Barrhead Travel

Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week!

2010-06-11T15:45:00.002+01:00

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!

Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week!

2010-06-02T16:05:00.003+01:00

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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!

Barrhead Travel's Destination of the Week: Costa Brava

2010-05-14T16:21:00.002+01:00

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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!

Barrhead Travel's Destination of the Week: Atlantic Canada

2010-05-07T09:43:00.003+01:00

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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!

BARRHEAD TRAVEL AND CONTINENTAL AIRLINES HELP CHARITY DONATIONS SOAR

2010-05-06T15:48:00.001+01:00

- 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

How to Save Money on Business Travel

2010-05-06T15:39:00.002+01:00

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

Barrhead Travel - Top UK Travel Employer 2010

2010-05-06T15:27:00.001+01:00

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

Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week!

2010-04-09T10:02:00.004+01:00

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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!

2010-04-07T12:36:00.003+01:00

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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!

Pre Register now for 2011/2012 Cruises with Barrhead Travel!

2010-03-26T14:46:00.004Z

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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!

NCL announce more Norwegian Epic details:

2010-03-19T12:49:00.002Z

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!

Barrhead Blog. Travel with Teens and how to fly Business Class for less!

2010-03-17T12:04:00.005Z

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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

Barrhead Travel: 28th Best Company in the UK to work for!

2010-03-12T10:19:00.002Z

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.

Barrhead Travel's Longhaul Exhibition tomorrow ...

2010-03-05T16:43:00.002Z

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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!

Barrhead Travel Longhaul Exhibition this Saturday!

2010-03-03T16:41:00.002Z

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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!

2010-03-03T14:34:00.001Z

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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?

Barrhead Travel's Longhaul Exhibition, Coming Soon!

2010-02-26T11:59:00.002Z

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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

Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week!

2010-02-24T09:46:00.003Z

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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!

Club 18-30 Night this Thursday at Barrhead Travel!

2010-02-22T15:09:00.004Z

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Only three days to go until Barrhead Travel's Big Club 18-30 Night! We have Galaxy Scotland's DJ Vanessa in store and on the decks, we have a FREE Club 18-30 Holiday for 2 to be won on the night and we have Club reps in store with all the latest on the hottest holidays destinations for 2010.

The night kicks off at 6pm this Thursday in our Oswald Street superstore, Glasgow and you don't want to miss it. And what's more, it's free!

Register online now for Barrhead's big Club 18-30 Night this Thursday! Don't miss it!

www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk/Club.18-30

Barrhead Travel: Recruiting now for Web Developers.

2010-02-17T12:26:00.004Z

Barrhead Travel are recruiting for web developers now. The positions will be based in our busy, friendly, fast-paced city centre office and any developers in the area with experience (knowledge of .net a plus) and looking for an exciting new challenge should get in touch.

Barrhead Travel is the largest independent Travel Agent in Scotland and one of the Top 10 in the UK. If you are interested in a career with Barrhead Travel and wish to apply call us on 0871 226 8682 or send a cv by email to recruitment(at)barrheadtravel.com.

Barrhead Travel's Club 18-30 Night.

2010-02-17T12:07:00.003Z

Barrhead Travel's legendary Club 18-30 Night is back!

Come along to our Glasgow Superstore at 85 Oswald Street next Thursday, 25th February, between 6 and 9pm for your chance to win a FREE Club 18-30 holiday for 2! You'll be able to meet Club 18-30 reps and discover this year's hottest and most hyped destinations. We'll also have Vanessa from Galaxy Scotland's morning show in store and on the decks and there'll be some fantastic Club 18-30 exclusive offers that you won't find anywhere else.

Barrhead Travel's big Club 18-30 Night ... Don't miss it!

All our latest event news is www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/Events

Barrhead Travel at the SECC Holiday Show this weekend!

2010-02-09T09:56:00.003Z

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It's that time of year again! This weekend from Friday to Sunday sees the 2010 Holiday Show at Glasgow's SECC. As ever, Barrhead Travel will be on hand to offer visitors expert advice and the best holiday deals. And we've got exclusive free tickets for the show!

The Holiday Show offers you the chance to see the world and consult with experts before making this year's all-important holiday decisions.

With exhibitors ranging from tour operators and travel agents to airlines, tourist information organisations and places of interest there truly is something for every one.

The show will also feature a vast range of exotic long-haul destinations, specialist UK and European short-break locations, Travel Talk Theatres with guest presenters, direct access to airline representatives and a packed programme of fun activities to ensure a great day out for all the family.

With Scotland's largest booking agent Barrhead Travel you will also be able to save by booking directly at the show. In addition, there is a new Barrhead Travel Travel Talk Theatre with talks and presentations taking place all day long from companies such as;

NCL, Complete Cruise Solution, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Prestige, Trinidad & Tobago Tourism, MSC Cruises, Paradise Park Hotel, World of Discovery / Universal, Gold Medal, Silverseas / Barbados Tourist Board, Tourism British Columbia/Travel Alberta/Rocky Mountaineer Vacations, Quantas Holidays & Kuoni.

The Travel Talks Theatre will give visitors the chance to listen first hand to experts who will be sharing their travel insights and ideas and answering questions about specific holiday destinations.

And let's not forget the kids! There is a programme of fun activities for children such as face painting, Marco the Clown plus Punch and Judy, as well as sand pits to play in and deck chairs to relax in (Mum and Dad might be grateful for those too).

The Holiday & Travel Show Glasgow SECC

Dates:
12 - 14 February 2010
Opening Times:
10 am – 5 pm
Friday, Saturday & Sunday

Pop in to your nearest Barrhead Travel branch any time this week to pick up exclusive free tickets for the show! Call on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk for more info!

Barrhead Travel are recruiting!

2010-02-08T13:28:00.002Z

We're looking for new people to join up for all areas of our business. We have vacancies in our existing stores and in new branches opening soon in: East Kilbride, Inverness, Glasgow Fort, Ayr and Prestwick!

Come and work for the largest independent Travel Agent in Scotland and one of the Top 10 in the UK. We're a successful and expanding business and are constantly seeking self-motivated sales people to join our existing team.

Call our recruitment team today on 0871 226 8682, e-mail us at recruitment(at)barrheadtravel.com or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/jobs to apply online now!

What are you waiting for?

Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week.

2010-02-02T15:26:00.002Z

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Hello and welcome to another of our Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week features! This week we look at a number of idyllic spots in the Indian Ocean and also at some of the best family holiday destinations in Europe and beyond.

Mission Possible

Many visitors to the Indian Ocean region want nothing more than an idyllic beach and a pampering spa. But there’s plenty here to keep adrenalin junkies happy too.

Maldives & Seychelles

Although holidays in the Maldives are usually reserved for pampered honeymoon indulgence, one extreme sport is taking off at the region’s resorts. Kitesurfing is the latest craze to emerge and it offers thrill-seekers the chance to use wind power to reach speeds up to 50mph on a kite board – the fastest way to sail on the water.

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort, teetering on the edge of the Maldives archipelago and exposed to the necessary winds, introduced the sport to the islands in 2001. Despite the extreme tag no experience is required; there’s plenty of space for beginners and seasoned experts to fly across the water.

Kuredo Island Resort, located in Lhaviyani Atoll, 80 miles north of Male’s international airport, also offers kitesurfing and wakeboarding at its watersports centre. Instructors give free introductory lessons to help tourists get the bug.

The sport is also developing in the Seychelles, and is now offered alongside other adventures such as swimming with 40ft whale sharks.

Sample price: Seven nights at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort from £1,349 per person half-board including return flights. Kitesurfing costs around $55 for a day’s equipment hire and $80 for a day’s instruction.

India

For tourists interested in high-altitude, high-octane activities, the Himalayas in India offer the perfect playground with a variety of thrills available. For keen climbers, the Stok Kangri mountain, a beast whose peak exceeds 6,000m, with challenges including a number of steep cliff climbs at high altitude and long treks. Visitors acclimatise by first visiting the remote villages of Ladakh above the Indus Valley.

We also offer a gruelling mountain bike escapade – a chance for enthusiasts to teeter across two of the highest passes in the world, cycling from Manali to Leh in the Ladakh region. Only the toughest thighs will conquer the winding roads of the western Himalaya, close to the borders of China and Tibet. Tourists will be expected to cover at least 40 miles every day, 50% of which is on craggy paths. While the climate will be warm during the day, the tour group has to huddle together at night when temperatures drop to -4C.

Sample price: The Manali to Leh ride (18 days’ half-board) costs from £1,799. Flights are included, bike hire is £145. The Stok Kangri climb costs £1,899, including accommodation and flights.

Mauritius

One way to see the island’s java deer and wild boar is on a quad bike tour. The three-hour tour encourages thrill-seekers to get muddy while touring the L’Etoile & Ferny Reserve on four wheels. This is a 3,500-hectare estate, found off the beaten track in the eastern part of Mauritius.

Or head south to the Saint Felix sugar estate where visitors are offered an unusual way to experience impressive views of banana plantations and waterfalls. Take part in a trek with a twist – the trail includes 11 zip lines that let you shuttle from tree to tree 30m up, only stopping midway for a bracing freshwater swim.

Sample price: The zip line experience costs £88 for a full day, and the quad bike tour is priced at £131 per person.

Sri Lanka

Perhaps you fancy a bit of speleology in Sri Lanka? To the uninitiated, this means cave exploration into 500 million years of history, squeezing through dark nooks in complete darkness with only a head torch to guide you.

Eco Team Sri Lanka offers pot-holing tours in Waulpane Cave, where amateurs and experts can explore the “cave of bats”. This is home to thousands of the cave’s namesakes and luminous fish lurking beneath an 80ft underground waterfall.

White-water rafting holidays are also on the rise and Eco Team offers a white-knuckle adventure into the shooting rapids of the Kelani river in Kithulgala, west Sri Lanka. Also known as the wet-zone rainforest and one of the dampest places in the country, this is a real test for hardy explorers. In between rapids, check out the location where much of Oscar-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed, before braving the larger grade five rapids of the Kelani gorges. Before the river run, a briefing is given on paddling techniques and “man overboard” procedures.

Sample price: A seven-day white-water rafting experience in Kithulgala costs £365 per person including half-board hotel/camping accommodation. Caving in Waulpane is also available and costs £90 per day.

Mum and Dad Are Happy Too

This year sees a raft of new beach resorts. Here are some which have the most to offer to the family market.

Hilton Dalaman Golf Resort and Spa, Turkey

Located on its own stretch of beach where the Dalaman River meets the sea, the Hilton Golf Resort and Spa is an excellent hotel for an active family holiday. The hotel boasts seven outdoor and three indoor swimming pools, tennis courts and a water sports centre where guests can learn to windsurf, jet-ski, wake board and dive. Children will love the dedicated Kidz Club and the Aqua Park filled with water slides. Out of the water, one of the main attractions for this hotel will be the 18-hole golf course and nine-hole golf academy, due for completion in 2010. Nearby attractions include hot springs and nesting turtle sites.

Sample price: A week for a family of four in the first week of July, all-inclusive, from £3,189 including flights.

Hotel Villas Resort, Sardinia

The resort offers good family accommodation in the form of two-bedroom suites with their own living room and spacious terrace. Helpful services include pushchair hire and babysitting, as well as room service and a laundry service. Excursions around the island such as boat trips, horse-riding and quad safaris have real family appeal, as does the hotel pool. The beach of Castiadas is 500m from the hotel and can be reached by complimentary golf buggy shuttle. The beach is wide, white and sandy, gently shelving into the sea. There is a semi-private area for hotel guests with parasols and sun loungers for hire. The hotel is less than a mile from the popular Costa Rei resort and 45 miles from Cagliari airport.

Sample price: A seven-night stay in early July from £2,773 for a family of four half-board, including car hire but excluding flights.

Verdura Golf and Spa Resort, Sicily

This new Rocco Forte Collection property is situated on the south-west coast of Sicily. The luxurious hotel is set in a valley of olive groves near the small town of Verdura, an hour away from Palermo airport. Many of its rooms open right on to the pebble beach. The hotel, which opened at the end of July 2009, is strongly courting the family market, with an introductory family offer of 50% off the interconnecting room and free or discounted lunches for children. Pool and beach areas are supervised at all times. There’s a kids-only pool and range of activities that end each day with a turn-down service complete with bedtime milk, cookies and a storyteller. For teenagers, there's a hangout area and opportunity to try sailing, tennis, windsurfing and golf.

Sample price: A seven-night stay from £11,705 per family. Price is based on two adults sharing a junior suite and two children under 12 in an adjoining deluxe room on a B&B basis. Includes flights and transfers.

Hesperia Lanzarote, Canaries

The newly-opened Hesperia Lanzarote is a great option for a family holiday in the Canaries. The five-star hotel boasts a spa treatment centre, four pools and gym. It also has an on-site dive centre which is particularly family-friendly. The hotel provides free cots for babies aged up to two years, and children aged 2-12 can have an extra bed in the room for an additional charge. Adjoining rooms are available on request.

Sample price: Seven nights from £3,082 for a family of four (B&B) including flights in July 2010.

Eleon Grand Resort & Spa, Zante

The five-star all-inclusive Eleon Grand Resort & Spa in Zante opens this May. Facilities include three freshwater pools, tennis courts, a spa and a dive centre. Young tots will be happy for hours in "aqua land" with water slides and kids' pools, plus there'll be a daily animation programme. The 174 rooms are set out in low-rise buildings around the pool.

Sample price: Seven nights at this hotel for £679 per adult, £259 for the first child and £505 for the second child, with flights, in peak season.

Movenpick Resort and Marine Spa, Tunisia

Located on the shoreline of Sousse, the resort is a short drive from Habib Bourguiba Monastir airport. The hotel has 618 rooms and six different restaurants. As well as direct access to the beach, children can play in the four pools and make the most of the tennis, beach volley, camel riding and water activities available. Parasols are available on the beach and lifeguards are always on duty. The resort opens in spring 2010.

Sample price: Seven nights all-inclusive from £779 per adult and £415 for the first child, including flights.

Real Marina Hotel and Spa, Algarve

A short drive from Faro airport, this resort is set to open in May 2010. The hotel is not on the beachfront but the new marina currently under construction will offer leisure facilities. The east coast's renowned beaches are a short boat ride away, but children will have their own swimming pool at the hotel and the Realito Kids Club promises to keep them entertained for hours.

Sample price: A classic room with a sea view starts from €298 per person for a double and a suite with a sea view starts from €596 per person in high season.

Mazagan Beach Resort, Morocco

This summer will be the first full season for the five-star Mazagan Beach Resort, 55 miles south of Casablanca. The Kerzner resort has three different kids' clubs. The Baby Club is for tots over three months. The Kidz Club (ages 3-11) has its own pool. For 12s and over, The Rush Club offers sports, films and nightly discos. Horse riding is also available. The spa, casino and golf courses will appeal to parents, and there are eight restaurants.

Sample price: Four nights' B&B from £885 per adult and £320 for the first child under 11, with flights.

For more information or to book to go to any of these tempting travel destinations contact one of our expert consultants now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.BarrheadTravel.co.uk and start planning your next holiday today!

Cruise Weekend at Barrhead Travel

2010-01-22T11:05:00.003Z

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Ahoy!

It's CRUISE WEEKEND this weekend at Barrhead Travel with Exclusive Offers, Huge Price Reductions and Fantastic Cruise Holidays to be had!

Come along to our Glasgow Superstore to meet cruise experts from Royal Caribbean, NCL, Thomson Cruises and more or call any of our branches and speak to our own expert, friendly consultants to get some of the very best cruise offers on the market!

It's Cruise Weekend this Saturday and Sunday at Barrhead Travel ... Don't miss the boat!

More info @ http://www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/events/

Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week: Mayan Mexico

2010-01-14T12:32:00.002Z

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A question often heard in Mexico and Central America is, “Whatever happened to the Mayans?” They are surely one of the most hyped-up of all the ancient civilisations, with Mel Gibson’s 2006 film Apocalypto stoking the myth that the Mayans were a bloodthirsty race. What is for sure is that the highly advanced Mayan civilisation went into sudden decline around 1200 AD, when great stone cities such as Chichen Itza and Uxmal were abandoned.

But the Mayans didn’t simply disappear (or fly off to the moon as some fantasists believe). They melted away into the jungle, and you can meet their descendants today all over the region including the Yucatan peninsula in the south-east of Mexico. This is where Chichen Itza, Uxmal, Tulum (near the major resort of Cancun) and other lesser known Mayan sites are located, and many more are believed to be still covered by dense jungle. While these sites are the focal points of a Yucatan tour, there’s much else to see – and opportunities to meet modern-day Mayans.

Many still live in traditional thatched huts with earthen floors, sleeping in hammocks just like hundreds of years ago. Don Antonio, is a little old man who shows visitors around a traditional hut at Sotuta de Peon, a hacienda (country estate) an hour’s drive from the Yucatan state capital, Merida. Don Antonio spent his working life cultivating sisal, a spiky plant used in basket and carpet manufacture until man-made fibres replaced it. Sisal was a lucrative trade, and you can see the 19th-century luxury home of the estate owners before touring the fields in a horse-drawn tram. He is cheerful and down-to-earth, and says (in Mayan) that he still lives in a hut, cooking simple corn-based meals in a stone pot.

Many visitors are keen to make a spiritual connection with the Mayans, and this has created a new industry of Mayan-themed spas. You can also seek refuge from the tropical heat and swim in underground lakes called cenotes, which ancient Mayans believed were the gateway to the underworld. Chichen Itza, Uxmal and Tulum are now major tourist attractions, with Uxmal running a cheesy sound-and-light show and Chichen Itza being so popular you can no longer climb the pyramid. But you still marvel at the mathematical precision with which the pyramid was built, without use of the wheel or metal tools. Much is still being excavated, and a new area opens to visitors this year.

Ek Balam (Black Jaguar in Mayan), roughly halfway between Merida and Cancun, is a relatively unknown ancient city excavated as recently as 1987. Here you can still scramble up the pyramid to admire the intricate carvings, and many of the mounds in the jungle surrounding you are believed to hide pyramids as impressive as this one. Alfonso Morales, an expert archaeologist working for ground handler Catherwood Travels, offers private and group tours of the Mayan world. He cheerfully debunks some of the myths that have grown up around the Mayans, such as their love for chopping people’s heads off. No headless skeletons have been found. Alfonso also reveals that he has to employ guards to watch the guards who mind the excavations, such is the lure for bounty hunters.

Another place to meet the Mayans is the old town of Izamal (Mist from Heaven in Mayan), where all the buildings in the centre are a deep shade of yellow. It has a pyramid, and you can watch traditional jewellery makers at work. Fortunately the Mayans are still going strong, but get off the beaten track to discover them properly.

Set off on your Mayan adventure today by contacting Barrhead Travel. Call one of our friendly consultants on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

New Seabourn Luxury Yacht on sale at Barrhead Travel

2010-01-12T09:37:00.003Z

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Barrhead Travel's Latest Cruise News

SEABOURN’S NEXT YACHT WILL BE NAMED SEABOURN QUEST

Luxury Line’s Third Intimate Cruising Vessel Set to Launch in 2011

The Yachts of Seabourn has announced that Seabourn Quest will be the name given to its newest vessel. Poised to become the third of three new ultra-luxury yachts launched by the award-winning, small-ship cruise line in as many years, Seabourn Quest will launch in June 2011.

Seabourn Quest will be the third iteration of the sleek and widely admired design that first appeared on Seabourn Odyssey in June 2009, hailed as a “game-changer for the luxury segment.” The second sister ship, Seabourn Sojourn, launches in June 2010 in London. Together, the three new vessels represent a capacity increase of over 200 percent for the line in a three-year period – underlining the company’s confidence in a burgeoning demand for ultra-luxury cruising. At 32,000 GRT and carrying just 450 guests each, the three new Seabourn yachts are the smallest cruising vessels being built by any major cruise company, in keeping with the line’s strategy of offering guests highly personalised service in a relaxed, sociable and luxurious environment.

“The selection of the name Seabourn Quest completes the triad of names we chose for these three new vessels,” noted Pamela C. Conover, Seabourn’s President and CEO. “Taken together, we believe that Odyssey, Sojourn, and Quest represent the passion for adventure and discovery that spurs our guests’ desire to travel in Seabourn style.”

The three new Seabourn yachts join another trio of small, 208-guest ultra-luxury vessels already in the fleet: Seabourn Pride, Spirit and Legend. All offer Seabourn’s award-winning combination of all-suite accommodations, personalised service, superb cuisine and exceptional itineraries in the world’s most desirable destinations. Innovative onboard features on the new yachts include Seabourn Square, which replaces the traditional reception lobby with a comfortable, relaxed, club-like room that combines a library, internet café and a discreet guest services centre with a social lounge and konditerei-style coffee bar. The 11,400 square-foot, indoor/outdoor spa facility is the largest on any luxury vessel. Four dining venues, six bars and lounges and a wide range of open decks and terraces provide venues to suit every mood, from sociable to secluded.

With its expanded fleet, The Yachts of Seabourn is able to offer travellers an array of new itineraries throughout the year, including year-round sailings in Asia aboard Seabourn Pride, exploring Vietnam, Thailand, China, Korea and Japan. The new vessels will continue to offer popular itineraries such as Europe, the Mediterranean and the Americas, and will also add annual World Cruises to the line’s offerings.

To book call Barrhead Travel now on 0800 093 0622, visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk or visit our specialist cruise website www.cruisedirect.co.uk and start planning your luxury Seabourn cruise with Barrhead Travel today!

Barrhead Travel Christmas Greetings.

2009-12-23T15:13:00.004Z

arrhead Travel wishes all our friends and customers a very Merry Christmas!

Remember to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call for all your travel needs in 2010! Happy Travels!

Barrhead Travel FlyGlobespan Customers

2009-12-17T08:25:00.002Z

Any Barrhead Travel customers who are booked to travel with flyglobespan should contact our dedicated telephone helpline on 0141 242 1396.

We will be endeavouring to assist our own customers and those who now need alternative travel arrangements as best we can. Our thoughts go to all the flyglobespan employees and to those whose travel arrangements have been affected.

2009-12-16T18:14:00.002Z

Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week: Tunisia

2009-12-16T16:22:00.002Z

This week's featured destination is in sunny North Africa.

Sands of Time – Tunisia

On the map it’s just a nugget of a country clinging to a crag at the top of a vast continent, but on the ground the reality turns out to be something quite different.

It’s certainly Africa, but the architecture has overtones of Moorish Spain, the history has associations with ancient Italy, the language originates from the Middle East and the flavours are redolent of France, along with groves of olives, yards of vines, miles of beaches and swathes of Sahara. Yes, Tunisia packs a surprisingly big punch for a tiny country.

In fact, this little slice of North Africa is far more bewitchingly exotic than most other winter sun destinations, despite being closer to the UK than many at under three hours’ flying time.

A factor which, when combined with the increasing desire among travellers to avoid the eurozone, means Tunisia has done steady business of late, attracting holidaymakers who might otherwise have been tempted by the likes of the Canaries or Cyprus. Tunisia represents particularly good value, especially if you’ve an interest in thalassotherapy, history, desert landscapes, empty beaches and/or golf.

Summer visitors tend to be on two-week family holidays and stick to popular resorts like Hammamet, Port el Kantaoui and Djerba. Winter visitors typically go for a shorter duration and will favour more cultural experiences, sampling the desert oases and ancient cities, and are becoming increasingly interested in the country’s growing stock of boutique hotels.

The shoulder season, particularly autumn, can be very busy while the sea is still warm.

The big news in recent years has been the completion of upscale resort Yasmine Hammamet and the opening of a golf course attached to The Residence, Tunisia’s top hotel. Golf is earmarked for further development, with the present 10 courses expected to double within the next decade.

There is also the imminent opening of Enfidha Airport, 50 miles south of Tunis in Tunisia’s main tourist resort area, built in expectance of a substantial increase in visitors.

Sousse

The Tunisian equivalent of Barcelona comfortably combines business and tourism, with a port and a promenade at the heart of the city. There are bright lights as well as a 1,000 year old medina protecting a maze of narrow pedestrian-only streets. From the tower of the Ribat, a fortified monastery built in 827, you look across a townscape of tiny coloured pieces like thousands of carefully arranged eggshells. Proximity to the giant mosque at Kairouan and the amphitheatre at El Jem make this a good focal point for culture. If you don’t want to stay in town – and there’s a spanking new Moevenepick hotel to encourage you to do so – then the purpose built marina resort of Port el Kantaoui is only six miles north. Developed in 1979 in traditional Tunisian style, the resort is made up of brilliant white buildings, cobbled streets and narrow walkways.

Hammamet

There’s a variety of beach resorts to choose from up and down Tunisia’s coast, but Hammamet remains a perennial favourite. Its beaches are, of course, excellent, particularly south of the old town, and have all the usual watersports on offer. Hammamet also boasts a medina of its own, with an old fortress now largely populated by funky cafes and surrounded by craft and souvenir shops. The town is a well-balanced mix of traditional Tunisian style and international resort, and the proximity to Tunis 40 miles away makes the big city easily accessible for a day trip. Southern Hammamet has been recently rebranded as Yasmine Hammamet, named after the jasmine that grows in profusion and the resort now hosts a range of five-star hotels and upmarket shopping centres. The town’s location at the food of Cap Bon gives access to a small peninsula with miles of unblemished sand and unspoiled coastline. There are caves full of bats at the falconer’s village of El Haouaria, a Spanish castle and fishing port at Kelibia, and a hinterland covered in vines and wild flowers.

Tunis

Tunis is where Paris meets Tales from the Arabian Nights. The centre is charming and traffic-free and you can buy a baguette or café au lait with the aid of your schoolboy French in the wider, post-colonial city. In the intricate maze of narrow lanes of the 1300 year old walled medina, the ancient centre where a lot of people live out their lives, you won’t want to do much more than wander through the souks, rich with smells of leather and perfume. The variety of merchandise and haggling is the norm. While in the medina, pop you head into the Great Mosque, sip mint tea in a café and try the wonderfully named brik a l’ouef, effectively an egg fried in pastry.

Carthage

Back around 200BC, the Carthaginians dominated the Mediterranean. The remains of their capital city is now part of the northern Tunis suburbs and there’s an extensive museum both on the site and in the Bardo a short drive away. Equally interesting at Carthage is the Punic Port, where a secret lagoon was excavated and a massive circular hangar erected, large enough for 250 warships. Here there’s a nifty Oceanographic Museum and a scale model of what it all must have once looked like. If you’re heading to Carthage on the metro – as most visitors do – then it would be foolish not to continue a couple of stops afterwards to Sidi Bou Said, the charismatic village suburb on a hill overlooking the sea, where Tunisian and international celebrities live.

Djerba

In summer it’s a popular beach destination and in winter it’s far enough south to have a better climate than the majority of Tunisia’s beach resorts, but the island of Djerba – connected to the mainland by a causeway – also has its own distinctive cultural appeal. For a start, it’s low-slung architecture is indicative of the varied ethnicities living here and it has several charismatic funduqs in Homt Souk, its main town ,which were once caravanserais (roadside inns) offering food and shelter to itinerant merchants. All are reminders of Djerba’s long history as a key meeting and trading place on the Med. The island is also far enough south to give access to some of the extraordinary landscapes of the Ksour, including the surreal village of Matmata, where many people still live in cave houses under the ground.

The Sahara

The southernmost third of Tunisia is mainly desert, but desert with great variety. Beside the dunes, there are arid mountains, salt lakes and oases, and all have something to offer tourists. Most choose to base themselves at Tozeur, an oasis with an airport and a labyrinthine old quarter, with walls of delicately patterned brickwork. In the palmeraie itself, the filtered light under the canopy of palms, twitters and rustles, distant voices argue over irrigation and old men lurch down foot-hardened paths, seeking fresh grass for their donkeys. The second most popular oasis, Douz, compensates for its lack on intrinsic charm by providing all sorts of desert activities, from go-karting to ballooning and camel trekking. The nomadic Adhara camelteers gather at the village of Zaafrane, from where, if you wish, you can negotiate a five-day desert crossing to Ksar Ghilane.

Thalassotherapy

The Carthaginians knew about the benefits of bathing in warm seawater even before the Romans built their thermal baths in the Cap Bon region. Today, seawater cures and treatments that maximise the therapeutic effects of marine minerals are huge in Tunisia and second only to France – but at a lower price. Mostly they take place in the larger hotels and especially in purpose-built recent resorts like Yasmine Hammamet. Typically they will offer a proper medical assessment followed by a course of treatments which are particularly good for joints, muscles and skin. Most will have a seawater pool and offer the likes of seaweed wraps, massage and even traditional hammam, Turkish baths.

For all of your Tunisia travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Phone one of our friendly consultants today on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your holiday to Tunisia today!

Barrhead Travel Destinations of the Week: New Orleans and Colorado

2009-12-08T15:38:00.004Z

This week's top destinations are Stateside:

New Orleans

Many cities try to lay claim to the title 'America's most haunted', but New Orleans can give any of them a run for their money. Beyond the incomparable cuisine, historical must-sees, musical high notes and never-ending nightlife, the Big Easy also has plenty to send a delicious shiver running down any visitor's spine.

A ghost tour around the beautifully picturesque French Quarter conjures up local legends of gruesome ghouls and weaves the fascinating history of the city into the plot.

The dead are pretty visible in New Orleans - they have to be, or they'd float away. In the 18th century, when the inhabitants tried to inter their loved ones beneath the ground, the high water table meant they simple rose back up again. So the graves are built above ground, forming real cities of the dead. Visitors can pace these streets on a cemetery tour.

St Louis Cemetery No 1 on Rampart Street is the oldest existing example, dating back to 1789. The architecture of the graves illustrates the cultural melting pot of the city, with French, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese styles evident. One of the graves belongs to the famed voodoo queen Marie Laveau.

The tour ends with a visit to a voodoo temple to meet a voodoo priestess, which is far less intimidating than one might expect. Priestess Miriam looked like any other middle-aged lady and rambles vaguely, but kindly before showing off the temple.

If you are expecting heaps of bones and lashings of chicken blood you’ll be disappointed - instead you’re lead into a dim room filled with a mish-mash of objects and artefacts, many related to religions from all over the world. There's even a gift shop.

For a real supernatural thrill, visit New Orleans during Halloween. Second only to Carnival in the party time pecking order, you wouldn't be surprised if the dead really did come out to join the fun.

Spooky floats parade along the streets and many revellers dress the part in elaborate costumes, with local bars offering prizes for the best. As well as balls and parties, there are also family events where kids can have a go at cookie decorating and pumpkin painting. The Voodoo Experience music festival also falls around Halloween - this year, acts included Lenny Kravitz and Eminem.

Other Reasons to Visit New Orleans

Carnival

The world's biggest street party lasts for nearly a week, with different 'krews' organising parades of elaborate floats through the city. Outside Mardi Gras season, visitors should go to Blaine Kern's Mardi Gras World. It's surreal and exciting to wander through this huge workshop where floats are made and stored. Visitors can try on costumes and sample a slice of traditional king cake.

Food and drink

Not just a cultural but also a culinary melting pot, New Orleans cuisine brings together influences as broad as French, Spanish, African and the Deep South itself.

For the best of Creole and Cajun cooking - with a musical accompaniment – try a jazz brunch at The Court of Two Sisters.

You can sit out on the picturesque terrace, trying specialities such as gumbo, jambalaya and turtle soup. Local desserts are mouth-watering too, from Bananas Foster to beignets, the local doughnuts dusted with sugar that are best enjoyed with a cafe au lait.

Music

Home to legends such as Louis Armstrong, New Orleans is called the birthplace of jazz. Music is everywhere, from the raucous bars of Bourbon Street and trendy clubs on Frenchmen Street to historic venues such as Preservation Hall. Perhaps take a jazz dinner cruise on a traditional paddle steamer such as the Natchez.

Colorado

You're never far away from nature in Colorado. The state is awash with National and State Parks protecting a landscape that ranges from vast prairies to the Rockies, to the tallest sand dunes in North America. Even in the state capital, Denver, the Rockies can be seen lingering on the horizon, luring travellers away from the city.

Despite its heavy winters, Colorado is a real year-round destination and the locals often boast of the 300 days of sunshine each year. Colorado is a fantastic state that takes in the 'real America', offering the best in western adventure, Native American history, four National Parks, great shopping and delicious cuisine.

Denver

The so-called 'mile-high city' or 'gateway to the Rockies' will be most visitors' first point of call. Both United Airlines and British Airways fly direct from the UK.

Denver's a very clean and cosmopolitan city with a lively arts scene. It's home to a wide range of museums and galleries, including the striking Daniel Libeskind-designed Denver Art Museum, which houses a modern art collection and an interesting Native Indian history exhibition. Music venues attracting big acts include the Red Rocks Amphitheatre just outside of town.

The locals are a healthy bunch and unlike many US cities, Denver is well-geared for pedestrians, and hundreds of miles of bike trails ring the city. Walking tours are a great way to get to grips with its rich past.

Shops are clustered around Larimer Square, while wannabe cowboys and cowgirls should mosey on down to Rockmount Ranchwear in the LoDo district, which along with Larimer Square is home to much of the city's nightlife.

Accommodation comes from big names such as Hilton and Sheraton, as well as smart boutique offerings such as Hotel Teatro and The Curtis with its funky modernism. For a stately historic hotel, then stay at the Oxford or the Brown Palace.

Active

White-water rafting is popular between May and late August, with lots of options across the state. A good spot near Denver is the Poudre River near Fort Collins, about a 45-minute drive. If overnighting, the quaint, centrally-located Armstrong is the pick of the hotels.

Colorado is well known for its excellent skiing and 'champagne powder' snow. Aspen may be the best-known resort, but there are 26 ski areas in the state. Most are easily reachable from Denver, such as the Crested Butte, Breckenridge and the relatively new resort of Silverton.

A good base for year-round activities is the resort town of Steamboat Springs, a short connecting flight or a three-hour drive from Denver.

Steamboat's excellent ski runs (and intimidating looking ski jumps) loom over the town, and in the summer it's a great base for hiking and mountain biking. Staying options include a Sheraton and the Grand Hotel, which has a spa and outside pool area. The massive five-bedroom penthouses go for about $3,000 in the peak season, but can be had can be had for as little as $500 out of season.

The area around Steamboat is also home to a number of guest ranches, which are pre-bookable, where guests can stay for a week and learn about ranching and help out with tasks. A good option for a short visit is Dutch Creek Guest Ranch, where activities include horse riding in the stunning scenery, or sledding in the winter.

There's also a restaurant and a bunch of simple, but sweet wooden cabins to stay in. And at the nearby Dig This! Attraction, visitors can act like big kids while making the earth move in bulldozers and diggers - great fun.

Hot Springs

After a tough day of outdoor action the state's many hot springs offer some cheap and cheerful welcome relief. The rustic and scenic Strawberry Springs is a popular option, and great for a soak beneath the stars, while Steamboat's Old Town Hot Springs boasts water slides.

Colorado also features the world's largest natural springs at Glenwood Springs, where visitors can also go rafting and check out the Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park.

Fly-Drives

A fly-drive holiday is a great way for visitors to explore the state's parks, highways and byways. The drive through the Rocky Mountains National Park is stunning and takes in the highest continuous paved road in North America. Visitors can stop off at the stately Stanley Hotel, in the town of Estes Park.

The reputedly haunted hotel is where Stephen King got his inspiration for his book The Shining, although the famous movie starring Jack Nicholson was filmed elsewhere. Pre-bookable ghost tours are a popular option.

Another good option is to head for the Royal Gorge Bridge near Cañon City, the highest suspension bridge in the US. A fly-drive is also a great way to check out major attractions in the neighbouring states like Wyoming's Yellowstone National Park.

Colorado By Train

Colorado's historic railroads offer a great way to explore the state and get a handle on its rich past, from the Wild West to mining towns dating from the boom times of the Gold Rush.

The historic mining town of Durango in the southwest, for example, is served by the narrow gauge Durango to Silverton line. Durango is also a good base for exploring the Mesa Verde National Park, where visitors can find the spot where four states meet and explore the area's cave dwellings.

Other great options include the Royal Gorge Route and the Cumbres and Toltec line, which offers a steam train experience in the Southern Rockies. Visitors can also take a very scenic, three-hour train ride up the side of Pikes Peak. The cog railway, the highest in the US, offers dramatic views.

And if you fancy finding out if there is still any gold in them thar hills, you can visit one of the old mining towns such as Central City or Cripple Creek where you can tour an operating gold mine or have a go at panning for gold.

For all of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port-of-call. Contact one of our friendly sales consultants now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your US holiday today!

Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week: Israel Spa Breaks.

2009-12-01T11:25:00.006Z

Israel Spa Breaks

At 417 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth and 10 times as salty as the Mediterranean – making it impossible for even non-swimmers to sink.

It is also a natural spa destination in every sense of the word, as the water and gooey black mud used in spa treatments are packed with feel-good minerals, including 12 that are not found in any other sea or ocean in the world.

In the past British visitors went for a dip in the Dead Sea as a novel addition to their holiday, but operators report that visitors are becoming more aware of Israel as a spa destination in its own right, with some booking dedicated spa packages of up to four nights.

Almost every hotel in Israel that now opens, or is renovated, includes a spa. Even some of the more economical three-star properties are now including some spa facilities.

Israel is a relatively small country - it takes only seven hours to drive north to south and only one hour from east to west at its shortest point - so it's easy for visitors to go on excursions to the Dead Sea, which can be pre-booked. Day trips are offered from Tel Aviv, a three-hour drive away, Jerusalem, just two hours away, and from the country's Red Sea resort, Eilat.

Public spas such as the one at Ein Gedi are popular; the last decade has seen huge growth in spas at mid to high-end hotels.

Many can be found at Ein Bekok, a good base for those who want to stay in the region for a relaxing spa break coupled with some sightseeing.

In addition to traditional spas with Dead Sea water pools, there are Asian-themed spas, offering holistic therapies for the mind, body and soul, and sporty spas that provide a combination of treatments and exercise. Spa menus range from indulgent beauty treatments, such as honey aroma moisture treatments and milk baths, to Dead Sea mud facials and body wraps.

Other notable spas include the Mineralia spa at Le Méridien Dead Sea in Ein Bekok. The extensive spa is said to be the largest in the Middle East, with 25 treatment rooms, two Dead Sea water pools and two large swimming pools. It offers a variety of dedicated packages, ranging from one to 11 days.

Currently, British visitors holidaying in Eilat have to connect in Tel Aviv but this winter Isrotel is launching charter return flights from Luton to Eilat between December 13 and April 12, 2010. The new Isrotel Sun Express flights can be combined with seven or 15 night stays at any Isrotel property in Eilat and clients wanting to visit the Dead Sea can book a seven-day package at its newest hotel, the Isrotel Dead Sea Resort and Spa on a half-board basis, including transfers to and from Eilat.
Page and Moy and singles holiday specialist Just You include a visit to the Dead Sea as part of their Holyland tour packages and other operators, including Superstar and Longwood, offer Dead Sea excursions. Superstar has a trip to the Dead Sea from Eilat for £70 per person and from Tel Aviv for £55. Longwood has a weekly day trip from Eilat to the Dead Sea and Ein Gedi spa from £70 and daily excursions from Tel Aviv and Jerusalem from around £43.

Israel is being featured for the first time in Kirker Holidays' latest North Africa and Middle East brochure. The brochure dedicates a double page to Israel and includes Dead Sea packages. Kirker can also tailor-make short breaks to the Dead Sea.

For spa breaks to Israel and for all of your travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first port of call. Speak to one of our friendly experts now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your Israel Spa Break holiday today!

China Day this Saturday!

2009-11-04T12:03:00.002Z

Barrhead Travel are celebrating all things China at our Glasgow Superstore this Saturday and we'd like you to come along!

Visit us at our Oswald Street home in the city centre between 12pm and 4pm to meet experts from Wendy Wu Tours, the UK's leading China Specialist tour operator, who offer the best value tours to China and Indochina.

Exclusive offers will be available in store on the day!

Register now for free tickets by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/events and start planning your holiday to China today!

Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week: Far East.

2009-11-03T09:56:00.003Z

Far East

Head east, young man. That’s the advice from the Post Office, whose latest Long Haul Holiday Report claims that the Far East offers “unbeatable value” for this winter.

The survey highlights Thailand as the long-haul destination where spending money is likely to go furthest. Bali and Malaysia are close contenders.

The Post Office says all three holiday spots are “significantly cheaper” than any of Europe’s winter sun options.

And while all three destinations boast a variety of established beach resorts, there are plenty of up-and-coming alternatives or you to consider too.

Phuket

This winter promises bargains galore for holidaymakers to Thailand, package prices are up to 25% lower than a year ago. A vast array of special offers is available at just about every hotel. Promotions include free extra nights, free meals, and free accommodation for children.

One week’s bed and breakfast at the three-star Patong Beach Hotel costs from £285.

Khao Lak

It has unspoilt beaches and is away from the madness of Phuket. It is close to the Similan Islands for scuba diving and Khao Sok for wildlife-spotting and jungle trips. La Flora Resort is recommended for beach lovers. It is right on the beach and is a well-priced smaller, boutique-type property.

One week’s bed and breakfast at La Flora costs £1,175 from Heathrow on November 18.

Bali

An increase in Bali bookings means several operators are looking beyond the popular resorts of Kuta, Nusa Dua and Sanur in the south of the island this winter. On the east coast, Alila Manggis is a beautiful property. It’s just a short drive from the unspoilt cultural village of Candi Dasa. Seminyak, north of Kuta, is recommended for visitors looking for more vibrant nightlife. Although a relative 'newbie' to British holidaymakers it is already very well established in the Australian market, which means it has lots of trendy bars and restaurants.

One week’s bed and breakfast from £1,089 at Alila Manggis and £1,289 at the luxury Anatara Seminyak. Both prices include Malaysia Airlines flights from Heathrow.

Langkawi

Renowned for luxury accommodation, Langkawi is less developed than Malaysia’s other main holiday island, Penang. It has fantastic, white sandy beaches nestled beneath rolling mountains. It also has mysterious caves and pockets of virgin rainforests dating back millions of years. The Holiday Villa Beach Resort and Spa is a perfect winter pick, with its own private beach. The hotel has snorkelling and diving facilities, allowing guests to explore the colourful reefs.

One week on a room-only basis at the Holiday Villa Beach Resort from £939 for Heathrow departures before November 27.

Hoi An

Vietnam boasts several emerging beach resorts. Destinations such as Nha Trang and Phan Thiet have been boosted by international chains including Novotel and luxury brand Evason.

Hoi An is a good choice for visitors looking to do more than just sunbathe. As well as an excellent sandy beach, it boasts a picturesque old town that has been designated a World Heritage site by Unesco.

There is lots of local culture to enjoy, from historic buildings to intriguing craft shops, street markets and excellent restaurants.

Hoi An has grown in popularity as access has got easier. The nearby city of Danang is served by flights from Bangkok and Singapore.

The resort is also a good base for visiting other cities in central Vietnam, including historic Hue.

Bed and breakfast rates start at £20 per person per night at the Hoi An Trails Resort.

Singapore

Singapore’s tourism industry is reaping the benefits of massive infrastructure investment which shows little sign of easing despite the global downturn.

Several major projects have contributed to the “greening” of Singapore, developing the Garden City in an ecologically friendly way.

Families

Lonely Planet’s latest Travel with Children guide ranks Singapore one of the world’s top 10 cities to visit with youngsters, and the top in Asia Pacific.

The best way to get your bearings is to hop on the Singapore Flyer. Launched last year, the observation wheel soars 165 metres above the ground – 30 metres taller than the London Eye. The Flyer provides views across the city to the islands of Indonesia.

Older kids – and parents – should visit the Marina Barrage, which has won architectural and environmental awards since opening a year ago. This impressive engineering feat provides the country’s first city reservoir and doubles as a venue for all kinds of watersports from boating to windsurfing. In 2010 it will stage the rowing and canoeing competitions in the Youth Olympic Games.

Families can dine at the Marina Barrage’s waterfront eateries or enjoy a picnic on the Green Roof, see the art installations and splash around at the courtyard’s water playground.

Nature lovers

The Marina Bay area is undergoing major redevelopment, which includes the creation of three waterfront gardens.

The largest will be the Gardens at Marina South, designed “to encapsulate colour, vibrancy and sustainability” next to the country’s first integrated resort at Marina Bay Sands. The first phase of the gardens development is due for completion next year.

Meanwhile, a novel new way of getting next to nature and enjoying Singapore’s flora and fauna is to trek at treetop level along the Southern Ridges walking trail. Nine kilometres of green spaces are linked by trails and connection bridges spanning the Mount Faber, Telok Blangah, Kent Ridge and West Coast parks. Walkers enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the forest and may glimpse squirrels, sunbirds or white-crested thrush.

The recently-opened Sentosa Nature Discovery Gallery aims to turn children into “nature detectives”, providing colourful exhibits and interactive attractions based around the island’s birds, insects and natural habitats.

Active types

Among several soft adventure attractions to open this year is Xtreme Skateboard @ East Coast, Singapore’s first international-standard skate board park. New on Sentosa Island is the Megazip Adventure Park, offering 450 metre zip-wire rides over the jungle and sea.

Due to open at Sentosa’s Siloso Beach this month is Singapore’s first facility for surfers. The Wave House is a music, entertainment and retail complex with a centre producing giant man-made waves for waterborne thrill seekers. Also planned nearby are the country’s first sky-diving simulator and the Azzura Hydro Sports Centre for boating and watersports.

Shopaholics

Seven million visitors a year stroll along Orchard Road, picking up top fashions and jewellery from more than 100 shops and boutiques.

Private and public investment totalling £700 million is being pumped into the area and this year alone has seen the opening of three new malls and glitzy new facades added to existing buildings.

The Orchard Road rejuvenation scheme also includes the installation of atmospheric street lighting.

Sports fans

Singapore enjoyed a valuable tourism boost by staging its first Formula One Grand Prix last year, and followed it up with the second this year. Another full programme of music and cultural events, in addition to motor-racing, is being planned for 2010.

Accommodation

The newest hotel is the Capella Singapore on Sentosa Island, which opened earlier this year and incorporates a lavishly restored colonial building with a stylish new extension. Set amid contemporary sculpture gardens, the hotel has 111 rooms, suites and garden villas. Typical rates start from £500 room-only next January.

Due to open early in 2010 is the Marina Bay Sands development, which will offer 2,600 rooms and suites, an ArtScience Museum, Las Vegas-style gaming, theatres, entertainment, shopping, restaurants and bars.

Four nights at the Marina Bay Sands with breakfast between April 1 and July 6 starts from £1,055 per person including flights and transfers.

For all your Far East travel needs be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first stop. We compare prices with hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels to find you the very best price on the market and we can custom make the perfect trip for you. Contact one of our friendly experts now by calling 0871 226 2673 or by visiting www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Start planning your own Far East holiday today!

Barrhead Travel Destination of the Week: New Zealand!

2009-10-29T10:26:00.004Z

This week's destination of the week is about as far flung as is possible: New Zealand

From rivers and caves to volcanoes and forests, there’s no shortage of stunning landscapes to explore in New Zealand, and no end of activities to enjoy therein:

Whale-watching in Kaikoura

The waters off Kaikoura in the South Island are so rich in a diversity of marine life that they have earned the reputation of being New Zealand’s “Natural Marineland”.

A boat trip around this marine paradise is extremely popular and offers an enviable opportunity to see giant sperm whales, migratory humpbank whales, orca, hector dolphins and dusky dolphins in their natural environment. You could try including Kaikoura in a full-day tour from Christchurch, including a visit to a winery.

Cape Reinga

Known as “the meeting place of the oceans”, Cape Reinga, in the Northland Region near the Bay of Islands, is where the Tasman Sea crashes into the Pacific Ocean.

Located on the northern tip of New Zealand, this is where the Maoris believe their spirits depart for their ancestral homeland of Hawaiiki.

An 11-hour air-conditioned coach tour from Auckland to Cape Reinga includes a drive along the rugged sands of Ninety Mile Beach, which is flanked by the Aupouri Forest. Gigantic sand dunes and stunning scenery make this a trip to remember.

Rotorua: Mitai/Rainbow Springs Night-time Combo

Spiritual home to the Maori, Rotorua is the ideal place for people seeking to learn more about New Zealand’s origins.

This cultural excursion enables visitors to meet the descendants of the local tribe of Te Arawa, hear their tribal stories and myths and enjoy an authentic and intimate Maori experience.

A visit to their ancient village in the magical forest, together with a feast of traditional and contemporary cuisine is included.

This is followed by a nocturnal visit to the spectacular wildlife park at Rainbow Springs – a must for people keen to see kiwis and other wildlife in their natural environment.

A Rotorua Sightseeing Combo pass means visitors can make the most of the wide range of other activities available in this region.

Milford Sound Nature Cruise

Described by Rudyard Kipling as “the eighth wonder of the world”, Milford Sound set in the spectacular Fiordland national park in the south-west corner of the South Island, is a huge draw for visitors from all over the world.

A two-and-half-hour nature cruise through the crystal-clear waters of Milford Sound provides visitors with breathtaking views of the stunning waterfalls, ancient rainforest, varied wildlife and majestic mountains, including Mitre Peak, one of the most photographed natural landmarks in New Zealand. An unforgettable experience!

Glacier Walk

Of the 140 glaciers that flow from the Southern Alps, only two penetrate as far as the lower rainforests, reaching just 250m above sea level.

The largest one, Fox Glacier, carves an impressive path through the mountains and a half-day guided walk here gives a real taste of this spectacular, natural phenomenon.

This half-day trip ends in the middle of the glacier where there are spectacular views of the icefall and lower glacier. Mountain gear is provided, and visitors will need a reasonable level of fitness to take part.

For the more adventurous visitor, helicopter flights and overnight guided treks staying in alpine huts are also available.

Barrhead Travel can arrange the perfect New Zealand trip for any of our customers with stopovers en-route possible in Dubai, the Far East, Australia, the US or in the beautiful South Pacific. Whether you're looking to go for two weeks on the North Island, a month taking in both North and South or as part of an even longer trip or Round-the-World itinerary we can tailor a holiday to your exact needs and budget.

Contact one of our friendly experts now by calling 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your holiday to New Zealand today!

Destinations of the Week: Finland, Lapland & Egypt.

2009-10-06T15:21:00.007+01:00

Welcome back to the Barrhead Travel Blog. Here's our latest destinations of the week, freshly prepared to whet your holiday appetite!

Finland

Nestled between Norway's famous fjords and the eastern reaches of Russia, Finland has for too long had a relatively low profile as a tourist destination for the UK. It's perhaps best known for the popular winter Lapland holidays, yet there is so much more to recommend Finland to anyone.

It's a beautiful country of 180,000 islands and even more lakes. The pretty cities of Helsinki, Turku and Tampere have many sights, and it's the home of Santa, Nokia and the sauna. Plus, most Finns speak English, so it's easy to get around.

The lion's share of Finland's tourists arrive in winter, flocking to the northern area known as Lapland. While Lapland technically spans areas of Norway, Sweden and Russia too, Finland has become synonymous with these winter breaks, and the tourist facilities are most developed there.

The Father Christmas experience is a huge selling point. Families can fly there for as little as a day to meet the big man in red, take a sleigh ride and have a go at some snowy pursuits. A special Santa Claus village with an office for the man himself, a toy factory manned by elves and an exhibition explaining his secrets - like how he fits down chimneys and visits everyone in the world in a single night. Facilities are extensive, but these areas can get a little crowded at the height of high-season.

Smaller, specialist operators such as Specialised Tours and Scantours choose quieter options such as Harriniva, where Santa may be played by the school teacher and the elves by local kids, making the whole experience more amateur, but infinitely more Finnish.

Temperatures can drop as low as -30C, but it's usually about -15C in January (the coldest month). It is recommended that you bring plenty of layers, thermals and thick socks, although most hotels and operators will provide outer-wear and boots.

There are many other activities on offer in Lapland, including snow-shoeing, reindeer sleigh rides, husky dog-sledding and snow-mobiling - or visitors can just join in a good old-fashioned snowball fight.

The atmosphere in the wilderness is really special, and Finland offers a wonderful range of activities. Christmas, New Year and February half term are really popular, and clients need to book four to six months ahead.

The magic of the Northern Lights can be seen, but to have the best chance of spotting the aurora borealis, you should travel in September, October, February or March.

Skiing is extremely popular in the Finnish winter - particularly for beginners, with many resorts offering gentle runs. Top resorts are Yllas, Saariselkä, Levi or Ruka. The new resort of Salla offers learn-to-ski and board packages.

Beyond Lapland winter holidays, however, Finland isn't very well known as a tourist destination at all. This anonymity goes some way to explaining why tourists choose the fjords of Norway, Sweden's pretty Stockholm or Iceland's glaciers and thermal pools instead but Finland has plenty to offer.

It's a land of lakes and the midnight sun in summer. It's unbelievably beautiful, much flatter than either Norway or Sweden (so easier to explore), and there are lakes and forests as far as the eye can see.

Finland's summer gateway is the capital Helsinki, a perfect city-break destination in its own right. Located on a peninsula that stretches into the Baltic Sea, its charms are particularly lovely in summer as the sun glints off the water late into the night. It's a pocket-sized city, with only 565,000 inhabitants, but is packed with sights and activities; Helsinki was the European Capital of Culture in 2000, and is home to many excellent museums and galleries.

Senate Square is home to the green and white Lutheran cathedral, and the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress - set across six islands and built by the Swedes in the 1700s during the conflict between Scandinavia and Russia - is easily accessible by ferry from Market Square.

Architecture and design are important to the Finns, and 20th-century Finnish architectural guru Alvar Aalto left his distinctive mark across the city. There are also many ultra-modern public buildings, such as the National Opera House and the Kiasma contemporary art museum.

However, Finland in summer doesn't just begin and end with Helsinki.

The old capital, Turku, hosts many music festivals in summer, and is home to Moomin World. Visitors access this island theme park, dedicated to the classic fictional children's characters, across a causeway from nearby town Nanntali.

Tampere, Finland's second city, is the gateway to its lake district where steamers spend all day chugging through the country's most stunning lakeside scenery - just make sure you don't forget your mosquito repellent.

Summer is also crayfish season, and visitors can go on fishing trips and cook their own catch, or simply visit a restaurant and feast on boiled crayfish washed down with vodka. Particularly adventurous tourists can track brown bears near the Russian border.

Lapland has plenty to offer in Summer too. The sun never sets and tourists can get active hiking, white-water rafting, cycling, canoeing and salmon fishing.

The Nile

Luxor is home to almost a third of the world's archaeological treasures, and the legendary Nile separates its east and west banks.

In addition to being a major stop on Egypt's historical and Pharaonic circuit, Luxor is the launch pad for scores of Nile cruises. Among its highlights are the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Karnak and Luxor temples, and the Winter Palace hotel, where Agatha Christie sought inspiration for Death on the Nile.

A typical itinerary heads south to Aswan, taking in the Valley of the Kings and the temples of Karnak, Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Philae and Abu Simbel.

Refurbishments and infrastructure developments are boosting Luxor's appeal, and the pound's strength in this non-eurozone destination, coupled with some keenly priced packages, means affordable luxury for visitors this winter. Possible excursions include hot air balloon rides, tours to the West Bank and the Karnak Sound and Light Show.

The seven-night Nile Cruise is now on sale with various styles of cruise, including the new five-star Royal Viking, the most luxurious in the fleet. A week in early December leads in at £899 full board.

Efforts to 'beautify' Luxor are well under way. An impressive, tree-studded, white-tiled plaza flanks the new visitor centre at Luxor Temple, and the much-maligned New Winter Palace building, an eyesore that has marred Luxor's waterfront for decades, has finally been torn down and grassed over.

Most Egypt specialists agree that the most dramatic impact will come from the creation of a new marina, five and a half miles south of Luxor City, to house the burgeoning number of cruise boats that currently clog the waterfront of the east bank.

As a result, diesel fumes will be banished from town and the move will also pave the way for a much wider corniche. The riverside strip will be lined with cafes and restaurants that afford fantastic views of the sunset over the west bank. The completion date is set for 2010.

With one five-star property re-opened following a major facelift, and the ink still wet on a new Four Seasons, Luxor's accommodation offering is on course for a long overdue shake-up.

InterContinental Hotels, Hyatt Hotels and Resorts and Kempinksi Hotels are all rumoured to be interested, but leading the charge is Hilton, with a $45 million refurbishment of its Nile-front property at Karnak.

With restaurants, infinity pools and alfresco bars spilling on to 170 metres of prime Nile frontage, and a world-class spa to boot, the newly refurbished Hilton Luxor Resort and Spa is the city's first true luxury offering. Guests can even book rooms with their own private spa suites.

For holidays to Finland, Lapland and/or The Nile be sure to make Barrhead Travel your first stop. Call one of our friendly experts now on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk and start planning your next exciting holiday today!

Discover Canada with Barrhead Travel!

2009-10-02T10:27:00.003+01:00

If Canada is high up on your holiday destination wish list then we at Barrhead Travel have the perfect event for you. We're hosting a special Discover Canada evening in our Glasgow superstore when all our expert Canada Specialists will be on hand to assist you in planning your tailor-made, personalised itinerary for the Canadian holiday of a lifetime. Our staff have themselves travelled to some of the very best Canadian locations and will be able to offer you expert advice and their own favourite personal insights.

Come along and talk to some of our friends from Canada's top tourist boards and destinations. We'll have experts from Whistler/Blackcomb - wintersports paradise and host for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Ski Marmot Basin, taking in Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper in the spectacular Canadian Rockies will also be here as well Destination Quebec. If you haven't been to the latter you'll be amazed to find out how much there is to do in what is truly a four-season destination.

We'll also have our key partners from Rocky Mountaineer Railtours - perhaps the most spectacular train journey in the world. Holland America Line will also be here, offering some of their incredible Alaska and New England cruises and for the snow lovers we'll have Inghams Ski offering a host of brilliant ski and boarding holiday options right across Canada. There will be some fantastic early booking discounts for 2010 holidays available on the night, don't miss it!

Date: Thursday 15th October

Location: Barrhead Travel Superstore, Oswald Street, Glasgow

Time: 1800hrs - 2000hrs

Come along, enjoy a glass of wine and see all that this great destination has to offer!

Register for tickets online at www.barrheadtravel.co.uk or call now on 0141 242 1392!

Destination of the Week: China!

2009-09-23T14:42:00.002+01:00

For many, travel to China is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. To explore the Forbidden City, home to Chinese emperors over the centuries; to gaze in awe at an entire army of Terracotta Warriors; and to walk proudly on a Great Wall that stretches for over 4,000 miles. For others, it is the allure of the adorable pandas that is the main attraction to China. Yet these amazing experiences are only the first steps in discovering this fascinating land.

China is a land of beauty with its poetic landscapes around Guilin, dramatic gorges along the Yangtze and the striking alpine scenery in the Nine Villages Valley. The physical contrasts are great, from vast mountain ranges to forest wildernesses and arid deserts. There is man-made beauty too, in the traditional Chinese gardens of Suzhou, the picturesque West Lake in Hangzhou and the numerous exquisite temples scattered across the country.

For the more adventurous, there is the opportunity to travel along the ancient Silk Road or venture overland into mystical Tibet and explore parts of China rarely visited by westerners. In these remote places, the people and their culture are a world away from the rest of China.

Following a proud history spanning 5,000 years, China’s importance in the world continues to grow as it emerges as an economic superpower of the 21st century. Nowhere can this be better witnessed than in the cosmopolitan city of Shanghai. With its towering skyscrapers, designer shops and vibrant nightlife, it represents the pinnacle of modern China.

China is a land with endless opportunities to offer the enthusiastic traveller. It is a destination that inspires and fascinates with its historic sights, diverse landscapes and rich culture. Yet beyond these great wonders, the most enduring memory is often the charm of the Chinese themselves.

China is surely a country that will leave a lasting impression on all who visit. We can also offer a wide range of fully inclusive escorted tours to Vietnam, Cambodia & Laos. See for yourself the spectacular scenery, ancient monuments, amazing history and colourful culture offered by these remarkable lands.

Why not plan something extraordinary today? Call Barrhead Travel now on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Discover Alaska & the Yukon, in Glasgow!

2009-09-16T16:06:00.003+01:00

Barrhead Travel, in partnership with Holland America Line, invite you to a fun and informative presentation on Alaska & the Yukon!

Alaska is one of the World's most spectacular holiday destinations with countless attractions; from majestic mountains and the national parks of the interior, to the spellbinding scenery of the glacial coastline. The best way to travel through Alaska's sublime beauty and frontier ports in unsurpassed luxury and comfort is surely with the renowned Holland America Line.

Please join us for an evening of Live performances by Alaska experts, Stunning film footage of Alaska & the Yukon and top tips and planning advice.

Date: Monday 21st September 2009
Time: Doors Open 5:30pm, Showtime 6pm
Place: The Marriott Hotel, Glasgow

Places are limited, so please call 0141 242 1392 to register or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Start planning your trip of a lifetime today!

Luxury Travel Event this Wednesday!

2009-09-14T10:30:00.005+01:00

Only two days left to go until our much-anticipated Luxury Travel event! Spaces are going fast so register (free) today to make sure you don't miss out.

Barrhead Travel's Luxury Travel Event

Wednesday 16th Sep, 6.30pm – 8.30pm | Whitecraigs Golf Club, Ayr Road, Newton Mearns

Are you in the middle of planning your next holiday? Not sure where to travel to next?

Barrhead Travel are delighted to offer you a wide selection of holidays from around the globe.

There are so many fantastic destinations to choose from, covering a range of exciting long and short haul destinations from Asia to the South Pacific, and from Europe to the Americas and all with a great selection of flights available from Scotland.

Barrhead Travel have joined forces with some of the industry's finest tour operators and cruiselines to host an evening of fine wine, advice and inspiration and we'd be pleased if you could join us.

With representatives from:

Royal Caribbean
P & O
Princess
Cunard
Regent
Silversea
Hebridean
Seabourn
Crystal
Canada Travel Specialists
Pure Luxury
Premier
Wendy Woo
Cadogan

Spaces are limited, so Register NOW for your FREE ticket. Call Barrhead Travel today on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Photos from Barrhead Travel's Club 18-30, Australia Nights!

2009-09-10T16:09:00.004+01:00

What a couple of weeks it's been. First off we had this summer's Big Barrhead Travel Club 18-30 Night. It was as manic as ever with a live DJ in store and plenty of eager clubbers taking advantage of some of the amazing offers that we had on the night. Hot on the heels of that one we brought Australia to Glasgow! We had representatives of Australian Tourist Boards, Tour Operators, Airlines and more on what turned out to be a truly Bonza night!

Photos from both events are online now at our Flickr, Facebook & Bebo pages!

And don't forget about our Luxury Travel night next Wednesday, visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/events for details! (or see below!)

Luxury Travel Night Coming Soon!

2009-09-07T10:34:00.003+01:00

You are invited to ...

Barrhead Travel's Luxury Travel Event

Wednesday 16th September
6.30pm – 8.30pm | Whitecraigs Golf Club, Ayr Road, Newton Mearns

Are you in the middle of planning your next holiday? Not sure where to travel to next?

Barrhead Travel are pleased to be able to offer you a wide selection of holidays from around the globe.

There are so many fantastic destinations to choose from, covering a range of exciting long and short haul destinations from Asia to the South Pacific, and from Europe to the Americas all with a great selection of flights available from Scotland.

Barrhead Travel have joined forces with some of the industry's finest tour operators and cruiselines to host an evening of fine wine, advice and inspiration.

With representatives from:

Royal Caribbean
P & O
Princess
Cunard
Regent
Silversea
Hebridean
Seabourn
Crystal
Canada Travel Specialists
Pure Luxury
Premier
Wendy Woo
Cadogan

Spaces are limited, so Register NOW for your FREE ticket!
Call 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

.

Australia Night is Tomorrow Night!

2009-09-01T16:27:00.003+01:00

Yip, we're nearly there. We've looked out the boomerangs and 'Roos, put some Aussie beers in the fridge and are ready to get the barbie started ... it's Barrhead Travel's big Australia Night @ our Oswald St Superstore tomorrow.

Come and join us between 6pm - 8.30pm for wine, canapes and a unique chance to receive personalised advice and inspiration to plan your dream trip of a lifetime and to take advantage of the amazing exclusive offers and discounts that will only be available on the night!

There will be experts on hand from all of Australia's top Tourist Boards, Tour Operators, Hotels and Attractions to advise on how to get the very best out of a holiday Down Under.

To register for this brilliant FREE event call us on 0871 423 2437 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Discover Australia! Don't miss it, it's going to be Bonzer!

Discover Australia this Wednesday Night!

2009-08-31T10:28:00.004+01:00

Come along to Barrhead Travel's Australia Evening!

Wednesday 2nd September, 6pm - 8.30pm!

Planning a trip down under? Barrhead Travel have teamed up with representatives from the leading Australian Tourist Boards, Tour Operators, Hotels and Attractions to put on a great night for you to find out all about Oz and plan your trip of a lifetime.

Join us for wine, canapes and a unique chance to receive personalised advice and inspiration to plan your dream trip to Australia and to take advantage of our amazing exclusive offers and discounts that will be available on the night!

To register for this brilliant FREE event call 0871 423 2437 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Don't miss it, it's going to be bonzer!

Cruise Sale Day at Barrhead Travel tomorrow!

2009-08-28T11:59:00.004+01:00

Attention all Shippers! Barrhead Travel's One Day Cruise and River Cruise Sale Day is tomorrow!

Barrhead Travel Cruise and River Cruise 1 Day Sale

10am - 6pm | Glasgow Superstore - 85 Oswald Street, Glasgow, Saturday 29th August.

Whether it's your first or fifteenth cruise there's never been a better time to book. Whatever you want to cruise to, there is a ship or river boat there, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. So, if you fancy clear the clear blue waters of the Caribbean the South Pacific, the glaciers of Alaska or the rivers of Europe, we have a cruise to suit everyone at the best price.

Representatives from P&O Cruises, Cunard, NCL, Ocean Village, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Thomson/Island Cruises , Princess Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Fred Olsen Lines and Hurtigruten will be attending.

Great discounts, extra onboard spend, upgrades and exclusive offers will all be available for one day only! Take to the waters, what are you waiting for!

For further details visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

One Day to go to Barrhead's Big Club 18-30s Night!

2009-08-26T10:59:00.002+01:00

We're nearly there ... tomorrow night we turn our Glasgow Superstore in Oswald St into a Club 18-30s Party Zone!

Vanessa from Galaxy Scotland’s breakfast show will be in-store on the decks spinning your favourite tunes. There will be exclusive Barrhead Travel offers, free places on group bookings for Summer 2010 and late deals on the night as well as freebies, snacks and drinks. Come along and meet the experts, advance register your Club place for 2010 with deposits from as little as £1.

And if that’s not enough, anyone who makes a booking on the night will be entered into a prize draw to WIN A FREE HOLIDAY!

Register now for this FREE event (it's not too late) by calling 0871 423 2437 or by visiting www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Barrhead Travel Club 18-30 Night this Thursday!

2009-08-25T13:07:00.003+01:00

It's nearly here, and it's going to be the best one yet!

Barrhead Travel's Big Club 18-30s Night!

6pm - 9pm | Glasgow Superstore - 85 Oswald Street, Glasgow. This Thursday, 27th!

Vanessa from Galaxy Scotland’s breakfast show will be in-store on the decks spinning your favourite tunes. There will be exclusive Barrhead Travel offers, free places on group bookings for Summer 2010 and late deals on the night as well as freebies, snacks and drinks. Come along and meet the experts, advance register your Club place for 2010 with deposits from as little as £1.

And if that’s not enough, anyone who makes a booking on the night will be entered into a prize draw to WIN A FREE HOLIDAY!

To register for this FREE event call 0871 423 2437 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Discover Australia with Barrhead Travel!

2009-08-25T12:03:00.004+01:00

Planning a trip down under? Come to Barrhead to let us make it happen! Australia is coming to Glasgow for one night only!

Discover Australia with Barrhead Travel at our Glasgow City Centre Superstore on Wednesday 2nd September from 6pm - 8.30pm!

Barrhead Travel have teamed up with representatives from the leading Australian Tourist Boards, Tour Operators, Hotels and Attractions.

Join us for wine, canapes and a unique chance to receive personalised advice and inspiration to plan your dream trip of a lifetime and take advantage of our exclusive offers & discounts available on the night.

To register for this FREE event, and it's sure to be bonzer, call 0871 423 2437 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Cyprus, California, the Great Lakes of America ... with Barrhead Travel!

2009-08-24T09:46:00.005+01:00

Still trying to decide on your next holiday destination? We at Barrhead Travel are here to help. Here's the hot destinations that we're recommending this week:

Cyprus

While accommodation in some European countries doesn’t always live up to UK standards, Cyprus is a class act. Luxury spa resorts, boutique properties and upmarket villas with pools have replaced a glut of mid market hotels.

The island was recently awarded its highest ever number of Blue Flag beaches – 53 in total – and rated top spot in Europe for bathing in water by the European Commission and European Environmental Agency Commission.

Cyprus has always offered a quality product. In recent years, the choice of upmarket hotels has increased, both in the five-star category and with new boutique hotels. There is a continual programme of investment by hotels to improve their facilities, particularly with the introduction of state-of-the-art spas.

Cyprus is the home of meze, which means visitors can try a bit of everything in one meal. Dish after dish of tasty morsels will appear on the table – sometimes up to 30 of them – and then it’s time to start feasting.

Olives, salad and fresh bread are first to arrive, with dips such as taramasalata and garlicky skordalia. Then expect octopus in red wine, snails in tomato sauce, and pork delicacy zalatina, accompanied by pickled cauliflower and lemon-dressed greens. Leave room for kalamari, sardines, grilled halloumi cheese and meatballs, smoked sausage and moussaka. It’s not over – there are still souvlakia, kleftiko and grilled chicken to come. For anyone who miraculously still has room dessert is generally some fresh fruit and syrup-soaked pastries.

You can find meze in any local taverna, but for a whole holiday filled with typical Cypriot flavour, book into a traditional stone house.

There are few more distinctive backdrops than Paphos Castle. This imposing building sits at the edge of the harbour, its stout walls descending into the bay. Built, captured and rebuilt many times throughout history, it’s been used as a fortress, a prison and even as a salt warehouse during the British occupation. These days one of its more decorative purposes is as the backdrop to the annual open-air cultural festival.

This year, the Aphrodite Festival runs from September 4-6 and visitors can sit outside as dusk falls and listen to an opera. The National Opera of Sofia will perform Lakme by French composer Leo Delibes, which tells the story of the doomed 19th century love affair between and English army officer and the daughter of an Indian Brahmin. British listeners may recognise the melody of one of the most famous arias from British Airways’ advertisements.

Stretching across much of the southwest of inland Cyprus, the Troodos Mountains are a stunning range of peaks. Pine-scented paths meander through river valleys and past quiet villages. A trek along one of the many well-marked routes is a peaceful respite from the lively tourist areas on the coast, and the chance to visit some of the many Byzantine churches and monasteries that nestle on the mountains. Some are tiny, no more than four walls and a dome; others are large structures with ornate frescoes, glowing with gold leaf.

Four main trails cover the area: one following the slopes of Mount Olympus, the highest peak, another circling the Chionistra summit, the last two leading to a series of waterfalls, and the fourth up to a spectacular viewpoint.

Even those with no equestrian experience will enjoy a day at a donkey farm. Donkey rides are widely available across the island, but the tours bookable through Argonaftis come highly recommended. These are designed to be fun for all the family and operate out of two locations, one near Paphos, the other not far from Ayia Napa. The donkeys are well treated, so kids won’t be upset by skeletal creatures covered in mange.

The day begins with a few snacks and a tour of the animal park to meet the donkeys, alongside the other waifs and strays who’ve been taken in, including goats, pigs, rabbits, squirrels, snakes, turtles, ostriches, and monkeys. Then it’s time to saddle up and get riding. There’s a demonstration first, before everyone is allocated a donkey according to their size. Donkey’s have strong personalities, and the slow, sometimes tangential journey past countryside and churches is often full of hilarity.

Afterwards, adults can relax with a glass of wine as the kids rush off excitedly to groom the donkeys and put them to bed. After a boozy barbecue, it’s time for some traditional dancing – a real taste of Cypriot village life.

Archaeological evidence suggests the Cypriots have been making wine for the last 6,000 year, so they’ve had plenty of time to get it right. Vineyards are everywhere in the southwest, sitting on the sunny lower slopes of the Troodos massif. The island’s main red varieties are Ofthalmo, Maratheftiko and Mavro, plus a white grape called Xynisteri. The two latter are combined to make the famous Commandaria, a sweet wine that is one of the oldest in the world.

There are plenty of opportunities to sample Cypriot wines, from village shops where staff are happy to offer tastes, to wineries and the vineyards themselves. The Cypriot tourist board publishes a guide to wine routes, so visitors can hire a car and explore, with groups of wine villages easily accessible from the Paphos and Limassol areas. There’s a wine museum in Erimi, and visitors to the villages of Omodos and Laneia can see vast ancient wine presses, which fill entire rooms of the old stone houses.

For a really wine-soaked experience, travel during the annual Limassol wine festival. Staged in the municipal gardens along the seafront there are stalls, tavernas, fountains, music – and let’s not forget the free wine. This years’ festival runs from August 28 to September 6.

With 485 miles of coastline, the sea is never far away when you’re on the island of Cyprus. For those who want action and adventure, it’s possible to waterski, windsurf, snorkel, canoe, jet-ski and sail – or simply swim. Sea temperatures are in the 20Cs from April right through to November. For paddling with a panorama, swim off the coast by Aphrodite’s Rock where, legend has it, the goddess of love rose out of the sea.

The sea is central to more relaxing pursuits, too. Cyprus is noted for its luxury hotels, many of which have extensive spas. In among the wide range of treatments on offer, most offer thalassotherapy options, where mineral-rich seawater and seaweed are used to tone and revitalise body and skin, often improving circulation. From mud baths to hydro-massage and aromatherapy to algae wraps, there are sea-related treatments to suit just about anyone.

Le Meridien Limassol Spa and Resort features the only indoor / outdoor thalassotherapy spa in Europe. The spa at Aphrodite Hills offers Greco-Roman style thermae bathing rituals and a whole host of signature packages, from short, two-hour options up to five day programmes for spa-obsessives. At Ayii Anargyri Spa Resort, a mineral-rich spring running down the hillside is channelled into the spa and used for treatments.

The Great Lakes

North America is a perennial chart-topper with the British market. While first-timers may head straight to the tourist hot spots, for those who want to explore further afield the Great Lakes region is a rewarding alternative.

Clustered around lakes Superior, Erie, Michigan and Huron in the northeast of the country, the states of Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana are home to some of the US's most iconic attractions. The gateway to the region is Chicago's O'Hare Airport, which is serviced by daily.

There are also plenty of fun ways to get around. The region is well connected to the Amtrak rail network, or clients can opt for an RV motorhome, rent a Harley or go for a classic fly-drive package.

Here's a guide to some of the best attractions the region has to offer:

Cleveland, Ohio

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Arguably the best music attraction in the world, The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is more like going to a party than visiting a museum. The floors of this visually spectacular building are an extravaganza of memorabilia, movies, music and interactive exhibits.

Watch a home game
Cleveland's Downtown area is awash with stadiums, making it a mecca for sports enthusiasts. Whatever time of year you visit, there's bound to be either a baseball, ice hockey, basketball or football match that you can pre-book tickets for.

Playhouse Square
Cleveland's theatre district is second only to New York in the number of productions staged each year. Seats, however, cost a fraction of what they would in the Big Apple.

Where to stay
The recently renovated Ritz-Carlton is contemporary, elegant and the des res of Downtown.

Sandusky, Ohio

This area is Lake Erie's waterfront playground, where the white-sand beach is backed by thrill rides.

Cedar Point
With 17 roller coasters - that's more than any other amusement park in the world - Cedar Point is the place for adrenaline junkies to get their fix. Dragster is the scariest. It launches you 420ft, reaching a speed of 120mph in just four seconds. There are rides and playgrounds for tots and little kids, too, with the new Planet Snoopy proving a big hit.

Where to stay:
Castaway Bay, a hotel resort with its own water park, or Lighthouse Point, which offers luxury cabins on the shorefront next to Cedar Point, and has an RV camper village.

Detroit, Michigan

Known as motor city because it was where car-manufacturing moguls such as Henry Ford founded their empires, Detroit also lends its nickname to one of the most successful record labels of all-time: Motown. In recent years, the city has made huge strides in shedding its gritty reputation with a major facelift for the Downtown area and the addition of a pedestrianised waterfront. However, it's still advisable to drive or take a cab rather than walk when exploring at night.

The Henry Ford Museum
Feast your eyes on an enviable display of auto eye-candy, which includes the last Model T Ford ever built and the first Mustang to come off the production line. Henry was also an avid collector of vintage Americana, also displayed.

The Motown Museum
This pint-sized building produced big names such as Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, The Supremes and Gladys Knight. A tour takes you behind the scenes and then into Studio A where all the hits were recorded - and where visitors get a chance to take the mic.

MotorCity Casino
Retro-style neon, glitz and glamour - this is the place to see and be seen. Listen to the Motown-style bands on stage and the chink of quarter coins being dropped into the slot machines at an alarming rate.

Where to stay
The Detroit Marriott Hotel at the Renaissance Centre is right on the waterfront with sweeping views across to Canada.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum
This museum, right next to the track, charts the rise of the Indy 500 race - held here each May - alongside a collection of early sports cars. At certain times of the year, you can do three laps of the circuit behind the wheel of a genuine Indy car.

Eiteljorg Museum
A collection of Native American and Western art interspersed with historical artefacts that tell the tale of the Wild West era.

Where to stay
The Hampton Inn is comfortable and convenient.

Chicago, Illinois

The ultimate metropolis of the Great Lakes region and the home of Blues music, Chicago is a walkable city bursting with energy.

Millennium Park
Take a stroll around its contemporary sculptures and fountains, shop at the exclusive boutiques and department stores on the Magnificent Mile, and board a river cruise to marvel at the city's skyscrapers. At the end of the day head for a bird's-eye view of it all from the Sears Tower.

Where to stay
Park Hyatt Chicago has luxury rooms, pool, spa and gym overlooking the cityscape and is within walking distance of the major attractions. Essex Inn has floor-to-ceiling windows and a swimming pool in a glass atrium.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

The Harley-Davidson Museum
Visitors get to swoon at the racing, business and pleasure incarnations of these sought-after 'iron horses'. Just as much fun is admiring those parked outside by the Harley-Davidson fans who see visiting the museum, which opened last year, as a pilgrimage.

Milwaukee Art Museum
Looks good on the outside and is filled with treasures on the inside. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava's design has wings that flap at noon.

Festivals Park
Nicknamed the City of Festivals, there are back-to-back events held at Milwaukee's open-air exhibition space on the shores of Lake Michigan throughout the summer. These include Pride and Summerfest - the largest music festival on the planet, with 11 stages and 700 entertainers.

On the waterfront
Walk or cycle along the lake, through the parks and to the beach where you can watch volleyball matches or top up your tan.

Where to stay
The Iron Horse is a newly opened, luxury, minimalist, boutique property with a motorbike theme, a fantastic restaurant and a lively bar.

California

The coastal drive between Los Angeles and San Francisco is one of the most thrilling in the US. The 485-mile Pacific Coast Highway is full of contrasts, with frenetic cities and sleepy villages, long stretches of open road and twisting turns, and rugged cliffs and white sandy beaches.

And while the words 'green' and 'road trip' don't usually go together, in California, where green consciousness takes centre stage, it is possible to blend the two, from travelling in a hybrid car to staying in the wide range of eco-friendly hotels on offer.

Days 1-3: Santa Monica, Los Angeles

Why?
Just five miles from downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica feels like a world away from the smog-filled air and frenzied traffic in the city.

Where to stay
The Hotel Shangri-la Santa Monica, right opposite the beach and a two-minute walk from the lively Third Street Promenade, has just reopened after a $30 million refurbishment. This striking art deco property has a South Beach-style party vibe, and its monochrome cabanas are drawing in all kinds of LA luvvies.

Another feature of the hotel's new look is a raft of green practices. For example, the hotel only uses organic cleaning products, and toiletries come in recycled packaging.

What to do
Spend a day shopping on the pedestrianised Third Street Promenade, and stroll among well-heeled Angelenos up Montana Avenue, or hit the beach.

Days 3-5: Santa Barbara

Why?
An easy 90-minute drive from Los Angeles, this chilled-out beach town is a great spot to wind down from the big city. With perpetually blue skies, days are well spent relaxing on the beach or exploring the trendy boutiques on State Street. For something more upscale, admire the seven-figure mansions at nearby Montecito, home to Oprah Winfrey.

Where to stay
The Four Seasons Resort, the Biltmore, offers elegant luxury with a conscience. Behind the Biltmore's perfectly manicured grounds and Spanish-style cottages are a host of stringent green policies enforced by a dedicated 'green team' of staff.

Everything from glass to paper is recycled, old towels and sheets are donated to a homeless shelter, and the resort tracks its energy usage each week. Guests also use the Coral Casino Club, a 1930s-style beach club where it is easy to imagine golden-age Hollywood starlets sipping cocktails.

What to do
Leave the car behind and embark on the Red Tile walking tour, which takes in the County Courthouse, Stearns Wharf and the Santa Barbara Historical Museum. Or hop on the open-air electric shuttle on State Street for just 25c.

Days 6-7: The 17-mile drive from Carmel to Monterey

Why?
The famous 17-mile drive from the coastal village of Carmel to Monterey offers breathtaking ocean views and passes through exclusive neighbourhoods, sea lion viewing spots and golf courses.

Where to stay
The nautical-themed Captain's Inn is a friendly bed and breakfast near Monterey with a strong green ethos. As well as all the basics, the hotel staff have been helping to clean up a two-mile stretch of highway.

What to do
Take some time to wander aimlessly around Carmel's impossibly cute shops to see if you can catch sight of Clint Eastwood, who was mayor here from 1986-88.

Days 7-8: Big Sur

Why?
Located 1,200 feet above the Pacific Ocean, Big Sur is well worth the hair-raising drive around narrow bends and steep cliffs. Without any village centre, Big Sur consists of luxury hotels, art galleries and restaurants dotted among the trees, just off the road.

Where to stay?
The exclusive Post Ranch Inn offers guests the chance to feel close to nature without leaving luxury behind. The Inn, which produces its own pollution-free electricity thanks to recently installed solar panels, consists of a string of wood-and-glass lodges built into the cliffside with spectacular views.

What to do
A first port of call should be the Big Sur Bakery, an informal alternative to the Post Ranch Inn's Sierra Mar. The place is known for its woodfired pizza, but make sure you save room for its gooey chocolate chip cookies. For great views with your food, check out the Nepenthe restaurant.

Days 8-10: San Francisco

Why?
With its wonderful mishmash of cultures, San Francisco has a distinctive character and charm that makes it an exhilarating final stop on a US road trip.

Where to stay
The iconic Fairmont San Francisco is located on the top of Nob Hill, the highest peak in the city. Dating back to 1906, the hotel is steeped in history, and photographs of celebrity and royal guests line the walls.

The hotel is embracing eco-conscious travellers by offering an 'eco-chic' suite. Designed by eco-designer Kelly LaPlante, the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite has been created with organic and recyclable materials, and guests are offered a green specialist tour guide and complimentary use of a hybrid Lexus car.

What to do
A visit to San Francisco isn't complete without a boat trip to the imposing Alcatraz prison. For an overview of the city, try Mr Toad’s Tours in eco-friendly propane- powered 1930s cars

We reckon that you'll have a few more holiday ideas now! To book travel to any one of these tempting destinations, find out more information or for any assistance with your travel needs contact Barrhead Travel today on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

It's all happening @ Barrhead!

2009-08-17T12:55:00.003+01:00

It surely is, a massive One Day Cruise & River Cruise Sale Day, our famous Club 18-30 Night and we're bringing Australia to Glasgow!

Yep, it's a busy few weeks ahead at Barrhead. First up it's the return of our legendary Club 18-30 Night, it's back and better than ever:

The Big Club 18-30s Night! THURSDAY AUG 27th

6pm - 9pm | Glasgow Superstore - 85 Oswald Street, Glasgow

Barrhead Travel’s big Club 18-30’s night is back and it’s bigger than ever!

Vanessa from Galaxy Scotland’s breakfast show will be in-store on the decks spinning your favourite tunes. There will be exclusive Barrhead Travel offers, free places on group bookings for Summer 2010 and late deals on the night as well as freebies, snacks and drinks. Come along and meet the experts, advance register your Club place for 2010 with deposits from as little as £1.

And if that’s not enough, anyone who makes a booking on the night will be entered into a prize draw to WIN A FREE HOLIDAY!

If that's a little too rowdy for you then perhaps it's time to take to the water:

Barrhead Travel Cruise and River Cruise 1 Day Sale. SATURDAY 29th AUGUST.

10am - 6pm | Glasgow Superstore - 85 Oswald Street, Glasgow

Whether it's your first or fifteenth cruise there's never been a better time to book. Whatever you want to cruise to, there is a ship or river boat there, from the Arctic to the Antarctic. So, if you fancy clear the clear blue waters of the Caribbean the South Pacific, the glaciers of Alaska or the rivers of Europe, we have a cruise to suit everyone at the best price.

Representatives from P&O Cruises, Cunard, NCL, Ocean Village, Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Thomson/Island Cruises , Princess Cruises, Viking River Cruises, Fred Olsen Lines and Hurtigruten will be attending.

Great discounts, extra onboard spend, upgrades and exclusive offers available!

And then last but by no means least ... it's Australia time!

Discover Australia Evening. WEDNESAY 2nd SEPTEMBER.

6pm - 8.30pm | Glasgow Superstore - 85 Oswald Street, Glasgow

Australia comes to Glasgow for one night only!

Join us in store for our Australia event at our Glasgow Superstore. We'll have experts from all the leading Australian tour operators, hoteliers and tourist boards, giving you specialist advice on how to create your dream trip Downunder. There will be huge savings to be made on the day with exclusive rates and big discounts on some of the fantastic holiday options Australia has to offer!

With representatives from: Tourism Australia, Qantas Holidays, APT Touring, Emirates, Tourism Queensland, Tourism Victoria, Tourism Tasmania, Tourism Western Australia, South Australian Tourism Commission and many more…

Come along to one or all of them, they're all free of course. To register just visit:

www.barrheadtravel.co.uk/events

Bellissimo! Lake Garda Bargain!

2009-08-11T16:14:00.003+01:00

Just in today, a sensational offer for a holiday at Italy's beautiful Lake Garda. 7nts 4* Half Board accommodation in stunning Riva for just £399 per person. That's a massive discount on the brochure price of £728 per person.

Departures are available on 9 & 16 September on direct flights from Prestwick Airport.

As well as the half-board breakfast and dinner there is also a complimentary brunch buffet every day between 11:00 - 12:30, we can't say fairer than that!

Well actually we can! ... because what's more every booking made through Barrhead Travel on this amazing offer will receive a free upgrade to a balcony room!

Why wouldn't you book? Call Barrhead Travel today on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Stuff the Credit Crunch, we want holidays!

2009-08-10T13:53:00.003+01:00

We're pleased as punch at some of the media coverage that Barrhead Travel received over the weekend. We've been saying for some time that our customers are not being put off holidaying by the credit crunch and now some of the major newspapers have picked up on it.

The Sunday Herald (http://bit.ly/SxeJZ) reports on our current expansion amidst a market where others are struggling. We're seeing high levels of demand though, for last gasp summer 09 holidays as well as winter breaks and a lot of early bookings for summer 2010.

The Sunday Mail meantime (http://bit.ly/4DBZFt) discuss our chairman's comments that travellers are returning to traditional package holidays in numbers rather than taking a gamble on DIY holidays.

It all just goes to show what we've been saying all along - it takes more than some so-called credit crunch to stop us from going our holidays!

For all your holiday needs call Barrhead Travel today on 0871 226 2673 or book online at www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Austria Bargains!

2009-08-07T15:16:00.002+01:00

When we say bargain we mean bargain. It's Lakes and Mountains time. We have a couple of stunning offers for Austria at the end of the month.

Dep Glasgow Saturday 29 August, 7nts Half Board for only £299pp! That's almost half brochure price!

Direct flights from Glasgow to Salzburg (with great flight times) and accommodation in either St Johann or St Gilgen, on a half board basis.

Hotels are St Johann - Hotel Gasthof Mauth and in St Gilgen - Hotel Jodlerwirt.

Yodelayheehee!

Call Barrhead Travel today on 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.com

Dates for the Diary!

2009-08-06T16:42:00.002+01:00

Not one but two big events coming up from Barrhead Travel!

First up we have the return of our big Club 18-30 Night! It's back and better than ever. On Thursday 27 August from 6pm to 9pm Club 18-30 is taking over our Glasgow Superstore.

Vanessa from Galaxy Scotland's Breakfast Show will be in-store on the decks and spinning all your favourite tunes. There will be amazing, exclusive Barrhead Travel Offers, free places on group bookings for Summer 2010 and late deals on the night as well as freebies, snacks and drinks.

Come along and meet the experts, advance register your Club place for 2010 with deposits from as little as £1!

And ... if that's not enough, anyone who makes a booking on the night will be entered into a prize draw to WIN A FREE HOLIDAY!

To register log onto www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

and that's not all ...

On Saturday 29 August we're having an amazing Cruise and River Cruise ONE DAY SALE! Again hosted in our Glasgow superstore, it will run from 10am to 6pm and we'll have representatives from all of the big cruise lines with some amazing special offers and prices available for one day only. We'll also be serving refreshments throughout the day ... Shiver me timbers!

Get your tickets for this great event now. Call our ticket hotline on 0871 226 2953 today!

Visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk for all of our best deals and more.

Philly Flyers!

2009-08-06T11:24:00.002+01:00

With daily non stop flights from London, Manchester and Birmingham and Summer departures from Glasgow, Philadelphia is a fantastic destination for a city break. Alternatively if you are travelling onwards, with flights to over 230 destinations including the popular holiday hotspots of Orlando and Las Vegas, Philadelphia is a great “gateway” to the USA and ideal for a few nights stay.

As the second largest city on the east coast of the United States, Philadelphia is dynamic and full of big city excitement and still maintains the small town charm and history that will capture your imagination.

Known throughout the world for the founding of the United States, Philadelphia is home to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, two of the most treasured monuments celebrating American freedom.
Philadelphia boasts a wealth of cultural and historic attractions and an abundance of exciting dining and nightlife options, making the city a must visit destination!

From South Street to Rittenhouse Row and Jewellers’ Row, Philadelphia is a shopper’s paradise. The city offers incredible shopping complexes and one-of-a-kind specialty stores. Get more than you bargained for in the historic heart of the USA and see how much you can save! You’ll save hundreds of $$$ on tax-free clothing and shoes!

Here's just a couple of some of the great Philly offers that Barrhead Travel have:

PHILLY CITYBREAK
May 2010 Departures
3nts
3*Radisson Plaza Warwick £529
4* Crowne Plaza £539
5* Loews £569

PHILLY & ORLANDO
Sep 09 Departures
2nts 3* Comfort Inn Downtown & 8nts 3* Comfort Inn Universal
From £ 729

PHILLY & LAS VEGAS
Sep 09 Departures
2nts 3* Comfort Inn Downtown & 8nts 3* Excalibur Hotel
From £ 829

To book or for any more info contact Barrhead Travel today, call 0871 226 2673 or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/BarrheadTravel

We're All Going to Sunny Spain!

2009-08-04T15:07:00.002+01:00

With the spotlight firmly focused on up and coming non euro destinations such as Turkey and Egypt, it’s easy to forget the huge and enduring popularity of Spain.

The Balearics

The balmy climate and beautiful beaches of the Balearic Islands are still a big draw and they remain some of the most popular destinations for the British market. Last year, nearly 3.4 million Brits visited the Balearics, and that level has remained stable over the last decade.

Hoteliers are dropping prices, there are fabulous special offers and customers can expect the same next year. It’s not just the hotels; restaurants also know they can’t expect Brits to pay too highly, so visitors will find plenty of meal deals.

Majorca

Package tourism on the largest of the Balearics started in 1952 and Brits have been flocking there ever since. Majorca is the most versatile destination you can think of, in terms of the different types of resort. There’s a constant investment, which keeps standards high.

It’s a year round destination with something for families, older couples, the young and lively, as well as the high end of the market. The classic beach break is still available; Alcudia is very family focused and Magaluf and Palma Nova are great for younger more boisterous groups.

The city of Palma has developed into a lovely city break location, with its sun-warmed sandstone offering a contrast to the dramatic Gothic architecture. Visitors can lose themselves wandering around the historic city centre, indulge in a spot of shopping, then retreat to a bar for a cocktail or some tapas as the sun sets over the bay.

The Tramuntanta mountain range that runs up Majorca’s backbone, provides great terrain for walkers and cyclists in the cooler shoulder season, and a quiet rural retreat in summer.

On the east coast the Arta Caves is a network of fascinating caverns nearly 50 metres above the sea. The island has 19 golf courses and a wealth of spa product, with a well-established tradition of luxury hotels. The first deluxe hotel, the Gran Hotel in Palma, opened in 1903, and is now a cultural centre.

Menorca

Majorca’s quieter little sister has its own distinctive charm – not least its beaches, which number more than Majorca’s and Ibiza’s put together.

Perhaps surprisingly, considering an annual average of 2,712 hours of sunshine, the island is very green, with beautiful rolling fields. Menorca was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 1993, with the S’Albufera d’es Grau national park, a bird-filled wetland, at its heart.

There’s plenty for history buffs, too, with the oldest preserved building in Europe, the Naveta des Tudons, among other archaeological treasures.

The capital, Mao, which has a large harbour popular with cruise ships, and the former capital, the small and picturesque Ciutadella, are both worth a visit for a spot of sightseeing and to indulge in the café culture.

Easy-going and laid-back, the island’s resorts tend to be low-rise, and the family market is particularly strong. However, it also has much to offer couples and groups looking for a more peaceful break. You won’t find big hotels in Menorca. Everything has a real Spanish feel. It’s great for chilling out.

Ibiza

The island’s reputation as superclub central isn’t unearned; it’s still one of the best places for those who want to dance all night. The south, particularly San Antonio, is the palce for those who yearn for the hedonistic party scene. Most of the large clubs are in San Antonio or Ibiza Town, or on the road that connects the two.

However, as many tourists are discovering, there’s much more to Ibiza. Hippy communities flocked here in the 1960s and there are still hippy markets and a general anything goes, tolerant, tie dyed sort of atmosphere.

Ibiza Town, though it has its fair share of party potential, is an absolutely stunning walled city, with winding streets inside the sun-kissed fortress walls and a glitzy marina, where millionaires’ yachts moor up. It’s a wonderful place to wander, or visit a museum or gallery, before hitting the restaurants and bars.

There are plenty of family-friendly areas, particularly Playa d’en Bossa, which has large family hotels and a theme park called Fiestaland.

The north of the island is much quieter, full of forested hills and secluded bays. There are plenty of accommodation options, or it’s easy to explore with a hire car from a busier resort.

For pretty beaches head to Benirras or Cala Xuclar, or turn inland and visit historic hamlets such as Balafia, where you can see the beautifully simple white-walled Ibizan houses and churches that inspired architects such as La Corbusier. Luxury is a developing market in Ibiza, which has a rash of chic, high-end hotels.

Formentera
The kind of expansive white beaches and warm, clean, azure sea you might expect from the Caribbean can be found much closer to home in Formentera. This small, tranquil island is just south of Ibiza, where visitors need to fly into before taking a boat across.

Formentera is a place to escape to – there aren’t many inhabitants and it’s easy to get around by bike. It’s great for those who want to do nothing in its quiet resorts, but also for those who like to explore unspoilt landscapes. The latter can visit La Mola, to see the dramatic cliff face and lighthouse, see ancient megalithic villages in the Barbaria area, or take a boat trip to Espalmador for a mud bath in the lagoon.

Castilla y Leon

Despite being the largest region in Spain, Castilla y Leon, which comprises the former kingdoms of Castilla (Old Castile) and Leon, is often overlooked by UK travellers.

The region, to the north of Madrid, is home to over half of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Visitors can explore more than 200 castles, almost 400 museums and 11 cathedrals, not to mention Salamanca’s charming Plaza Mayor, the Roman aqueduct in Sergovia and the historic walled city of Avila, while the food is so good it makes buttons pop off.

And if all that gastronomy and culture doesn’t sate your appetite, the region is also home to 21 ski resorts, 38 golf courses and wonderful walking trails.

Urban Delights / Green & Gothic

One of Europe’s greenest cities, by the River Arlanzon and overlooked by its castle, is the instantly appealing Burgos. After entering the impressive Gate of Santa Maria, the highlight is the steeple-strewn 13th century Gothic cathedral, also the final resting place of the medieval fighter El Cid.

In the perfectly preserved old quarter, it’s not unusual to see pilgrims on the Route to Santiago. The riverside Paseo del Espolon is a great way to soak up Burgos’ relaxed river town feel.

Hidden Gems

A couple of hours southwest, by the River Pisuerga in the Ribera del Duero wine region, is Valladolid. The highlights being the cathedral, Church of San Pablo and university façade. Spain aficionados may experience a sense of déjà vu upon entering Plaza Mayor, as its arcaded design has inspired many of the country’s other squares, most notably Madrid’s and Salamanca’s.

Piece de Resistance
Salamanca is the liveliest, most cosmopolitan hub of Castilla y Leon, home to Europe’s oldest surviving university and the beautiful Baroque-style arcaded Plaza Mayor, lined with restaurant terraces.

There are two cathedrals, the old and new, which are joined to each other. Both are appropriately elaborate, but look closely at the 18th century façade and you’ll find an astronaut and a demon with an ice cream – added by 20th century restorers with a sense of humour. The distinctive golden hue of the historic centre (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) is best appreciated from atop the cathedral tower.

Castles & Aqueducts

The walled city of Segovia is a heart capturing sort of place, its Roman aqueduct towering over the entrance. At the other end is the Alcazar de Segovia, a turreted, blue-roofed castle fortress on a rocky hillock, supposedly inspiring Disney’s Cinderella castle (the resemblance is uncanny).

Walking through the historic Jewish quarter, past the majestic cathedral and Moorish architecture, is a reminder of how these culture, Jewish, Muslim and Christain, have shaped the city.

Just outside Segovia is the Royal Palace of La Granja de San Ildefonso. The sumptuous interior is fascinating, but its gardens and fountains, commissioned by Philip V, the King of Spain in the 18th century, to recapture his childhood at the French court, are the real highlight.

Medieval Magic

Save the best until last? Perhaps. It’s like stepping back in time in Avila, the entire medieval walled city is a World Heritage Site. It’s 1.6 mile long walls, Spain’s best conserved, are the world’s largest floodlit monument.

From the Cuatro Postes (Four Posts) monument, views over the city and Gothic cathedral satisfy the appetite of even the most jaded traveller.

Gastro Giants

Castilla y Leon takes its food seriously. At Segovia’s family-run Meson de Candidio, situated by the aqueduct since 1786, dining is positively ceremonial. The speciality, cochinillo, legs splayed post-roasting, is “introduced” to the diners by the host who demonstrates its tenderness by slicing it using a plate edge. The restaurant also specialises in Castillian white bean and pork soup, and punch cake, a liqueur-soaked marzipan sponge.

At the Meson del Cid in Burgos, the speciality is lechazo, roast suckling lamb. Hanging hams are a familiar sight, especially in Salamanca, which produces 60% of Spain’s Iberian cured jamon. Other dishes worth a try include the spicy sausage, farinato, and hornazo Salmantino – a chorizo, pork, ham and egg pie.

Valladolid is home to the region’s newest Michelin-starred restaurants, Ramiro’s. Set in the Science Museum building, the 10th floor restaurant overlooks the River Pisuerga and serves up morsels of gourmet cuisine, such as mussel soup and ice cream made at the table.

Wine Growers

Nine of the region’s wines hold a Designation of Origin. Castilla y Leon is renowned for its fresh, fruity whites from the Verdejo grape. In Rueda, close to Valladolid, the Yllera family co-own the Grupo Yllera winery. Individual and group visits/tastings can be booked in advance. Nearby is their former winery, located above a 14th century underground cellar. The 0.6 mile tunnel is now used to store sparkling and reserve wines and there is a huge dining room for private parties.

For any Spanish travel needs or to anywhere else you might fancy contact Barrhead Travel today or visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk

Barrhead Travel Twitter Chaos!

2009-07-16T16:47:00.002+01:00

What a day! We gave away our first free holiday on Twitter and the response has been crazy. We're loving all the Barrhead Travel themed tweets, or birdsong as we've been calling it at Team Barrhead.

It's a simple idea, anyone who follows Barrhead Travel on Twitter and includes a designated hashtag in their tweets goes into the draw and then we randomly pick a winner who wins a free holiday.

There's another tomorrow. We're off to give our fingers a rest until then!

See what all the fuss is about at http://twitter.com/barrheadtravel

Holiday Giveaway!

2009-07-15T12:17:00.000+01:00

It's here. The Big Barrhead Travel Twitter Holiday Giveaway, or TBBTTHG if you're into your acronyms.

We've a raft of free holidays to give away for luxury accommodation all over Europe and we're giving them to you!

All you have to do is be a follower of Barrhead Travel on Twitter and send a Tweet that includes the hashtag #barrhead - sound complicated? It's not.

If you've heard about this Twitter malarkey but not yet signed up you should give it a go. You can use it how and as actively as you want to. It's great for loads of things, as a news source, to chat with friends old and new and best of all - to get the very best deals from Barrhead before anyone else does!

Follow us on Twitter today for your chance to win a free holiday:

CLICK HERE TO WIN A HOLIDAY TODAY

It's GO GO GO at Barrhead Travel

2009-06-25T11:21:00.000+01:00

... isn't it just - it's absolutely non-stop in here. A mad rush for late deals, a huge demand for the 2010 holidays that have just gone on sale and lots, lots more besides.

The Pound has eventually climbed against the Euro, and just in time for the Summer holidays, but we're still seeing plenty of holidaymakers going further afield to try and beat the Euro. Turkey has been massive this summer, as have Bulgaria, Croatia and Egypt. In the eurozone we've seen a huge uptake in all-inclusive deals by those canny travellers who have opted to pay up front for food and drink.

There are still plenty of people who are already looking ahead to summer 2010 and we've been inundated, nay swamped! with enquiries from the early birds looking to get next summer's sunshine holidays arranged already.

Not content with all that we've also set up an exclusive deal to be the walk-in booking centre for this year's Rally of Scotland which runs 19-21 November. Day passes start at only £15 per adult with three-day passes also available. For the motorsport enthusiasts out there now is the time to vrrrrrooooooommmm down to Barrhead and pick up your tickets before they're all gone.

That's quite enough for now we think. We'll be back with more news and deals from Holiday Land soon. Until then, for all your travel and holiday needs - you know where to find us:

www.barrheadtravel.co.uk