If it's not happening in Brooklyn ... it isn't happening!
Brooklyn is America’s fourth largest city (as well as being one of New York City’s five boroughs) and it is a best bet for tourists who want hip and historic, authentic and diverse experiences and who enjoy character and characters!
Experience Brooklyn
Festivals & Concerts:
Sakura Matsuri at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden (April) New York City's "rite of spring," offers over 50 events and performances celebrating Japanese culture and the blossoming of BBG's 220 cherry trees
39th Annual International African Arts Festival, (July), Thousands of festival goers gather each day to enjoy live music, dance, spoken word performances, African marketplace, showcase performances, fashion, and hair shows.
Outdoor Concert Series (June- August) from Celebrate Brooklyn in Park Slope to the Northside Festival in Williamsburg, the Village Voice Siren Festival and Seaside Summer Concerts in Coney Island, Jelly’s pool party concerts on the waterfront in Greenpoint/Williamsburg, the Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival in DUMBO, or the Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series in central Brooklyn, Brooklyn is the summer home of star studded entertainment from the classics to emerging artists.
West Indian American Day Carnival (September) Carnival lovers and revelers from across the United States, and abroad will converge in Brooklyn, New York in celebration of the West Indian Carnival Festival to enjoy masks, concerts and an incredible parade. Biz Bash lists this in the top 5 biggest parades and events in NYC- and bigger is better with all the big, beautiful costumed fun!
Atlantic Antic (September) New York City’s classic and largest street festival.
Food Networks New York City Food and Wine Festival (October) The Burger Bash, hosted by Rachel Ray is in Brooklyn.
Meet the cultural creators!
Bklyn Designs (May) multi day showcase for New York City’s finest, new, home furnishing designers.
NYPF (May) The New York Photo Festival delivers a dynamic, high-quality event celebrating both contemporary photography and the creative, inspirational talents of the people who produce this work.
Brooklyn Book Festival (September) This hip, smart and diverse literary event is the largest one in Northeastern America and features over 200 national and international authors presented in conversation, panels, or workshops on five stages and in four halls. Free - with a huge literary marketplace.
smART Brooklyn Gallery Hop (November) featuring free tours and bus loops to over 70 galleries in four major art districts that exhibit emerging and established artists
Come to CONEY ISLAND – More OOHS! New AHS!
America’s favorite playground offers the famous boardwalk, beach and amusements (including the landmarked Wonder Wheel and Cyclone) minor league baseball with the New York Mets farm team, the Brooklyn Cyclones, the New York Aquarium and Friday night firework shows. Don’t miss the annual Mermaid Parade (June) where glitter is clothes or the Polar Bear Day (new years day) where the bold brave a winter dip in the ocean. New this summer in Coney Island:
LUNA PARK Opened on Memorial Day weekend 2010 and named after an iconic piece of Coney’s history, the new Luna Park represents the largest investment in amusements in Coney Island in decades. The park’s inaugural season will introduce New Yorkers and tourists from around the world to 19 new rides, including the world debut of “Air Race.” The new Luna Park has been designed to reflect the spirit and personality of today’s Coney Island, while capturing the original look and feel of its namesake. With no entrance fee, Luna Park will be fully accessible to those who prefer games to rides, or to those simply taking a stroll down the Boardwalk. Brought to you by ZAMPERLA International.
Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents The Coney Island IlluscinationSM, (June- September, 2010) a fantasy-filled world where thrills, wonderment and unbelievable magic intersect with the outlandish fun of the circus. Illuscinator, and host of this all new Gold edition, David DaVinci along with performers from all over the world invite Children of All Ages to join them on a mystifying adventure where they will witness eye-popping illusions and thrilling circus acts all at The Greatest Show On Earth® in an air-conditioned tent on Surf Avenue and West 21st Street.
Guides & Packages
Brooklyn is proud to announce that many of our cultural institutions and attractions are now marketed in discount, multi-day passes packaged, through double-decker tour packages with Twin America (Grayline - Citysights)– www.newyorksightseeing.com and with the expertise and fun of unique tour guides:
A Slice of Brooklyn Bus Tours– www.asliceofbrooklyn.com
Beyond Times Square Receptive Operator – www.btsq.com
Big Onion Walking Tours – www.bigonion.com
Chassidic Discovery/Jewish Hassidic Walking Tour – www.jewishtours.com
Food on Foot Tours – www.foodonfoottours.com
Gotham Sidewalks – www.gothamsidewalks.com
Hush Tours – www.hushhiphoptours.com
Inside Out Tours – www.insideouttours.com
Levy’s Unique New York – www.levysuniqueny.com
New York Visions Brooklyn Tour – www.harlemspirituals.com
New York Water Taxi - www.newyorkwatertaxi.com
Additionally, Brooklyn is part of major destination passes through:
New York Pass: Discover the New York Pass offering free entry to over 50 attractions including 10 famous Brooklyn sites such as Juniors Restaurant, New York Aquarium and the Heart of Brooklyn cultural members! Receive a 140 page guidebook, enjoy line skipping privileges, receive over $650 worth of entrance fees as well as benefit from many special offers on theatre tickets, entry to special exhibitions, audio tours and discounts on shopping plus much more!
Smart Destination’s Explorer Pass: Explore top Brooklyn and New York City sights, museums and tours with the Explorer Pass - pick from 40 attractions – including Brooklyn’s Prospect Park, Brooklyn Museum and Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Chassidic Discovery Walking Tour and many more! With savings up to 40%!
Shop Brooklyn
Dine In Brooklyn Restaurant Week (March/April) over 200 restaurants offer fine dining deals with a prix fix menu that features signature dishes.
Boutique Brooklyn Fashion Nights (August) boutiques in fashion districts entice with trunk shows, guest designers and discounts on selected nights presented by Brooklyn Tourism.
Brooklyn flea markets (spring & summer) these fleas offer tourists unique shopping opportunities to find art, vintage and designer fashion, crafts and more (ask for a list)
www.ishopBrooklyn.com for all the news on all the shopping districts in Brooklyn.
Visit Brooklyn Homes & Gardens
HOUSE TOURS (spring/summer) Brooklyn neighborhood Associations present open houses in a variety of neighborhoods from brownstones to Victorian mansions. Ticketed admissions from $10- $25 gets you INSIDE some of the most beautiful homes in Brooklyn in Fort Greene, Park Slope, downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Midwood, Bedford –Stuyvesant and more neighborhoods. (FYI: in the 2010 New York magazine top ten neighborhoods in NYC –Brooklyn is home to six!)
Sleep in Brooklyn
Whether you walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, Water Taxi here, drive or subway to Brooklyn there’s so much to do you will want to sleep over! (and plan time for day trips to Manhattan) Brooklyn Tourism has a portfolio of hotels (four star to budget) and a unique array of bed and breakfast/inns in brownstone and Victorian neighborhoods. Brooklyn Tourism has an active hotels committee that collaborates to offer small and mid size conferences and conventions help planning unique experiences and matching tour operators to rooms.
New this summer- Sheraton Brooklyn (opened June 2010) downtown, Fairfield Inn (opening July, 2010) Park Slope, and two new Comfort Inns in Sunset Park and Atlantic Avenue in Prospect Heights. Also – check out www.VictorianBB.net, to be introduced to a network of beautiful Brooklyn bed and breakfast homes.
BROOKLYN ANNUAL EVENTS At A Glance
see www.visitbrooklyn.org for dates and details
or call 718-802-3820
JANUARY
Coney Island Polar Bears New Year’s Day Dip • Three Kings Parade
FEBRUARY
Chinese New Year Celebration
MARCH
Dine in Brooklyn – Restaurant Week (Mar-Apr) • Brooklyn Irish-American Parade
APRIL
Brooklyn Botanic Garden Sakura Matsuri – Japanese Cherry Blossom Festival
MAY
Brooklyn Designs • Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Pier Art Show • BayBest/Blessing of the Fleet • DanceAfrica at BAM • Historic House & Garden Tours (May-Jun) • Veterans Memorial Day Parade
JUNE
BrooklynBest Festival • Brooklyn International Film Festival • Boricua Festival/Salsa at the Waterfront • Celebrate Brooklyn Performing Arts Festival (Jun-Aug) • LGBT Pride Week • NYC Native American Heritage Celebration • Mermaid Parade • Russian Heritage Week
JULY
International African Arts Festival • Giglio Festival • Bastille Day • Martin Luther King Jr. Concert Series (Jul-Aug) • Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival • Seaside Summer Concert Series (Jul-Aug) • Siren Music Festival
AUGUST
Brighton Jubilee • Battle Week at the Old Stone House • Brooklyn Puerto Rican Parade • Brooklyn Dominican Parade • Puerto Rican State Parade and Festival of NY
SEPTEMBER
Brooklyn Book Festival • Atlantic Antic Street Festival • West Indian American Day Carnival & Parade • Great Irish Fair • Brooklyn Botanic Garden Chile Pepper Festival (Sep/Oct) • DUMBO Art Under the Bridge Festival • Flatbush Frolic • Puerto Rican State Festival of NY • Ragamuffin Parade
OCTOBER
Brooklyn Columbus Day Parade • Brooklyn Academy of Music: Next Wave Festival • Prospect Park Halloween Walk • Halloween Parade
NOVEMBER
Winter Festival at Prospect Park
DECEMBER
Holiday Lighting Displays
Brooklyn- Believe the HYPE!
To book your next trip to Brooklyn today, or for any of your travel needs, be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Phone one of our expert consultants now on 0871 226 8689 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/usa to book now!
Friday 11 June 2010
Wednesday 2 June 2010
Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week!
~
This week at Barrhead we're going Stateside!
Fall For New England
Each year as summer drifts into autumn the northeastern region of New England comes alive. The leaves start to change colour and nature once again puts on a spectacular display. The October spectacle makes the region, made up of six states – Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and little Rhode Island – a magnet for ‘leaf-peepers’ on scenic flydrive breaks.
But it’s not all about foliage; New England also has the vibrant, historic city of Boston and the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, not to mention Acadia National Park, Atlantic beaches, heritage sites, wineries, and dozens of hospitable inns.
Typical travellers to New England tend to be second or third-time visitors looking for a more cultural/educational experience. There is so much variation across the six states that the area has wide appeal. The autumn colours will always be a major factor in attracting visitors, but you should be aware that this is also when the region is at its busiest, and most expensive.
What’s new?
The last year has seen Boston, the gateway to New England, emerging as a viable city break alternative to New York. In particular, the city has experienced strong growth in the volume and quality of accommodation it has to offer. Another option is for you to stay out of town and take advantage of the light-rail system.
Wherever you stay, add an extra night or two to take in the sights: the venerable Harvard University, the Freedom Trail (a walking tour that links the city’s historic highlights), shopping for bargains and exploring distinctive districts like Beacon Hill, the South End with its gourmet eateries, and Back Bay. And of course, nobody should leave Boston without checking out the bar from long-running TV show Cheers – in fact, there are actually two to choose from, as well as hundreds of other local hostelries. Boston likes to party!
We can package New England with New York city and/or state, or Eastern Canada – Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City, as well as Atlantic Canada. We have introduced a self-drive tour of New England for visitors in search of fall foliage this autumn.
Don’t miss
The New England coastline can get neglected in favour of the inland attractions. Must see attractions are wild, rocky shores (including Acadia National Park) and fishing ports of Maine. Massachusetts has superb beaches, especially along Cape Cod, which stretches from Martha’s Vineyard out to Province-town, a sort of American-style mini-Brighton. The Cape gets a lot of celebrities. Connecticut also has beaches on Long Island Sound while Rhode Island, America’s smallest state, is also among its most charming.
Away from the coast, New Hampshire and Vermont have some of the finest scenery, foliage, and outdoor activities, although only Vermont can lay claim to ice cream royalty Ben & Jerry’s. Wedged between New York and Massachusetts, Connecticut has Yale, with its fine buildings, art galleries, museums, shopping and food, as well as the gentle Litchfield Hills that are dotted with welcoming wineries. Connecticut also earns rave reviews for its outlet malls – you must take an empty suitcase.
Each of the six states has its own tasty twist on the region’s signature dish: New England clam chowder. You can also expect excellent seafood, maple syrup, microbrews and seasonal fruit pies.
If you are visiting either side of autumn’s peak season will find better value and availability of accommodation, as well as quieter roads, while snow-lovers can pretty much fill their boots any time after Thanksgiving. New England also does a traditional Christmas exceedingly well.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
A recent documentary hailed the National Park Service as America’s best idea, and few of those visiting Yellowstone or Yosemite, the Everglades or the Grand Canyon would disagree.
There are 58 National Parks from Florida to Washington State and Southern California to Maine, which make for great add-ons to a holiday or holidays in their own right.
Here are some of the highlights, together with details of what each has to offer the UK visitor.
Yosemite National Park
Sierra Nevada, Northern California
What to expect
This is the mother of all the National Parks, a mystical valley straight out of The Lord of the Rings. There’s a range of accommodation in the park, from camping and motor-homes to cabins, and even the venerable Ahwahnee Hotel, which you will need to book six months in advance. The alternative is to stay in a hotel or motel just outside the park.
In winter Yosemite is buried under several feet of snow; in summer it’s heaving with visitors. The best times to visit are the shoulder seasons when the waterfalls are in full flow and most trails are open. Yosemite works well twinned with San Francisco – the drive from shore to mountains takes about four hours.
Don’t miss
The magical waterfalls; the giant sequoia trees; picture-postcard views from Glacier Point; a ranger-guided hike; more than 400 species of wildlife including foxes, deer, snakes and bears.
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
What to expect
Big, blue skies and wide open spaces are the essence of Yellowstone. Here, the visitor feels as it’s possible to feel from cities and civilisation.
Then there’s the history, the thundering geysers, and the wildlife – just don’t go looking for Yogi Bear! Accommodation is deliberately basic – cabins and campgrounds – to preserve the park’s atmosphere.
Silver Gate Cabins are a good in-park option, but they should be booked early. If you want more luxury, book the lodgings on the outskirts of Yellowstone. The park’s summer season runs from mid-April to the start of November.
Outside that period, you can expect some roads and entrances to be closed, and plenty of snow. You might want to combine Yellowstone with a winter sports break at Jackson Hole, or rent a car to add on a visit to Grand Teton National Park.
Don’t miss
The chance to spot wildlife – bears, wolves, elk and buffalo – in the Lamar and Hayden valleys; watching Old Faithful blow his top; taking a horseback ride to savour the view; hiking, biking, camping, fishing and a variety of ranger-led programs.
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona
What to expect
The canyon is 18 miles wide and more than one mile deep. If standing on its rim doesn’t take your breath away, you should probably check your pulse. Everyone has seen it on television but nothing matches the thrill of being there.
Most see the canyon from the south rim; the north rim is higher and harder to access, especially in winter. As with all the great Western parks, accommodation is at a premium, especially in summer. In-park lodging includes seven lodges on the south rim. All are connected to restaurants, shopping and great viewpoints by free shuttle buses. Tusayan, seven miles south of Grand Canyon village, has more hotels and inns.
Don’t miss
Las Vegas. You could take a helicopter tour (from Vegas), hike or ride a mule down into the canyon, paddle a boat along the mighty Colorado River, or hop aboard for the two-hour trip on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona.
Acadia National Park
Maine
What to expect
A rocky coastline, Atlantic breakers, granite mountains and spruce-fir forests are the keynotes of Acadia. This rugged East Coast park makes a striking contrasts to the wonders out West. Home to a diversity of plants and animals, Acadia also has the highest peak on America’s East Coast.
A system of carriage roads throughout the park makes for excellent walking or biking. Acadia is very much a four-season park, with mists and brilliant foliage in the autumn, and precipitation likely in any month of the year, so pack accordingly.
There’s no lodging in the park, except for two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island and one on Isle au Haut. Nearby Bar Harbor has a variety of accommodation,
however, including the Bar Harbor Inn and new Grand Hotel. Acadia works well as part of a New England flydrive itinerary.
Don’t miss
The 20-mile Park Loop Road with stunning views of mountains, ocean and forests (the drive takes three to four hours with stops); a horse-drawn carriage tour; a ranger-led boat cruise.
Olympic National Park
Washington
What to expect
West of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula, this park offers the perfect Pacific Northwestern blend of ocean beaches, rainforest valleys, and glacier-capped peaks, plus a host of plant and animal life.
You can combine a few days in the park with time spent in Seattle or Vancouver. It’s worth remembering to pack carefully – where the Pacific Northwest meets rainforest, a brief shower is never far away.
Within the park, Log Cabin Resort on the shore of Lake Crescent has various lodging options, as well as camping and hook-ups for motorhomes. Lake Crescent Lodge has cabins, a motel and rooms in the historic lodge. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and the Kalaloch Lodge are other good options.
Don’t miss:
Hurricane Ridge, for its mile-high visitor centre and nature trails; Hoh Rain Forest, with its subtropical trails beneath the forest canopy; rocky Rialto Beach for offshore islands and a Pacific sunset to remember.
To book your own US holiday or for any of your travel needs contact one of our expert consultants now on 0871 226 8689 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your next holiday today!
This week at Barrhead we're going Stateside!
Fall For New England
Each year as summer drifts into autumn the northeastern region of New England comes alive. The leaves start to change colour and nature once again puts on a spectacular display. The October spectacle makes the region, made up of six states – Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and little Rhode Island – a magnet for ‘leaf-peepers’ on scenic flydrive breaks.
But it’s not all about foliage; New England also has the vibrant, historic city of Boston and the mountains of New Hampshire and Vermont, not to mention Acadia National Park, Atlantic beaches, heritage sites, wineries, and dozens of hospitable inns.
Typical travellers to New England tend to be second or third-time visitors looking for a more cultural/educational experience. There is so much variation across the six states that the area has wide appeal. The autumn colours will always be a major factor in attracting visitors, but you should be aware that this is also when the region is at its busiest, and most expensive.
What’s new?
The last year has seen Boston, the gateway to New England, emerging as a viable city break alternative to New York. In particular, the city has experienced strong growth in the volume and quality of accommodation it has to offer. Another option is for you to stay out of town and take advantage of the light-rail system.
Wherever you stay, add an extra night or two to take in the sights: the venerable Harvard University, the Freedom Trail (a walking tour that links the city’s historic highlights), shopping for bargains and exploring distinctive districts like Beacon Hill, the South End with its gourmet eateries, and Back Bay. And of course, nobody should leave Boston without checking out the bar from long-running TV show Cheers – in fact, there are actually two to choose from, as well as hundreds of other local hostelries. Boston likes to party!
We can package New England with New York city and/or state, or Eastern Canada – Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Quebec City, as well as Atlantic Canada. We have introduced a self-drive tour of New England for visitors in search of fall foliage this autumn.
Don’t miss
The New England coastline can get neglected in favour of the inland attractions. Must see attractions are wild, rocky shores (including Acadia National Park) and fishing ports of Maine. Massachusetts has superb beaches, especially along Cape Cod, which stretches from Martha’s Vineyard out to Province-town, a sort of American-style mini-Brighton. The Cape gets a lot of celebrities. Connecticut also has beaches on Long Island Sound while Rhode Island, America’s smallest state, is also among its most charming.
Away from the coast, New Hampshire and Vermont have some of the finest scenery, foliage, and outdoor activities, although only Vermont can lay claim to ice cream royalty Ben & Jerry’s. Wedged between New York and Massachusetts, Connecticut has Yale, with its fine buildings, art galleries, museums, shopping and food, as well as the gentle Litchfield Hills that are dotted with welcoming wineries. Connecticut also earns rave reviews for its outlet malls – you must take an empty suitcase.
Each of the six states has its own tasty twist on the region’s signature dish: New England clam chowder. You can also expect excellent seafood, maple syrup, microbrews and seasonal fruit pies.
If you are visiting either side of autumn’s peak season will find better value and availability of accommodation, as well as quieter roads, while snow-lovers can pretty much fill their boots any time after Thanksgiving. New England also does a traditional Christmas exceedingly well.
Embrace the Great Outdoors
A recent documentary hailed the National Park Service as America’s best idea, and few of those visiting Yellowstone or Yosemite, the Everglades or the Grand Canyon would disagree.
There are 58 National Parks from Florida to Washington State and Southern California to Maine, which make for great add-ons to a holiday or holidays in their own right.
Here are some of the highlights, together with details of what each has to offer the UK visitor.
Yosemite National Park
Sierra Nevada, Northern California
What to expect
This is the mother of all the National Parks, a mystical valley straight out of The Lord of the Rings. There’s a range of accommodation in the park, from camping and motor-homes to cabins, and even the venerable Ahwahnee Hotel, which you will need to book six months in advance. The alternative is to stay in a hotel or motel just outside the park.
In winter Yosemite is buried under several feet of snow; in summer it’s heaving with visitors. The best times to visit are the shoulder seasons when the waterfalls are in full flow and most trails are open. Yosemite works well twinned with San Francisco – the drive from shore to mountains takes about four hours.
Don’t miss
The magical waterfalls; the giant sequoia trees; picture-postcard views from Glacier Point; a ranger-guided hike; more than 400 species of wildlife including foxes, deer, snakes and bears.
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming, Montana and Idaho
What to expect
Big, blue skies and wide open spaces are the essence of Yellowstone. Here, the visitor feels as it’s possible to feel from cities and civilisation.
Then there’s the history, the thundering geysers, and the wildlife – just don’t go looking for Yogi Bear! Accommodation is deliberately basic – cabins and campgrounds – to preserve the park’s atmosphere.
Silver Gate Cabins are a good in-park option, but they should be booked early. If you want more luxury, book the lodgings on the outskirts of Yellowstone. The park’s summer season runs from mid-April to the start of November.
Outside that period, you can expect some roads and entrances to be closed, and plenty of snow. You might want to combine Yellowstone with a winter sports break at Jackson Hole, or rent a car to add on a visit to Grand Teton National Park.
Don’t miss
The chance to spot wildlife – bears, wolves, elk and buffalo – in the Lamar and Hayden valleys; watching Old Faithful blow his top; taking a horseback ride to savour the view; hiking, biking, camping, fishing and a variety of ranger-led programs.
Grand Canyon National Park
Arizona
What to expect
The canyon is 18 miles wide and more than one mile deep. If standing on its rim doesn’t take your breath away, you should probably check your pulse. Everyone has seen it on television but nothing matches the thrill of being there.
Most see the canyon from the south rim; the north rim is higher and harder to access, especially in winter. As with all the great Western parks, accommodation is at a premium, especially in summer. In-park lodging includes seven lodges on the south rim. All are connected to restaurants, shopping and great viewpoints by free shuttle buses. Tusayan, seven miles south of Grand Canyon village, has more hotels and inns.
Don’t miss
Las Vegas. You could take a helicopter tour (from Vegas), hike or ride a mule down into the canyon, paddle a boat along the mighty Colorado River, or hop aboard for the two-hour trip on the Grand Canyon Railway from Williams, Arizona.
Acadia National Park
Maine
What to expect
A rocky coastline, Atlantic breakers, granite mountains and spruce-fir forests are the keynotes of Acadia. This rugged East Coast park makes a striking contrasts to the wonders out West. Home to a diversity of plants and animals, Acadia also has the highest peak on America’s East Coast.
A system of carriage roads throughout the park makes for excellent walking or biking. Acadia is very much a four-season park, with mists and brilliant foliage in the autumn, and precipitation likely in any month of the year, so pack accordingly.
There’s no lodging in the park, except for two campgrounds on Mount Desert Island and one on Isle au Haut. Nearby Bar Harbor has a variety of accommodation,
however, including the Bar Harbor Inn and new Grand Hotel. Acadia works well as part of a New England flydrive itinerary.
Don’t miss
The 20-mile Park Loop Road with stunning views of mountains, ocean and forests (the drive takes three to four hours with stops); a horse-drawn carriage tour; a ranger-led boat cruise.
Olympic National Park
Washington
What to expect
West of Seattle on the Olympic Peninsula, this park offers the perfect Pacific Northwestern blend of ocean beaches, rainforest valleys, and glacier-capped peaks, plus a host of plant and animal life.
You can combine a few days in the park with time spent in Seattle or Vancouver. It’s worth remembering to pack carefully – where the Pacific Northwest meets rainforest, a brief shower is never far away.
Within the park, Log Cabin Resort on the shore of Lake Crescent has various lodging options, as well as camping and hook-ups for motorhomes. Lake Crescent Lodge has cabins, a motel and rooms in the historic lodge. Sol Duc Hot Springs Resort and the Kalaloch Lodge are other good options.
Don’t miss:
Hurricane Ridge, for its mile-high visitor centre and nature trails; Hoh Rain Forest, with its subtropical trails beneath the forest canopy; rocky Rialto Beach for offshore islands and a Pacific sunset to remember.
To book your own US holiday or for any of your travel needs contact one of our expert consultants now on 0871 226 8689 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your next holiday today!
Friday 14 May 2010
Barrhead Travel's Destination of the Week: Costa Brava
~
Wild, Wild Coast
Stretching from Blanes, some 45 miles north of Barcelona, right up to the French border at Portbou is Spain’s legendary Costa Brava, or Wild Coast. Part of the distinctive Catalonia region, the Costa Brava was one of the first Spanish coastlines developed for mass tourism in the 1950s.
While this oft-maligned area is best known for the seemingly brash resort of Lloret de Mar, much of the coastline, especially the north, remains dotted with fishing villages, pine forested coves (calas), sheer cliffs and pristine beaches.
Why Costa Brava?
With Girona Airport only 19 miles from Lloret de Mar and other resorts, the Costa Brava has benefited from quicker, easier access over the years.
The Costa Brava region received another boost in March when its most famous chef, Ferran Adria of El Bulli restaurant, was announced as the new face of Spanish tourism.
Costa Brava’s Boom Town
Whatever your views on it, Lloret de Mar is Costa Brava’s mainstream crowd-pleaser. Built-up and touristy it may be, but it is a resort that delivers. Its plethora of bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels attract young families and 18-30 clubbers, and theme parks such as WaterWorld, Arbre Aventura and Gnomo Park have become firm favourites.
This stretch of the Costa is also renowned for the botanical gardens of Santa Clotilde, Pinya de Rosa and Marimurtra between Lloret and Blanes, further south. Blanes itself, a former fishing village turned tourist boom town, offers holidaymakers a good range of accommodation and dining options.
Past Lloret lies the beach resort of Tossa de Mar. Although significantly developed, its medieval walls and turrets attract holidaymakers seeking a Spanish feel without compromising on amenities.
Approaching Tossa de Mar by boat is an attraction in itself, as its Vila Vela (old town) unfolds on the shoreline. North of here are the lively beach resorts of Sant Feliu de Guixols and Platja d’Aro, second only to Lloret, with numerous family attractions, such as the AquaDiver waterpark and Magic Park fairground.
Northern Costa Brava
It is after the resort town and yachting harbour of Palamós that the coastline takes on a more low-key demeanour. It’s worth detouring inland to the scenic town of Palafrugell (two miles from the coast) and the ancient Greek ruins at Empúries.
Palafrugell is also a good base for exploring the neighbouring beaches – for example, Calella, Llafranc and picturesque Tamariu – all lapped by the Costa’s deep blue waters. The medieval village of Pals is also nearby, as is Begur with its 10th-century castle.
One of the towns in this northern stretch making its mark on the tourist map is L’Estartit. It is a fully developed holiday resort but is renowned for its nature activities, such as coastal trails past the dunes and marshes of birdwatchers’ paradise Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park and the traffic-free ‘greenways’, former railway tracks converted into cycle routes.
L’Estartit’s proximity to the marine paradise of the Medes Islands is another plus. Last year, they were designated an official Marine Reserve and feature some of the Mediterranean’s best diving.
Further north, unique settings such as the Bay of Roses offer more spectacular coastline, dotted with attractions such as medieval Castello d’Empuries and Roses itself, a thriving holiday destination. Roses is best known for the El Bulli restaurant, located by Cala Montjoi beach, while the Aqua Brava water park has one of Europe’s biggest wave pools.
The fishing village of Cadaqués, once Salvador Dali’s home, remains an escape for peaceseekers during the off-season – its bohemian vibe a result of its artistic community.
Around this peninsula is the spectacular Cap de Creus Nature Preserve, one of Spain’s most diverse nature parks, home to many rare birds.
During the winter, monster waves make for picturesque scenes. On the north side of the peninsula is the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, set 500 metres above the fishing village of El Port de Selva with panoramic ocean views.
And the rest…
Although inland, one of the region’s highlights is the town of Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dali and home to the Dali Museum and a lively café-lined rambla.
The city of Girona is also worth a wander with its historic Jewish quarter, cobbled streets and impressive cathedral.
Golfers can choose from 10 championship golf courses, two of the finest being TorreMirona Golf and Spa Resort and Club Golf d’Aro-Mas Nou at Platja d’Aro, one of the Costa’s oldest courses.
An increasing number of hotels offer full-service spas, such as Spa Terraza in Roses and Wellness and Spa Institut GEM in Lloret, part of the Guitart spa resort group.
Catalan cuisine is also renowned. El Bulli and El Celler de Can Roca (in Girona) received three Michelin stars in 2009, taking the region’s total to 18 stars for 13 restaurants.
For lighter wallets, seafood is especially good value especially in the smaller coastal towns. Wine connoisseurs can enjoy the vineyards (bodegas) in the south-central Empordà wine region.
Book the best Costa Brava holidays with Barrhead Travel! Call one our friendly consultants now on 0871 226 2673 or visit online at www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your Costa Brava holiday today!
Wild, Wild Coast
Stretching from Blanes, some 45 miles north of Barcelona, right up to the French border at Portbou is Spain’s legendary Costa Brava, or Wild Coast. Part of the distinctive Catalonia region, the Costa Brava was one of the first Spanish coastlines developed for mass tourism in the 1950s.
While this oft-maligned area is best known for the seemingly brash resort of Lloret de Mar, much of the coastline, especially the north, remains dotted with fishing villages, pine forested coves (calas), sheer cliffs and pristine beaches.
Why Costa Brava?
With Girona Airport only 19 miles from Lloret de Mar and other resorts, the Costa Brava has benefited from quicker, easier access over the years.
The Costa Brava region received another boost in March when its most famous chef, Ferran Adria of El Bulli restaurant, was announced as the new face of Spanish tourism.
Costa Brava’s Boom Town
Whatever your views on it, Lloret de Mar is Costa Brava’s mainstream crowd-pleaser. Built-up and touristy it may be, but it is a resort that delivers. Its plethora of bars, restaurants, clubs and hotels attract young families and 18-30 clubbers, and theme parks such as WaterWorld, Arbre Aventura and Gnomo Park have become firm favourites.
This stretch of the Costa is also renowned for the botanical gardens of Santa Clotilde, Pinya de Rosa and Marimurtra between Lloret and Blanes, further south. Blanes itself, a former fishing village turned tourist boom town, offers holidaymakers a good range of accommodation and dining options.
Past Lloret lies the beach resort of Tossa de Mar. Although significantly developed, its medieval walls and turrets attract holidaymakers seeking a Spanish feel without compromising on amenities.
Approaching Tossa de Mar by boat is an attraction in itself, as its Vila Vela (old town) unfolds on the shoreline. North of here are the lively beach resorts of Sant Feliu de Guixols and Platja d’Aro, second only to Lloret, with numerous family attractions, such as the AquaDiver waterpark and Magic Park fairground.
Northern Costa Brava
It is after the resort town and yachting harbour of Palamós that the coastline takes on a more low-key demeanour. It’s worth detouring inland to the scenic town of Palafrugell (two miles from the coast) and the ancient Greek ruins at Empúries.
Palafrugell is also a good base for exploring the neighbouring beaches – for example, Calella, Llafranc and picturesque Tamariu – all lapped by the Costa’s deep blue waters. The medieval village of Pals is also nearby, as is Begur with its 10th-century castle.
One of the towns in this northern stretch making its mark on the tourist map is L’Estartit. It is a fully developed holiday resort but is renowned for its nature activities, such as coastal trails past the dunes and marshes of birdwatchers’ paradise Aiguamolls de l’Empordà Natural Park and the traffic-free ‘greenways’, former railway tracks converted into cycle routes.
L’Estartit’s proximity to the marine paradise of the Medes Islands is another plus. Last year, they were designated an official Marine Reserve and feature some of the Mediterranean’s best diving.
Further north, unique settings such as the Bay of Roses offer more spectacular coastline, dotted with attractions such as medieval Castello d’Empuries and Roses itself, a thriving holiday destination. Roses is best known for the El Bulli restaurant, located by Cala Montjoi beach, while the Aqua Brava water park has one of Europe’s biggest wave pools.
The fishing village of Cadaqués, once Salvador Dali’s home, remains an escape for peaceseekers during the off-season – its bohemian vibe a result of its artistic community.
Around this peninsula is the spectacular Cap de Creus Nature Preserve, one of Spain’s most diverse nature parks, home to many rare birds.
During the winter, monster waves make for picturesque scenes. On the north side of the peninsula is the Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes, set 500 metres above the fishing village of El Port de Selva with panoramic ocean views.
And the rest…
Although inland, one of the region’s highlights is the town of Figueres, birthplace of Salvador Dali and home to the Dali Museum and a lively café-lined rambla.
The city of Girona is also worth a wander with its historic Jewish quarter, cobbled streets and impressive cathedral.
Golfers can choose from 10 championship golf courses, two of the finest being TorreMirona Golf and Spa Resort and Club Golf d’Aro-Mas Nou at Platja d’Aro, one of the Costa’s oldest courses.
An increasing number of hotels offer full-service spas, such as Spa Terraza in Roses and Wellness and Spa Institut GEM in Lloret, part of the Guitart spa resort group.
Catalan cuisine is also renowned. El Bulli and El Celler de Can Roca (in Girona) received three Michelin stars in 2009, taking the region’s total to 18 stars for 13 restaurants.
For lighter wallets, seafood is especially good value especially in the smaller coastal towns. Wine connoisseurs can enjoy the vineyards (bodegas) in the south-central Empordà wine region.
Book the best Costa Brava holidays with Barrhead Travel! Call one our friendly consultants now on 0871 226 2673 or visit online at www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your Costa Brava holiday today!
Friday 7 May 2010
Barrhead Travel's Destination of the Week: Atlantic Canada
~
Feast on The East
In the face of stiff competition from big-draw cities such as Montreal and Toronto, and the Rockies and Vancouver out west - not to mention the US states across the border such as New England and New York - Canada's rugged Atlantic coastline has remained stubbornly off the mainstream radar for UK tourists.
In a bid to rewrite the rulebook, the country's four eastern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador have joined forces, teaming up as one destination, Atlantic Canada, to boost the region's profile in the UK.
It also has some spectacular scenery; expansive Atlantic beaches; excellent whale and wildlife-watching opportunities; open roads, ripe for exploring on a flydrive; an old-fashioned pace of life; great lobster fishing (and eating, of course); harbour towns full of welcoming locals; and accommodation options ranging from bed and breakfasts, cabins and resort hotels to houseboats and lighthouses.
Here's a brief breakdown of what each of the four provinces has to offer.
Nova Scotia
Wherever you are in Nova Scotia, the ocean is no more than half an hour away. This is a province of stunning seascapes, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. The Cabot Trail, on Cape Breton Island, is one of the world's most scenic drives. Cape Breton is also known for its wildlife, folk art, traditional music and warm nightlife.
Driving is the opposite of hassle and navigating is dead easy. When not at the wheel (or in the saddle of a motorbike!), you will be tempted to explore Nova Scotia's national parks on foot, or take to the water in a boat or sea kayak.
Halifax, the province's capital and gateway city has excellent museums and heritage sites, as well as great dining options aplenty. In fact, Nova Scotia has a surprising abundance of mouth-watering treats, from blueberries and maple syrup, to locally-caught lobster and homegrown wines.
New Brunswick
When it comes to outstanding natural beauty, The Bay of Fundy is hard to beat. Every day 100 billion tonnes of seawater roll into the bay, giving it the world's highest tides. In the summer, you can expect to share the shoreline with tens of thousands of birds, as well as passing pods of whales.
Other holiday highlights include kayaking through the soaring Hopewell Rocks and getting up-close and personal with your first humpback whale.
New Brunswick also has hundreds of miles of beaches, and some of the warmest salt water north of Virginia. Kouchibouguac National Park's miles of sand dunes make it a magnet for birdwatchers (the park is home to the endangered piping plover as well as North America's second-largest tern colony) as well as spotters of grey and harbour seals.
Inland from its dramatic coastline, New Brunswick is renowned for its colourful fall foliage. There are also eight cities to stroll around, including Fredericton, which holds an annual jazz festival.
Newfoundland and Labrador
St John's, Newfoundland is less than five hours from the UK, so you can catch a lunchtime flight and arrive in time for a lobster dinner! After exploring St John's, you will want to move on to Gros Morne National Park.
Here you can go hiking or kayaking, or take a boat trip through the fjords to spot breaching whales (July and August), dolphins and porpoises, or maybe even glimpse the odd iceberg drifting south.
Canada's newest national park, Torngat Mountains, offers insights into local Inuit culture. At the Inuit base camp, visitors can chat with tribal elders as well as experience traditional activities such as fishing for char, walking on the tundra and storytelling.
Beyond the parks, the region's coastal towns have great charm and some great characters.
Prince Edward Island
In a part of the world that's not exactly hectic, Prince Edward Island is known for its gentle pace of life. People come here for the endless beaches and luxury resorts, but most of all to unwind.
Popular activities include beachcombing, cycling, a round of golf at one of the island's 30 courses, exploring Prince Edward Island National Park, holistic spa treatments and fine dining.
To enjoy the very freshest lobster, take a fishing trip to catch and then cook your own king of crustaceans. Alternatively just get together with locals at a beach clambake.
The island's capital, Charlottetown, makes a perfect base and has a historic boutique hotel, The Great George, that's handy for the city's shopping, theatre district, and tranquil waterfront.
For more information on Atlantic Canada or for any of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Phone us now on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your holiday to Atlantic Canada today!
Feast on The East
In the face of stiff competition from big-draw cities such as Montreal and Toronto, and the Rockies and Vancouver out west - not to mention the US states across the border such as New England and New York - Canada's rugged Atlantic coastline has remained stubbornly off the mainstream radar for UK tourists.
In a bid to rewrite the rulebook, the country's four eastern provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador have joined forces, teaming up as one destination, Atlantic Canada, to boost the region's profile in the UK.
It also has some spectacular scenery; expansive Atlantic beaches; excellent whale and wildlife-watching opportunities; open roads, ripe for exploring on a flydrive; an old-fashioned pace of life; great lobster fishing (and eating, of course); harbour towns full of welcoming locals; and accommodation options ranging from bed and breakfasts, cabins and resort hotels to houseboats and lighthouses.
Here's a brief breakdown of what each of the four provinces has to offer.
Nova Scotia
Wherever you are in Nova Scotia, the ocean is no more than half an hour away. This is a province of stunning seascapes, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches. The Cabot Trail, on Cape Breton Island, is one of the world's most scenic drives. Cape Breton is also known for its wildlife, folk art, traditional music and warm nightlife.
Driving is the opposite of hassle and navigating is dead easy. When not at the wheel (or in the saddle of a motorbike!), you will be tempted to explore Nova Scotia's national parks on foot, or take to the water in a boat or sea kayak.
Halifax, the province's capital and gateway city has excellent museums and heritage sites, as well as great dining options aplenty. In fact, Nova Scotia has a surprising abundance of mouth-watering treats, from blueberries and maple syrup, to locally-caught lobster and homegrown wines.
New Brunswick
When it comes to outstanding natural beauty, The Bay of Fundy is hard to beat. Every day 100 billion tonnes of seawater roll into the bay, giving it the world's highest tides. In the summer, you can expect to share the shoreline with tens of thousands of birds, as well as passing pods of whales.
Other holiday highlights include kayaking through the soaring Hopewell Rocks and getting up-close and personal with your first humpback whale.
New Brunswick also has hundreds of miles of beaches, and some of the warmest salt water north of Virginia. Kouchibouguac National Park's miles of sand dunes make it a magnet for birdwatchers (the park is home to the endangered piping plover as well as North America's second-largest tern colony) as well as spotters of grey and harbour seals.
Inland from its dramatic coastline, New Brunswick is renowned for its colourful fall foliage. There are also eight cities to stroll around, including Fredericton, which holds an annual jazz festival.
Newfoundland and Labrador
St John's, Newfoundland is less than five hours from the UK, so you can catch a lunchtime flight and arrive in time for a lobster dinner! After exploring St John's, you will want to move on to Gros Morne National Park.
Here you can go hiking or kayaking, or take a boat trip through the fjords to spot breaching whales (July and August), dolphins and porpoises, or maybe even glimpse the odd iceberg drifting south.
Canada's newest national park, Torngat Mountains, offers insights into local Inuit culture. At the Inuit base camp, visitors can chat with tribal elders as well as experience traditional activities such as fishing for char, walking on the tundra and storytelling.
Beyond the parks, the region's coastal towns have great charm and some great characters.
Prince Edward Island
In a part of the world that's not exactly hectic, Prince Edward Island is known for its gentle pace of life. People come here for the endless beaches and luxury resorts, but most of all to unwind.
Popular activities include beachcombing, cycling, a round of golf at one of the island's 30 courses, exploring Prince Edward Island National Park, holistic spa treatments and fine dining.
To enjoy the very freshest lobster, take a fishing trip to catch and then cook your own king of crustaceans. Alternatively just get together with locals at a beach clambake.
The island's capital, Charlottetown, makes a perfect base and has a historic boutique hotel, The Great George, that's handy for the city's shopping, theatre district, and tranquil waterfront.
For more information on Atlantic Canada or for any of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Phone us now on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your holiday to Atlantic Canada today!
Thursday 6 May 2010
BARRHEAD TRAVEL AND CONTINENTAL AIRLINES HELP CHARITY DONATIONS SOAR
- Travel firm helps out at Dunfermline fundraising event -
Barrhead Travel in partnership with Continental Airlines helped Dunfermline-based Mary Leishman Foundation raise over £20,000 at a fundraising dinner held last month.
Scotland’s largest independent travel agency, with a branch located beside Tesco at Duloch Park, teamed up with Continental Airlines to donate a prize of a trip to New York for the raffle during the event held in Dunfermline’s Glen Pavillion. Continental provided 2 return tickets from Edinburgh and Barrhead Travel donated four nights’ accommodation in New York.
The Ball was organised by the Mary Leishman Foundation as part of its ongoing commitment to raise funds for deserving causes throughout Scotland.
Set up in 2009 by Dunfermline’s director of football Jim Leishman in memory of his wife, the Foundation supports charities, organisations and individuals throughout Scotland
Jim said: “Mary was a big inspiration to everyone she met and brought boundless enthusiasm to everything she did. Mary's closest friends and I decided the best way to celebrate her life would be to carry her legacy on by creating a charitable foundation in her name.
“The Mary Leishman Foundation aims to “Encourage Potential and Ease Distress”
Barrhead Travel chief executive Sharon Munro said: “The Mary Leishman Foundation provides vital support to charities throughout Scotland and Barrhead Travel is committed to supporting such deserving causes. We were delighted to be able to donate a prize to the raffle and help the Foundation raise such a significant amount of money on the night.”
Tom Sneddon, Continental Airlines’ Sales Manager Scotland, said: “We welcome the opportunity to show our support for the local community and to contribute to such a worthy cause.”
Visit Barrhead Travel's website today at: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk
Barrhead Travel in partnership with Continental Airlines helped Dunfermline-based Mary Leishman Foundation raise over £20,000 at a fundraising dinner held last month.
Scotland’s largest independent travel agency, with a branch located beside Tesco at Duloch Park, teamed up with Continental Airlines to donate a prize of a trip to New York for the raffle during the event held in Dunfermline’s Glen Pavillion. Continental provided 2 return tickets from Edinburgh and Barrhead Travel donated four nights’ accommodation in New York.
The Ball was organised by the Mary Leishman Foundation as part of its ongoing commitment to raise funds for deserving causes throughout Scotland.
Set up in 2009 by Dunfermline’s director of football Jim Leishman in memory of his wife, the Foundation supports charities, organisations and individuals throughout Scotland
Jim said: “Mary was a big inspiration to everyone she met and brought boundless enthusiasm to everything she did. Mary's closest friends and I decided the best way to celebrate her life would be to carry her legacy on by creating a charitable foundation in her name.
“The Mary Leishman Foundation aims to “Encourage Potential and Ease Distress”
Barrhead Travel chief executive Sharon Munro said: “The Mary Leishman Foundation provides vital support to charities throughout Scotland and Barrhead Travel is committed to supporting such deserving causes. We were delighted to be able to donate a prize to the raffle and help the Foundation raise such a significant amount of money on the night.”
Tom Sneddon, Continental Airlines’ Sales Manager Scotland, said: “We welcome the opportunity to show our support for the local community and to contribute to such a worthy cause.”
Visit Barrhead Travel's website today at: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk
How to Save Money on Business Travel
HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON BUSINESS TRAVEL
Louisa Livingston, Business Travel Consultant at UK Travel Agent of the Year, Barrhead Travel
Trying to organise your own business travel can be a false economy - your time is valuable and can probably be better utilised in your own field. Business travel agents are very experienced in finding the best deal in the travel arena, so if your job requires regular travel, it will save you both time and money to use a reputable agent.
Agents have the technology required to quickly compare all suitable fares and carriers, including no frills airlines. The time it would take to search all the no frills carriers as well as airlines such as British Airways and KLM would be a huge amount of work for those out with the travel business, but not for agents.
Business Travel agents and travel management centres can also provide their customers with online booking tool solutions, where they have the option of self booking, or simply checking flights and costs before passing the actual reservation onto their agent. The fees charged by the agent are reduced to reflect this. It's easy to get carried away and waste a lot of time checking prices yourself online, but with a good online tool and the travel agent's expertise, you can get the job done quickly and get back to doing what you do best.
Travel agents have huge bargaining power with travel suppliers, so there are potentially savings to be had through the deals they can strike due to their buying in bulk, resulting in negotiated lower fares and rates.
It's easy to assume that low cost carriers are always cheaper, but it's not always the case, particularly if you are booking close to your departure date, so it makes sense to check prices against scheduled airlines as well. And obstacles such as getting to and from inconvenient airports should be taken into account as well, along with the price of buying food and drink as opposed to full service carriers.
Book early wherever possible, to take advantage of the best prices in most areas of travel. If there's a chance you may have to cancel or change, weigh up whether the cancellation fees are worth paying rather than taking the chance of a higher fare nearer the departure date. It sounds simple, but it's amazing how many people don't read the small print regarding a hotel or airline's cancellation policy, before they buy. You may have to pay out a large amount because the booking is non changeable and non refundable.
Consider overnight flights, which will save on the cost of accommodation. Again, you'll have to weigh up whether you would rather be refreshed after a night in a hotel, or save money by travelling instead. Or take early flights out and late flights back wherever possible – that way, on a 2 day trip, you'll save on a night's accommodation cost.
Wherever possible, schedule meetings during off peak times – you'll generally benefit from cheaper travel prices and accommodation. Conference rooms, for example, will be cheaper when the schools are on holiday.
Taxis can be very expensive, especially from airports, so try to use rail services instead. Many cities have excellent airport rail connections into the centre of town, representing savings on the standard taxi fare. These include Amsterdam, Oslo, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Alternatively, use local taxi companies, rather than expensive airport ones. The company you are visiting may have a reputable one they can put you in touch with. Some airlines, such as Emirates, offer free chauffeur cars to and from the airport if you are travelling in Business or First class, so check what you're entitled to before you commit to a carrier.
Take into account that car hire runs in 24 hour blocks, so make sure you return the car in plenty of time, as dropping the car off just an hour later can result in another day's cost, adding a hefty whack to your bill. And fill up the car before returning it – car rental companies generally charge a huge premium if you don't.
Earn points when you travel by joining airline, hotel and car hire loyalty schemes, and use these companies wherever possible to clock up miles quickly. Points can mean freebies such as upgrades or free travel that are very worthwhile.
Sometimes, it's actually cheaper to stay on the executive floor of a hotel, as the complimentary food and drink can outweigh the difference in room rate.
Fly via a European hub – you'll pay less because the airlines want to encourage you to use them so that they have the traffic to feed into their longhaul network. Direct flights generally cost more – for a few hours of extra travel time, you could save hundreds of pounds. Weigh up whether the extra time you would gain from flying direct outweighs the additional fare cost. Choose less obvious carriers who have to try harder to gain business, like Middle Eastern airlines who can have fabulous service and great prices, but might not be an obvious choice for a trip to the Far East or Australia.
For more info visit Barrhead Travel's specialist business travel website, www.businesstravelsolutions.com
Louisa Livingston, Business Travel Consultant at UK Travel Agent of the Year, Barrhead Travel
Trying to organise your own business travel can be a false economy - your time is valuable and can probably be better utilised in your own field. Business travel agents are very experienced in finding the best deal in the travel arena, so if your job requires regular travel, it will save you both time and money to use a reputable agent.
Agents have the technology required to quickly compare all suitable fares and carriers, including no frills airlines. The time it would take to search all the no frills carriers as well as airlines such as British Airways and KLM would be a huge amount of work for those out with the travel business, but not for agents.
Business Travel agents and travel management centres can also provide their customers with online booking tool solutions, where they have the option of self booking, or simply checking flights and costs before passing the actual reservation onto their agent. The fees charged by the agent are reduced to reflect this. It's easy to get carried away and waste a lot of time checking prices yourself online, but with a good online tool and the travel agent's expertise, you can get the job done quickly and get back to doing what you do best.
Travel agents have huge bargaining power with travel suppliers, so there are potentially savings to be had through the deals they can strike due to their buying in bulk, resulting in negotiated lower fares and rates.
It's easy to assume that low cost carriers are always cheaper, but it's not always the case, particularly if you are booking close to your departure date, so it makes sense to check prices against scheduled airlines as well. And obstacles such as getting to and from inconvenient airports should be taken into account as well, along with the price of buying food and drink as opposed to full service carriers.
Book early wherever possible, to take advantage of the best prices in most areas of travel. If there's a chance you may have to cancel or change, weigh up whether the cancellation fees are worth paying rather than taking the chance of a higher fare nearer the departure date. It sounds simple, but it's amazing how many people don't read the small print regarding a hotel or airline's cancellation policy, before they buy. You may have to pay out a large amount because the booking is non changeable and non refundable.
Consider overnight flights, which will save on the cost of accommodation. Again, you'll have to weigh up whether you would rather be refreshed after a night in a hotel, or save money by travelling instead. Or take early flights out and late flights back wherever possible – that way, on a 2 day trip, you'll save on a night's accommodation cost.
Wherever possible, schedule meetings during off peak times – you'll generally benefit from cheaper travel prices and accommodation. Conference rooms, for example, will be cheaper when the schools are on holiday.
Taxis can be very expensive, especially from airports, so try to use rail services instead. Many cities have excellent airport rail connections into the centre of town, representing savings on the standard taxi fare. These include Amsterdam, Oslo, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Alternatively, use local taxi companies, rather than expensive airport ones. The company you are visiting may have a reputable one they can put you in touch with. Some airlines, such as Emirates, offer free chauffeur cars to and from the airport if you are travelling in Business or First class, so check what you're entitled to before you commit to a carrier.
Take into account that car hire runs in 24 hour blocks, so make sure you return the car in plenty of time, as dropping the car off just an hour later can result in another day's cost, adding a hefty whack to your bill. And fill up the car before returning it – car rental companies generally charge a huge premium if you don't.
Earn points when you travel by joining airline, hotel and car hire loyalty schemes, and use these companies wherever possible to clock up miles quickly. Points can mean freebies such as upgrades or free travel that are very worthwhile.
Sometimes, it's actually cheaper to stay on the executive floor of a hotel, as the complimentary food and drink can outweigh the difference in room rate.
Fly via a European hub – you'll pay less because the airlines want to encourage you to use them so that they have the traffic to feed into their longhaul network. Direct flights generally cost more – for a few hours of extra travel time, you could save hundreds of pounds. Weigh up whether the extra time you would gain from flying direct outweighs the additional fare cost. Choose less obvious carriers who have to try harder to gain business, like Middle Eastern airlines who can have fabulous service and great prices, but might not be an obvious choice for a trip to the Far East or Australia.
For more info visit Barrhead Travel's specialist business travel website, www.businesstravelsolutions.com
Barrhead Travel - Top UK Travel Employer 2010
BARRHEAD TRAVEL IS THE TOP UK TRAVEL EMPLOYER FOR 2010
- Scots firm named number one in national survey –
Scotland's largest independent travel agency, Barrhead Travel, has been named the UK’s best travel employer in an independent survey published this week.
The company was one of just 10 Scottish organisations to be recognised on the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 list, which recognises dynamic, effective and highly-engaged workplaces. It was also the only UK travel agency to make it in to the top 100.
Launched in 2000, the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For celebrates firms who value their staff and provide a positive working environment. Employees are asked to answer a comprehensive questionnaire on 8 clearly-defined areas including Leadership, Wellbeing, My Manager, My Team, Fair Deal, Giving Something Back, My Company and Personal Growth.
Barrhead Travel scored especially high in the My Team and My Manager categories. The firm ranked 8th out of the 100 companies for how staff felt about one another and was judged to be in the top 10 based on employee feedback of managers.
Barrhead Travel chief executive, Sharon Munro, said: “I am delighted, but not surprised, by the positive responses we had from our employees. Barrhead Travel has always been a company that works hard and plays hard and I'm really pleased that our emphasis on teamwork, motivation and reward is working. Our philosophy is that if we look after our employees, they in turn will look after our customers”.
The organisation also scored highly in the Wellbeing category with 82% of staff reporting their stress levels were low, and 77% saying their home life was not affected by work.
A key contributor to Barrhead Travel’s success in the poll was the firm’s in-house training department with 81% of employees stating they felt they could make a valuable contribution to the success of the firm.
Sharon said: “We believe that it is vital to commit to training and development, as well as improving skills, it motivates and develops our staff and keeps them moving forward.
“We also place great emphasis on external supplier training, and send as many of our employees as possible on trips to familiarise themselves with new products and destinations. I believe the results we've seen are a direct response to the effort we have put into this area.”
Barrhead Travel has set its sights on expansion in the coming year. The firm already has a substantial presence in Scotland with branches in all major cities including Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh and has aspirations to extend operations south of the border. This energy and ambition is echoed in the attitude of the firm’s employees with 83% stating they are excited about where the company is going, a score that was 4th highest in the Top 100.
Visit our website now at www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk
- Scots firm named number one in national survey –
Scotland's largest independent travel agency, Barrhead Travel, has been named the UK’s best travel employer in an independent survey published this week.
The company was one of just 10 Scottish organisations to be recognised on the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 list, which recognises dynamic, effective and highly-engaged workplaces. It was also the only UK travel agency to make it in to the top 100.
Launched in 2000, the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For celebrates firms who value their staff and provide a positive working environment. Employees are asked to answer a comprehensive questionnaire on 8 clearly-defined areas including Leadership, Wellbeing, My Manager, My Team, Fair Deal, Giving Something Back, My Company and Personal Growth.
Barrhead Travel scored especially high in the My Team and My Manager categories. The firm ranked 8th out of the 100 companies for how staff felt about one another and was judged to be in the top 10 based on employee feedback of managers.
Barrhead Travel chief executive, Sharon Munro, said: “I am delighted, but not surprised, by the positive responses we had from our employees. Barrhead Travel has always been a company that works hard and plays hard and I'm really pleased that our emphasis on teamwork, motivation and reward is working. Our philosophy is that if we look after our employees, they in turn will look after our customers”.
The organisation also scored highly in the Wellbeing category with 82% of staff reporting their stress levels were low, and 77% saying their home life was not affected by work.
A key contributor to Barrhead Travel’s success in the poll was the firm’s in-house training department with 81% of employees stating they felt they could make a valuable contribution to the success of the firm.
Sharon said: “We believe that it is vital to commit to training and development, as well as improving skills, it motivates and develops our staff and keeps them moving forward.
“We also place great emphasis on external supplier training, and send as many of our employees as possible on trips to familiarise themselves with new products and destinations. I believe the results we've seen are a direct response to the effort we have put into this area.”
Barrhead Travel has set its sights on expansion in the coming year. The firm already has a substantial presence in Scotland with branches in all major cities including Dundee, Glasgow and Edinburgh and has aspirations to extend operations south of the border. This energy and ambition is echoed in the attitude of the firm’s employees with 83% stating they are excited about where the company is going, a score that was 4th highest in the Top 100.
Visit our website now at www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk
Friday 9 April 2010
Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week!
~
This week's destinations are hot, hot, hot:
Tune In To Tunisia
Outside the eurozone but is just a short flight away – not much farther than the Balearics – Tunisia offers great value for money. A favourable exchange rate with the dinar means it’s cheap too.
Its 450 miles of clean, white, sandy beaches are lapped by the Mediterranean. For those who want more than beach-time, there are ancient ruins, desert adventures, golf courses and sumptuous spas.
Tunis
The capital is a bustling city with a pretty medina, souks and a wide selection of restaurants and cafes. It is close to the ruins of Carthage and the gorgeous village of Sidi Bou Said. This white-walled, blue-shuttered, flower-filled town was once the haunt of artists but is now popular with tourists, who come to sip mint tea and watch the world go by.
You can stay in Tunis or Sidi Bou Said for a city-break type holiday, or can compromise by staying in Gammarth, a beach resort nearby.
Gammarth is home to The Residence, one of Tunisia’s most upmarket hotels. It’s a 15-minute taxi ride (£3) from Sidi Bou Said or a 30-minute ride (£6) from Tunis, giving you the option of sightseeing or going out for dinner while retaining the best facets of a relaxing beach holiday.
Hammamet and Yasmine Hammamet
Hammamet is where beach tourism in Tunisia began. It has a lovely old medina with a castle by the sea, and a choice of hotels from the top end of the market to the bottom.
The mostly low-rise properties front the big, wide, sandy beaches that are particularly fine, even by Tunisian standards, and the resort is full of lemon trees and bougainvillea. There’s a good range of bars and restaurants, and it has a traditionally Tunisian feel.
Neighbouring Yasmine Hammamet is a newer, purpose-built development with a marina and wide boulevards filled with bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. It has a much more European feel than Old Hammamet. Both resorts have good upmarket options and are great for couples, though families can enjoy the resorts too.
Yasmine Hammamet also has Carthageland, a children’s theme park, as well as a casino.
Sousse and Port el Kantaoui
White beaches stretch down the coast for the six miles between Sousse and Port el Kantaoui, so staying in one of the hotels in between means clients can make the most of both resorts.
Sousse is an old town with a stunning 9th-century fortress, a good museum, and busy souks and cafes, bars and shops.
Port el Kantaoui offers more in terms of entertainment and nightlife than any other Tunisian resort. It was purpose-built 25 years ago as a copy of Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol for the yachting set.
Nowadays it has a well-rooted feel, with pretty Moorish architecture and lots of facilities in a compact area. These two present one of Tunisia’s livelier options and can suit young couples and families.
Monastir
Monastir has an interesting old town with a large fortress housing a museum and a fishing port. There is also a new marina and the hotels are set away from the centre on the beach.
Djerba
The quietest and most relaxing place in Tunisia – bar the desert! This island is suited to couples and honeymooners looking to kick back in one of the lovely upmarket hotels, surrounded by swaying palm trees.
Visitors can slowly explore the white Moorish buildings and small squares of the town of Houmt Souk, and check out the Berber villages in the island’s interior.
Hot Hot Hot
There is a buzz about the Caribbean at the moment, despite the recession, and this is thanks to new flights and sustained investment.
A major factor in the region’s success is that it never goes out of fashion, it’s dependable and that’s what people are looking for in the current economic climate. People know that they can get good quality accommodation, service and food. The Caribbean does luxury incredibly well, too. It has an informal charm you can’t get elsewhere. The range of luxury products and services available is on the up.
We can offer clients private transfers and Antigua now has an exclusive VIP lounge service on departure for British Airways passengers. Clients bypass the main terminal completely and get driven out to the aircraft – a service previously reserved for government ministers and private jet passengers.
Another of the region’s strengths lies in the depth of its offering, with lots of product aimed at the budget-conscious. We have definitely seen the return of the all-inclusive. Families looking for some sun are keen to know the full cost of a holiday up front and all-inclusive lets them do just that. It is also a week of luxury where travellers can have one more pina colada or an hour of yachting without having to worry about the costs.
Developments of note in the latter include the 10-bedroom boutique Atlantis Hotel, which opened its doors at the end of 2009. A former 19th-century grand private home, the colonial-style property is situated in the beautiful Tent Bay area and boasts an opulent and historic feel.
In the air
Caribbean destinations don’t get much hotter than Jamaica right now.
On the accommodation front, the iconic Goldeneye estate will reopen in October after extensive refurbishment. The Island Outpost property boasts beach cottages and villas on the former ocean-front home of James Bond author Ian Fleming. In Ocho Rios, Sandal’s all-inclusive, all-suite resort, Royal Plantation, has introduced a personal butler service for all guests.
Since new flights started to St Kitts and Nevis early last year, these lesser-known islands are set to increase in popularity in 2010, they are ideal for clients already familiar with the Caribbean.
Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia are well known, but the quiet charm of the plantation house accommodation in St Kitts and Nevis, with their verandas looking out across the hillsides, offer a unique experience and colonial charm.
Another island set to benefit from more flights is Grenada. On March 28, flights will increase to twice-weekly. The island’s Kalinago Beach Resort, with 29-beachfront rooms is set on Grenada’s most popular and picturesque beach, Morne Rouge Bay.
On the ground
Meanwhile, over in St Vincent, the 1,200-room Buccament Bay resort is due to open in July. Its facilities are set to include a casino, a performing arts academy with workshops and masterclasses for children and adults, and a Pat Cash tennis academy.
The exclusive Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands, featured by Caribtours, has also introduced butler service, plus beach service for guests. The pool has been upgraded, too, and new Ayurvedic treatments and iridology (studying the eye to gauge a person’s state of health and wellbeing) have been added to the spa menu at this island resort.
Dancing in the Streets
The lift doors open and three devils with oiled chests, curved horns and gold hotpants get in. It’s a bit of a squeeze – they’re burly chaps, and there are six ladies in sparkly bikinis with huge feathered headdresses it is Carnival Tuesday, and everyone on the island is here to party. So three devils, six go-go girls and one bewildered tourist is par for the course.
Disregard Rio and let there be no mention of New Orleans. Ask any islander where the real Carnival happens, and they’ll tell you that it’s right here in one of the Caribbean’s southernmost islands. There’s nothing quite like being in Port of Spain for this captivating riot of colour and noise. The country goes into unofficial shutdown over Carnival, because no one wants to miss the party – and Trinidadians know better than most how to throw a party.
The five days of carnival
It’s said that there are only two seasons in Trinidad: Carnival, and getting ready for Carnival. Serious preparations start as soon as Christmas finishes, and there are plenty of parties or ‘fetes’ in the week or so preceding Carnival, most notably one held every year by cricketer Brian Lara.
Fittingly for Trinidad’s most famous son, his huge mansion sits on top of the tallest hill in the capital, Port of Spain. Out front there are bars and food stalls and a large sound stage – it’s like a mini festival and everyone is in their finest. Anyone can buy tickets to attend.
The main events really begin to ramp up on the Friday before Carnival Tuesday. Friday night sees the soca Monarch competition. The fast, thudding beat of soca music is the heartbeat of Carnival, the driver that keeps people dancing in the streets for two solid days.
Visitors can watch live or head to a bar with a big screen to hear a few of the tunes that will be blasting out from the sound-systems on Monday and Tuesday.
Saturday night is all about the music too – but the more traditional steel pan. Bands from all over Trinidad and Tobago practise all year for the Panorama Finals, held in the Grandstand at Queen’s Park Savannah in the centre of Port of Spain. It’s a magical event – performers young and old are fired up and the sound of hundreds of pans played together is thrilling. Get there early to get a seat close to the stage.
Sunday brings Dimanche Gras, and the competition to see who will be crowned King and Queen of Carnival. Again held in the Savannah grandstand, all the bands that will march or ‘play mas’ (meaning play masquerade) in the main parade submit contenders, dressed in vast, complex costumes. There are a number of intricately designed, themed costumes that make Trinidad’s Carnival unique. It’s fascinating to visit a ‘mas camp’ and see how the costumes are made – on kitchen tables and in the backyards of houses by volunteers, surrounded by sequins, feathers, cardboard and even metals such as copper.
Monday is when Carnival proper begins. You get up at 3am, dressed in your oldest clothes, all ready to play j’ouvert. The game stems from the days of indentured labour, when the only time slaves could celebrate was the early hours. Then they dressed up to mock their masters, now, j’ouvert bands march through the streets throwing mud, paint and oil at one another. It’s great fun, and a good way to get involved in Carnival without the cost or commitment of playing mas itself.
Monday afternoon sees a kind of practice-run for Tuesday’s main parade. Most marchers will wear at least part of their costume.
Tuesday is the big day, and it starts at 9am. The bands, in full costume and accompanied by floats carrying steel pan bands or DJs blasting out soca tunes, move around the Carnival route.
You can have reserved seating in a stand with a roof next to the judges – the best seats in the house, bookable for $50. You can see perfectly and could pop down to the street side for the full atmosphere.
The music is so loud that it’s a good idea to bring earplugs, and make sure you don’t forget cameras and batteries. It’s a photographer’s paradise: thousands of people in colourful costumes dancing in the street.
Whether you play or watch, it’s an awesome spectacle, utterly infectious fun, and a definite contender for the ‘Best Show on Earth’ title.
For all of your holiday needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Call now on 0871 226 2673 or visit us on www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and book your next holiday today!
This week's destinations are hot, hot, hot:
Tune In To Tunisia
Outside the eurozone but is just a short flight away – not much farther than the Balearics – Tunisia offers great value for money. A favourable exchange rate with the dinar means it’s cheap too.
Its 450 miles of clean, white, sandy beaches are lapped by the Mediterranean. For those who want more than beach-time, there are ancient ruins, desert adventures, golf courses and sumptuous spas.
Tunis
The capital is a bustling city with a pretty medina, souks and a wide selection of restaurants and cafes. It is close to the ruins of Carthage and the gorgeous village of Sidi Bou Said. This white-walled, blue-shuttered, flower-filled town was once the haunt of artists but is now popular with tourists, who come to sip mint tea and watch the world go by.
You can stay in Tunis or Sidi Bou Said for a city-break type holiday, or can compromise by staying in Gammarth, a beach resort nearby.
Gammarth is home to The Residence, one of Tunisia’s most upmarket hotels. It’s a 15-minute taxi ride (£3) from Sidi Bou Said or a 30-minute ride (£6) from Tunis, giving you the option of sightseeing or going out for dinner while retaining the best facets of a relaxing beach holiday.
Hammamet and Yasmine Hammamet
Hammamet is where beach tourism in Tunisia began. It has a lovely old medina with a castle by the sea, and a choice of hotels from the top end of the market to the bottom.
The mostly low-rise properties front the big, wide, sandy beaches that are particularly fine, even by Tunisian standards, and the resort is full of lemon trees and bougainvillea. There’s a good range of bars and restaurants, and it has a traditionally Tunisian feel.
Neighbouring Yasmine Hammamet is a newer, purpose-built development with a marina and wide boulevards filled with bars, cafes, restaurants and shops. It has a much more European feel than Old Hammamet. Both resorts have good upmarket options and are great for couples, though families can enjoy the resorts too.
Yasmine Hammamet also has Carthageland, a children’s theme park, as well as a casino.
Sousse and Port el Kantaoui
White beaches stretch down the coast for the six miles between Sousse and Port el Kantaoui, so staying in one of the hotels in between means clients can make the most of both resorts.
Sousse is an old town with a stunning 9th-century fortress, a good museum, and busy souks and cafes, bars and shops.
Port el Kantaoui offers more in terms of entertainment and nightlife than any other Tunisian resort. It was purpose-built 25 years ago as a copy of Puerto Banus on the Costa del Sol for the yachting set.
Nowadays it has a well-rooted feel, with pretty Moorish architecture and lots of facilities in a compact area. These two present one of Tunisia’s livelier options and can suit young couples and families.
Monastir
Monastir has an interesting old town with a large fortress housing a museum and a fishing port. There is also a new marina and the hotels are set away from the centre on the beach.
Djerba
The quietest and most relaxing place in Tunisia – bar the desert! This island is suited to couples and honeymooners looking to kick back in one of the lovely upmarket hotels, surrounded by swaying palm trees.
Visitors can slowly explore the white Moorish buildings and small squares of the town of Houmt Souk, and check out the Berber villages in the island’s interior.
Hot Hot Hot
There is a buzz about the Caribbean at the moment, despite the recession, and this is thanks to new flights and sustained investment.
A major factor in the region’s success is that it never goes out of fashion, it’s dependable and that’s what people are looking for in the current economic climate. People know that they can get good quality accommodation, service and food. The Caribbean does luxury incredibly well, too. It has an informal charm you can’t get elsewhere. The range of luxury products and services available is on the up.
We can offer clients private transfers and Antigua now has an exclusive VIP lounge service on departure for British Airways passengers. Clients bypass the main terminal completely and get driven out to the aircraft – a service previously reserved for government ministers and private jet passengers.
Another of the region’s strengths lies in the depth of its offering, with lots of product aimed at the budget-conscious. We have definitely seen the return of the all-inclusive. Families looking for some sun are keen to know the full cost of a holiday up front and all-inclusive lets them do just that. It is also a week of luxury where travellers can have one more pina colada or an hour of yachting without having to worry about the costs.
Developments of note in the latter include the 10-bedroom boutique Atlantis Hotel, which opened its doors at the end of 2009. A former 19th-century grand private home, the colonial-style property is situated in the beautiful Tent Bay area and boasts an opulent and historic feel.
In the air
Caribbean destinations don’t get much hotter than Jamaica right now.
On the accommodation front, the iconic Goldeneye estate will reopen in October after extensive refurbishment. The Island Outpost property boasts beach cottages and villas on the former ocean-front home of James Bond author Ian Fleming. In Ocho Rios, Sandal’s all-inclusive, all-suite resort, Royal Plantation, has introduced a personal butler service for all guests.
Since new flights started to St Kitts and Nevis early last year, these lesser-known islands are set to increase in popularity in 2010, they are ideal for clients already familiar with the Caribbean.
Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia are well known, but the quiet charm of the plantation house accommodation in St Kitts and Nevis, with their verandas looking out across the hillsides, offer a unique experience and colonial charm.
Another island set to benefit from more flights is Grenada. On March 28, flights will increase to twice-weekly. The island’s Kalinago Beach Resort, with 29-beachfront rooms is set on Grenada’s most popular and picturesque beach, Morne Rouge Bay.
On the ground
Meanwhile, over in St Vincent, the 1,200-room Buccament Bay resort is due to open in July. Its facilities are set to include a casino, a performing arts academy with workshops and masterclasses for children and adults, and a Pat Cash tennis academy.
The exclusive Peter Island in the British Virgin Islands, featured by Caribtours, has also introduced butler service, plus beach service for guests. The pool has been upgraded, too, and new Ayurvedic treatments and iridology (studying the eye to gauge a person’s state of health and wellbeing) have been added to the spa menu at this island resort.
Dancing in the Streets
The lift doors open and three devils with oiled chests, curved horns and gold hotpants get in. It’s a bit of a squeeze – they’re burly chaps, and there are six ladies in sparkly bikinis with huge feathered headdresses it is Carnival Tuesday, and everyone on the island is here to party. So three devils, six go-go girls and one bewildered tourist is par for the course.
Disregard Rio and let there be no mention of New Orleans. Ask any islander where the real Carnival happens, and they’ll tell you that it’s right here in one of the Caribbean’s southernmost islands. There’s nothing quite like being in Port of Spain for this captivating riot of colour and noise. The country goes into unofficial shutdown over Carnival, because no one wants to miss the party – and Trinidadians know better than most how to throw a party.
The five days of carnival
It’s said that there are only two seasons in Trinidad: Carnival, and getting ready for Carnival. Serious preparations start as soon as Christmas finishes, and there are plenty of parties or ‘fetes’ in the week or so preceding Carnival, most notably one held every year by cricketer Brian Lara.
Fittingly for Trinidad’s most famous son, his huge mansion sits on top of the tallest hill in the capital, Port of Spain. Out front there are bars and food stalls and a large sound stage – it’s like a mini festival and everyone is in their finest. Anyone can buy tickets to attend.
The main events really begin to ramp up on the Friday before Carnival Tuesday. Friday night sees the soca Monarch competition. The fast, thudding beat of soca music is the heartbeat of Carnival, the driver that keeps people dancing in the streets for two solid days.
Visitors can watch live or head to a bar with a big screen to hear a few of the tunes that will be blasting out from the sound-systems on Monday and Tuesday.
Saturday night is all about the music too – but the more traditional steel pan. Bands from all over Trinidad and Tobago practise all year for the Panorama Finals, held in the Grandstand at Queen’s Park Savannah in the centre of Port of Spain. It’s a magical event – performers young and old are fired up and the sound of hundreds of pans played together is thrilling. Get there early to get a seat close to the stage.
Sunday brings Dimanche Gras, and the competition to see who will be crowned King and Queen of Carnival. Again held in the Savannah grandstand, all the bands that will march or ‘play mas’ (meaning play masquerade) in the main parade submit contenders, dressed in vast, complex costumes. There are a number of intricately designed, themed costumes that make Trinidad’s Carnival unique. It’s fascinating to visit a ‘mas camp’ and see how the costumes are made – on kitchen tables and in the backyards of houses by volunteers, surrounded by sequins, feathers, cardboard and even metals such as copper.
Monday is when Carnival proper begins. You get up at 3am, dressed in your oldest clothes, all ready to play j’ouvert. The game stems from the days of indentured labour, when the only time slaves could celebrate was the early hours. Then they dressed up to mock their masters, now, j’ouvert bands march through the streets throwing mud, paint and oil at one another. It’s great fun, and a good way to get involved in Carnival without the cost or commitment of playing mas itself.
Monday afternoon sees a kind of practice-run for Tuesday’s main parade. Most marchers will wear at least part of their costume.
Tuesday is the big day, and it starts at 9am. The bands, in full costume and accompanied by floats carrying steel pan bands or DJs blasting out soca tunes, move around the Carnival route.
You can have reserved seating in a stand with a roof next to the judges – the best seats in the house, bookable for $50. You can see perfectly and could pop down to the street side for the full atmosphere.
The music is so loud that it’s a good idea to bring earplugs, and make sure you don’t forget cameras and batteries. It’s a photographer’s paradise: thousands of people in colourful costumes dancing in the street.
Whether you play or watch, it’s an awesome spectacle, utterly infectious fun, and a definite contender for the ‘Best Show on Earth’ title.
For all of your holiday needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Call now on 0871 226 2673 or visit us on www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and book your next holiday today!
Wednesday 7 April 2010
Latest Barrhead News: Azura has arrived!
~
It's official, P&O's amazing new Azura has arrived in Southampton this morning.
Travelmole reported:
Slate grey skies greeted P&O Cruises' new ship Azura as it sailed into its home port of Southampton for the first time this morning.
The seventh vessel in the British line's fleet was greeted by managing director Carol Marlow as it arrived with a fire tug streaming water high into the air.
The 3,100-passenger Azura sailed to the UK from the Italian shipyard where it was built.
Carnival UK CEO David Dingle was transferred on board as the giant ship gently slipped into the Solent before docking in the port.
Many sightseers were up early to greet the 115,000-ton superliner on its arrival.
A series of on board events for travel agents are planned ahead of the formal naming ceremony by former ballet star Darcey Bussell on Saturday in front of a VIP audience of more than 1,200.
The line's executives will be hoping for better weather than today for the ceremony which is to be held on deck on Saturday evening.
Azura, which has a crew of 1,200, then departs on Monday for its 16-night maiden voyage to the Mediterranean.
The ship features the first single cabins on a P&O Cruises ship. There are 18 solo cabins, 12 of which have outside views.
Of the 1,557 cabins, 910 have balconies and 440 are inside.
The ship also has a giant outdoor cinema screen - the first on a P&O Cruises's ship - together with an spa area on deck.
The Barrhead Cruise team have been looking forward to Azura's launch for some time, and we're not the only ones. Here's an article from the Telegraph last week:
In the next few days, the world’s newest ship, Azura from P&O Cruises, sets sail from Southampton for the first time. With interesting destinations in store, and a host of memorable experiences on board, passengers are in for a real treat.
Among the dazzling features on board are 11 restaurants and eating areas plus 12 places to drink; four pools; a gym and two spas including The Retreat, an outdoor haven of relaxation; a state-of-theart theatre and alfresco cinema and two show lounges featuring live entertainment.
“I never fail to catch my breath when I see a new ship for the first time, and Azura is going to be incredible,” says her captain, Keith Dowds. “We have a great crew and I know everyone is going to do everything they can to exceed all our passengers’ expectations.”
Having teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, Sindhu, the ship’s Indian fine dining restaurant, will be a culinary delight for the senses. “Sindhu means meeting place, and that’s what my delicious cuisine represents: Indian food with a British twist. It’s a place to come with your loved ones, linger and enjoy the food,” says Atul.
Olly Smith, the effervescent TV wine expert, is another honorary crew member, with his on board restaurant, The Glass House. “I’ve been scouring the planet for the top 32 tipples with which to tantalise your taste buds and I’m really chuffed with the results,” beams Olly. “I’ve also been blending the signature house wine for Azura with some of the best wine makers in the world. As well as offering terrific value it will also be utterly delicious.”
Olly has also been devising a cocktail menu for Azura’s Planet Bar, where patrons can marvel at video footage of the world's greatest natural and man-made wonders, including Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon and Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, on a 20-metre floor-to-ceiling video wall.
Another P&O Cruises first is SeaScreen, an alfresco cinema screen suspended above Azura’s sparkling Aqua Pool, where passengers can watch the latest blockbuster or family favourite, concerts and sporting events, while reclining under the stars.
Azura’s 800-seat Playhouse theatre will feature West End-quality entertainment with show-stopping numbers from the great musicals. “Azura also has a superb teak dance floor in her three-deck-high Atrium, where passengers will be invited to try a cheeky cha-cha-cha, or a waltz.
“We’ve planned a fantastic programme of entertainment, from classical performers to cabaret and celebrity guest speakers, and there will be theme nights ranging from a Last Night of the Proms to the Oscars,” says the ship’s cruise director Neil Oliver.
Also on deck is The Retreat, a wonderful outdoor spa area where, after you’ve been massaged and pampered, you can go swimming in the pool or just lie in the sun.
“Azura is going to be a fabulous experience combining P&O Cruises quality of service with a superb choice of facilities,” says P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow. “She is the next exciting chapter in P&O Cruises illustrious history - whose roots can be tracked back over 170 years.”
All of Azura's amazing sailings are available now from the Barrhead Travel Cruise team. Call free now on 0800 093 0622 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/cruises and book your Azura voyage today!
It's official, P&O's amazing new Azura has arrived in Southampton this morning.
Travelmole reported:
Slate grey skies greeted P&O Cruises' new ship Azura as it sailed into its home port of Southampton for the first time this morning.
The seventh vessel in the British line's fleet was greeted by managing director Carol Marlow as it arrived with a fire tug streaming water high into the air.
The 3,100-passenger Azura sailed to the UK from the Italian shipyard where it was built.
Carnival UK CEO David Dingle was transferred on board as the giant ship gently slipped into the Solent before docking in the port.
Many sightseers were up early to greet the 115,000-ton superliner on its arrival.
A series of on board events for travel agents are planned ahead of the formal naming ceremony by former ballet star Darcey Bussell on Saturday in front of a VIP audience of more than 1,200.
The line's executives will be hoping for better weather than today for the ceremony which is to be held on deck on Saturday evening.
Azura, which has a crew of 1,200, then departs on Monday for its 16-night maiden voyage to the Mediterranean.
The ship features the first single cabins on a P&O Cruises ship. There are 18 solo cabins, 12 of which have outside views.
Of the 1,557 cabins, 910 have balconies and 440 are inside.
The ship also has a giant outdoor cinema screen - the first on a P&O Cruises's ship - together with an spa area on deck.
The Barrhead Cruise team have been looking forward to Azura's launch for some time, and we're not the only ones. Here's an article from the Telegraph last week:
In the next few days, the world’s newest ship, Azura from P&O Cruises, sets sail from Southampton for the first time. With interesting destinations in store, and a host of memorable experiences on board, passengers are in for a real treat.
Among the dazzling features on board are 11 restaurants and eating areas plus 12 places to drink; four pools; a gym and two spas including The Retreat, an outdoor haven of relaxation; a state-of-theart theatre and alfresco cinema and two show lounges featuring live entertainment.
“I never fail to catch my breath when I see a new ship for the first time, and Azura is going to be incredible,” says her captain, Keith Dowds. “We have a great crew and I know everyone is going to do everything they can to exceed all our passengers’ expectations.”
Having teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, Sindhu, the ship’s Indian fine dining restaurant, will be a culinary delight for the senses. “Sindhu means meeting place, and that’s what my delicious cuisine represents: Indian food with a British twist. It’s a place to come with your loved ones, linger and enjoy the food,” says Atul.
Olly Smith, the effervescent TV wine expert, is another honorary crew member, with his on board restaurant, The Glass House. “I’ve been scouring the planet for the top 32 tipples with which to tantalise your taste buds and I’m really chuffed with the results,” beams Olly. “I’ve also been blending the signature house wine for Azura with some of the best wine makers in the world. As well as offering terrific value it will also be utterly delicious.”
Olly has also been devising a cocktail menu for Azura’s Planet Bar, where patrons can marvel at video footage of the world's greatest natural and man-made wonders, including Niagara Falls, the Grand Canyon and Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, on a 20-metre floor-to-ceiling video wall.
Another P&O Cruises first is SeaScreen, an alfresco cinema screen suspended above Azura’s sparkling Aqua Pool, where passengers can watch the latest blockbuster or family favourite, concerts and sporting events, while reclining under the stars.
Azura’s 800-seat Playhouse theatre will feature West End-quality entertainment with show-stopping numbers from the great musicals. “Azura also has a superb teak dance floor in her three-deck-high Atrium, where passengers will be invited to try a cheeky cha-cha-cha, or a waltz.
“We’ve planned a fantastic programme of entertainment, from classical performers to cabaret and celebrity guest speakers, and there will be theme nights ranging from a Last Night of the Proms to the Oscars,” says the ship’s cruise director Neil Oliver.
Also on deck is The Retreat, a wonderful outdoor spa area where, after you’ve been massaged and pampered, you can go swimming in the pool or just lie in the sun.
“Azura is going to be a fabulous experience combining P&O Cruises quality of service with a superb choice of facilities,” says P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow. “She is the next exciting chapter in P&O Cruises illustrious history - whose roots can be tracked back over 170 years.”
All of Azura's amazing sailings are available now from the Barrhead Travel Cruise team. Call free now on 0800 093 0622 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/cruises and book your Azura voyage today!
Friday 26 March 2010
Pre Register now for 2011/2012 Cruises with Barrhead Travel!
~
Ahoy!
Launch dates for 2011 & 2012 cruises have just been released and you can pre-register with Barrhead Travel now to ensure that you're amongst the very first in line on the day the cruises go on sale so that you can get the very best deals!
Selected dates are:
SATURDAY 24 APR
P&O Cruises Gold Tier Portunas Club - Adonia 9 - 11am
P&O Cruises Gold Tier Portunas Club - All P&O Cruises ships - 11am - 5pm
Princess Cruises - Past Passenger/Captains Circle Members - Europe sailings
MONDAY 26 APR
Cunard World Club Members from 1pm
Princess Cruises Europe from 8am
TUESDAY 27 APR
P&O Cruises - March, April & May cruises on sale
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
WEDNESDAY 28 APR
P&O Cruises - June, Jul & August cruises on sale
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
THURSDAY 29 APR
P&O Cruises - September, October & November cruises on sale
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
FRIDAY 30 APR
P&O Cruises - remaining cruises including 2012 Spring Med and Caribbean fly programmes
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
Pre-Register with Barrhead now to be the first to book for next year. Click Here to give us your details online or call our specialist cruise team now on 0871 226 8688.
Barrhead Travel - The First Port of Call for Cruise Holidays!
Ahoy!
Launch dates for 2011 & 2012 cruises have just been released and you can pre-register with Barrhead Travel now to ensure that you're amongst the very first in line on the day the cruises go on sale so that you can get the very best deals!
Selected dates are:
SATURDAY 24 APR
P&O Cruises Gold Tier Portunas Club - Adonia 9 - 11am
P&O Cruises Gold Tier Portunas Club - All P&O Cruises ships - 11am - 5pm
Princess Cruises - Past Passenger/Captains Circle Members - Europe sailings
MONDAY 26 APR
Cunard World Club Members from 1pm
Princess Cruises Europe from 8am
TUESDAY 27 APR
P&O Cruises - March, April & May cruises on sale
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
WEDNESDAY 28 APR
P&O Cruises - June, Jul & August cruises on sale
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
THURSDAY 29 APR
P&O Cruises - September, October & November cruises on sale
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
FRIDAY 30 APR
P&O Cruises - remaining cruises including 2012 Spring Med and Caribbean fly programmes
Princess Cruises Europe - on sale
Cunard - on sale
Pre-Register with Barrhead now to be the first to book for next year. Click Here to give us your details online or call our specialist cruise team now on 0871 226 8688.
Barrhead Travel - The First Port of Call for Cruise Holidays!
Friday 19 March 2010
NCL announce more Norwegian Epic details:
The Barrhead Travel cruise team are all eagerly awaiting the launch of NCL's latest ship, the Norwegian Epic, and our appetites have been whetted even further with the details of dining options on board that have just been announced:
Norwegian Cruise Line have announced that its largest, most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, will feature an extensive number of complimentary Freestyle dining options – 11 out of 21 total – that are included in the cruise fare. The additional 10 dining options will have a nominal cover charge.
Guests on board Norwegian Epic can select from a variety of cuisines, dining styles and atmospheres on board with a total of 21 dining options. Those that will be free of charge are:
• Taste, the atrium restaurant serving traditional and contemporary cuisine;
• Manhattan Room, reminiscent of an elegant supper club complete with music, dancing and entertainment;
• O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, serving American favorites and comfort food, 24 hours;
• Garden Café, Norwegian's signature action station casual restaurant;
• Great Outdoors, the pool-side grill;
• Spice H20, serving Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine in the adults-only complex;
• Atrium Cafe and Wine Bar;
• Studio Lounge, serving snacks and light fare;
• Epic Club, the elegant, exclusive eatery available to Norwegian Epic's Suite and Villa guests;
• Courtyard Grill, the more casual, outdoor area of the Epic Grill, open for breakfast and lunch; and
• 24-hour room service.
Norwegian Epic’s 21 Dining Options
“It’s important for our guests to know that Freestyle Cruising on Norwegian Epic will offer the ultimate in freedom and flexibility, especially when it comes to dining,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “With that flexibility comes a wide-range of complimentary dining venues and options.”
In addition, Norwegian also announced the cover charges for Norwegian Epic’s specialty dining/entertainment venues:
• La Cucina, Tuscan-style eatery serving regional Italian specialties, $10 per person;
• Cirque Dreams & Dinner, two shows nightly including a three-course meal, $15 for general seating/$20 per person for preferred seating;
• Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic’s new Chinese restaurant serving a delicious mix of Chinese dishes and noodle bar specialties, $15 per person;
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, a la carte pricing;
• Wasabi, expansive sushi and sake bar, a la carte pricing;
• Le Bistro, Norwegian’s elegant bistro serving classic French cuisine with an American flair, $20 per person;
• Moderno Churrascaria, expansive salad bar and choice of a variety of meats served by tableside passadors, $18 per person;
• Cagney’s Steakhouse, the line’s signature American steakhouse, $25 per person;
• Teppanyaki, the largest signature Japanese experiential restaurant at sea, $25 per person; and
• Pizza delivery, $5, available 24 hours around the ship.
"With our specialty restaurants, some guests may choose to dine in one of these venues just once or twice during their cruise to celebrate a special occasion," added Kevin Sheehan. "At the same time, others may want to sample a different specialty restaurant each evening to experience a new type of cuisine. That’s the great thing about Freestyle Cruising – the choice is up to our guests to decide how they want to customize their trip.”
Norwegian Epic
World-class entertainment is Norwegian Epic’s hallmark. For the first time at sea, Blue Man Group will perform their exhilarating fusion of comedy, theatrics and paint, exclusively on Norwegian Epic. In the only “big top” at sea, Cirque Dreams and Dinner, written and directed by Neil Goldberg, will present a one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical dining experience with music, tribute show, will be featured for the first time at sea in more than a decade on Norwegian Epic, along with The Second City improvisational comedy and Howl at the Moon, the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation.
In addition to world-class entertainment, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic incorporates many innovations including several new types of accommodations – the curved New Wave staterooms; the largest Villas suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; and spa and family-friendly accommodations. Kids will have a blast with Nickelodeon at Sea offering Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment and programming including: character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more.
The ship also boasts unique nightlife options with the first Ice Bar at sea and Spice H20 with entertainment day and night; an expansive Aqua Park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea -- The Epic Plunge; seven decks of Freestyle Family Fun with highlights including a 33-foot high, 64-foot wide extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever rappelling wall at sea; the most bowling lanes at sea with six in two venues; a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guests to engage in eight different athletic activities; as well as three separate kids’ and teen activity areas.
For more information on Norwegian Epic and to book your NCL Cruise today be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk/NCL now!
Norwegian Cruise Line have announced that its largest, most innovative Freestyle Cruising ship to date, Norwegian Epic, will feature an extensive number of complimentary Freestyle dining options – 11 out of 21 total – that are included in the cruise fare. The additional 10 dining options will have a nominal cover charge.
Guests on board Norwegian Epic can select from a variety of cuisines, dining styles and atmospheres on board with a total of 21 dining options. Those that will be free of charge are:
• Taste, the atrium restaurant serving traditional and contemporary cuisine;
• Manhattan Room, reminiscent of an elegant supper club complete with music, dancing and entertainment;
• O'Sheehan's Neighborhood Bar & Grill, serving American favorites and comfort food, 24 hours;
• Garden Café, Norwegian's signature action station casual restaurant;
• Great Outdoors, the pool-side grill;
• Spice H20, serving Latin and Asian-influenced cuisine in the adults-only complex;
• Atrium Cafe and Wine Bar;
• Studio Lounge, serving snacks and light fare;
• Epic Club, the elegant, exclusive eatery available to Norwegian Epic's Suite and Villa guests;
• Courtyard Grill, the more casual, outdoor area of the Epic Grill, open for breakfast and lunch; and
• 24-hour room service.
Norwegian Epic’s 21 Dining Options
“It’s important for our guests to know that Freestyle Cruising on Norwegian Epic will offer the ultimate in freedom and flexibility, especially when it comes to dining,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s chief executive officer. “With that flexibility comes a wide-range of complimentary dining venues and options.”
In addition, Norwegian also announced the cover charges for Norwegian Epic’s specialty dining/entertainment venues:
• La Cucina, Tuscan-style eatery serving regional Italian specialties, $10 per person;
• Cirque Dreams & Dinner, two shows nightly including a three-course meal, $15 for general seating/$20 per person for preferred seating;
• Shanghai’s, Norwegian Epic’s new Chinese restaurant serving a delicious mix of Chinese dishes and noodle bar specialties, $15 per person;
• Shanghai’s Noodle Bar, a la carte pricing;
• Wasabi, expansive sushi and sake bar, a la carte pricing;
• Le Bistro, Norwegian’s elegant bistro serving classic French cuisine with an American flair, $20 per person;
• Moderno Churrascaria, expansive salad bar and choice of a variety of meats served by tableside passadors, $18 per person;
• Cagney’s Steakhouse, the line’s signature American steakhouse, $25 per person;
• Teppanyaki, the largest signature Japanese experiential restaurant at sea, $25 per person; and
• Pizza delivery, $5, available 24 hours around the ship.
"With our specialty restaurants, some guests may choose to dine in one of these venues just once or twice during their cruise to celebrate a special occasion," added Kevin Sheehan. "At the same time, others may want to sample a different specialty restaurant each evening to experience a new type of cuisine. That’s the great thing about Freestyle Cruising – the choice is up to our guests to decide how they want to customize their trip.”
Norwegian Epic
World-class entertainment is Norwegian Epic’s hallmark. For the first time at sea, Blue Man Group will perform their exhilarating fusion of comedy, theatrics and paint, exclusively on Norwegian Epic. In the only “big top” at sea, Cirque Dreams and Dinner, written and directed by Neil Goldberg, will present a one-of-a-kind interactive theatrical dining experience with music, tribute show, will be featured for the first time at sea in more than a decade on Norwegian Epic, along with The Second City improvisational comedy and Howl at the Moon, the world’s greatest rock ‘n roll dueling piano show that encourages audience participation.
In addition to world-class entertainment, the 4,200-passenger Norwegian Epic incorporates many innovations including several new types of accommodations – the curved New Wave staterooms; the largest Villas suite complex at sea, comprising 60 suites and villas on two private decks at the top of the ship; and spa and family-friendly accommodations. Kids will have a blast with Nickelodeon at Sea offering Nickelodeon-themed family entertainment and programming including: character meet and greets; interactive game shows; and more.
The ship also boasts unique nightlife options with the first Ice Bar at sea and Spice H20 with entertainment day and night; an expansive Aqua Park with the only tube slide and largest bowl slide at sea -- The Epic Plunge; seven decks of Freestyle Family Fun with highlights including a 33-foot high, 64-foot wide extreme rock climbing wall and the first ever rappelling wall at sea; the most bowling lanes at sea with six in two venues; a mixed-use sports deck with the ability for guests to engage in eight different athletic activities; as well as three separate kids’ and teen activity areas.
For more information on Norwegian Epic and to book your NCL Cruise today be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk/NCL now!
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Barrhead Blog. Travel with Teens and how to fly Business Class for less!
~
Teen Dreams
As anyone with teenagers or children approaching their teens knows, it’s a difficult age. Even if your teens and tweens don't fit the sulky, lazy and uncommunicative stereotype, keeping them occupied for long enough is a struggle – particularly on holiday.
Teenagers are probably the most difficult age group to cater for. Many hotels offer children’s clubs but these often only go up to the age of 12. After this age, children are less inclined to want to attend clubs unless they are very much geared to their requirements.
Mark Warner properties in Turkey and Sardinia
Mark Warner properties offer clubs for two age groups. Its Kidz Club caters for 10 to 13-year-olds and has a lively programme of activities and watersports throughout the day, with entertainment and games in the evening.
The Indy Club, for 14 to 17-year-olds, aims to give older kids some independence so they can decide what activities to take part in. Options include windsurfing, sailing and beach cricket in the day and Indy dinners and entertainment in the evening.
The four-star Sea Garden, near Bodrum, the only all-inclusive property in the Mark Warner programme; the five-star Select Maris resort, Datca, a boutique hotel with the emphasis on watersports and wellness; and the four-star Hotel Garden Beach, Cala Sinzias, Sardinia, which is surrounded by calm waters that are good for learner sailors.
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Dubai itself is well suited to this market, with great beaches, attractions such as the Wild Wadi Water Park, Dreamland Aqua Park and Ski Dubai, as well desert adventures and plenty of trendy shopping.
However, there is so much going on at Atlantis The Palm that it is possible for teens and tweens to stay happy here for the duration of the holiday.
On offer is a 42-acre Aquaventure waterpark with tunnels, vertical drops, water rapids and cascades; the chance to get up close with dolphins at Dolphin Bay and The Lost Chambers, a labyrinth of linked chambers filled with exotic marine life.
Teenagers have their own, fully supervised ‘no adults’ private club, called Club Rush and, with 17 dining venues, there will be something to suit even the most fickle of palates.
Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort, Crete
This five-star resort has been a good option for families since it opened its own attraction, the Minoan Amusement Park, in 2007. Parents have the option of either exploring the games, rides and interactive rooms with their children or leaving them to enjoy the park with childcare staff.
The resort itself resembles a Cretan village and is set on its own peninsula, surrounded by a botanical park and extensive gardens, a small river, three beaches and a small zoo.
Hotel Jagerwirt, Kitzbuhel, Austria
No teen or tween could possibly moan about being bored on this Austrian adventure. There are lots of outdoor options to choose from including rafting for the whole family on the Tiroler Ache river, followed by a barbecue, or a forest high-rope course on which your young ones can learn abseiling and wall-climbing skills and go ape on the rope swings.
This package, new for 2010, can suit children of all ages but has been particularly designed for 10 to 17-year-olds.
Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa, Cancun
Cosmos’s second most popular hotel for summer 2010, this four-star all-inclusive has created a subtly supervised club, T-Zone, for teenagers aged 13 to 17. It was designed after extensive research with the people who use it. The outcome is a club that is trendy and not over-organised.
Cancun itself has 14 miles of beaches, with nearby attractions including Dolphin Discovery Island. The islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, just off Cancun, are easily reached by boat. Away from the beaches, teens and tweens can burn off some of their energy exploring Mexico’s ecosystem, wildlife and Mayan ruins.
Le Meridien Limassol, Cyprus
The big draw here is Le Meridien’s top-notch kids’ clubs: Penguin Village, for three to 12-year-olds, and Leisure Land, for teenagers. Both offer extensive facilities. Leisure Land has tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a football pitch, mini golf, pool tables, table tennis, archery and a bowling centre.
The five-star resort also boasts spacious rooms, five outdoor swimming pools and plenty of eating options. Cyprus itself has plenty to occupy teens and tweens, including archaeological sites, nature trails, cycling in the Troodos mountains, rock-climbing and 4x4 adventures.
The Price Is Right
Families need holidays. A recent study by a psychotherapist for Kuoni confirmed as much. And in the current economic downturn, providing a value-for-money holiday is more important than ever.
The good news is that this year operators are focusing on value for the family market. As result, the problem lies not in searching out options but choosing which one is best for you.
For example, Keycamp has extended its programme to Greece, with bungalow accommodation at the Camping Areti site in Halkidiki starting at £854 for a family of four, accommodation-only, in August. This specially selected park offers a fantastic option for families seeking a spot of traditional Greek charm without breaking the bank.
Closer to home, the Edinburgh Residence hotel has launched a family adventure short break in conjunction with Wilderness Scotland, an award-winning adventure travel and ecotourism company. Three nights for a family of four costs £2,247 in July and August, including entrance fees to nature reserves, private guides, bike hire, breakfast every day and dinner on the first night.
For families with a bit more brass, the first family-friendly resort in the Seychelles, the four-star Constance Ephelia, has just opened on Mahe, offering 12 family villas with private pools. And with Air Seychelles offering special fares for 2010, this year is a great time to go. Prices start at £7,292 for a family of four, with breakfast and flights.
The Maldives
The destination has the best of both worlds because the school summer holidays fall in the Maldives’ low season, yet the climate is pretty consistent year-round.
One property ideal for young children is the small island retreat of Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort. It offers plenty of shade and multi-coloured fish that swim up to the water villas.
Turkey
Already the top-selling summer destination for 2010, this year has seen more family-friendly properties coming on to the market in Turkey.
Cosmos has introduced the Kefaluka Resort in Akyarlar Bay, Turgetreis, not far from Bodrum. Akyarlar Bay has shallow waters and a sandy beach, with superb scenery and a range of watersports.
Facilities to keep the kids entertained include a water park, children’s à la carte restaurant, family rooms, kids’ club for three to 12-year-olds and a teens’ club, not to mention a private beach.
As a bonus for families, the transfer journey time is short because the resort is just nine miles from Bodrum airport.
The Red Sea
The plentiful resorts on the Red Sea offer some fantastic value-for-money breaks for families. For example, Red Sea Hotels charges a fixed child price of £399 year-round and for 2010 is offering a ‘free all-inclusive upgrade’ for children whose parents have booked either bed and breakfast, half-board or full-board.
A particularly good property for families is the five-star Makadi Palace hotel on Makadi Bay, 18 miles from Hurghada. It has a secluded, unspoilt beach, large pool with children’s section, a full range of sports and activities, plus a children’s club.
Switzerland
Crystal Lakes is throwing in a three-day local transport pass for the family at the four-star Hotel Lago di Lugano.
The hotel, which is new for the operator for 2010, is in Lugano, in Switzerland’s most southerly region. A good option for outdoor types looking for more than a beach holiday, the property has children’s clubs for youngsters up to age 14, games room, outdoor activities and free canoe, dinghy, pedalo, windsurf and cycle hire.
Spain
The La Manga Club in Murcia is launching a family programme, Funlandia, with activities and events for the summer and half-term holidays.
Funlandia activities will include sports matches and tournaments, karaoke and discos, kids’ dinner and movie nights and family bingo. Funlandia is in addition to La Manga Club’s Junior Academy courses, which offer safe and fun sports coaching.
Free meals for children under five are also on offer at a selection of the resort’s restaurants.
Jersey
Easily accessible, and with the chance of better weather than on the UK mainland, Jersey is a good value option for families. The short flying time means it’s perfect for little ones, while families on a budget can opt instead to get there by channel ferry.
Les Ormes is an ideal location for holidays or short breaks, with options ranging from self-catering coastal cottages to luxury lodges with their own private outdoor hot tub.
Kids’ activities include morning fun camps, tennis, golf and swimming lessons. Two miles away is sister park La Pulente, next to a sandy beach and within a good walking and cycling area.
A Better Class For Less Cash
Anyone who thinks they can cadge an upgrade to business class by dressing smartly, asking nicely and pleading that it’s a special event should speak to a good agent ... and should think again.
Unless you are a frequent flier with a gold loyalty card, the chances of getting bumped up are slim, unless it’s your 70th wedding anniversary and economy is way over-booked. Unfortunately, the best way to guarantee a posh seat is to pay for one, which is expensive.
There are however things we can suggest to soften the blow for people on the look out for a premium cabin bargain.
Times & Dates
One solution is to alter date and time of departure. Business travel to major cities like New York drops sharply at certain times like August, when corporate road warriors head to the beaches, so there is always a rash of cut-price premium offers and two-for-one deals. Other specific dates in the year provide an opportunity to get a cheaper seat in the front cabin. Many think of jetting off for Christmas, but few actually travel on Christmas Day, when most airlines that are operating are forced to cut UK rates to attract sales.
To get a lower premium fare, the booking must include a Saturday night stay, as this prevents business travellers from travelling on the cheaper tickets. Similarly, on destinations where there are several frequencies a day, such as New York, fares can vary dramatically on individual departures. A flight to JFK on Saturday lunchtime will cost a lot less than one leaving on Monday morning that delivers a corporate customer to Wall Street in time to do an afternoon’s work.
Fare Categories
Once the date and individual departure has been sorted, there is the question of fare category, another way in which we can score for you, particularly if you are prepared to book a long way in advance. British Airways revised its Club Europe fare categories in the spring so that some are now cheaper than full-fare economy if booked in advance.
Indirect Flights
However, it is on long-haul once-in-a-lifetime journeys such as to Australia that there is more scope for finding cheaper premium fares.
Many clients save for years for a special occasion and are delighted to find there are some reasonable premium fares to be had if they fly indirect. To the east, the growth of the Middle Eastern carriers has made this possible, while to the west, new partnerships, mean customers can be sent on a cheaper routing, for example from London to Los Angeles via Chicago.
Early Booking
If you are not time-constrained, indirect is always cheapest, and when combined with a restricted fare category and a booking long in advance, business class can be affordable.
Etihad, for example, usually offers four business fare categories ranging from totally restricted with no refunds or changes allowed to a completely unrestricted tariff. Savings of around 30% off the full fares are available to early bookers that choose restricted fares and many leisure travellers are booking premium cabins for longer trips.
Comfort is the thing people want these days, especially to Australia. The additional cost is minimal in terms of what you get for a 23-hour flight. The whole experience is well worth it – you also get a limo at both ends and lounge access.
That's all for this week. Remember to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call for all of your travel needs. To book your next holiday today visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk
Teen Dreams
As anyone with teenagers or children approaching their teens knows, it’s a difficult age. Even if your teens and tweens don't fit the sulky, lazy and uncommunicative stereotype, keeping them occupied for long enough is a struggle – particularly on holiday.
Teenagers are probably the most difficult age group to cater for. Many hotels offer children’s clubs but these often only go up to the age of 12. After this age, children are less inclined to want to attend clubs unless they are very much geared to their requirements.
Mark Warner properties in Turkey and Sardinia
Mark Warner properties offer clubs for two age groups. Its Kidz Club caters for 10 to 13-year-olds and has a lively programme of activities and watersports throughout the day, with entertainment and games in the evening.
The Indy Club, for 14 to 17-year-olds, aims to give older kids some independence so they can decide what activities to take part in. Options include windsurfing, sailing and beach cricket in the day and Indy dinners and entertainment in the evening.
The four-star Sea Garden, near Bodrum, the only all-inclusive property in the Mark Warner programme; the five-star Select Maris resort, Datca, a boutique hotel with the emphasis on watersports and wellness; and the four-star Hotel Garden Beach, Cala Sinzias, Sardinia, which is surrounded by calm waters that are good for learner sailors.
Atlantis The Palm, Dubai
Dubai itself is well suited to this market, with great beaches, attractions such as the Wild Wadi Water Park, Dreamland Aqua Park and Ski Dubai, as well desert adventures and plenty of trendy shopping.
However, there is so much going on at Atlantis The Palm that it is possible for teens and tweens to stay happy here for the duration of the holiday.
On offer is a 42-acre Aquaventure waterpark with tunnels, vertical drops, water rapids and cascades; the chance to get up close with dolphins at Dolphin Bay and The Lost Chambers, a labyrinth of linked chambers filled with exotic marine life.
Teenagers have their own, fully supervised ‘no adults’ private club, called Club Rush and, with 17 dining venues, there will be something to suit even the most fickle of palates.
Out of the Blue Capsis Elite Resort, Crete
This five-star resort has been a good option for families since it opened its own attraction, the Minoan Amusement Park, in 2007. Parents have the option of either exploring the games, rides and interactive rooms with their children or leaving them to enjoy the park with childcare staff.
The resort itself resembles a Cretan village and is set on its own peninsula, surrounded by a botanical park and extensive gardens, a small river, three beaches and a small zoo.
Hotel Jagerwirt, Kitzbuhel, Austria
No teen or tween could possibly moan about being bored on this Austrian adventure. There are lots of outdoor options to choose from including rafting for the whole family on the Tiroler Ache river, followed by a barbecue, or a forest high-rope course on which your young ones can learn abseiling and wall-climbing skills and go ape on the rope swings.
This package, new for 2010, can suit children of all ages but has been particularly designed for 10 to 17-year-olds.
Gran Caribe Real Resort & Spa, Cancun
Cosmos’s second most popular hotel for summer 2010, this four-star all-inclusive has created a subtly supervised club, T-Zone, for teenagers aged 13 to 17. It was designed after extensive research with the people who use it. The outcome is a club that is trendy and not over-organised.
Cancun itself has 14 miles of beaches, with nearby attractions including Dolphin Discovery Island. The islands of Cozumel and Isla Mujeres, just off Cancun, are easily reached by boat. Away from the beaches, teens and tweens can burn off some of their energy exploring Mexico’s ecosystem, wildlife and Mayan ruins.
Le Meridien Limassol, Cyprus
The big draw here is Le Meridien’s top-notch kids’ clubs: Penguin Village, for three to 12-year-olds, and Leisure Land, for teenagers. Both offer extensive facilities. Leisure Land has tennis, basketball and volleyball courts, a football pitch, mini golf, pool tables, table tennis, archery and a bowling centre.
The five-star resort also boasts spacious rooms, five outdoor swimming pools and plenty of eating options. Cyprus itself has plenty to occupy teens and tweens, including archaeological sites, nature trails, cycling in the Troodos mountains, rock-climbing and 4x4 adventures.
The Price Is Right
Families need holidays. A recent study by a psychotherapist for Kuoni confirmed as much. And in the current economic downturn, providing a value-for-money holiday is more important than ever.
The good news is that this year operators are focusing on value for the family market. As result, the problem lies not in searching out options but choosing which one is best for you.
For example, Keycamp has extended its programme to Greece, with bungalow accommodation at the Camping Areti site in Halkidiki starting at £854 for a family of four, accommodation-only, in August. This specially selected park offers a fantastic option for families seeking a spot of traditional Greek charm without breaking the bank.
Closer to home, the Edinburgh Residence hotel has launched a family adventure short break in conjunction with Wilderness Scotland, an award-winning adventure travel and ecotourism company. Three nights for a family of four costs £2,247 in July and August, including entrance fees to nature reserves, private guides, bike hire, breakfast every day and dinner on the first night.
For families with a bit more brass, the first family-friendly resort in the Seychelles, the four-star Constance Ephelia, has just opened on Mahe, offering 12 family villas with private pools. And with Air Seychelles offering special fares for 2010, this year is a great time to go. Prices start at £7,292 for a family of four, with breakfast and flights.
The Maldives
The destination has the best of both worlds because the school summer holidays fall in the Maldives’ low season, yet the climate is pretty consistent year-round.
One property ideal for young children is the small island retreat of Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort. It offers plenty of shade and multi-coloured fish that swim up to the water villas.
Turkey
Already the top-selling summer destination for 2010, this year has seen more family-friendly properties coming on to the market in Turkey.
Cosmos has introduced the Kefaluka Resort in Akyarlar Bay, Turgetreis, not far from Bodrum. Akyarlar Bay has shallow waters and a sandy beach, with superb scenery and a range of watersports.
Facilities to keep the kids entertained include a water park, children’s à la carte restaurant, family rooms, kids’ club for three to 12-year-olds and a teens’ club, not to mention a private beach.
As a bonus for families, the transfer journey time is short because the resort is just nine miles from Bodrum airport.
The Red Sea
The plentiful resorts on the Red Sea offer some fantastic value-for-money breaks for families. For example, Red Sea Hotels charges a fixed child price of £399 year-round and for 2010 is offering a ‘free all-inclusive upgrade’ for children whose parents have booked either bed and breakfast, half-board or full-board.
A particularly good property for families is the five-star Makadi Palace hotel on Makadi Bay, 18 miles from Hurghada. It has a secluded, unspoilt beach, large pool with children’s section, a full range of sports and activities, plus a children’s club.
Switzerland
Crystal Lakes is throwing in a three-day local transport pass for the family at the four-star Hotel Lago di Lugano.
The hotel, which is new for the operator for 2010, is in Lugano, in Switzerland’s most southerly region. A good option for outdoor types looking for more than a beach holiday, the property has children’s clubs for youngsters up to age 14, games room, outdoor activities and free canoe, dinghy, pedalo, windsurf and cycle hire.
Spain
The La Manga Club in Murcia is launching a family programme, Funlandia, with activities and events for the summer and half-term holidays.
Funlandia activities will include sports matches and tournaments, karaoke and discos, kids’ dinner and movie nights and family bingo. Funlandia is in addition to La Manga Club’s Junior Academy courses, which offer safe and fun sports coaching.
Free meals for children under five are also on offer at a selection of the resort’s restaurants.
Jersey
Easily accessible, and with the chance of better weather than on the UK mainland, Jersey is a good value option for families. The short flying time means it’s perfect for little ones, while families on a budget can opt instead to get there by channel ferry.
Les Ormes is an ideal location for holidays or short breaks, with options ranging from self-catering coastal cottages to luxury lodges with their own private outdoor hot tub.
Kids’ activities include morning fun camps, tennis, golf and swimming lessons. Two miles away is sister park La Pulente, next to a sandy beach and within a good walking and cycling area.
A Better Class For Less Cash
Anyone who thinks they can cadge an upgrade to business class by dressing smartly, asking nicely and pleading that it’s a special event should speak to a good agent ... and should think again.
Unless you are a frequent flier with a gold loyalty card, the chances of getting bumped up are slim, unless it’s your 70th wedding anniversary and economy is way over-booked. Unfortunately, the best way to guarantee a posh seat is to pay for one, which is expensive.
There are however things we can suggest to soften the blow for people on the look out for a premium cabin bargain.
Times & Dates
One solution is to alter date and time of departure. Business travel to major cities like New York drops sharply at certain times like August, when corporate road warriors head to the beaches, so there is always a rash of cut-price premium offers and two-for-one deals. Other specific dates in the year provide an opportunity to get a cheaper seat in the front cabin. Many think of jetting off for Christmas, but few actually travel on Christmas Day, when most airlines that are operating are forced to cut UK rates to attract sales.
To get a lower premium fare, the booking must include a Saturday night stay, as this prevents business travellers from travelling on the cheaper tickets. Similarly, on destinations where there are several frequencies a day, such as New York, fares can vary dramatically on individual departures. A flight to JFK on Saturday lunchtime will cost a lot less than one leaving on Monday morning that delivers a corporate customer to Wall Street in time to do an afternoon’s work.
Fare Categories
Once the date and individual departure has been sorted, there is the question of fare category, another way in which we can score for you, particularly if you are prepared to book a long way in advance. British Airways revised its Club Europe fare categories in the spring so that some are now cheaper than full-fare economy if booked in advance.
Indirect Flights
However, it is on long-haul once-in-a-lifetime journeys such as to Australia that there is more scope for finding cheaper premium fares.
Many clients save for years for a special occasion and are delighted to find there are some reasonable premium fares to be had if they fly indirect. To the east, the growth of the Middle Eastern carriers has made this possible, while to the west, new partnerships, mean customers can be sent on a cheaper routing, for example from London to Los Angeles via Chicago.
Early Booking
If you are not time-constrained, indirect is always cheapest, and when combined with a restricted fare category and a booking long in advance, business class can be affordable.
Etihad, for example, usually offers four business fare categories ranging from totally restricted with no refunds or changes allowed to a completely unrestricted tariff. Savings of around 30% off the full fares are available to early bookers that choose restricted fares and many leisure travellers are booking premium cabins for longer trips.
Comfort is the thing people want these days, especially to Australia. The additional cost is minimal in terms of what you get for a 23-hour flight. The whole experience is well worth it – you also get a limo at both ends and lounge access.
That's all for this week. Remember to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call for all of your travel needs. To book your next holiday today visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk
Friday 12 March 2010
Barrhead Travel: 28th Best Company in the UK to work for!
BARRHEAD TRAVEL IS THE TOP UK TRAVEL EMPLOYER FOR 2010
Scotland's largest independent travel agency, Barrhead Travel, has been named the UK’s best travel employer in an independent survey published this week.
The company was one of just 8 Scottish organisations to be recognised on the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 list, which recognises dynamic, effective and highly-engaged workplaces. It was also the only UK travel agency to make it in to the top 100.
Launched in 2000, the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For celebrates firms who value their staff and provide a positive working environment. Employees are asked to answer a comprehensive questionnaire on 8 clearly-defined areas including Leadership, Wellbeing, My Manager, My Team, Fair Deal, Giving Something Back, My Company and Personal Growth.
Barrhead Travel scored especially high in the My Team and My Manager categories. The firm ranked 8th out of the 100 companies for how staff felt about one another and was judged to be in the top 10 based on employee feedback of managers.
Barrhead Travel chief executive, Sharon Munro, said: “I am delighted, but not surprised, by the positive responses we had from our employees. Barrhead Travel has always been a company that works hard and plays hard and I'm really pleased that our emphasis on teamwork, motivation and reward is working. Our philosophy is that if we look after our employees, they in turn will look after our customers”.
The organisation also scored highly in the Wellbeing category with 82% of staff reporting their stress levels were low, and 77% saying their home life was not affected by work.
A key contributor to Barrhead Travel’s success in the poll was the firm’s in-house training department with 81% of employees stating they felt they could make a valuable contribution to the success of the firm.
Sharon said: “We believe that it is vital to commit to training and development, as well as improving skills, it motivates and develops our staff and keeps them moving forward.
“We also place great emphasis on external supplier training, and send as many of our employees as possible on trips to familiarise themselves with new products and destinations. I believe the results we've seen are a direct response to the effort we have put into this area.”
Barrhead Travel has set its sights on expansion in the coming year. Having recently announced its intention to charter its own flights this summer, the company also has aspirations to extend operations outside of Scotland. This energy and ambition is echoed in the attitude of the firm’s employees with 83% stating they are excited about where the company is going, a score that was 4th highest in the Top 100.
Visit the Barrhead Travel website now: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk
ENDS
Issued by Barrhead Travel
For further information please contact Mark Brock on 0141 242 1290
Notes to Editors
About Barrhead Travel
Founded in 1975 by an ex-bank worker, Bill Munro, and operating from an unremarkable shop in the south Glasgow suburb of Barrhead with just 4 staff, Barrhead Travel's first steps in the travel business were tentative and small. But fast – forward 35 years, and the company has mushroomed into a multi-faceted travel giant with over 450 staff in 16 branches – and is one of the largest and most successful travel agencies in the UK.
In 2002, Barrhead Travel opened the first city centre travel superstore in the UK, right in the heart of Glasgow. One of the largest travel agencies in Europe, it was also the first “experience” store in Scotland, allowing their customers' imagination to run riot, as they climbed onboard the deck of a cruise ship, wandered down a boulevard in Paris, or even relaxed on a desert island as they booked their long haul holiday.
The company has won many awards over the years, including the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Best Business in Glasgow and Best Travel Agency in Scotland for 10 years running. However, 2009 was an exceptional year, when Barrhead Travel was voted Best Travel Agent in the
UK, Best Cruise Agent in the UK, and Best UK Travel Web Site.
Scotland's largest independent travel agency, Barrhead Travel, has been named the UK’s best travel employer in an independent survey published this week.
The company was one of just 8 Scottish organisations to be recognised on the Sunday Times 100 Best Companies to Work For 2010 list, which recognises dynamic, effective and highly-engaged workplaces. It was also the only UK travel agency to make it in to the top 100.
Launched in 2000, the Top 100 Best Companies to Work For celebrates firms who value their staff and provide a positive working environment. Employees are asked to answer a comprehensive questionnaire on 8 clearly-defined areas including Leadership, Wellbeing, My Manager, My Team, Fair Deal, Giving Something Back, My Company and Personal Growth.
Barrhead Travel scored especially high in the My Team and My Manager categories. The firm ranked 8th out of the 100 companies for how staff felt about one another and was judged to be in the top 10 based on employee feedback of managers.
Barrhead Travel chief executive, Sharon Munro, said: “I am delighted, but not surprised, by the positive responses we had from our employees. Barrhead Travel has always been a company that works hard and plays hard and I'm really pleased that our emphasis on teamwork, motivation and reward is working. Our philosophy is that if we look after our employees, they in turn will look after our customers”.
The organisation also scored highly in the Wellbeing category with 82% of staff reporting their stress levels were low, and 77% saying their home life was not affected by work.
A key contributor to Barrhead Travel’s success in the poll was the firm’s in-house training department with 81% of employees stating they felt they could make a valuable contribution to the success of the firm.
Sharon said: “We believe that it is vital to commit to training and development, as well as improving skills, it motivates and develops our staff and keeps them moving forward.
“We also place great emphasis on external supplier training, and send as many of our employees as possible on trips to familiarise themselves with new products and destinations. I believe the results we've seen are a direct response to the effort we have put into this area.”
Barrhead Travel has set its sights on expansion in the coming year. Having recently announced its intention to charter its own flights this summer, the company also has aspirations to extend operations outside of Scotland. This energy and ambition is echoed in the attitude of the firm’s employees with 83% stating they are excited about where the company is going, a score that was 4th highest in the Top 100.
Visit the Barrhead Travel website now: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk
ENDS
Issued by Barrhead Travel
For further information please contact Mark Brock on 0141 242 1290
Notes to Editors
About Barrhead Travel
Founded in 1975 by an ex-bank worker, Bill Munro, and operating from an unremarkable shop in the south Glasgow suburb of Barrhead with just 4 staff, Barrhead Travel's first steps in the travel business were tentative and small. But fast – forward 35 years, and the company has mushroomed into a multi-faceted travel giant with over 450 staff in 16 branches – and is one of the largest and most successful travel agencies in the UK.
In 2002, Barrhead Travel opened the first city centre travel superstore in the UK, right in the heart of Glasgow. One of the largest travel agencies in Europe, it was also the first “experience” store in Scotland, allowing their customers' imagination to run riot, as they climbed onboard the deck of a cruise ship, wandered down a boulevard in Paris, or even relaxed on a desert island as they booked their long haul holiday.
The company has won many awards over the years, including the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce Best Business in Glasgow and Best Travel Agency in Scotland for 10 years running. However, 2009 was an exceptional year, when Barrhead Travel was voted Best Travel Agent in the
UK, Best Cruise Agent in the UK, and Best UK Travel Web Site.
Friday 5 March 2010
Barrhead Travel's Longhaul Exhibition tomorrow ...
~
A final reminder that we're having our latest Longhaul Holiday Exhibition from 10am to 5pm tomorrow in our Glasgow Superstore.
It's the perfect opportunity to come along, meet experts from some of the top travel destinations in the world and plan your very own holiday of a lifetime!
For full details and to register for tomorrow's free event see: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/LonghaulExhibition
Don't miss it!
A final reminder that we're having our latest Longhaul Holiday Exhibition from 10am to 5pm tomorrow in our Glasgow Superstore.
It's the perfect opportunity to come along, meet experts from some of the top travel destinations in the world and plan your very own holiday of a lifetime!
For full details and to register for tomorrow's free event see: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/LonghaulExhibition
Don't miss it!
Wednesday 3 March 2010
Barrhead Travel Longhaul Exhibition this Saturday!
~
Only a couple of days left until our Longhaul Exhibition in our Glasgow Superstore this Saturday. We've had even more tourist boards and tour operators sign-up in the last few days and there will be experts on hand from Antigua & Barbados, Egypt, St Kitts, the Sandals holiday group and many, many more.
If you're thinking of a far-flung holiday either in the near or distant future be sure to come along to our event on Saturday, meet the experts, have a glass of wine and get all the information on some of the very best holiday destinations worldwide.
There will also be some amazing offers and discounts that are only available on the day! For more information and to register for this free event visit our website now: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/LonghaulExhibition
Only a couple of days left until our Longhaul Exhibition in our Glasgow Superstore this Saturday. We've had even more tourist boards and tour operators sign-up in the last few days and there will be experts on hand from Antigua & Barbados, Egypt, St Kitts, the Sandals holiday group and many, many more.
If you're thinking of a far-flung holiday either in the near or distant future be sure to come along to our event on Saturday, meet the experts, have a glass of wine and get all the information on some of the very best holiday destinations worldwide.
There will also be some amazing offers and discounts that are only available on the day! For more information and to register for this free event visit our website now: www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/LonghaulExhibition
Barrhead Travel are recruiting!
~
If you're in Scotland and want to work for the biggest travel agency in the country ... get in touch!
We have vacancies in our offices and branches across Scotland in many different areas of our business.
View all our current opportunities now at www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/jobs to see full job descriptions, download application forms and apply online.
What are you waiting for?
If you're in Scotland and want to work for the biggest travel agency in the country ... get in touch!
We have vacancies in our offices and branches across Scotland in many different areas of our business.
View all our current opportunities now at www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/jobs to see full job descriptions, download application forms and apply online.
What are you waiting for?
Friday 26 February 2010
Barrhead Travel's Longhaul Exhibition, Coming Soon!
~
Thinking of travelling further afield this year?
If so then don't miss our brilliant Longhaul Exhibition next Saturday, 6th March, from 10am - 5pm in our Oswald St, Glasgow Superstore!
We'll have experts on hand from tourist boards and tour operators in some of the world's very best travel destinations. There will also be some amazing offers and discounts that are only available on the day and if it takes your fancy you'll be able to book your next far-flung holiday there and then!
Be sure not to miss this ever-popular free event and you might just end up planning your very own holiday of a lifetime.
Register for free online now at: http://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/LonghaulExhibition
Thinking of travelling further afield this year?
If so then don't miss our brilliant Longhaul Exhibition next Saturday, 6th March, from 10am - 5pm in our Oswald St, Glasgow Superstore!
We'll have experts on hand from tourist boards and tour operators in some of the world's very best travel destinations. There will also be some amazing offers and discounts that are only available on the day and if it takes your fancy you'll be able to book your next far-flung holiday there and then!
Be sure not to miss this ever-popular free event and you might just end up planning your very own holiday of a lifetime.
Register for free online now at: http://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/LonghaulExhibition
Wednesday 24 February 2010
Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week!
~
This week we look at Latin America, Malta and Middle East golfing!
Middle East Golf
In barely 20 years, the Middle East has come in from the golfing wilderness to become one of the top regions anywhere in the world for the sport.
Golf was first introduced to the Middle East in the 1880s, when the British opened courses in Egypt. More recently, it was the arrival of Dubai’s Emirates Golf Club with its signature tented clubhouse in 1988 which really kick-started the golf revolution. Its Majlis course was the first all-grass championship golf course in the Middle East and is known as the “Desert Miracle”. Others soon followed, and courses have since blossomed in desert sands throughout the Gulf, from UAE states Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Egypt, too, has seen a huge golf boom in the past 12 years.
The region now stages three European Tour championship events early each year as part of its Desert Swing. The Dubai Desert Classic at Dubai’s Majlis course follows the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters. The season-long competition to find the Tour’s top golfer, now called the Race to Dubai, culminates in the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estate’s new Earth Course by Greg Norman, in November.
When Dubai was recognised as the Emerging Golf Destination of the Year back in 2002, it was already on its way to becoming a golf destination which most enthusiastic golf travellers were aware of. To mark its rise, seven years later it was voted Established Golf Destination of the Year. But the draw of spectacular golf in this fast-evolving region has kept a steady flow of golfers heading out to the Gulf states primarily to indulge their favourite pastime.
Key golf destinations include:
Dubai
Very rarely has a destination risen to such golfing prominence so quickly, but Dubai with its year-round sunshine, luxury service and world-class golf facilities has confirmed its position on the golfing world stage for amateurs and professionals alike. Golf is a significant cog in the Dubai tourism wheel with the UK accounting for about 30% of rounds on Dubai courses, more than any other market.
The newest of Dubai’s eight courses are the Earth Course and The Els Club designed by South Africa’s Ernie Els in Dubai Sports City. Tiger Woods’ first-ever design, Al Ruwaya Golf Course is among several more planned.
Sample package
A three-night spring golf break on a B&B basis at the Metropolitan Deira Hotel with two rounds of golf on the Majlis and Dubai Creek courses cost from £429 excluding flights.
Abu Dhabi
Dubai’s UAE neighbour is now leading the line in terms of rolling out new golf courses and golf resorts in the region and all of them by top course architects. The emirate’s sole championship course to date has been the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The Saadiyat Beach Golf Club by Gary Player opens for public play on March 1. It is set alongside a six-mile white-sand beach on Saadiyat Island, where multimillion-dollar cultural facilities being built include Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim art gallery.
The Yas Links golf course opens this summer on nearby Yas Island, home to the new Formula 1 circuit.
There are plans for a further six courses linked to major developments. Golf plays an important role in helping Abu Dhabi realise its tourism plans. Green fees in Abu Dhabi are slightly cheaper than Dubai.
Sample package
Seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a five-star hotel with three rounds of golf on Abu Dhabi Golf Course from £1,149, including flights via Doha.
Egypt
The land of ancient pharaohs is now also a land of verdant fairways. Just two nine-hole courses survived into the late 1990s from colonial times, including the Mena House golf course towered over by Giza’s Pyramid of Cheops. The imminent opening of two new Cairo courses – the Allegria by Jack Nicklaus and Katameya Dunes by Nick Faldo – will take it to almost 20. Egypt’s courses span everywhere from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and the length of the Nile from Alexandria to Luxor. Egypt is increasingly developing tourism segments such as golf.
Areas seeing resort development with new golf courses include the Red Sea Riviera and Mediterranean coast. Among new resort areas which have seen golf courses opening are Madinat Makadi, Soma Bay, Taba Heights and Ain Soukhna on the Red Sea and Porto Marina, near El Alamein, on the newly-rebranded “White Med” coast. New Mediterranean charter destination Marsa Matruh is also set to gain a course in the future.
Sample package
Seven nights’ half-board at Taba Heights including four rounds, golf buggy and unlimited practice from £645 including flights and transfers.
Other Destinations
Oman is one of the latest Gulf countries to embrace golf, with its first grass course, the 18-hole Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club now open. A golf academy opens there later this year. Green fees are just under £100, including buggy. The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain opened in early 2009 designed by Colin Montgomerie. Green fees are around £100
Malta
Malta has always been a big draw for UK holidaymakers, whether they be sun-seeking budget fans, families or active types. But while the country may be more synonymous with budget travel, there’s no shortage of options at the high end either.
For travellers with deep pockets, there’s plenty in these balmy Mediterranean islands to spend your money on - from jewellery shopping at Jos Debono in Valletta to chartering Roman Abramovich’s 170-metre yacht, and from fine dining and spa treatments to gambling and enjoying the theatre your cash will flow away like a delicate Maltese wine should you choose.
Malta has a rich history of attracting royals, high society and international footballers, while recent celebrities have included Madonna, Brad Pitt, Rachel Weisz and Bruce Willis. Visitors can even do the foxtrot in the Grand Ballroom of the Phoenicia Hotel where Queen Elizabeth danced in her younger years.
The attraction of Malta to top-end visitors is due to a combination of factors including high standards of accommodation, the extravagant experiences that can be enjoyed and the fact that high-profile guests can enjoy a break in peace, which isn’t always true of other well-known luxury Mediterranean destinations.
The good news is that Malta’s luxury offerings are of the affordable variety, offering great value for money. There are not many places in the world where you can stay at a five-star hotel from as little as £35 per person per night.
In addition to the wide variety of budget flights available from the UK, Air Malta offers Club Class from London and regional departure points. This provides enhanced seating, three-course hot meals, complimentary drinks, a free 30kg baggage allowance and access to the new-look La Vallette lounge in Malta and airport lounges in the UK.
Malta’s luxury sector has also remained relatively unaffected by the global recession and the fluctuations of sterling against the euro.
Malta is evolving into a niche destination for both spa and golfing breaks. There are some excellent new hotels coming on line with comprehensive dedicated facilities.
Luxury Hotels
Xara Palace
This luxurious boutique hotel, a member of the Relais & Chateaux collection, is centrally located in the ancient and so-called “silent city” of Mdina. It boasts just 17 individually designed rooms and suites, four of which have outdoor whirlpool baths on their private terraces.
Hotel Juliani
Don’t be fooled by the four-star status. This converted townhouse property in St Julian’s bills itself as Malta’s only small design boutique hotel. The hotel, which overlooks the bay, has 44 rooms and a rooftop pool.
The Phoenicia
The only five-star property located in the capital Valletta, the Phoenicia has 136 rooms and suites and has just been refurbished.
The George
June will see the addition of another small luxury hotel in St Julian’s with the opening of The George. It will be an urban boutique hotel with a rooftop pool and mod cons such as wireless internet, iPod docking stations and flatscreen TVs.
The Gran Hotel Excelsior
This waterfront five-star spa hotel offers breathtaking views of Marsamxett Harbour and is in striking distance of Valletta.
The Kempinski St Lawrenz
For those who prefer a resort-style property, the St Lawrenz in Gozo is a substantial five-star luxury property in a quiet setting, and is a good option for families. The spa, which has just reopened following a refurbishment, offers a wide range of spa treatments.
Radisson Blu Resort St Julian’s
If you are in the market for a five-star resort but their budgets won’t stretch to the Kempinski, or they simply want to be based on Malta as opposed to Gozo, suggest the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian’s.
Ta’ Cenc
Another relaxing option for those seeking the slower pace of Gozo, Ta’ Cenc’s unique selling point is its idyllic clifftop location. However, the property would benefit from some investment to help justify its five-star status.
Latin America
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s volcanoes, cloud forests and beaches have long been popular with the adventure and nature tourism markets, and a steady flow of American tourists has resulted in extremely good infrastructure.
Holidaymakers are able to book all-inclusive breaks in three to five-star properties on the country’s beautiful north Pacific coast, presenting a new alternative to Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Luxury Travel
Outside certain hotspots such as Rio de Janeiro, South America hasn’t historically been renowned as a luxury choice. However, recent years have seen a great increase in luxury product and properties, especially in areas traditionally strong in the UK, such as Brazil, Argentina and Peru.
The Luxury Collection is opening three hotels in Peru over the next two years; the Relais & Chateaux association now has 11 hotels in South America on its books; and new deluxe properties range from city boutiques and jungle lodges to barefoot-style island hideaways.
From next month TAM will begin offering a first-class service on its daily Heathrow-Sao Paulo flight.
We can offer gaucho breaks in Argentina and samba lessons in Rio and have extended our Latin America programme this year. The types of experiences that we offer are amazing, with the perfect combination of culture, outstanding scenery, soft adventure and some great beaches as well. There are also some excellent luxury properties, which are essential for our customers. We believe the region is on the up, with the direct flights into Rio and Buenos Aires.
Central America
Traditionally the little sister to South America, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama offer a wide range of adventurous options, from rainforests and beaches to ancient Mayan culture. These countries may be more unexplored, but they have fantastic infrastructure and good hotels.
Star Clippers has chosen Central American destinations for new sailing trips in 2010, with Star Flyer visiting Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua.
Colombia Cool
Like an unpleasant hangover, Colombia’s reputation as a dangerous destination has hung around for too long. While some remote rural areas are still risky, you are unlikely to encounter problems in the main tourist spots on a trip organised by a reputable operator.
Highlights include the walled colonial city of Cartagena, Cali, the home of salsa, the green coffee fields of the Zona Cafetera, Bogota’s great shopping and nightlife and the beaches of the Tayrona National Park.
Mexico Bounce Back
The impact of last year’s swine flu outbreak on Mexico’s travel market seems to have been mercifully short-lived, with operators reporting a swift bounceback for the region.
TUI Travel has reported a strong revival in popularity of the country over the past two months, with its upturn continuing to grow week by week. Operators and hoteliers are fanning the flames of this already demand by offering competitive prices and good value deals.
Galapagos Islands
Last year’s anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the writing of On the Origin of Species threw the spotlight on the Galapagos Islands, already a popular, if price, holiday choice. This year should see more travellers able to take this trip of a lifetime, with deals and discounts on Galapagos cruises.
For the best travel deals to all of this week's destinations, or elsewhere, make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Pop in to your local branch today, phone on 0871 226 2673 or book online at www.barrheadtravel.co.uk Let's Holiday!
This week we look at Latin America, Malta and Middle East golfing!
Middle East Golf
In barely 20 years, the Middle East has come in from the golfing wilderness to become one of the top regions anywhere in the world for the sport.
Golf was first introduced to the Middle East in the 1880s, when the British opened courses in Egypt. More recently, it was the arrival of Dubai’s Emirates Golf Club with its signature tented clubhouse in 1988 which really kick-started the golf revolution. Its Majlis course was the first all-grass championship golf course in the Middle East and is known as the “Desert Miracle”. Others soon followed, and courses have since blossomed in desert sands throughout the Gulf, from UAE states Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah to Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait. Egypt, too, has seen a huge golf boom in the past 12 years.
The region now stages three European Tour championship events early each year as part of its Desert Swing. The Dubai Desert Classic at Dubai’s Majlis course follows the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship and the Qatar Masters. The season-long competition to find the Tour’s top golfer, now called the Race to Dubai, culminates in the Dubai World Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estate’s new Earth Course by Greg Norman, in November.
When Dubai was recognised as the Emerging Golf Destination of the Year back in 2002, it was already on its way to becoming a golf destination which most enthusiastic golf travellers were aware of. To mark its rise, seven years later it was voted Established Golf Destination of the Year. But the draw of spectacular golf in this fast-evolving region has kept a steady flow of golfers heading out to the Gulf states primarily to indulge their favourite pastime.
Key golf destinations include:
Dubai
Very rarely has a destination risen to such golfing prominence so quickly, but Dubai with its year-round sunshine, luxury service and world-class golf facilities has confirmed its position on the golfing world stage for amateurs and professionals alike. Golf is a significant cog in the Dubai tourism wheel with the UK accounting for about 30% of rounds on Dubai courses, more than any other market.
The newest of Dubai’s eight courses are the Earth Course and The Els Club designed by South Africa’s Ernie Els in Dubai Sports City. Tiger Woods’ first-ever design, Al Ruwaya Golf Course is among several more planned.
Sample package
A three-night spring golf break on a B&B basis at the Metropolitan Deira Hotel with two rounds of golf on the Majlis and Dubai Creek courses cost from £429 excluding flights.
Abu Dhabi
Dubai’s UAE neighbour is now leading the line in terms of rolling out new golf courses and golf resorts in the region and all of them by top course architects. The emirate’s sole championship course to date has been the Abu Dhabi Golf Club.
The Saadiyat Beach Golf Club by Gary Player opens for public play on March 1. It is set alongside a six-mile white-sand beach on Saadiyat Island, where multimillion-dollar cultural facilities being built include Louvre Abu Dhabi and the Guggenheim art gallery.
The Yas Links golf course opens this summer on nearby Yas Island, home to the new Formula 1 circuit.
There are plans for a further six courses linked to major developments. Golf plays an important role in helping Abu Dhabi realise its tourism plans. Green fees in Abu Dhabi are slightly cheaper than Dubai.
Sample package
Seven nights’ bed and breakfast in a five-star hotel with three rounds of golf on Abu Dhabi Golf Course from £1,149, including flights via Doha.
Egypt
The land of ancient pharaohs is now also a land of verdant fairways. Just two nine-hole courses survived into the late 1990s from colonial times, including the Mena House golf course towered over by Giza’s Pyramid of Cheops. The imminent opening of two new Cairo courses – the Allegria by Jack Nicklaus and Katameya Dunes by Nick Faldo – will take it to almost 20. Egypt’s courses span everywhere from the Mediterranean to the Red Sea and the length of the Nile from Alexandria to Luxor. Egypt is increasingly developing tourism segments such as golf.
Areas seeing resort development with new golf courses include the Red Sea Riviera and Mediterranean coast. Among new resort areas which have seen golf courses opening are Madinat Makadi, Soma Bay, Taba Heights and Ain Soukhna on the Red Sea and Porto Marina, near El Alamein, on the newly-rebranded “White Med” coast. New Mediterranean charter destination Marsa Matruh is also set to gain a course in the future.
Sample package
Seven nights’ half-board at Taba Heights including four rounds, golf buggy and unlimited practice from £645 including flights and transfers.
Other Destinations
Oman is one of the latest Gulf countries to embrace golf, with its first grass course, the 18-hole Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club now open. A golf academy opens there later this year. Green fees are just under £100, including buggy. The Royal Golf Club in Bahrain opened in early 2009 designed by Colin Montgomerie. Green fees are around £100
Malta
Malta has always been a big draw for UK holidaymakers, whether they be sun-seeking budget fans, families or active types. But while the country may be more synonymous with budget travel, there’s no shortage of options at the high end either.
For travellers with deep pockets, there’s plenty in these balmy Mediterranean islands to spend your money on - from jewellery shopping at Jos Debono in Valletta to chartering Roman Abramovich’s 170-metre yacht, and from fine dining and spa treatments to gambling and enjoying the theatre your cash will flow away like a delicate Maltese wine should you choose.
Malta has a rich history of attracting royals, high society and international footballers, while recent celebrities have included Madonna, Brad Pitt, Rachel Weisz and Bruce Willis. Visitors can even do the foxtrot in the Grand Ballroom of the Phoenicia Hotel where Queen Elizabeth danced in her younger years.
The attraction of Malta to top-end visitors is due to a combination of factors including high standards of accommodation, the extravagant experiences that can be enjoyed and the fact that high-profile guests can enjoy a break in peace, which isn’t always true of other well-known luxury Mediterranean destinations.
The good news is that Malta’s luxury offerings are of the affordable variety, offering great value for money. There are not many places in the world where you can stay at a five-star hotel from as little as £35 per person per night.
In addition to the wide variety of budget flights available from the UK, Air Malta offers Club Class from London and regional departure points. This provides enhanced seating, three-course hot meals, complimentary drinks, a free 30kg baggage allowance and access to the new-look La Vallette lounge in Malta and airport lounges in the UK.
Malta’s luxury sector has also remained relatively unaffected by the global recession and the fluctuations of sterling against the euro.
Malta is evolving into a niche destination for both spa and golfing breaks. There are some excellent new hotels coming on line with comprehensive dedicated facilities.
Luxury Hotels
Xara Palace
This luxurious boutique hotel, a member of the Relais & Chateaux collection, is centrally located in the ancient and so-called “silent city” of Mdina. It boasts just 17 individually designed rooms and suites, four of which have outdoor whirlpool baths on their private terraces.
Hotel Juliani
Don’t be fooled by the four-star status. This converted townhouse property in St Julian’s bills itself as Malta’s only small design boutique hotel. The hotel, which overlooks the bay, has 44 rooms and a rooftop pool.
The Phoenicia
The only five-star property located in the capital Valletta, the Phoenicia has 136 rooms and suites and has just been refurbished.
The George
June will see the addition of another small luxury hotel in St Julian’s with the opening of The George. It will be an urban boutique hotel with a rooftop pool and mod cons such as wireless internet, iPod docking stations and flatscreen TVs.
The Gran Hotel Excelsior
This waterfront five-star spa hotel offers breathtaking views of Marsamxett Harbour and is in striking distance of Valletta.
The Kempinski St Lawrenz
For those who prefer a resort-style property, the St Lawrenz in Gozo is a substantial five-star luxury property in a quiet setting, and is a good option for families. The spa, which has just reopened following a refurbishment, offers a wide range of spa treatments.
Radisson Blu Resort St Julian’s
If you are in the market for a five-star resort but their budgets won’t stretch to the Kempinski, or they simply want to be based on Malta as opposed to Gozo, suggest the Radisson Blu Resort in St Julian’s.
Ta’ Cenc
Another relaxing option for those seeking the slower pace of Gozo, Ta’ Cenc’s unique selling point is its idyllic clifftop location. However, the property would benefit from some investment to help justify its five-star status.
Latin America
Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s volcanoes, cloud forests and beaches have long been popular with the adventure and nature tourism markets, and a steady flow of American tourists has resulted in extremely good infrastructure.
Holidaymakers are able to book all-inclusive breaks in three to five-star properties on the country’s beautiful north Pacific coast, presenting a new alternative to Mexico’s Caribbean coast.
Luxury Travel
Outside certain hotspots such as Rio de Janeiro, South America hasn’t historically been renowned as a luxury choice. However, recent years have seen a great increase in luxury product and properties, especially in areas traditionally strong in the UK, such as Brazil, Argentina and Peru.
The Luxury Collection is opening three hotels in Peru over the next two years; the Relais & Chateaux association now has 11 hotels in South America on its books; and new deluxe properties range from city boutiques and jungle lodges to barefoot-style island hideaways.
From next month TAM will begin offering a first-class service on its daily Heathrow-Sao Paulo flight.
We can offer gaucho breaks in Argentina and samba lessons in Rio and have extended our Latin America programme this year. The types of experiences that we offer are amazing, with the perfect combination of culture, outstanding scenery, soft adventure and some great beaches as well. There are also some excellent luxury properties, which are essential for our customers. We believe the region is on the up, with the direct flights into Rio and Buenos Aires.
Central America
Traditionally the little sister to South America, Costa Rica, Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama offer a wide range of adventurous options, from rainforests and beaches to ancient Mayan culture. These countries may be more unexplored, but they have fantastic infrastructure and good hotels.
Star Clippers has chosen Central American destinations for new sailing trips in 2010, with Star Flyer visiting Costa Rica, Panama and Nicaragua.
Colombia Cool
Like an unpleasant hangover, Colombia’s reputation as a dangerous destination has hung around for too long. While some remote rural areas are still risky, you are unlikely to encounter problems in the main tourist spots on a trip organised by a reputable operator.
Highlights include the walled colonial city of Cartagena, Cali, the home of salsa, the green coffee fields of the Zona Cafetera, Bogota’s great shopping and nightlife and the beaches of the Tayrona National Park.
Mexico Bounce Back
The impact of last year’s swine flu outbreak on Mexico’s travel market seems to have been mercifully short-lived, with operators reporting a swift bounceback for the region.
TUI Travel has reported a strong revival in popularity of the country over the past two months, with its upturn continuing to grow week by week. Operators and hoteliers are fanning the flames of this already demand by offering competitive prices and good value deals.
Galapagos Islands
Last year’s anniversary of Darwin’s birth and the writing of On the Origin of Species threw the spotlight on the Galapagos Islands, already a popular, if price, holiday choice. This year should see more travellers able to take this trip of a lifetime, with deals and discounts on Galapagos cruises.
For the best travel deals to all of this week's destinations, or elsewhere, make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Pop in to your local branch today, phone on 0871 226 2673 or book online at www.barrheadtravel.co.uk Let's Holiday!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
