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!

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!