to embark on a 15-day Imperial Jewels of China itinerary on VikingEmerald.For further information on the exhibition or to book tickets, which cost £12, visit www.vam.ac.ukFor more information about the line visit www.vikingrivercruises.co.uk

Xmas river cruises with

AmaWaterways BETWEEN THE end ofNovember through to NewYear, AmaWaterways’luxury river cruise shipsoffer guests time to visitthe Christmas markets ofEurope.

An example of cruisesis a seven-night ChristmasTime voyage, whichtravels betweenNuremberg and Budapeston 13 departure datesthroughout the festiveseason.

The itinerary takesguests to the Christmasmarket in Nuremberg, thefestively decorated stallsof the Old Kornmarkt's inthe medieval city ofRegensberg and the ‘royal’Christmas markets at theThurn and Taxis Palace. InPassau, guests can choosean optional tour toSalzburg and on to Melk tovisit the BenedictineAbbey.

In Vienna, guests havethe opportunity to seesome of the numerousChristmas markets inAustria's capital, includingthe 60 traditionalChristmas market stalls atthe Imperial SchönbrunnPalace.

The cruise concludes inBudapest with anilluminations cruisefollowing a farewelldinner.

Based on a December 2departure, prices lead inat £1,639 per person andinclude a saving of £355per person; flights; meals;wine, beer and soft drinkswith lunch and dinner;complimentary daily toursand excursions; free WiFi;and free use of on boardbicycles. The same cruiseon December 16 costsfrom £1,649 per person,saving £504 per person,including flights.For more information call0808-223 5009 or visitwww.amawaterways.co.uk

Take a journey through Chinese art with Viking River Cruises

The River Cruise Line introduces new itineraries for 2014


rivercruising



THE GAMBIA, a popular inclusion inOlympic Holidays' Winter Sunprogramme, owes its continuedtourism success to its holiday offerbeing low-key rather than high-rise,according to the operator'scommercial director PhotisLambrianides.

He said: "The Gambia is a reallysmall country, but it has a truly exoticfeel and offers a laid-back holidayexperience at affordable prices. It hasdone well for us over many years.

"With rare exceptions, its holidayaccommodation is locally owned andmanaged. The opening of the Sheraton

Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa a few yearsago was international recognition ofThe Gambia's tourism potential.

"While The Gambia has never beenhighly proactive in its marketing andwe have to push the destinationourselves, our strong repeat businessshows it readily meets people's holidayrequirements.

"The Gambia boasts wonderfulbeaches, quality accommodation at alllevels and fantastic weather – andthere are no high-rise hotels todisfigure the coast. I'm certain itspresent level of popularity willcontinue."

The company offers a choice ofGambian hotels from five-star to themore budget two-star. Its winterprogramme to The Gambia is based onbed-and-breakfast, with a half-boardsupplement at most hotels alsoavailable.

Prices for winter 2013/14 lead in at£404 per person for seven nights'breakfast stay at the two-star BadalaPark Hotel in Kotu (14 nights from£459). A half-board supplement is£52.50 per person per week.For more information or to book call0844-499 4449 or visitwww.olympicholidays.com

THE GAMBIA Experience reports strong sales for winter sunholidays to The Gambia, following its 2013/14 brochurerelease in June, and its trade bookings to be up by 21%year-on-year. With prices either held or reduced for next winter at many ofits featured properties, the operator is featuring a range ofvalue holidays throughout its collections of Luxury & Uniqueand Mid-Range & Value hotels.

New additions for the forthcoming season include Leo’sBeach Hotel (www.gambia.co.uk/leos), a newly builtcontemporary, boutique-style property which is situated on acliff top with views across the ocean. Providing just six suitesand an adult-only policy, Leo’s is presented as an idealchoice for couples and honeymooners.

Increased accommodation choice is offered at theexclusive Mandina Lodges at Makasutu Cultural Forest withthe addition of a new “Mangrove Lodge” to its collection ofstilted, floating and jungle lodges located off the River

Gambia. Meanwhile, cruise holidays are also being offered,travelling 250 nautical miles along the river on mega yachtHarmony V. The ‘Rivers of West Africa’ cruise blendsconventional cruising and private yachting, with the option ofembarking at either Banjul (The Gambia) or Dakar (Senegal).

Seven-night holidays lead in at £549 per person on a bed-and-breakfast basis and £699 on all-inclusive. Ten- and 11-night holidays are also available with a “one night free” offeron 11-night holiday bookings at any of the operator’s two- tofour-grade hotels.

Meanwhile, agents are being offered £50 in High Streetvouchers as part of the company’s ‘Booking of the Month’competition, along with the chance to win an iPad Mini whenordering the company’s new training USB sticks designed tofurther assist agents with bookings. To enter, agents should email their name and ABTA numberto [email protected] For more information visit www.gambia.co.uk

gambia

Sheraton Gambia Hotel Resort & Spa

Olympic Holidays sees continued increase in repeat business

Winter sun bookings up for The Gambia Experience

S06 TB0410 Gambia_Layout 1 02/10/2013 14:14 Page 27


GAMBIA HAS become an increasingly popular touristdestination over the last few years, particularly appealingto Europeans seeking sun, sea and sand during the wintermonths. The country is also renowned for its variety ofcultural experiences, including cuisine, craft markets andmusic. With a population of approximately 1.7m, thecountry is situated around the Gambia River, its namesake.One of the smallest countries in Africa, Gambia gainedindependence from Britain in 1965 and is a member of theCommonwealth.Location: West Africa - surrounded by Senegal except for ashort coastline on the Atlantic Ocean in the west.Time: -1hour GMT during British summer timeLanguage: English.Area: 11,295 km²Population: 1.7mCapital: BanjulCurrency: DalasiTelephone code: +220Flight time: Six hours (Gatwick to Banjul)Passport/visa requirements: UK citizens do not requirevisasHealth requirements: Anti-malaria medicine isrecommended and visitors are advised to take insectrepellent, anti-fungal creams and disinfectant.For more information visit: www.visitthegambia.gm

Fast facts

EXPLORE IS highlighting an 11-day ‘Senegal & Gambia RiverCruise’ which takes in Gambia and Senegal. Highlights includewalks through French colonial towns, spotting birdlife andvisiting the megalithic stone circles at Wassu. Clients will alsoexplore some of the region’s wildlife parks, cruise down theGambia River and venture into the Saloum Delta by traditionalpirogue canoe. The itinerary departs from February to May 2014and leads in at £1,997 per person including flights, breakfastaccommodation, many other meals, transport and the services ofa tour leader, driver, local guides and boat crew. For details visit www.explore.co.uk or call 0844-499 0901.

Exotic African culture, unique and boutique hotels, friendly people and

a warm welcome awaits you in The Gambia.

0845 330 4567Gambia.co.uk/Trade

Th e GambiaDiscover the(smiling coast

5113

gambia

S06 TB0410 Gambia_Layout 1 02/10/2013 14:14 Page 28

INTREPID TRAVEL is introducing a number of new ‘publictransport’ trips for 2014, including two-week ‘Southern Africa

Unplugged’ itineraries in South Africa, Swaziland,Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The tour travels from

Johannesburg to Victoria Falls by local transport,including buses, bikes, taxis and dhows (lateen-

rigged sailing ships) as it takes in theregion’s highlights including Kruger,

Milwane and Matobos National Parks,Mozambique’s beaches, and

Victoria Falls. Departure datesand prices will be announced

later this month on theoperator’s website

and in its newAfrica 2014

brochure.


IT’S 5AM and I’m lying awake in a tent, and I’mlaughing. This is not what I first imagined when my wife,

Kirsteen, said that she wanted to be out of the countryon her ‘0th’ birthday. When she told me this Iimmediately imagined a Caribbean beach hotel; I did notthink that I would be paying somebody for the privilegeof clearing out animal enclosures.

When celebrating a special event with a trip, too manypeople just go with a more expensive version of theirusual holiday.

It made perfect sense to do something completelydifferent and Southern Africa has plenty of differentvolunteering holidays available.

We chose an animal sanctuary in Namibia, but thereare also plenty of humanitarian options too, fromhelping in a clinic to teaching in a school. The only reallimiting factor in making a choice is the minimumamount of time that you have to commit to.

It’s not all gap year students either, in our groupthere were a few pensioners too, all mucking in togetherto have the trip of a lifetime.

It’s been three years since our Daktari (ask yourgrandparents) adventure and the memories are stillfresh - unlike all the various beach holidays which seemto merge into one. A holiday where you get to carry aleopard, walk with baboons, cuddle cheetahs and fight abushfire really is a wonderful way to mark an occasion.

So why am I laughing at this ridiculous time? Our tentwas outside the compound, and we were surrounded bya herd of mooing cattle.

As well as this noise there was the two cockerelscalling out alternatively, geese, a herd of goats, apeacock and every now and then the roar of a lion. Itwas a brilliant noise and it was impossible to doanything else but laugh.

I will be talking to The Great Projects about Africanvolunteering holidays on my 7th October show. For more information on their holidays please [email protected] or call 020-8885 4987.

Guinn’s game inNamibia

by John Guinn, holiday researcher

John Guinn runs Holiday Hut and has a travel showon internet radio station Secklow Sounds everyMonday at 12:00. Here he talks about volunteeringholidays in Southern Africa and why he’ll alwaysremember one particular morning while he wasvolunteering in Namibia...

southernafrica

Eight-night South Africa wine tourfrom Arblaster & Clarke from £2,399ARBLASTER & Clarke is promoting its eight-night SouthAfrica Wine Tour, which departs on February 15, for £2,399per person.

The tour offers an insight into the wine-makers world, withpersonal welcomes from leading wineries, plus tastings withexclusive lunch and dinner invitations. It also combines citiesand towns, dramatic coastal scenery and wildlife, withselected visits to outstanding estates in Constantia andStellenbosch, then over the Du Toitskloof Pass to leadingwineries in Roberston; the Pinot Noir specialist HamiltonRussell and rising star Paul Cluver in Elgin.

The itinerary includes breakfast stays at four-star hotelsand guesthouses, 11 meals with wines, coffee or tea aftermeals (where possible), all wine visits and tastings, pluscoach transport. For more information see www.winetours.co.uk

LAKE MALAWI National Parkprovides opportunities for

watersports, scuba divingand sailing, while

guests can alsoswim with some of

the 1,000 species offish that live there. A

range ofaccommodation is

available along the shore,including Mumbo &

Domwe Island Camps,Danforth Yachting andLodge, Cape Mac

Lodge and Pumulaniand Robin Pope Safaris.

For details visitwww.malawitourism.com

or for holidays call AudleyTravel on 01993-838540 or

see www.audleytravel.com

S07 TB0410 Southern Africa_Layout 1 02/10/2013 14:59 Page 29

Acacia Africa launches accommodated overland safarisACACIA AFRICA Is now offering accommodated overland safaris for families.Locations include the Okavango Delta, Hwange National Park, GreatZimbabwe, Damaraland and Lake Mutirikwi and the itineraries offer thechance to travel as part of a larger group of up to 18 people.

Country lodges, tented camps, chalets and locally owned accommodationoffer more comfort than camping and the two new expeditions are suitablefor children from eight years.

Arno Delport, the company’s UK marketing manager, said: “We find manyadults who have been to Africa pre-parenting are keen to share thecontinent with the kids, and others who have backpacked across the globebefore having children are also undaunted by less mainstream destinations.

“Zimbabwe is one of the front runners with families, but whether it’sgetting to grips with an intimate cultural experience, connecting the dotsbetween history and location or learning about conservation, it’s the richlyrewarding experience that ties these two groups together.”

Examples include a 13-day Zimbabwe Parks & Kruger expedition whichallows guests to experience Victoria Falls, Hwange National Park, MatobosNational Park, Great Zimbabwe and Lake Mutirikwi. The tour concludes withBig Five game drives in Kruger National Park and costs from £1,215 perperson with an additional local payment from £333 per person.

Year-round departures are available twice-monthly from June 19, 2014,and three times monthly in July.

Meanwhile, a 20-day Cape Dunes & Falls tour leads in at £1,995 perperson with a local payment from £492 per person, starting inJohannesburg and ending in Nairobi. Year-round departures are offeredtwice-monthly from May 31, 2014 and no single supplement is applicable forthe expeditions.For more information or to book call 020-7706 4700, email [email protected] or see www.acacia-africa.com

New upgrades at Kwazulu Natal's Thonga Beach Lodge LOCATED ON the Elephant Coast in Kwazulu Natal, the newly renovatedThonga Beach Lodge in the iSimangaliso World Heritage Park offers twonew deluxe ocean view rooms. Room eight offers two ensuite bedroomsand a private deck, while room five features an ensuite bedroom, privatedeck and plunge pool.

Two of the existing forest view rooms have also had ensuite twinbedrooms added, while other improvements include a second larger2.7m-deep pool, ideal for PADI scuba diving training; a spa with twotreatment rooms; a new lounge area with Wi-Fi; a private dining room;and a new speedboat which allows guests to experience activities such asreef-snorkelling, scuba-diving, fishing, turtle- and whale-watching anddolphin safaris.

Isibindi Africa Lodges provides a range of offers when combining a stayat the lodge with one or more of its other lodges.

As examples, a five-night combination leads in at R13,316 (£843) and aneight-night combination costs from R21,417 (£1,356).

A honeymoon deal is also available at the lodge for an extra £34 perperson and includes sparkling wine with a private dinner on the couple’sveranda or the beach deck, a private picnic lunch in the dunes and anaromatherapy bath. For more information call 01993-838550 or visitwww.hiddenbeaches.co.uk

We asked our staff thefollowing question this week:

When was the last timeyou lied? (and why?)

Publisher: Jeanette [email protected] told my son Man Utd would win the Champions Leaguethis year!

Editor: Lauretta [email protected] tell little white lies to my kids all the time - mostly toscare them into behaving well at school

Assistant Editor: Jill [email protected]

Contributing Editor: Paul [email protected] don't lie. Why would I? Umm...

Sales Director: Simon [email protected]

Advertisement Manager: Tim [email protected] a regular basis that I will stop smoking to keep thewife quiet!

Online Sales Manager: Nick [email protected] honestly can't remember ;-)

Account Manager: Bill [email protected] as it saves getting shouted at!

Sales Executive: Chris [email protected] I told you that I would have to kill you!

Sales Executive: Matt [email protected]

Senior Designer: Genaro [email protected]

Assistant Designer: Nicky [email protected] time I told Salty he was tall enough to eat pudding

Production: Nick Salt [email protected] I told Nicky her hair cut was "great"

Circulation Manager: Jim [email protected]

southernafrica

Crossword:Across: 1. LUFTHANSA, 6. IONIAN, 7. AVRO, 9. HEATH, 10. CORAL, 12. LARGO, 13. TOSCA, 15. CRAB, 17. NADINE,18. SNOWDONIA.Down: 1. LEITH, 2. FINNAIR, 3. HEATHROW, 4. SEA, 5. SEOUL, 8. SCOTLAND, 11. RUSSIAN, 12. LUCIA, 14. ARENA,16. BEN.

Highlighted Word: LILLE

Travagrams: (top) Anatolian Sky (bottom) Bergen

Where Am I?: Paisley

puzzlesolutions


Travel Bulletin is published by Alain Charles Publishing (Travel) Ltd - University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London,SW1W 0EX, Tel: 020-7834 6661 Printed by: Wyndeham Grange LimitedSubscriptions are £105 p.a. £155 overseasISSN: 0956-2419

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


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Travel Bulletin 4th October 2013

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