Jetsettersblog

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.

Change Track In Africa

The latest episode of BBC2’s Tribal Wives featured a 33 year-old teacher and life coach who lives at home with her mum, hasn’t had any luck with relationships and feels stuck in a rut. After living for a month with Africa’s most famous tribes, the Maasai, and learning from their lives, she makes radical life changes…

Get off life’s beaten track and change your own future with Dragoman Overland’s 5-week, life-enhancing Africa East & South journey, experiencing spectacular landscapes, visiting Africa’s best wildlife areas and meeting Tanzania’s Maasai (head shaving and facial scarification are optional), departing Livingstone 22nd September 2008. (Trip code AES38).

The journey kicks off with the stunning sight of Victoria Falls followed by an optional exploration of the Kafue and Zambezi Rivers by canoe, taking in views of broad floodplains and rugged escarpments. Rural Zambia is the Africa of storybooks and the drive through semi-forested mountains, small villages and across cattle ranching country allows for great opportunities to experience its diverse beauty.

South Luangwa NP is perhaps the best place to observe vast numbers of Hippo, Crocodile, Elephant and the only place to see Thorncroft Giraffe, as well as endemic Red Lechwe. During time in the park, visit Kawaza Village Community Project for lunch and traditional dancing. On arrival in Malawi many activities are available, ranging from relaxing on the sandy shores of Lake Malawi to high altitude diving, horse riding to birdwatching walks in search of magnificent Fish Eagles. Next, is the historically infamous tropical Spice Island of Zanzibar, which far from slavery and ivory trades, now offers a warm African welcome amongst its stunning palm-fringed beaches and bustling markets.

Back on the African mainland in Tanzania, further opportunities to see major wildlife species including Black Rhino are on offer during Land Rover explorations of Ngorongoro Crater. Later, travelling through the characteristic rolling grasslands of the Serengeti, wild camping is guaranteed to live up to expectation.

The ultimate in game viewing can be experienced during an optional early morning hot air balloon safari. As well as spectacular wildlife, nights on idyllic Indian Ocean Beaches and a camel trip to traditional Maasai villages, many other aspects of Africa are explored throughout this journey, including getting hands-on at the Kariandusi School Trust’s latest project at Langalanga - a great way to meet local people. Finally, soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere and stock up on souvenirs in Nairobi, journey’s end.

The overland costs £995 p/p plus kitty of $1,160 (~£578) including transport aboard Dragoman Overland’s customised Mercedes-Benz truck, canoe, jeep and boat, camping and hotel accommodation (85%/15%), all camp meals plus the expertise of Dragoman’s two person crew and local camp master. Flights are not included but are available through Dragoman.

Dragoman Overland
01728 861 133
info@dragoman.co.uk
www.dragoman.com

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.

Modern architecture reaches across the portfolio with spacious apartments a maximum of three storeys high, the deluxe versions with the largest terraces and views over the Red Sea, similarly for the townhouses. The villas offer a home-from-home environment, detached with generous living space, whilst the palaces are unique in the area with a mammoth 618m² in floorspace for six bedrooms. Furniture is included in the price, a must-have for purchasing in an unfamiliar environment.

The developers are able to set a minimum 8% rental guarantee based on the success of Golden 5 City where occupancy is consistently in excess of 85%. A five star formula, market know-how, year-on-year increased tourist arrivals and a near-perfect climate provide the ingredients for Golden Park Residences’ bright future. To boot, finance is available at 60% LTV for a five to 15 year term.

Prices start from 32,436 GBP for a studio apartment of 40m², two bedroom townhouses from 141,325 GBP, two bedroom villas from 228,492 GBP and for the ultimate in luxury, and returns, five bedroom palaces from 456,084 GBP. A choice of payment structures is available, 10%-30%-60% or 1,000 GBP reservation followed by 30%-15%-15%-15%-25% the latter entitling a 1,000 GBP discount off the final payment. Completion is scheduled for November 2010.

Contact GEM Estates on info@gem-estates.com  visit http://www.gem-estates.com or call UK Freephone 0800 036 0068, Irish Freephone 1800 211 462 or call the Spanish office on 00 34 952 799 286.

Top-Flight Africa With Free Air

African Travel, Inc. Offers Two Luxury Specials

Glendale, CA- African Travel, Inc. specialists in luxury African safaris, is offering free round trip air fare to Africa — worth more than $1,500 — on a pair of safari itineraries from October through December. Travelers can choose from a 12-day South Africa and Victoria Falls trip or 13 days in Northern Tanzania, both offering topflight accommodations and services. Designed for individual parties, both safari packages depart any day of the week and can be customized with optional extensions and other arrangements. Prices are per person, double occupancy.

The Great Migration, 13 Days Tanzania, from $11,195 per person

This safari combines northern Tanzania’s finest wildlife viewing with luxury lodgings. Highlights include 4 nights in the Serengeti with daily wildlife viewing, the famed Ngorongoro Crater, one of the most unique caldera in the world; Tarangire, one of Tanzania’s “secret” wildlife havens and home to a large elephant population; and Manyara National Park in the Great Rift, with its hippos and flamingos.

Beginning and ending with a night in Arusha, the itinerary spends two nights each at Tarangire and the Ngorongoro Crater, one night at Manyara National Park, and four nights in the Serengeti. Included are roundtrip air fare from New York, luxury accommodations, 29 meals, and daily game drives and other wildlife activities with highly trained guides. Accommodations are “Wildebeest” level, and include Arusha Hotel, Tarangire Tree Lodge, Lake Manyara Tree Camp, Crater Lodge at Ngorongoro and – for maximum wildlife viewing — Mobile Migration, a mobile camp in the Serengeti.

Depending on the month of departure, prices begin at $8,795 per person, based on double occupancy for November. October and December prices are slightly higher. Single supplement begins at $2,595. Round trip economy air fare from New York to Kilimanjaro is free for travel from October through December; Business class air fare is available upon request. Taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees are additional. Travelers can spice up their trip with an optional extension to Zanzibar.

Southern Explorer, 12 Days: South Africa & Victoria Falls, from $9,975

Capetown, Kruger National Park and Victoria Falls combine on this 12-day odyssey. Two days are spent at the legendary falls with three days each in Cape Town and Kruger National Park, plus an overnight in Johannesburg en route from Kruger to Victoria Falls and prior to departure. Two full days touring Cape Town plus a dinner with a Capetonian family are followed by a stay at Singita Private Game Reserve, including morning and afternoon wildlife drives. At Victoria Falls a walking tour and an evening sundowner cruise on the Zambezi provide various vistas of one of the world’s highest falls.

Top-of-the-line accommodations for “Ebony Class” departures are at the Cape Grace in Cape Town, at Singita Boulders/Ebony in the Sabi Sands, the Saxon in Johannesburg, and the River Club at Victoria Falls. Price includes 20 meals, accommodations, all transportation, sightseeing and safari drives in an open vehicle.

“Ebony Class” departures from October – December are $9,975 per person, based on double occupancy. Single supplement is $2,875. Economy class air fare from New York to Cape Town with return from Johannesburg is free for departures from October through December (black-out dates apply). Flights to Victoria Falls and Kruger National Park are additional. Business class air fare is available upon request. Taxes, fuel surcharges and security fees are additional. Travelers can extend their trip to savor more of South Africa with optional tours to South Africa’s renowned Cape Winelands or Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve.

About African Travel, Inc.

Since 1976 African Travel Inc, under the leadership of its Founder and Managing Director, Dave Herbert, has designed custom-tailored, luxury vacation experiences to the African continent and beyond for discerning travelers. African Travel Inc.’s offerings stretch from Cape Town to Cairo, the Seychelles islands, Mauritius, Madagascar and Dubai. Travel + Leisure magazine named African Travel, Inc. one of the top ten tour and safari operators in 2007.

In keeping with its philosophy, African Travel encourages preservation and economic development through a number of activities, including donating a portion of profits to wildlife conservation and cultural preservation.

For more information on African Travel Inc.’s custom-tailored trips, see your travel agent, phone (800) 421-8907 or (818) 507-7893. Information is also available at http://www.africantravelinc.com  or by emailing ati@africantravelinc.com

Traveller’s Latest Compendium Brochure

The Classic Traveller (0800 988 5843, www.theclassictraveller.co.uk) has released its latest Travellers’ Compendium brochure, featuring an exclusive selection of special offers (with savings of up to £900 per person) as well as additional departure dates for certain holidays.

The Travellers’ Compendium also includes advance notice of some exciting new itineraries which will become available for the first time in the forthcoming Worldwide Collection brochure, due to be published in September.

Keen pricing is synonymous with The Classic Traveller and the special offers promoted in the Travellers’ Compendium brochure mean that these holidays promise exceptional value for money.

The largest saving is to be found on the Mauritius to Madagascar cruise of the Indian Ocean, which visits these two island nations along with Kenya, the Seychelles and several remote island groups aboard the Costa Europe.

This 16-day odyssey in an E2 cabin (the highest grade) costs from £2,199 per person and offers an incredible saving of up to £900 per person from the cruise line’s original brochure price for this cabin class. The cost includes flights, full-board accommodation and all applicable taxes (though excursions, tips and service charges of €70 per
person are not included).

Two other fantastic cruise options with incredible savings are the Ancient Treasures tour of the eastern Mediterranean and the Riviera Highlights cruise of the western part of the Med. These 8-day voyages of discovery both cost from £599 per person in an E2 cabin – a price that offers a £700 saving per person on the cruise line’s original brochure price for that cabin class.

The first option takes in eastern Italy, Greece, Turkey and Croatia while the second covers western Italy, Spain and Provence, with the price including seven nights’ full-board accommodation and all port taxes. Flights, transfers, insurance, tips, service charges and excursions are not included in the price.

Sticking with the watery theme, one of the most popular holidays in the programme is the 8-day Lake Maggiore & the Borromean Islands itinerary. This luxurious escape to one of Italy’s finest and most romantic lakeside settings combines seven nights in a four-star waterfront hotel with an excursion to the nearby Borromean Islands and opportunities to discover verdant gardens, alpine scenery and even the cosmopolitan city of Milan. The holiday costs from £499 per person, to include flights, transfers, accommodation on a B&B basis and all necessary taxes.

Those looking for savings on land-based tours will also find plenty of interest in the Travellers’ Compendium brochure. The 11-day Legends & Landscapes of Japan itinerary, for example, is a fully-escorted tour that combines the colourful city of Tokyo with intoxicating natural landscapes, exotic temples and a relaxing cruise on beautiful Lake Ashi. Highlights of the tour include a journey on one of Japan’s legendary Bullet Trains and a visit to the Atomic Bomb Museum in Hiroshima – a fascinating but profoundly moving experience. Departing on 6 November 2008, the holiday costs £1,699 per person (a saving of up to £130 per person), with the price including flights, transfers, accommodation, some meals, various excursions and the services of a professional guide throughout.

In addition to these special offers, the brochure also includes details of some exciting, new itineraries that are being featured by The Classic Traveller for the first time. A particular highlight is a short break to Morocco; this 5-day Marrakech & the Atlas Mountains adventure costs from just £179 per person, to include four nights’ accommodation in a four-star hotel (with breakfast), in-resort transfers and a sightseeing tour of Marrakech. Optional extras include excursions along the Berber trails into the jagged peaks of the High Atlas or a visit to one of the impressive fortresses that afford a glimpse into Morocco’s colourful history.

Flights are not included in the price.

Also new is the fascinating 12 day Pyramids, Petra and the Red Sea itinerary, a unique cruise-and-stay combination that takes in some of ancient Egypt and Jordan’s most iconic monuments. The tour begins with a visit to the incredible Pyramids of Giza and their attendant Sphinx before embarking on a six-night cruise of the Red Sea.

A particular highlight of the cruise is an optional excursion to Petra, home to the famous Treasury whose intricate façade is cut into the red sandstone of a cliff-face. The holiday costs from £1,299 per person and includes flights, transfers, all accommodation, many meals and the services of professional guides throughout.For more information or to book call The Classic Traveller on 0800 988 5843 or visit the website at www.theclassictraveller.co.uk

Insight Vacations Egypt Adventures

Insight Vacations is offering six itineraries featuring Egypt this winter.

The 11-day Egyptian Elegance features deluxe rather than first class accommodations. Insight’s Egyptian Elegance is priced from $2,325 per person double, land only. Highlights include: a motorboat cruise to visit the Temple of Isis on Philae Island;

a visit to the unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries and the Aswan High Dam; a sail on a felucca around Aswan’s Botanical Gardens; air travel from Cairo to Aswan and Luxor to Cairo; a tour of the temple at Kom Ombo, dedicated to Sobek and Horus; tours of Luxor Temple and the Karnak Temple;

visits to the Valleys of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon; a tour of the Egyptian Museum to see treasure from the tomb of Tutankhamen; visits to the Sakkara Step Pyramid, the oldest pyramid in the world, and the Great Pyramids and Sphinx of Giza. The tour features an all-inclusive three-night Nile river cruise on the MS Tower Prestige (or similar) including all cruise boat gratuities. Guests will also stay in some of Egypt’s finest hotels like the Conrad Hotel in Cairo which has Nile views from every room;

the historic the Movenpick in Aswan, and the Winter Palace in Luxor. Insight pays a minimum of 10 percent commission on land and always pays commission on air.

For more information, call 800-582-8380 or visit www.insightvacations.co m

Star Alliance boosts Africa-Middle East presence

Egyptair has become the 21st member of the United Airlines and Lufthansa-led Star Alliance.

Confirmation came at Cairo International Airport, marking the end of a nine-month integration project in which the airline adapted its reservation, ticketing, frequent flyer and other customer programmes to work more closely with the infrastructure of the other members of the alliance.

Cairo Airport Authority is completing work on a new terminal, which will be dedicated to seven alliance airlines when it opens in the autumn.

The new terminal will have a capacity to serve 11 million passengers a year.

The Egyptian carrier brings 1,624 weekly flights to 69 destinations to the alliance, strengthening its position in Africa and the Middle East.

“Egyptair’s strategic regional location will enable Cairo Airport to become a major hub for the Star Alliance family and a gateway for the Middle East and North Africa,” said alliance CEO Jaan Albrecht.

“The economic and business climate of Africa is getting the world’s attention. Star Alliance is well positioned to serve the business interests of the continent by having Egyptair in the north, South African Airways in the south, and nine other member airlines flying to Africa.”