Jetsettersblog

Don’t know if we can mention the ‘c’ word at this stage, but for walkers hoping to spend the festive season (still can’t say it!) in warmer climes, Walks Worldwide emphasises the need to book early. Their 12-day Libyan Explorer guided walking holiday offers the exotic and unusual, plus with guaranteed winter sunshine and inspirational desert scenery, it will more than fill the bill. Tour departs London 19th December

Towering sand dunes, shimmering palm-fringed lakes, volcanic mountains, prehistoric rock art, remarkable Roman remains and a long and fertile Mediterranean coastline are just fragments of what makes Libya such an inspiring destination. In Tripoli the welcome is warm, with smiling faces all around and streets lined with images of a triumphant (and sometimes smiling) Colonel Gaddaffi.

 Explore the city’s ancient medina, as charming as the one in Marrakech but without the usual hassles, allowing travellers to browse in peace.

One of the highlights of Walks Worldwide’s tour is the remarkable UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jebel Acacus, in the south-west of the country. Comparable to Jordan’s stunning Wadi Rum, its Saharan landscapes, inhabited by the nomadic Tuareg, reveal sand and rock towers, many examples of rarely-seen rock carvings and paintings, and desert wildlife. Walks Worldwide spend five nights here trekking amongst the dramatic Acacus rock formations and sand dunes, stopping to camp in a different location each night.

Other highlights include visits to the Roman cities of Sabaratha, boasting one of the finest theatres in antiquity, and magnificent Leptis Magna, without doubt the best Roman ruins outside of Italy. Here, explore the well-preserved colonnaded streets, baths, arches and amphitheatre of Africa’s greatest Roman cities.

The tour costs £1,515 p/p (December departure) and £1,395 p/p (October departure) including scheduled flights, transfers, hotel and camping accommodation, most meals and expert guiding.

Walks Worldwide
01524 242000
sales@walksworldwide.com
www.walksworldwide.com

Libya Travel MapA map from ITM is an all-in-one travel resource, and perfect for todays travelers These attractive and information-rich maps cover an entire countryregion in splendid detail. Useful information such as elevation, major transportation routes, and national parks is clearly displayed. Of particular use to travelers is the tremendous attention paid to road designation and the extensive labeling of physical features such as mountain ranges, valleys and peaks. Each map comes with an inset of a major city, national park, or area of historical significance. To round out these tremendous products, each map has an area of text giving the reader an overview of the countrys history. From cartography, to text, to a few unique photographs, ITM maps are a travelers best friend

From Holiday Options

Holiday Options has launched its 2009 ‘Mediterranean & Atlantic Islands’
brochure – featuring Sardinia, Sicily, Corsica, Port Santo, Madeira, The
Azores, La Gomera and Cape Verde – and offering a wealth of new ideas and deals

There’s expansion in Corsica, with chambres d’hotes – often part of a family home - making their debut. An ideal way for visitors to experience rural life on the island, these village rooms are on offer in the Patrimonio and Porto Vecchio areas and are all inspected and licensed by local tourist boards.

Prices start at the twin share rate of £715 per person inclusive of return flights from Gatwick and half-board accommodation. Car hire can be arranged on request and flights are also available from Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester.

Other additions in Corsica include villas with pools, new hotels – including a former Franciscan monastery in Calvi – and a ‘Great Scenic Rail Adventure’ travelling through the mountains from Bastia to Ajaccio.

Further new ideas in the 2009 programme include:

• Madeira – ‘The Family Experience’ with ‘soft’ adventure and whale watching
• The Azores – short breaks in Ponta Delgada and/or Furnas, plus two UNESCO World Heritage Hotels
• Cape Verde - direct flights from Birmingham to Sal, plus a family-run boutique-style guesthouse on Boa Vista
• Sicily – the island of Pantelleria, plus more three-star hotels in Taormina and Giardini Naxos
• Sardinia – new flight from Edinburgh to Olbia
• The Canaries – the introduction of Tenerife

Prices in the brochure, valid between November 2008 and October 2009, lead in at £399 per person for seven nights at the Hotel San Marco in Sardinia inclusive of return flights from Gatwick, transfers and accommodation with breakfast.

Early booking incentives, for reservations made by 30 April 2009, include savings of up to £800 per couple on 14-night holidays on selected dates at the four-star Relais and Chateaux Grand Hotel de Cala Rossa on Corsica.

ATOL-bonded Holiday Options also offers the option of flexible holiday durations from three nights upwards, utilising a choice of airlines including scheduled, low-cost, as well as their own charters.

Reservations: 0844 477 0452, www.holidayoptions.co.uk

Bales Worldwide is introducing a raft of new options for its Egypt, Morocco and Arabia programme for 2009/10, including the addition of the Musk, the operator’s fourth dahabiyya on the Nile, new boutique hotels in Tripoli and Cairo, and an increased focus on walking holidays in Jordan. The programme includes 18 escorted holidays and countless independent travel choices to Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Iran and Uzbekistan, with prices starting £995 for the 11 day ‘Wonders of Ancient Egypt’ itinerary.

THE NILE IN STYLE – A HOST OF CRUISING OPTIONS

Bales Worldwide offers now offers the widest range of luxury Nile cruise options, with a total of 12 different cruise boats featured from the traditional dahabiyya experiences, to the Movenpick Royal Lily Nile cruise ship. Due to a change in flight scheduling, Bales can now also offer a shorter 8 day holiday option featuring the Nile Cruise only.

Bales continues to be one of the few UK tour operators to offer the dahabiyya Nile cruise experience. The company is adding a fourth vessel for 2009/10, as the Musk joins the Nesma, the Zahra and the Amber. The dahabiyyas (19th century style wooden crafted river sailing vessels) revive the elegant days when aristocrats and sophisticated travellers cruised the Nile. All vessels are fitted out in colonial style with oriental and Egyptian touches and each of the six cabins has its own individual decoration. The dahabiyyas are now available on a choice of two itineraries – the original 12 day ‘Nostalgic Nile’ holiday (from £1,595 per person), and a shorter 8 day cruise only holiday (from £1,345 per person). The former includes three days in Cairo staying at the Mena House Oberoi Hotel, before embarking at Luxor or Aswan for a leisurely seven day cruise. The vessel stops at private moorings, away from the larger towns, as well as calling in at little visited Nile islands.

Other outstanding cruise options on offer include a 4 night cruise on the Oberoi Philae, which is perfect for those with limited time, a new cruise aboard the luxurious Movenpick Royal Lily and an itinerary that includes time aboard the luxurious Sonesta St. George I cruise ship.

The new 8 day ‘Egyptian Encounters’ (from £1,325 per person) itinerary combines a cruise on the Sonesta St. George I cruise ship with the opulent comforts of the Four Seasons Hotel Cairo. The Sonesta is one of the Nile’s newest boats and this exquisite vessel offers just 49 cabins and 10 suites, as well as the finest in interiors and amenities. The holiday starts with 3 nights in Cairo before you head off for 4 nights cruising along the river.

VILLA BELLE EPOQUE OPENS IN CAIRO

Bales is among the first UK operators to offer the Villa Belle Epoque as part of its tailor made options. Set to be Cairo’s first truly boutique hotel, the Villa Belle Epoque is due to open in early 2009. This 1920’s house is located in the Maadi suburb, set among a garden of date palms and fruit trees, and has been tastefully converted into a 13 bedroom hotel. Relax by the inviting swimming pool, sip a cool drink on your private balcony and soak up the ambience. This is the perfect place to stay for a few days before heading off for a dahabiyya cruise along the Nile.

TREKKING IN JORDAN

Jordan is an incredibly diverse country and Bales is now offering 5 different itineraries that explore its unrivalled splendour – including a number of trekking options. The 8 day ‘Active Jordan’ trip (from £1,795 per person) includes two treks, as well as several guided walking tours. Explore the vibrant capital of Amman on foot, take in Dana Nature reserve on a 15km hike through some of the most beautiful and spectacular scenery in Jordan, and follow a 10km ancient trail traversing the rocky ledges of the Sharah Mountains, to the site of Petra’s spectacular monastery.

Bales’ tailor made options in the country, include the chance to experience truly unique accommodation in the beautiful lunar landscape of the Wadi Rum region - in the form of Desert Camp Wadi Rum. This private camp affords a nomadic experience camping in dome style tents (or out under the stars if you would prefer), with a communal Bedouin tent for dining and entertainment, and delicious, traditional food cooked over hot coals. This really is Jordan with a difference and prices start from £195 per night based on 2 passengers travelling.

BOUTIQUE LIBYA

Bales’ 8 day ‘Images of Libya’ itinerary (from £1,495 per person) now includes time at the brand new El-Khan hotel in Tripoli. The hotel, which is due to open at the end of 2008, aims to be Tripoli’s first boutique hotel. Bales Worldwide is one of very few UK operators who will be offering this stylish, characterful retreat. The Images of Libya holiday kicks off with a night at the El-Khan and the opportunity to enjoy an evening meal with a local family in Tripoli, before you head off to explore the endless vistas of the Sahara and the spectacular ruins of the ancient ‘Pentapolis’ cities. Day 6 sees you return to El-Khan for 2 nights, with sightseeing at the National Museum, time to explore the old souk and a day at the utterly breathtaking, UNESCO Heritage site of Leptis Magna.

For a copy of the new brochure or for reservations please call 0845 057 0600

or look online at www.balesworldwide.com

ACE Study Tours Launches ACE Cultural Cruises - Luxury Cultural Cruises Travel In Style And Be Cultured

ACE Study Tours is launching ACE Cultural Cruises - exclusive cultural cruises abroad luxury, boutique style small ships for up to 40 passengers

Whether it’s navigating the Nile in a traditional two-masted sailing yacht, taking tips from head chef Thierry as he prepares feasts using fresh local Provencal ingredients, or diving from the yacht’s stern directly into the Aegean sea, ACE Cultural Cruises is offering a totally different cruise experience.

Catering for between 16 and 40 guests with a passenger to crew ratio often as small as two to one, ACE will be setting sail aboard luxury, small ship cruises. Drawing on 50 years of expertise, ACE Cultural Cruises is being launched by leading accompanied tour operator ACE Study Tours.

Using sail cruises or large yachts, these more intimate boats provide all the joys of cruising whilst making the holiday a much more personal experience. The modest size of the boats allows them to navigate shallow waters and tie up at private moorings inaccessible to typical cruise ships.

Led by experts, each cruise unravels a region’s history, art, architecture, archaeology, wildlife and even its music. The cruises are led by specialists in the field, such as Emmy award winning Humphrey Burton, one of Britain’s most distinguished television directors and music commentators.

Using small ships, guests can choose from:

• Ancient Egypt and The Nile
• Classical North Africa
• The Aegean
• Cyclades
• Scottish Highlands & Islands
• Provence & The Camargue

For reservations please call 01223 835055 or visit www.aceculturalcruises.co.uk

Riyadh-Asiut and Dammam-Beirut)

Sama Airlines” launches new routes (Riyadh-Asiut and Dammam-Beirut)

• Sama is the only airlines flying to Asiut directly from Saudi
• Fares starts from SR 290 Dammam-Beirut, and 390 Riyadh-Asiut
• Sama network covers 10 international cities with 23 routes

Riyadh: Sama Airlines, the newest low-fares airline in Saudi Arabia, announced that launch of two new international routes between Riyadh-Asiut and Dammam-Beirut, starting from 1st of September 2008. Sama network now is increased to cover 10 international cities with 23 international routes departing from Riyadh, Dammam, and Jeddah.

Mr. Samer Atawi, Chief Commercial Officer of Sama said: “we are pleased in Sama to inaugurate these two international routes (Riyadh-Asiut, and Dammam-Beirut) to serve our guests, and to answer the demand on these routes. Sama offers new attractive options to eastern province citizens to travel to Lebanon for pleasure or business. Sama is the only airline flying directly from Saudi Arabia to Asiut, our first route was from Jeddah, and now from Riyadh to serve all Egyptian society in Saudi Arabia and Egyptian citizens in Asiut and southern Egypt, who are working in Saudi Arabia and looking to visit their families and friends in Asiut, or who want to visit Saudi Arabia for work or Umrah. Sama launched inaugural fares for these two destinations, fares start from SR 390 for Riyadh-Asiut and SR 290 for Dammam-Beirut.”

Flights to Beirut depart from Dammam twice weekly on Tuesday and Friday, and flights to Asiut depart from Riyadh three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Sama flies to 12 domestic destinations (Dammam, Riyadh, Jeddah, Abha, Jizan, Hail, Arar, Jouf, Tabouk, Rafha, and Bisha) and 10 international destinations across the Middle East (Abu-Dhabi, Sharjah, Amman, Damascus, Latakia, Aleppo, Beirut, Alexandira, Asiut and Sharm el Sheikh). Sama offers various ways for booking, such as the website (www.flysama.com) or Call Centre 9200 05588, or Sales Centre in all the main cities (Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madinah, Abha) and the Airports, or our Authorised Travel Agents (Inside Saudi Arabia and outside). There are various payment options also available (Cash, POS, Credit Card, Sadad).

Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental, subsidiaries of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., are kicking off a new frequent-flyer partnership with the Emirates Skywards program.

They are publicizing the new relationship by offering 1,000 bonus miles on rentals of any car type rented for three days or longer.

The bonus offer is available through Dec. 31, when consumers make an advance reservation using promotional code EK1K. The 1,000 bonus miles are in addition to the regular award structures of Emirates.

For more information, visit www.dtag.com

Libya is being touted as the ultimate long weekend break by specialist operator Kirker Holidays.

The country is being featured in a new North Africa brochure with four-night escorted tours starting at £1,123 per person.

The trip takes in Tripoli, Sabratha and the Roman site of Leptis Magna. The tour includes a specialist tour lecturer, flights, transfers and four nights’ accommodation with breakfast.

The 24-page brochure also includes tailor-made holidays to Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt.

A five-night itinerary to Egypt, where a combination of Cairo and Luxor, including guided tours of the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids in Giza, leads in at £1,295

Explore Egypt with a tourist guide

Hailed as “the travel service innovation of 2008″ by the Irish Times

OurExplorer facilitates with ease the on-line booking of professional tourist guides from all over the world. Save time and money while you explore your next destination with the wisdom and guidance of a local.

Have you ever thought whilst visiting a new destination, “I wonder where the locals eat, drink, fish, ski, shop or party?” OurExplorer suggests its time for us all to stop simply sight-seeing but rather start exploring with the local wisdom and knowledge of a professional tourist guide.

OurExplorer has launched a new travel concept in BETA, a user-rated tourist guide booking tool created exclusively for your personal travel needs.

As the global financial crisis still looms, OurExplorer can save travellers hassle and money by getting the maximum out of their overseas adventure with a private tourist guide.

Enjoy the insight of the best shopping and value for money dining experiences in a city, directly from a native. Some tourist guides are currently offering special discounted rates and free tour hours on OurExplorer.

OurExplorer promote professional tourist guides only. Pre booking, the traveller can view their experience, license, past client testimonials or even chat with the tourist guide.

OurExplorer launched in July 2008 with now over 400 private tourist guides covering more than 80 countries worldwide — making it the biggest professional tourist guide directory in the world and growing all the time!

Make your trip overseas unique and full of adventure.
You book your flight and accommodation on-line, why not your tourist guide?
Get a tourist guide for land (city guide, mountain guide) or sea (diving guide).

Purpose of OurExplorer:

1. To help tourist guides increase their income thereby benefiting the local community - especially those in poor countries e.g. Kenya, Mexico and Cambodia.

2. Increase cross cultural awareness and acceptance via direct connection with locals e.g. people in USA get the chance to understand those in Pakistan and Israel

“Perhaps travel cannot prevent bigotry but it can introduce the idea that if we try and understand each other, we may even become friends,” said Mahatma Gandhi.

“Less than 9.7% of overseas travelers interact in meaningful discussion with a local,” according to the Tourism 2020 Vision reported by WTO.

The IMF concluded in March 2007 that “direct support of independent local businesses when you travel has the most positive results on local economy”.

“Rather than just donating money, OurExplorer is a sustainable long term solution to help low income families globally,” said David Cunningham (Chief Exploring Officer).

Peter Deilmann Cruises is debuting two new 2009 Mediterranean itineraries aboard its luxury flagship, MS Deutschland, with calls at such perennial favorite destinations as Rome and Venice as well as lesser-known medieval cities and towns boasting Roman and Greek ruins that span the millennia.

The seven-night Venice-to-Rome cruise, March 29, 2009, calls at ports in Croatia, Montenegro, Greece and Italy with fares from $3,950 to $9,150 per person, double.

The 12-night itinerary, roundtrip from Rome on April 5, explores destinations in Spain, Tunisia, Malta, Greece and Italy, prices from $5,100 to $13,970. Peter Deilmann continues to offer its $99 air and shore excursion package that provides roundtrip air from 73 North American gateways, a package of pre-arranged shore excursions and free transfers to the ship, representing a value of up to $600.

Groups of five couples or more save an additional 10% off the published cruise fares.

The seven-night itinerary spotlights one of the Mediterranean’s most sought-after destinations, the Dalmatian Coast, with visits to the medieval cities of Kotor, Montenegro, a World Heritage Site set amid a magnificent fjord; and Zadar, Croatia, encircled by a mountainous park and home to the 9th-century St. Donat Church and the 14th-century St. Anastasia Cathedral.

The Greek ports of Katakolon and Corfu also bring the past alive for travelers, with the former city offering easy access to the ancient site of the original Olympic Games that debuted in 776 BC; and the latter featuring a Venetian Old Town and 19th-century Achillion Palace.

In Italy, Naples is the jumping off point for excursions to the ruins of ancient Pompeii and the breathtaking island of Capri. Venice brings guests some of the most famous landmarks in the world, including the Piazza San Marco and the two-mile Grand Canal, while Rome offers a seemingly endless array of attractions that include the Coliseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Sistine Chapel.

A taste of Italy is on the 12-night itinerary’s menu, with an overnight in the Eternal City and calls at Sicily’s Lipari, home to a reconstructed Norman-era church; and Messina, whose museum features works by famed Italian artist Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio.

Travelers trace the footsteps of the Roman Empire in Tunis’ La Goulette with visits to the city’s ancient baths, cisterns and basilicas, and Spain’s Palma de Mallorca, a beautiful port city founded by the Romans in 123 BC, and known for its rich history, varied culture and active nightlife.

Malta also boasts its share of breathtaking historic treasures including Megalithic temples, catacombs and fortresses, legacies of The Knights of St. John, Phoenicians, Romans, Carthaginians and Arabs.

Ancient Greece comes alive in Patras, where history spans four millennia with attractions such as the Holy Church of Agios Andreas, the Byzantine Church of Pantokrator and Castle of Rio, circa 1499.

With a guest to crew ratio of two-to-one, MS Deutschland offers its guests a choice of three gourmet restaurants, an outdoor dining terrace plus seven diverse bars and cafes, each featuring its own distinct ambience.

There are a variety of accommodations, all with fine moldings and artwork, classic furnishings, picture windows, ample closet space and marble-tiled bathrooms with full-size showers; suites are also equipped with bathtubs.

The nine-deck ship offers a spacious library lounge; outdoor and indoor pools; three sun decks; open-air promenade deck; grand ballroom for nightly entertainment and dancing; and fitness and spa facilities. Smoking is not permitted onboard except in open deck areas and in the Old Fritz Pub.

For those travelers arranging their own air, an allowance of $750 per person is deductible from the cruise fare. Deilmann Cruises also offers Business Class fares for an additional supplement on selected itineraries.

For details on the cruises, optional tours and other amenities, contact Peter Deilmann Cruises at 1-800-348-8287 or by E-mail at pdcmail@deilmann-cruises.com

 Cruises itineraries, deck plans and ship photos are online at www.deilmann-cruises.com

VoyageTrek Travel
Cliff Hawk
(206) 695-2915
cliffh@voyagetrek.com
www.voyagetrek.com

SEATTLE—VoyageTrek Travel, the free online travel directory that provides destination match-making services for travelers, announced that it is expanding its program to African safaris and Galapagos Islands adventure cruising. This unique company premiered the AdventureMatch matching service in March 2008. The program has been enthusiastically received by the travel industry.

Current match-making categories include tours to Alaska, select fly fishing lodges, and dude ranches throughout the Western United States. VoyageTrek Founder Cliff Hawk says tour operators are responding well to the new program and the company has had an easy time recruiting top new tour operators. Answering to its initial success and ongoing demand, VoyageTrek continues to expand its travel segments and commitment to helping people find their ideal vacation.

“By adding Africa and Ecuador as travel segments, we provide exceptional value to travelers interested in these areas,” says Hawk. “No one wants to pick the wrong tour operator, and on the other end, the tour operators who are providing the best tours in the business often don’t have a marketing budget or are only known by word-of-mouth so they need an easier way to find leisure travel customers suited to their services.”

As the leading customer referral and match-making program in the adventure tourism industry, VoyageTrek provides multi-category, customized match-making between high-end travelers and suppliers. For adventurers wanting to find their ideal Alaska tour, fly fishing, or rafting destination, as well as a dude ranch, safari or Galapagos cruise, they can do a search at www.voyagetrek.com and click on the “Get Matched Now!” button and program link.

For tour operators interested in the adventure match program, log on to www.voyagetrek.com/operator  or call Hawk at (206) 695-2915.