Jetsettersblog

Tourist Guide Booking Tool

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).

Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa Ramadan specials

This Ramadan, relax in the elegant and atmospheric surroundings of the Brasserie and enjoy a sumptuous buffet, à la carte menu and themed live cooking stations. During the holy month of Ramadan the Brasserie will be providing a superb Iftar buffet from sunset until 8pm priced Dhs. 185 per person. Regular dinning will resume from 8pm onwards.

Kindly book ahead for Iftar at the Brasserie to ensure Le Royal Meridien is able to accommodate your request.

Al Khaima

This Ramadan Al Khaima offers guests the perfect setting to socialize after the sun goes down. Sit back, relax and watch the sunset over the beautiful Arabian Sea from the terrace at Al Khaima, or in the comfort of the delightful indoor dining area at the specially designed Ramadan tent. Listen to the mellow tones of the oudh and tabla and sample a sumptuous selection of traditional Arabic cuisine taken from the restaurant’s al a carte menu. As well as a mouthwatering assortment of specialty foods such as shish taouk, koftaas, salads and sweets, a selection of board games and shisha pipes will make for a truly relaxing experience.

Entry price of AED. 99, which includes a selection of two hot and two cold mezzehs, applies.

Al Khaima is open between 8.00pm until 2.00am on weekdays (3.00am Thursdays). A special Al Khaima set menu is available for larger groups when pre-booked.

To enjoy any of these fantastic offers please call Le Royal Meridien on 04-316 5550 for reservations.

Travel Match Program to Africa and Ecuador

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.

AFRICA: The Cradle of Humanity

When people think of Africa, they think of the big five safari sightings (lion, leopard, elephant, water buffalo, and rhino) or the big five tragedies of the continent (war, genocide, famine, political corruption, and the HIV/AIDS epidemic). But Africa encompasses much more than wildlife and warfare.

Africa is huge. It’s four times the size of the United States. It’s roughly 5,000 miles long and 4,600 miles wide. Africa makes up 20% of the earth’s landmass.

“There’s a whole continent beyond the cliché that appeals to luxury travelers and intrepid adventurers alike,” says Andy Alpine, co-founder of Specialty Travel Index (SpecialtyTravel.com). “The photo safari is still a big draw, of course–where else in the world can you experience the sight of a lion stalking its prey or the magnificent wildebeest migration across Serengeti’s endless plains? You could track wildlife in every country in Africa and still not get tired of it. But there is a rich cache of African experiences that many people don’t discover until their second trip to Africa–and some may overlook it altogether.”

Specialty Travel Index puts hundreds of African vacations from some of Africa’s best outfitters in one easy to navigate web site. Travel agents and travelers can narrow down their choices by country and by type of trip with a couple clicks.

Here’s a look at just a few of the dream-of-a-lifetime African travel experiences from different outfitters that can be found at www.specialtytravel.com and the magazine/directory Specialty Travel Index:

Ghana arts & Culture

Ghana is a kaleidoscope of arts. Palace Travel’s seven day art and culture tour of Ghana gives collectors and culture buffs a unique and up-close cultural experience. Travelers visit a local casket making shop to see a collection of caskets carved in the shapes of various objects depicting traditional beliefs in life after death (the “Fantasy Coffins” of Teshie Nungua have been featured in National Geographic and galleries worldwide).

They take drumming and dancing lessons on Kokrobrite Beach and learn to make fufu, ground nut soup, red red, and palava sauce in a Ghanian cooking workshop. Then its’ on to the Ashanti craft villages–Pankrono, where potters create colorful hand-built vessels; Ahwiaa, known for royal stools, walking sticks and fertility dolls; Ntonso where artisans hand-stamp patterns on cotton cloth to make adinkra textiles worn for funerals and other solemn occasions; and Bonwire where the famous Kente cloth is handmade on looms, in a time-honored tradition passed down through generations. If your suitcase isn’t stuffed with art by then, it will be after the Kumasi Central Market (also known as Kejetia Market), the largest open-air market in West Africa, where more than 10,000 vendors sell just about everything you could need or want - food, fabric, clothing, furniture, beauty products, and handmade crafts.

PALACE TRAVEL

Diving the Red Sea

The Red Sea, where the desert meets the ocean, is one of the planet’s most fascinating natural sea environments. There are about 200 of coral types and over a thousand species of fish, more species than anybody of water its size. Many divers consider the Red Sea is the best diving in the world world. Lotus International’s Deep Down in the Red Sea diving tour starts in Cairo and gives divers the chance to explore the Abou Dabab Reefs, Elephinstone Reef, Dolphin Reefs (3 dives with the dolphins), St. Johns, Marsa Alam, and West Abu Dabab. LOTUS INTERNATIONAL TOURS

Photographer’s Safaris

There can’t be an amateur or professional photographer alive that hasn’t fantasized about the capturing a shot of lions cubs playing in the grass, a leopard in a tree, or a line of elephants. A professional photographer leads small (10 or fewer) photo-hungry groups on daily game hunts–at a photographers pace–in open vehicles and bushwalks through private game reserves and Kruger National Park. Photographers will spot game from above on an ultra light flight and take a boat through the world’s third largest canyon for hippo and croc shots. In the evening, guests compare shots in the tree house style lodge. AFRICA WILD SAFARIS

Explore the Kalahari

Few parts of Africa can match the mystique of Botswana’s Kalahari Desert. Its unique and striking environment, and its vastness and isolation, leaves a lasting impression on all visitors. In addition to exploring its fragile ecosystem, Travelers with Mountain Travel Sobek’s Kalahari Desert private adventure can experience the cultural richness of the indigenous San (Bushman) people, who live in complete harmony with their environment. From Jack’s Camp, an elegant, traditional East African–style camp (the best in the Kalahari!), you’ll explore the saltpans on quad bikes, search for the elusive brown hyena, and take a walk with a Bushman and learn how the San people have survived for centuries in this harshly beautiful environment.

MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SOBEK

Tracking Large Game on Foot in Big Five Territory

An environmentally-friendly tented camp in the Timbavati Private Nature Reserve, Bateleur Eco Safaris is in the heart of Big 5 territory. Forming a part of the Greater Kruger National Park, all artificial barriers between the reserves have been removed, allowing the wildlife to roam free. Sightings of lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo, rhino, cheetah, antelope, and 350 bird species are common. Guides conduct daily bush walks, which teach guests to track large game on foot and provide a fascinating insight into animal behavior. To ensure an authentic wildlife experience, Bateleur Eco Safaris exposes guests to a variety of activities such as bushcraft and survival skills, bringing them closer to nature than ever before.

BATELEUR ECO SAFARIS

Cradle of Voodoo

The Adventure Center offers a journey of extremes through some of Africa’s less-visited countries: Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Traveling through three very different nations, travelers experience diverse cultures and traditional religions, amazing natural attractions, unique architectural styles, friendly people and vibrant local music. From the Gulf of Guinea to the remote nomadic lands in the north of Burkina Faso, travelers visit fetish markets and python temples, spend a night in a traditional stilt village, witness fire-dancing and mask ceremonies and explore the vast expanse of the Burkinabe Sahel. Sometimes, they are even granted an audience with King Maiga Belko at Arabinda. Adventure Center

Maasailand Safari

One of National Geographic Traveler’s “50 Tours of a Lifetime”, this is the chance to explore the African savanna on foot with Maasai warriors, share stories with elders, discuss world issues of common concern, learn about wildlife conservation and animal husbandry, women’s issues, rites of passage, and discover the fine arts of beading, traditional healing, music and dance, all from a base of specially built guest bungalows in the Maasai village of Merrushi. WILDLAND ADVENTURES

Birding in Egypt

Egypt is a bridge between continents offering migratory species the perfect route for their annual flights from Europe and Asia. A wide variety of Egyptian habitats ranging from high rugged mountains to desert and tropical style jungle along the Nile basin, give it a unique character plus the diversity needed to attract an extremely wide range of bird life– over 430 species of birds are found in Egypt. Travel Egypt, in addition to Nile cruises classic Nile Valley tours, operates a tour during the anticipated peak of migrations to afford birders a vacation with the maximum chance to view and photograph the widest variety possible. Birders visit to important antiquity sites and oasis in both upper and lower Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula with its beautiful beaches, incredible undersea life, and bountiful collection of bird life. TRAVEL EGYPT

Spotting Gorilla and Chimps in Uganda

Uganda’s longest operating Safari provider (operating since 1959), Kimbla-Mantana African Safaris, combines luxury tent camps with real beds, comfortable furniture, thick rugs, and fully stocked dining and bar tents (this isn’t roughing it), with game viewing tin a private fleet of 4×4 Land cruisers. Lake Mburo Camp is set in a beautiful game park that has a wide range of Africa’s wildlife; Bwindi Forest Camp is the base for mountain gorilla treks; and Kibale Forest Camp is the forested base for chimpanzee spotting. Kimbla-Mantana African Safaris

These, and many other African experiences (as well as a myriad of special interest and adventure travel adventures), can be found in Specialty Travel Index and on www.SpecialtyTravel.com

STI is easy to use, on the web site with the “Find Your Adventure” search mechanism indexing tours by both interest/activity (Yacht Charter, Wine Tours,) and destination (Costa Rica, France) and in the magazine using similar choices. Subscriptions to the magazine cost $10 per year (Canada $15; other foreign $25) for two issues: July (Fall/Winter) and January (Spring/Summer). Send orders to: info@specialtytravel.com or order online at www.specialtytravel.com

Libra Holidays winter Red Sea flights

Libra Holidays is offering passengers in the Leeds/Bradford airport area weekly flights to Sharm el Sheikh each Friday for winter.

Departures are available from February 13 to May 29 with prices leading in at £478 per person for seven nights at the Tsokkos Cleopatra Hotel.

Air Arabia early check-in

• New procedure will provide added convenience for passengers

• Dedicated counter at Sharjah hub for passengers who use service

• Passengers will benefit from early seat assignment

Sharjah, : Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, today introduced a new early check-in procedure for all of its passengers. The procedure allows passengers to check-in up to 24 hours before their flight, and make use of dedicated counters specifically set up for them, which also offer early seat assignment.

“Convenience for our passengers is one of our strengths,” said AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia. “With the introduction of these new early check-in procedures, we give passengers the option to have their boarding expedited immediately if they register early. All of our passengers will benefit from having this option, as it will make the boarding of our flights more efficient than ever.”

The dedicated counters and early check-in procedure are available from flights taking off from Air Arabia’s primary hub at Sharjah International Airport only. Standard timings for early check-in will commence from 10:00-19:00 daily. Dedicated counters for early check-in passengers will be at counters #41 and #42.

Passengers who make use of this check-in procedure must be sure to arrive at the check-in counter at least 60 minutes before flight time. There is no additional charge for making use early check-in.

The Red Sea Jazz Festival

Eilat will once again host the Red Sea Jazz Festival, August 25th – 28th this year. Attracting over 40, 000 people to the four open air venues, over 30 concerts are held over 4 days. The stunning backdrop of mountains and sea creates a beautiful setting that no other jazz festival can provide.

The public experience the widest spectrum of jazz from New Orleans to contemporary, including Latin and World music. As well as an international line up of guest artists, the festival also headlines top Israeli groups. The festival is active in the field of jazz education and promotes original jazz compositions and youth jazz bands. Clinics and jam sessions are also held with guest artists every night.

Israel’s 60th anniversary has drawn in more top performers than ever and this year is not to be missed. Any UK jazz aficionado would immediately think of Incognito as the major representative brand of the sound of sophisticated, uplifting UK soul jazz. This year’s festival will be swept away on a sea of hot soul jazz melodies led by guitarist-songwriter, ‘Bluey’, and vocalist Joy Rose.

Also joining the line up will be; Randy Brecker / Bill Evans & Soulbop; Kurt Elling Trio; Carla Bley & The Lost Chords; Mike Stern featuring Richard Bona, Bob Malach & Lionel Cordew; Ben Riley& The Monk Legacy Septet; Oregon; Terry Lyne Carrington/Geri Allen/Esperanza Spalding/Tineke Postma Quartet; The John Fedchock NY Sexstet; Omar Sosa Afreecanos Band; Edmar Castaneda Trio featuring Joe Locke; The Zbigniew Namyslowski 6tet; The Avishai Cohen Trio amongst others.

Information Centre and tickets
Castel: 00972-1-599-525354
00972 3604 5000
rstourism@eilat.muni.il
http://www.redseajazzeilat.com

-Ends-

Great African Adventures and Mountains of Africa

Struik Publishers is pleased to announce two new books bringing the adventure of outdoor Africa to readers: Great African Adventures: A Guide to the Mother Continent’s Ultimate Outdoor Adventures and Mountains of Africa. Both are available for your consideration for review.

Great African Adventures: A Guide to the Mother Continent’s Ultimate Outdoor Adventures by Jacques Marais Click photos to order these books.

Africa may rate as uncharted territory to the majority of mainstream travellers, but an advance guard of intrepid adventurers has long been exploring this intriguing continent. If you have yet to experience the countless adventures brimming between Cape Town and Cairo, this D.I.Y. guide contains all the information you need to trip confidently onto the Mother Continent.

Tales of high adventure, in-your-face photography, destination overviews, maps and contact details make this the ultimate adventure primer to Africa. Join the author and a handful of respected contributors as they river-board the Nile, climb Mali’s Hand of Fatima and run the ‘Marathon des Sables’ in Morocco, to name but a few of the adventures. An edgy style, up-to-date content and award-winning photography make this a must-have book for everyone from armchair adventurers to card-carrying members of the outdoor tribe.

Jacques Marais is a respected adventure writer and extreme sports photographer, and was selected as one of only 50 finalists in the prestigious Red Bull Illume Sports Photography Competition. He regularly contributes to premium travel magazines around the world, and this is his fifth book on outdoor adventure. He shares a house on the Cape Peninsula with his wife, two boisterous children, a ragtag of rescue pets and a serious selection of adventure toys.

Mountains of Africa by Duncan Souchan

A visual celebration that takes the reader on glorious visits to Africa’s magnificent mountains:

the holy ones, the prominent and fabled ones, and those we see and hear of all the time … the volcanic highlands of the Drakensberg/Maluti, Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Mount Kenya, Tsodilo Hills, Mount Sinai, the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and of course Table Mountain, the jewel in South African tourism.

Mountains of Africa is a journey of both historical and modern travel: walk alongside great explorers of bygone eras while reading about modern-day activities available for mountain enthusiasts.

Also covered are people’s interactions with the mountains from the perspective of the people living in the surrounds, as well as information found in geological, geographical and pioneering history, and substantial reference is made to particular mountains that are natural sanctuary to certain endangered animals, and to the vegetation and protected parks and areas.

Duncan Souchon is a respected South African mountaineer as well as content manager of SuperSport’s SuperClimb web section. He is an adventurer at heart, a storyteller and also a man who is passionate about mountains, their people and creatures living in the area around them.

Mountains Of Africa Mountains Of Africa - A Jetsetters Magazine recommendation. The photography is exquisite, the text outstanding in detail.  You will learn about mountains seldom heard of.  A real delightful read. - Editors of Jetsetters Magazine.

Live Like a Pharoah at Golden Park Residence

Midway between Hurghada and Sahl Hasheesh sits a resort that pushes the definition of ‘all-inclusive’ to the limit. From the outstanding such as a diving centre and marina, to the outlandish such as a dancing fountain with light show and cable car transport throughout - Golden 5 City is grandiose, gigantic and thanks to endless sun, certainly golden. And now, the brains behind the success story are building the adjacent Golden Park Residence, priced from just 32,436 for a studio apartment.

Samuel Mond, GEM Estates’ Egypt expert comments, “Golden 5 City is a truly coveted address, a highly successful established resort, and the newly-released Golden Park Residence is going to be a winner by default. Incorporating apartments, townhouses, villas and sumptuous five or six bedroom detached palaces, Golden Park Residence targets a five star audience at entry level prices with the added bonus of being able to indulge in all the facilities of adjacent Golden 5 City. Build density is restricted to 20% ensuring plenty of lush green open space and a rental guarantee of a mammoth 8% is offered on a five year renewable basis. This is the golden ticket to investment success.”

With Golden 5 City next door offering its floodlit tennis courts, basketball courts, volleyball courts, health centre, a scuba snorkeling and windsurf centre, boat excursions, 150 shops, 750 metre private beach… the masterplan for Golden Park Residences could have been justified to exclude on-site amenities, however this has not been the case. Purchasers within the development will not have to leave its confines in order to access a private fitness centre with Spa, aquapark, kid’s clubs, tennis and volleyball courts as well as internet access and satellite television. This all adds up to a perfect scenario for holidays and also for investment.