Jetsettersblog

Produced by veteran travel documentary producer/presenter GREG GRAINGER, TRAVEL OZ will be screened by a number of international channels, including the Travel Channel (Europe), the ABC’s Australia Network (Asia /Pacific) and Sky News (Australia/New Zealand).

“TRAVEL OZ will take a fresh slant on Australia’s magnificent destinations..” says Grainger. “We want viewers to feel like they’re travelling with us, experiencing every sight and sound as if they’re on location. We plan to give them support information to help them make bookings of their own. And we want to take them to places they might not otherwise have ever known about.”

Grainger’s production company GRAINGER TELEVISION AUSTRALIA, will produce twelve programs a year from July 2007, with each program to run a television hour (45-mins).

International cable networks like Travel Channel Europe normally repeat programs like TRAVEL OZ many times.

Each program will feature 6 destinations, with a web site set up to provide viewers with additional information, including booking details as well as links to sponsors’ websites. (www.traveloztv.com)

A variety of segments will feature during each show:

* Amazing Accommodation – From the most luxurious hotels to the finest youth hostels, camping spots to beautiful B&Bs. This segment features the best and most affordable accommodation.

* Terrific Tours – We go on tours and tell you what you can expect and how to get the most from day trips to week-long adventures. Meet the tour operators that guide you through an experience of a lifetime.

* Planes, Trains & Automobiles – Discover remote Australian locations, islands accessible by plane, tantalising train trips, the most exciting 4WD adventures and scenic drives.

* Beneath Down Under – Dive to the depths off the coast of the world’s largest continent and discover an underwater paradise full of colourful coral and amazing oceanic creatures.

* Crazy Critters – Meet the world’s cuddliest, dangerous and bizarre creatures and the people who care for them in the wild and in zoos.

* Outback Oz – From mustering cattle on a remote station to riding camel across the desert, discover a timeless Australia on outback adventure tours.

* Island Hopping – Reveals the abundance of islands off Australia’s coasts with unique wildlife and traditional cultures.

* Wish You Were Here – Video postcards of tourists enjoying their vacation. Real people in beautiful locations describing their wonderful Aussie experience.

* Picture Perfect – Professional photographers describe the inspiration behind some of the most breathtaking photos of the Australian landscape.

Grainger Television Australia has produced over sixty international travel documentaries for primetime screening on the Seven Network in Australia, programs which have also screened on Travel Channel Europe and Travel Channel USA.

TRAVEL CHANNEL EUROPE is the largest pan-European TV channel dedicated to the world of travel, broadcasting 18 hours a day in 11 languages to over 95 countries across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

The AUSTRALIA NETWORK is Australia’s international satellite channel, operated by the ABC, and currently available in 10.2 million homes in 41 countries across Asia and the Pacific.

SKY NEWS is the only dedicated news channel in Australia and New Zealand.

TRAVEL OZ will also be offered to other international broadcasters such as the international Discovery Network’s TRAVEL CHANNEL, a broadcaster that has aired dozens of Grainger’s programs.

“TRAVEL OZ represents an exciting new opportunity to showcase Australia as a travel destination.” says Grainger. “We plan to feature the abundant possibilities of holiday destinations, adventure packages, scenic tours, cosmopolitan cities, historic towns, natural wonders and friendly people.”

From luxury hotels to camping under the stars, dining in exquisite restaurants to eating damper around the campfire, viewing swirls of desert colours on the Ghan to riding camels on the sand, TRAVEL OZ caters to families, singles, young, old, travel connoisseurs, novice travellers, the budget conscious and the wealthy.

Utilising stunning photography, TRAVEL OZ will capture the dazzling beauty of Australia, from its beaches to the bush. Each segment reveals the uniqueness behind popular Australian tourist destinations and enlightens viewers about hidden treasures off the beaten path.

TRAVEL OZ portrays the heart and soul of Australia. As well as promoting world-class tour companies and the best accommodation packages, we meet the people that create lasting memories for holidaymakers all over Australia.

TRAVEL OZ is now in pre-production, with Grainger and team researching and lining up stories for the first program. Filming is scheduled to commence in April. Production costs will be covered by participating sponsors.

Representatives of locations interested in being featured should contact GraingerTV by email on graingertv@optusnet.com.au

An activity-filled holiday including a Thai cooking lesson, spa pampering and even Thai boxing is on offer at Indigo Pearl, a unique new luxury “industrial chic” resort inspired by the 100 year-old tin mining industry in Phuket.

The “4 Days Many Ways” package is priced from Baht 22,390 (US$697*) to Baht 34,300 (US$1,068*), depending on room category, for couples staying four days and three nights. .

 Including breakfast, the action-packed break is headlined by a full-day cooking school at Moo’s Kitchen, where guests will be taught the fine art of Thai cooking. The class includes a trip to market to buy fresh local produce, an introduction to the herbs and spices used in Thai cooking as well as practical cooking instruction by one of the hotel’s experienced chefs. .

Guests may also choose to relax with any of the resort’s one-hour massage treatments, as well as taking classes in Muay Thai-boxing, yoga, stretch, tennis, art, candle making and batik painting. Group yoga and mat Pilates classes as well as Western cooking classes and Muay Thai-boxing need to be booked two day in advance to guarantee availability. .

The package is available until October 31 at the resort on Nai Yang Beach, just 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport. .

Targeting discerning travellers seeking a distinctive cultural experience, the new resort “realises a vision to pay tribute to the history of tin-mining in Phuket”, said Anthony Ross, General Manager. .

The US$21 million fusion of modern architecture and Thai tin-mining tradition was designed by world-renowned architect, interior and landscape designer Bill Bensley. .

Everything down to the finest detail fits in with the theme of tin mining, extending through every facet of the resort, from the names of the restaurants and bars to the staff uniforms. .

The 277 luxurious rooms and suites are scattered in an enclave of lagoons and jungle and in keeping with high-tech modern demands have access to high-speed wireless internet links, satellite TV, 24-hour room service and IDD telephone. .

Apart from familiar facilities such as swimming pools, tennis courts and a children’s club, the resort has its own private beach club and specialist recreational options ranging from a cooking school, scuba-diving centre and fitness and meditation pavilion to a snooker hall with its own bar serving fine whiskies from around the world. .

The eight food and beverage outlets, on this secluded Andaman Sea beachfront resort, range from Thai and tapas to modern European fare. .

The historic infrastructure also accommodates a large Conference Pavilion for up to 900 delegates — including a 600sqm Grand Ballroom and nine adjoining meeting rooms – targeting the meetings and incentive (MICE) market. .

For more information on Indigo Pearl, please visit www.indigo-pearl.com

For reservations, please email info@indigo-pearl.com

* Prices quoted in US dollars are based on the exchange rate on the day of publishing. .

Korean Air Lines Co. looks set to expand its flights and services on Southeast Asian routes in a move to attract fast-increasing holidaymakers travelling to the region.

The nation’s largest air carrier said Wednesday it will assign more large jets to further tap new routes to many tourist destinations and commercial hubs in the region.

“The Southeast Asian market, including Cambodia, has great potential, which offers opportunities to open new routes,” Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Korean Air, said in a ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Wednesday. Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok An and other senior government officials attended the ceremony.

“Southeast Asia will be a new growth resource for the company that aims to become one of the world’s top 10 carriers.”

The Korean flag carrier has been operating flights from Seoul to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap since November.

Korean Air’s move to expand its operations into the region is expected to get a boost because the government plans to open routes to several Southeast Asian states to all airlines by 2010. Countries to be affected by the deregulation include Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Cambodia.

Korean Air currently runs 20 flights to 10 Southeast Asian countries. It carried about 2.4 million passengers last year alone. The figures account for nearly 20 percent of the total air travellers, which company officials believe would further soar on an international travel boom and growing trade. The number of visitors to Thailand jumped about 25 percent year-on-year to 2.2 million in 2006, according to the Ministry of Construction and Transportation. Korean visitors to Vietnam also grew over 20 percent to 904,000 last year.

Sri Lanka Tourism has a great product variety. From warm water of the Indian Ocean lapping onto the soft sand, to cool water flowing through the tea plantations 2,000 metres above sea level, giving raise to over 100 waterfalls ( highest density of waterfall in the world and the tallest in Sri Lanka is 5 times the height of Niagra Falls). From buying clothes made by the same companies who produce for Victoria Secret, Next, Gap and Marks and Spencer, to seeing our 7 UNESCO World Heritage sites which show what an advanced and developed civilization Sri Lanka was 2,000 years ago.

Sri Lanka Tourism is starting to use You Tube to put video content online. Please visit our first release. It is a video introduction to Sri Lanka.

Mirvac Hotels & Resorts has expanded into the South Pacific region with the announcement of The Sebel Vanuatu which is due to open in May this year.

Located in Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila, The Sebel Vanuatu boasts a stunning waterfront position overlooking Vila Harbour, and is the perfect base to explore Vanuatu from, providing easy access to the region’s vast range of leisure activities.

As Vanuatu’s first international hotel, just 10 minutes from Port Vila International Airport, The Sebel Vanuatu is expected to provide a major boost to local tourism by increasing the number of arrivals into the region.

The Sebel Vanuatu offers 74 harbour facing guestrooms and suites which feature extensive water views, private furnished balconies and contemporary European style furnishing. Luxurious marble bathrooms are characterised by a unique window and blind between guestroom and bathroom to showcase the expansive harbour views.

The hotel also offers a range of recreational facilities including a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna, salt water swimming pool, French Restaurant and lobby bar, as well as a rooftop bar.

Access to Irikiki Island Resort, directly opposite the hotel, is also available enabling guests to use the beaches, restaurants, bars, and other recreational activities at the resort.

According to Andrew Turner, Mirvac Hotels & Resorts CEO, “The Sebel Vanuatu is a welcome addition to the group, validating our commitment to overseas expansion, a key focus for the future”, he said.

“The South Pacific region holds huge potential for us due to its popularity with Australasian holidaymakers and business travellers alike, and we are excited to finally introduce the renowned Sebel brand into this region. The Sebel Vanuatu is also the perfect complement to sister Sebel hotels in Australia and New Zealand”, he said.

“Our rapid growth over the past 12 months has made us one of Australia’s largest hotel operators so it is fitting to welcome our first South Pacific property”, he concluded.

Made up of 83 islands, Vanuatu is an archipelago with a colourful history and one of the most pristine Melanesian cultures in the world. As a relatively unspoilt nation, it is a popular destination for leisure and business travellers due in large part to its year round tropical climate of between 27 – 30 degrees. Its diversity enables visitors to enjoy everything from coral seas and tropical islands to volcanoes and rainforests.

For more information please visit www.mirvachotels.com

Record-breaking Canadian golfer Ahmad Dan Bateman has been appointed as the new Golf Professional at The Empire Hotel & Country Club – and is setting his sights on helping to develop golf as a top sport in Brunei.

The veteran professional is in the record books for the longest number of consecutive sub-par holes in pro-golf history.

In the 1996 Utah Nationwide Classic he carded seven birdies and an eagle over eight consecutive holes.

Originally an ice-hockey player, he turned professional just over 20 years ago and was involved in golf instruction preceeding 12 years competing on the US secondary tour and Asian Tour – including the last two Brunei Open events at The Empire’s championship Jack Nicklaus designed course.

In the Brunei Open’s debut on the tour in 2005 he finished 7th, carding a nine under par over four rounds.

Ahmad was desperately close to earning his US PGA Tour card in 1997, finishing 16th on what was then the Nike Tour order of merit. But only the top-15 players qualify.

From 2000 to 2002 his steady game and reliable broom-handle putter put him into contention for titles on several occasions in Asia and overseas – including 3rd in the 2000 Volvo China Open, 5th in the 2000 Casino Filipino Open, 2nd in the 2000 Omaha Classic, 3rd in the 2001 Carlsberg Malaysian Open, 4th in the 2002 Maekyung LG Fashion Open and 8th in the 2002 Macau Open.

“Brunei has great potential for the development of golf,” he said. “Conditions are ideal, with such a superb championship course, and there are many more enthusiastic beginners than I imagined.

“My ambition is to reach out to children and top amateurs to make golf one of the top sports in this country. I’m really looking forward to this opportunity as full time resident club professional.”

Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour, said: “The Asian Tour has always been at the forefront of development of golf in the region and we were delighted to recommend Ahmad Dan Bateman as Golf Professional at the esteemed Empire Hotel and Country Club.

“We strongly believe that Ahmad’s experience and expertise will be put to good use in the Empire Hotel’s vision and mission to develop golf in Brunei.”

Ahmad joins The Empire with his wife Shinta and two children, Aneesah and Adam.

Lessons can be booked through the Driving Range on + 673 241 8222 ext. 7436 or through Ahmad directly on + 673 893 0870.

About The Empire Hotel & Country Club

On the doorstep of one of the world’s oldest rainforests in Borneo, The Empire Hotel & Country Club is an outstanding 5-star beach resort – an opulent, architectural masterpiece with a world-class country club and floodlit Jack Nicklaus-designed championship golf course.

Set in a 180-hectare (445-acre) tropical garden estate, it features 359 spacious guestrooms and 61 lavish suites and private villas.

With impeccable credentials for international meetings, conferences and incentives, it is an appealing destination for the MICE market attracting prestigious gatherings such as the APEC CEO Summit.

Unique facilities include a cinema and state of the art theatre for live performances — contributing to a prestigious profile as host to royal and state visitors to the Sultanate of Brunei.

For executive travelers, the exclusive E-Club with private lounge, concierge and business center with sea view terrace serves complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and all-day soft drinks, coffee and tea. Internet is complimentary for Deluxe E-Club Room, Suite and Villa guests.

The E Kids Club provides all-day care and entertainment for youngsters, with an eco-friendly focus.

The championship golf course hosts the Brunei Open, an annual event on the professional Asian Tour.

Sports and leisure facilities include floodlit tennis, badminton, squash, fitness centre, ten-pin bowling and a sumptuous spa offering a wide variety of pampering and beauty treatments.

A PADI scuba-diving centre enables divers to explore Brunei’s spectacular underwater reefs and shipwrecks.

A multiple-award winner among Asia’s leading business, conference and leisure hotels, it has also been repeatedly voted Asia’s Leading Golf Resort and Brunei’s Leading Hotel in the World Travel Awards. Its breathtaking Emperor Suite, one of the world’s largest at 666 sq m with its own indoor swimming pool, has been voted World’s Leading Presidential Suite.

The Empire Hotel & Country Club is a member of WORLDHOTELS and has won numerous prestigious honours including:

Best New Resort by Travel Trade Gazette Asia 2001

Best Independent Hotel by Travel Trade Gazette Asia 2002

Best Resort Hotel by Travel Trade Gazette Asia 2004, 2005

Asia’s Leading Golf Resort by World Travel Awards 2004, 2005

Asia’s Leading Resort by World Travel Awards 2003, 2004

Brunei’s Leading Hotel by World Travel Awards 2004, 2005, 2006

World’s Leading Presidential Suite by World Travel Awards 2003, 2004, 2005

6th Best Championship Golf Course in Asia by Asian Golf Monthly Awards 2006

4th Best Clubhouse in Asia by Asian Golf Monthly Awards 2006

2nd Best Golf Resort in Asia by Asian Golf Monthly Awards 2006

5th Best Course in Malaysia (including Brunei) by Asian Golf Monthly Awards 2006

Discount Golf Card Hawaii is truly a golfer’s paradise with some of the best courses in the world offering spectacular ocean and mountain views in Hawaii. With your Discount Card, you have the choice of 45 different courses across the Hawaiian Islands to choose from and you will only pay the Membership rate. For the best in flexibility and maximum savings!

Victoria Hotels & Resorts is a boutique group of six luxury Indochina retreats embracing off–the-beaten-track mountain and beach spa resorts in Vietnam, two colonial-style hotels in the Mekong Delta, and an elegant spa resort at Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

With a passion for Indochina’s rich cultural and historical diversity, enchanting landscapes and delightful people, the group’s resorts and hotels are uniquely distinguished for their charm and locations in the most authentic and unspoiled areas of Vietnam and Cambodia.

It operates a luxury Victoria Express Train from Hanoi to the Victoria Sapa Resort, located in the remote north-west highlands of Vietnam. In the Mekong Delta, Victoria Speedboats and a converted rice barge are at the service of guests to explore one of the world’s great inland waterways and to travel from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh.

Victoria Hotels & Resorts does not follow the crowds of mass modern-day tourism – it forges a path ahead of them.

Victoria Sapa Resort:

In the remote north-west highlands of Vietnam, Victoria Sapa Resort is a traditional mountain chalet complete with stone-hearth fireplace 1,650 metres above sea-level in the Hoang Lien Mountains close to the Chinese border. Amid spectacular scenery beneath Vietnam’s highest peak, the 3,143-metre Mount Fansipan, the cool, pristine region is home to more than 30 colourful hill tribes – with tours to their minority villages and markets the highlights of any visit. The region is also emerging as an exciting new trekking destination.

Guests arrive aboard the romantic and elegant Victoria Express Train, a unique travel experience in its own right, which the group operates along a 380km railway journey from Hanoi. Overlooking the mountain village of Sapa, blending sensitively with the unspoiled environment, Victoria Sapa Resort was voted ‘Best Hotel in the North-West Region’ in both 2004 and 2005 by The Guide, a publication of the Vietnam Economic Times.

Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa:

On a pristine white-sand beach on the outskirts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hoi An in central Vietnam, Victoria Hoi An Beach Resort & Spa is a warm, restful retreat replicating a traditional fishing village with small streets, water ponds and village houses with clay-tiled roofs.

The historic sea port of Hoi An is uniquely preserved as a 15th century trading post on the ancient silk route, while other UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the vicinity include the Cham temple ruins at My Son, the historic capital of Vietnam’s ancient Champa civilization, and the former Imperial capital of Hue.

Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa:

At one of Vietnam’s most idyllic seaside resorts, 200km north of Ho Chi Minh City, Victoria Phan Thiet Beach Resort & Spa is located beside a vast, palm-fringed private white sand beach on the South China Sea. With 60 bungalows set in exotic gardens designed in the style of traditional Vietnamese country houses, it was voted ‘Best Resort’ in its southern province by The Guide, a publication of the Vietnam Economic Times.

The resort is close to Phan Thiet, a charming fishing village with archaeological remnants of the Cham Empire, and the beach is backed by desert-like sand dunes that are home to rare flora and fauna.

Victoria Can Tho Resort and Victoria Chau Doc Hotel in the Mekong Delta:

On the banks of one of the world’s greatest and most mysterious waters in Vietnam’s ‘Deep South’, Victoria Can Tho Resort opened in 1998 as the flagship of Victoria Hotels & Resorts in the Mekong Delta — and first luxury hotel in the region. Amid bustling floating markets, myriad of canals and vibrant green rice paddies, the splendid colonial-style hotel is set in magnificent gardens on the banks of the Hau River, one of the delta’s nine estuaries. To experience the pulse of delta life, sunrise and sunset cruises to the local floating market aboard the resort’s private traditional wooden rice barge, the Lady Hau, are a highlight.

Deeper in the Mekong Delta, close to the Cambodian border in a region famed for the climax of Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now, the Victoria Chau Doc Hotel is a grand hotel built in colonial style with low-rise French architecture opened in 1999. From this unique location beside the Bassac River at the ‘Three River Crossing’, guests can explore life deep into the delta traveling aboard a fleet of private Victoria Speedboats from the hotel to Phnom Penh in Cambodia and vice versa.

Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa in Siem Reap, Cambodia:

The newest jewel in the crown of the group, Victoria Angkor Resort & Spa is just 10 minutes from the World Heritage Angkor Wat temple complex, one of the great wonders of the world. Located next to the King’s Residence in Siem Reap, overlooking the Royal Gardens, the resort styled gracefully in 1930s colonial style is a tranquil haven with the elegant refinement of the French ”art de vivre”. It is within walking distance of the Old Market and river, and 7kms from the airport.

For an online tour of Victoria Hotels & Resorts in Vietnam and Cambodia, please visit www.victoriahotels-asia.com

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will next month launch its second major exhibition – Fonn’s Duthchas: Land and Legacy – since reopening after a three-year, £27.9m refurbishment. The exhibition celebrates the history, culture, music, language, geology and geography of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Fonn’s Duthchas: Land and Legacy will open on 6 April.

On display will be iconic objects, paintings and manuscripts from the collections of the National Galleries of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland, as well as important collections from museums in the Highlands and Islands.

The exhibition looks at the past, present and future of the area and its people, covering topics such as the impact of new technology, land ownership issues, cycles of emigration and immigration and how the lives of the population have changed over the centuries.

Accompanying the exhibition will be educational workshops, talks, activities and classes.

Further information on Fonn’s Duthchas: Land and Legacy is available from www.glasgowmuseums.com www.fonnisduthchas.com or Tel: 0141 276 9599.

Fonn’s Duthchas: Land and Legacy
Venue:The Royal Bank of Scotland Group exhibition space, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow

Dates: 6 April – 10 June 2007 Admission:Free

Since reopening on 11 July 2006, Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum has welcomed more than 2.3 million visitors through its doors.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is open 10am – 5pm Monday – Thursday & Saturday, 11am – 5pm Friday & Sunday.

For information on other events taking place in Glasgow: Scotland with style check out the Glasgow Diary which can be downloaded from www.seeglasgow.com

Log-on and help Intrepid plant 12,000 trees by the end of April 2007

Renowned for their commitment to responsible tourism, Intrepid Travel and sister company Guerba are proud to announce an ambitious new eco-friendly campaign. With help from you and your friends their aim is to plant 12,000 trees in Africa in just 30 days!

Starting from 1st April 2007 Intrepid will plant a tree in Africa for every person who registers on their website. Register free of charge on www.intrepidtravel.com/africatrees and not only will you be doing your bit to save the planet, you’ll also receive a 10% discount voucher to spend on Intrepid and Guerba group trips in Africa including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Egypt and Algeria as a ‘thank you’.

Environmental issues are close to Intrepid and Guerba’s hearts, and this campaign builds on Guerba’s long standing relationship with Woodlands 2000 Trust. Intrepid and Guerba already plant a tree with Woodlands 2000 for every week someone travels with them in East Africa. The Kenyan-based, non-governmental organisation plants trees to provide alternative wood supplies for local people so that the indigenous forest is left untouched. Together Intrepid and Guerba have already planted around 12,000 trees and with your help they would like to plant another 12,000 by the end of April 2007.

As a thank you for registering to plant a tree, Intrepid are offering you the chance to experience Africa yourself with 10% off trips such as:

GORILLAS & GAME PARKS, £765

Head deep into the heart of Central Africa’s forests for the pinnacle of wildlife experiences – an unforgettable encounter with the mountain gorillas of Uganda. Discover a collage of bright colours, beautiful scenery, busy towns and friendly locals as you explore Churchill’s ‘Pearl of Africa’.

Intrepid’s Gorillas & Game Parks costs £765 per person, land-only and includes 13 nights camping, gorilla permits and all meals. A local payment of US$640 is required on arrival. Book through www.intrepidtravel.com/yrg or call 01373 826611.

THE MASAI HEARTLANDS, £660

Combining the best that Kenya and Tanzania have to offer, this amazing overland adventure takes you from the abundant wildlife of the Serengeti to the Masai villages of the Great Rift Valley. Taking in four of East Africa’s finest game parks, the opportunities for game-viewing and photography are endless.

Intrepid’s Masai Heartlands adventure costs £660 per person and includes 12 nights camping, 2 nights hotels and most meals. A local payment of US$620 is required. Book through www.intrepidtravel.com/yrm  or call 01373 826611.

MADAGASCAN EXPLORER, £980

Stunning mountains, beautiful rainforests and idyllic beaches offer wildlife lovers the opportunity for adventure in paradise. Listen to the unforgettable morning call of the Indri and watch the acrobatics and cheeky behaviour of the Sifakas and ring tailed lemurs as we go in search of the endangered species of the renowned Berenty, Perinet and Ranomafana Reserves.

Intrepid’s Madagascan Explorer costs £980 per person, land-only and includes 14 nights hotels/lodges and most meals. A local payment of 595 Euros is required on arrival. Book through www.intrepidtravel.com/ysy or call 01373 826611.

For a little extra inspiration why not head down to the Intrepid Travel London store on Upper Street, Islington, and have a chat with the experts. Register at the interactive store and you’ll receive your own model tree to plant on Intrepid’s map of Africa. And if you’re looking for ideas on how to spend your 10% discount voucher, ask for more information about the free Africa-themed events on offer at the store throughout April.

For more information go to www.intrepidtravel.com/events or call 0207 354 6169.

Intrepid Travel is one of the world’s leading small group adventure tour operators, with 18 years experience.

Intrepid offers over 400 itineraries worldwide, many on a weekly basis. The company provides trips to more than 35 destinations, with six different styles of trip. Travellers can choose from Original, Basix, Comfort, Family, Active and Independent.

Intrepid trips are designed to go off the beaten track, meet the locals and travel in an unconventional way. In 2006 the company won the Joint Overall Winner and Best Tour Operator at the Responsible Tourism Awards, was runner up in the 2004 Conde Nast Traveller magazine’s Ecotourism Award, Highly Commended by Wanderlust in their 2005 awards and a finalist in the 2006 Tourism for Tomorrow Global Tourism Business Awards.

Great Hotels of the World (GHOTW; http://www.ghotw.com/) , representing some of the world’s finest independent hotels, is delighted to announce its first new member opening in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates.

The Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa – Al Aqah Beach is due to open on 1 April 2007, following a two year building phase and an investment of AED 130 million (approx £18 million). Representing the standard of the luxurious new 5* resort, the opening will see Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa – Al Aqah Beach being accepted as part of GHOTW’s niche luxury business & incentive travel, romantic and spa collections.

The new hotel was designed by the Architectural Consulting Group and the emphasis has been placed on delivering a unique design and emphasising the view to create an ambiance of pure relaxation. The result is the hotel’s elevated position within an oasis of lush gardens, while light coffee and sand colours have been extensively used in order to provide a neutral background for reflecting the ocean light. The colonial design has blended local architecture with a graceful palazzo style estate.

Occupying an idyllic beachfront location nestled between the Hajar Mountains and Indian Ocean, Fujairah Rotana Resort & Spa – Al Aqah Beach offers guests a secluded retreat amidst stunning landscapes. The hotel’s 250 spacious guest rooms and suites are all decorated in a colonial style and offer magnificent ocean views. All boast a private terrace or balcony and a host of modern amenities, as emphasis is placed on genuine Arabic hospitality and impeccable five star service.

Extensive sport and recreational activities are available at the hotel for guests of all ages. They include desert safaris, quad biking and camel riding in the desert, an on-site professional dive centre and a marine centre that is the first in the UAE to offer guests activities such as water-skiing, pedalo and snorkelling on a complimentary basis. Additionally, the hotel will have a Bodylines Fitness Centre and signature Zen spa, offering ten treatment rooms and a secluded massage tent overlooking the ocean. Signature treatments will include a real aromatherapy experience, the Zen Thai massage, rasul mud extravaganza, ice cave chill out and vichy shower massage, enabling guests the very best in detox and relaxation. Dining options are also varied and include authentic Mediterranean, spicy Asian, delicious Middle Eastern and vegetarian cuisines.

For business guests, the hotel offers a modern business centre with three meeting rooms, a spacious ballroom and plenty of beach and garden options for al fresco events. Gala dinners, themed nights and incentive trips can all be arranged by the dedicated multilingual team, while similarly dedicated services are also available for guests looking to arrange their ideal beachfront wedding.

For further information and to book, please contact Great Hotels of the World on 0800 032 4254 or visit http://www.ghotw.com/fujairah-rotana

For MICE enquiries, please contact the Great Hotels of the World team on 020 7383 2335, or email mis@ghorg.com

The Great Hotels Organisation’s family of brands include Special Hotels of the World (http://www.shotw.com)  and Great Hotels of the World (http://www.ghotw.com), a forerunner among luxury hotel marketing alliances representing over 240 of the world’s finest hotels and resorts. Both brands are driven by six core values, notably to keep members’ costs down, to view each member as unique, to be innovative with technology, to value the power of the alliance, and to maintain the quality and integrity of the brand. Whichever brand is right for your property, the Great Hotels Organisation has a different and customer-driven approach to hotel sales and marketing. The Great Hotels Organisation manages the “GW” private label GDS chain code and toll-free voice reservation numbers operate in the USA and Europe. Further information on the Great Hotels Organisation can be found at http://www.ghorg.com