Jetsettersblog

Mistaken For Foreign Climes

As reports circulate that a Thai holiday resort used an image of one of Scotland’s top Scottish beaches in their marketing material, research conducted by Opinion Matters shows that Scotland’s stunning winter white beaches are often mistaken for more exotic climes.

The survey, conducted earlier in the year for VisitScotland, asked respondents around the UK to look at a picture of the Isle of Harris’ idyllic white beach and asked them to say where they thought it was. 26% of those who replied thought it was Mauritius, 17% thought it was New Zealand and 13.7% thought it was Thailand. Only 22% of those surveyed correctly guessed it was Scotland.

Picture: The Isle of Harris

Earlier in the week, the media widely reported that an image of the island of Berneray was used in marketing material for the Thai resort of Koh Chang.
Suzanne Casey at VisitScotland said:

“It is an easy mistake to make as there are so many beautiful white beaches around Scotland that offer a stunning setting for a winter break.

People looking to experience exactly what these pictures have to offer need look no further than our winter website (www.visitscotland.com/whiteinvite ).”

There are many beaches in Scotland offering long stretches of white sand and are the perfect locations for winter strolls:

• Enjoy a stroll along the beaches of Harris with miles of scenic contrasts that have to be seen to be believed. Revitalising winter sea breezes straight from the Atlantic Ocean will take your breath away amidst the sound of waves breaking. Just a few miles south of Tarbert, the island’s main port,

Luskentyre is one of the most spectacular stretches of sand, offering views of majestic snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Harris has many more special beaches to choose from, including Seilibost and Traigh Mor.

• For a walk along uncrowded stunning white sands, look no further than Montrose’s Lunan Bay. This award-winning beach is the perfect antidote to an indulgent Christmas and just the place to blow away the winter cobwebs.

• Stretching for almost two miles, and famous from the opening scene of ‘Chariots of Fire’, St Andrews’ West Sands beach is nestled between the refreshing sea swirl and the town’s world famous Old Course.

The dunes which the beach backs onto provide a perfect sheltered spot for a winter picnic, before stretching your legs for a leisurely walk along the seashore to take in the crisp, fresh winter air.

• Surf’s up this winter as Aberdeen City and Shire is the place to be for white waves. Whether you are into wind surfing or kite surfing

, Aberdeenshire’s white beaches are an ideal destination. With large, open and un-crowded white sandy stretches, where better to relax and invigorate.

• The Highlands also offers a range of stunning beaches, where an invigorating winter stroll along the white sands of Arisaig, Traigh and Morar beaches is an experience not to be missed.

For information about Scotland’s white beaches and wide range of other winter white activities to see and do in Scotland, please log on to www.visitscotland.com/whiteinvite

Thrill-seeking visitors to Abu Dhabi can now explore the capital by speedboat. The new Yellow Boats provide a fun and unique way to explore the city’s headline-grabbing developments and stunning coastline.

The Yellow Boats guided tours visit the Abu Dhabi Corniche and the iconic Emirates Palace. They also run a Natural Wildlife Tour and an Ultimate Thrill Ride.

“It made sense to launch our exhilarating tours in Abu Dhabi where the potential for our business is enormous,” said Tony Adams, Managing Director of The Yellow Boats.

“With its unique waterfront developments, endless sun, sand and coastline, what better way is there to experience the thrill of Abu Dhabi? It’s great for viewing the rising skylines on Reem, Yas and Saadiyat Islands.”

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), which manages, helps develop and promote the emirate’s tourism industry, has welcomed the company’s arrival.

“The growing portfolio of tourism offerings in the nation’s capital is truly encouraging,” said Ahmed Hussein, ADTA’s Deputy Director General.

“Within the last two months private sector enterprises have boosted visitors’ experiences with new products ranging from open-top bus tours of the city, hot air balloon trips over the desert and now speed boat tours. Abu Dhabi has been tipped by both the Lonely Planet and Frommer’s as a top place to visit in 2010 and these new products will greatly help us to deliver on such influential recommendations.”

Yellow Boat tours can be tailor-made and last between 30 and 60 minutes, leaving from the Abu Dhabi International Marine and Sports Club Marina near Marina Mall.

There are drop-off and pick-up points at Yas Marina Circuit and Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Marina. The Yellow Boatscan be hired for private parties and corporate functions.

The 12-seater inflatable crafts come equipped with the latest generation engines, GPS navigation, tracking equipment and DSC VHF radios which automatically transmit the boats position in an emergency. They are also run by fully-qualified crews and have life jackets for every passenger.

For more information call 00971 800 4034 or visit www.theyellowboats.com

Caption: It’s just thrilling – speedboat tours come to Abu Dhabi

Georgia comes to the rescue every year for sea turtles discovered stranded on beaches along the Atlantic coastline of the U.S., relocating the sick and injured turtles found on the beaches to marine centers as far south as Florida for treatment.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island was reopened in 2007, following renovations to serve as the rehabilitation, research, and education facility in Georgia.

The Georgia Sea Turtle Center is able to provide cutting-edge emergency care to sick turtles and long term treatment to prevent premature releases into their natural habitats. Research programs at the center include nest monitoring, satellite tagging, and human impact studies.

They seek to “increase awareness of habitat and wildlife conservation challenges, promote responsibility for ecosystem health and empower individuals to act locally, regionally, and globally to protect the environment” as stated in The Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s mission statement.

While visiting the center, visitors learn about conservation efforts, the rehabilitation process, and the life of a sea turtle from egg to adulthood. Exciting special events take place through out the year.

During May, “Nest Fest” allows guests to witness turtle releases. In the peak nesting months of June and July, visitors may participate in evening turtle walks with the possibility of seeing a nesting sea turtle, or take a morning turtle walk to see what is inside a nest that has already been hatched and help record important research data.

Other special events take place year round.

The center also offers a behind the scenes tour so visitors can take a peek at the surgery, treatment, and X-ray rooms, food preparation rooms, and animal holding areas where injured species other than sea turtles are kept.

All profits from admissions, gift shop sales, sea turtle adoptions, memberships, and donations are used for operational costs as well as exhibit development and the rehabilitation of The Georgia Sea Turtle Center’s patients.\

Thanks to the Paris Sightseeing Pass, you can start 2010 in style with a New Year’s holiday to the French capital that won’t break the bank.

The Paris Sightseeing Pass gives access to over 60 top attractions including the Explore Paris exhibition, the Science Museum, a Seine river cruise and entry to the Musée du Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame cathedral.

Visitors get priority access to avoid queues at busy attractions, a free guidebook and many additional deals, discount and freebies. The Paris Sightseeing Pass also includes a metro pass giving you unlimited travel on the metro, buses and RER within central Paris.

Visit the ‘Explore Paris’ exhibition for a fascinating introduction to Paris through three interactive attractions: the Paris Story, Miniature Paris, and the Paris Experience.

Enjoy a visit to the Science Museum with its own planetarium, IMAX Theater and special departments for children and teenagers, making it an exciting attraction for any trip to Paris. Alternatively, relax and see the city from a different perspective during a Seine river cruise with Bateaux Parisiens.

A two day Paris Pass costs €89 for adults, €45 for teens (between 12 and 17 years) and €24 for a child (between 4 and 11 years).

A four-day Paris Pass costs €126 for adults (€63 for teens and €32 for children), and a six-day option costs €154 for adults, €72 for teens and €41 for children.

Check out all the activities on offer with the Paris Pass at www.parispass.com. The website includes a map tool to plan visits, details on all the included attractions, and full details of exclusive special offers including restaurant deals.

For more information and to buy a Paris Pass, visit the banner ad above  or call +44 (0) 1664 485 020

With Ski Freshtracks

As skiers become more adventurous, the demand for courses offering the chance to improve off-piste skills rises.

Every week of this winter season, adventure holiday specialist Ski Freshtracks (www.skifreshtracks.co.uk ) offers off piste ski courses in the French resort of Chamonix.

Skiers with little experience of skiing off piste can join an ‘Aspirers Powder Practice’ week, while those with more off piste experience under their feet can opt for one of the ‘Expert Powder Experience’ weeks.

All courses are graded by standard to ensure skiers are always in small groups of the same ability and groups are lead by fully qualified mountain guides (UIAGM) to find the best of the off piste in the area.

“The mountains guides we work with have been involved with Ski Freshtracks holidays for many years”, says Caroline Boileau, General Manager of Ski Freshtracks.

“They know what our holiday makers want from their off piste week and we choose guides for their knowledge and expertise. Many of our skiers return year after year to ski with their favourite guide knowing that they will be in a small group of like-minded skiers.”

Course only price £390 including a mountain guide, use of a mini bus for private transfers around the Mont Blanc valley, and a Ski Club leader on every holiday. Courses with accommodation also included, from £995.

For those looking for a Christmas get away there are still places on the ‘Christmas Cracker’ in Chamonix. For intermediate to advanced off piste skiers the course runs from 19-26 December. Course only cost – £390.

Visit www.skifreshtracks.co.uk  for full details and for bookings call 0845 45 807 84

Checking a bag into the hold and using a credit card could add almost thirty per cent* onto the advertised price of some “budget” airline tickets, shows new research from Which? Holiday.

The price of a flight to Paris with BMIBaby increased by around 25 per cent when one piece of hold luggage was checked in and the ticket was booked using a credit card, and the price of a flight to Malaga increased by 23 per cent.

Ryanair charges £50 extra across all its routes for checking in a hold bag and paying with a credit card; an increase of between 8 per cent and 29 per cent on the advertised cost of the fare.

Although Jet2 were found to add the most to the cost of a flight for the charges – £92.16 – this was an increase of just 10 per cent on the advertised ticket price.

Easyjet consistently had the lowest luggage and card charges of the four airlines Which? Holiday looked at, ranging from £26 – £38 extra. However, in one case this still amounted to a 17 per cent increase on the advertised price**.

Rochelle Turner, Head of Research for Which? Holiday, says:

“It’s hard to believe that any airline could justify increasing the ticket price by almost a third just for checking a bag into the hold and paying on a credit card – two services that not too long ago were included in the headline price.

“Airlines argue that they are being fairer to customers who don’t use these services.

But, in reality, how many people don’t use a credit or debit card to pay for their flights, or travel without luggage? These aren’t extra services. They are part and parcel of taking a flight.”

Alitalia, Italy’s national airline has undergone a number of important changes in 2009 and is ready to move forward in 2010.

Alitalia is now 100% privately owned by an Italian consortium of investors CAI, Compagnia Aerea Italiana. The privatization took place in January 2009 with integration of the “old” Alitalia and Air One.

The new airline flies to 24 national and 49 international destinations in the world with more than 2500 weekly flights and these numbers are constantly increasing with the introduction of new routes.

The fleet is also being renewed with the introduction of the new Airbus A320.

Alitalia flies directly from Heathrow Terminal 4 to Rome and Milan and through these hubs to the other Italian and international destinations of its extensive network.
Alitalia also flies from London City Airport to Milan-Linate.

Alitalia recently moved from Heathrow Terminal 2 (currently closed for redevelopment) to Terminal 4.

The new improved check-in area is equipped with dedicated Premium check-in desks for business class, Club Ulisse and SkyTeam Elite Plus passengers.

Also, members of Club Ulisse and SkyTeam Elite Plus can now access the new Sky Team VIP lounge, a two-level facility occupying 1,600 sqm and accommodating more than 300 passengers.

The VIP Lounge is equipped with day beds, children area, wellness centre with showers, massage chairs and oxygen bar. There is the option of sampling a unique food menu which reflects the national cuisine of the nine airlines in SkyTeam. The peculiarity of the lounge is a “living wall” composed of more than 60 plant species that acts as air purification system for the lounge.

Alitalia as also recently inaugurated the new “Giotto” (intercontinental flights and extra-Schengen) and “Borromini” (European flights) lounges at Rome Fiumicino Airport. The two lunges have dedicated check-in desks, showers and complimentary personal kits, bar service, self-service area with fresh food products, pc stations with printers, fax and photocopiers, newspapers and magazines.

Terminal 1 is the new terminal at Fiumicino Airport dedicated to Alitalia flights for national and international destinations (in Schengen area countries).

Fiumicino’s T1 features new signs that are particularly eye-catching and is now hosting a vast communications campaign – with the slogan: Alitalia is working for You – about the many new features introduced by Alitalia since January 2009, when the airline was re-launched.

Regarding new flights, although at the moment there aren’t any new direct flights from the UK, Alitalia has opened an important new national route from Rome Fiumicino and Milan-Linate to Crotone in Calabria. This beautiful area of Calabria is now more easily reachable from the UK via Rome or Milan.

For more information visit the website:
www.alitalia.co.uk

Another Option To Get Tourism Information

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has established an Internet Call Centre to help visitors get updated tourism information — or even lodge a complaint.

The Centre has been set up at the TAT Head Office since 1 October, 2009, and provides a 24-hour service in Thai and English. The information can be provided via internet inquiry or video live chat.

Tourists can log in to www.tourismthailand.org and click on the “1672 tourist hotline” icon on the lower right-hand side of the web-page. After selecting the language, visitors will be asked to fill in basic details such as their name and email address.

The information available covers these categories: accommodation, travelling, sight-seeing and season. A fifth category allows visitors to lodge a complaint.

Responses will be provided as soon as possible, depending on the kind of information sought, and the time it will take to compile and verify it.
As of 30 November 2009, the Centre has responded to inquiries from 3,074 visitors in 18 countries, viz., Japan, US, Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, India, China, Denmark, UK, Switzerland, Korea, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Indonesia and Thailand.

According to Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni, Deputy Governor for Marketing Communications, TAT,

“The Internet Call Centre is one of numerous actions we are taking in response to the way people are interacting and communicating with each other in an increasingly online world. This service will be of help to travel agents, consumers, and even hotel concierge desks.”

Mr. Suraphon said there were plans to expand this facility in future, especially to add assistance in more languages.

Tourism bosses in Wiltshire are hoping a new regular rail service from London into Salisbury and Tisbury will further boost visitor figures in 2010.

The service, which launched on 13th December 2009, provides a daily, hourly route out of London’s Waterloo to Salisbury and Tisbury, and onwards to Exeter.

Not only is the new service more regular but it’s faster than ever before with the average journey time between London and Salisbury being under two hours.

Alun Williams, head of VisitWiltshire Tourism Partnership commented: “The service is great news for Wiltshire both in terms of tourism from the capital and also linking the two South West cathedral cities of Salisbury and Exeter.

It makes visiting key attractions such as Stonehenge, Salisbury Cathedral, Old Wardour Castle and Wilton House an easy journey for visitors as all are within easy reach of the two stations. We’ve had a great year in 2009, with the highest ever reported visitor figures and this new service is a fantastic way to round off the year and take us into 2010.

He continued: “Furthermore the additional trains could not have come at a better time for Wiltshire given that in 2010 we are celebrating a number of anniversaries including the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway!”

For more information on the rail services including timetables and prices visit www.southwesttrains.co.uk.  

For information about Wiltshire visit www.visitwiltshire.co.uk

Winter is the perfect time for planning a romantic weekend away in the UK. Cosy cottages with log fires, wrapping up and going for long walks after a leisurely lunch and simply hiding away for a couple of days makes an idyllic break.

If you need an excuse, there is of course Valentine’s Day, but be spontaneous and just do it anyway.

www.internet-cottages.com  has a plenty of romantic bolt holes to tempt you…

Gate Cottage, Nr Penrith, Cumbria

Escape to the Lake District, for romantic walks and stunning scenery. Gate Cottage has been refurbished to an exceptional standard and food lovers are in for a treat, it’s adjacent to the Cumbrian Dining Pub of the Year, why dine anywhere else? Prices from £390

Sunnybeck Cottage, Giggleswick, Yorkshire Dales
This traditional stone cottage has a fabulous contemporary interior with carefully thought out design. There are plenty of walks on your doorstep and the village has a great foodie pub and a café within walking distance. Prices from £200

The Tower House, Duncrub Park, Perthshire

For some highland romance, head to this gloriously romantic converted 19th century chapel where cherubs adorn the bedroom ceiling and flying angels watch over the kitchen.

Awarded 5 stars from Visit Scotland, The Tower House, is a one hour drive from Edinburgh & Glasgow airports. Prices from £360.

www.internet-cottages.com offers over 600 cottages and holiday homes around the UK, France and Spain. Log-on and simply book direct with owners, cutting out the middle-man and saving up to 20% compared to holiday rental agencies.