British Airways will begin service between Heathrow and Tripoli on May 1, following a security review in conjunction with the U.K. government and the Libyan authorities.

The service will operate three days a week.

The flights had been suspended in February 2011, when a wave a protests swept through North Africa. It flamed into a rebellion in Libya and after months of battle, with air support from NATO, rebels captured and killed the Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in October, ending his 41-year reign.

The new services from Heathrow will be operated using an Airbus A319 and offer a full service business class and economy cabin. Bmi is now the only airline to serve Bergen from Heathrow, for leisure travelers who want to visit the Norwegian Fjords as well as for business travelers. Flights to Stavanger enable customers to access the important oil and energy markets in Norway.

In addition to the route expansion at Heathrow, bmi aircrafts will fly on some Lufthansa services from Birmingham and Manchester to Frankfurt. From March 27, 2011, the bmi A320 family aircraft will be used on three of the four daily Lufthansa services from both Birmingham and Manchester. These services connect key business centers with convenient flight schedules, and offer onward connection possibilities to global destinations with Lufthansa from their Frankfurt hub. The aircraft are being fully refurbished and will offer a full-service business class and economy product according to Lufthansa standards. For more information, visit www.flybmi.com

Tripoli is what some consider the last unspoiled country in North Africa.

It is one of the best-preserved cities with archaeological relics from Roman, Greek, Byzantine, Phoenician and Arab-Islamic civilizations.

Beginning and ending with overnights in Venice and Barcelona, the 11-day voyage also offers visits to Dubrovnik, Sicily, Naples, Civitavecchia (for Rome), and Livorno (for Florence and Tuscany).

The sailing also features deals including free berths, group perks and family savings via the Crystal Family Memories Program. In addition, a two-for-one promotion offers fares starting at $5,470 per person, double, $1,000 in All Inclusive–As You Wish shipboard credits and complimentary air transportation from many North American gateways (or cruise-only fare reduction).

Nothing gets the adrenaline pumping like the anticipation of the unknown and the thrillof the wild; until excitement turns to anxiety, when the idea of taking on nature in its rawest form on an African Safari conjures up thoughts of facing dangerous animals, braving mosquitoes, and forgoing the basic comforts of home.

Many would-be adventurers settle for a day trip to the zoo and a traditional vacation to a resort. But an African safari doesn’t have to mean sacrifice.

Born Free Safaris & Tours has transformed the meaning of an African safari, offering fabulous accommodations, great food, friendly people, safety, and personalized attention from professionals with over 34 years of experience in Africa.

Born Free Safaris & Tours is not simply a booking agent, but rather a hands-on tour operator that takes the fear out of journeying through Africa.

Tour guides are members of the Association of Professional Safari Guides and are trained in first aid, vehicle maintenance, culture, wildlife, foreign languages and conservation, just to name a few.

Guides are carefully matched with tours based on special interests, areas of specific knowledge, and personality and function as game trackers, problem solvers and personal drivers. Born Free Safaris & Tours has been named a top African tour company by the world’s most prestigious travel publications.

Whether it’s a traditional African style safari, or a high comfort soft adventure, Born Free Safaris & Tours has a program to fit every taste and budget with a range of themes unmatched by any other African tour operator including: tours in over 30 African countries; budget trips or luxurious excursions; wildlife, walking, and air safaris; cultural, historic, and religious tours; diverse accommodations such as such as campsites, lodges, bed and breakfasts, private homes, and ranches; and activities from hot air ballooning, whitewater rafting, canoeing, golfing, hiking, horse-camel-elephant safaris, weddings, honeymoons, and more.

Born Free Safaris and Tours service the young and old, able-bodied and disabled, the wild and the tame by working together to create the ultimate African safari experience.

Born Free Safaris & Tours are pleased to accommodate travelers of all ages and abilities, is an eco-friendly company, and are committed to conservation.

For more information about rates and trip options, contact Born Free Safari’s & Tours at (800) 4-SAFARI, or visit www.bornfreesafaris.com

“Every April, ANZAC Day is commemorated in Australia and New Zealand, and the legend of the ‘Rats of Tobruk’ and their valor has made Tobruk extremely popular with Australian and New Zealand tourists,” said Ryad Sunusi, Libya Expeditions founder and CEO.

“In Tobruk, the past comes alive with World War II memorials, memorabilia and relics, where the deeds and hardships of those who fought and died thousands of miles from their homes and loved ones are forever enshrined.”

The ANZACS, an acronym for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, were known for their tenacious fighting spirit and courage during the World Wars, often overcoming tremendous odds to win key victories. In Libya, where the besieged ANZACS — dubbed the “Rats of Tobruk” by the impressed Germans — achieved legendary status for their heroism and ferocious resistance against Rommel’s forces during the Western Desert Campaign.

The Libya World War II Remembrance Tour is a step back into time and the battles between Allied and Axis forces in North Africa.

The tour visits Tobruk and its memorials and cemeteries, including the Commonwealth War cemetery, Knightsbridge Acroma, and Bar Hakim.

Interesting side excursions include Rommel’s massive underground bunker, the Fig Tree Hospital, the “Lady Be Good,” and the German Memorial. April is the most popular month for the ANZAC Tobruk tour, coinciding with ANZAC Day and the Siege of Tobruk, on April 25 and 10, respectively.

Libya Expeditions is a full-service Libya tour operator that provides Libya travel services, focusing on escorted Libya cultural, archeological, and desert adventure tours and holidays. Libya Expeditions is committed to promoting responsible tourism and supporting the local Libyan economy while retaining respect for traditional customs and way of life.

For more information, visit www.libyaexpeditions.com

“Faith-based tourism attracts 300 million travelers worldwide, who spend $18 billion annually,” said WRTA President Kevin Wright.

“We look forward to once again working with ATA, especially as Africa has long served as a top destination for people of faith.” Under the new partnership agreement, ATA and its members will participate in the WRTA World Religious Travel Expo and Educational Conference 2009 to be held Nov. 14 to 16, 2009, in Reno, Nev., and WRTA will participate in ATA’s upcoming events in the United States and across Africa, most notably the 35th Annual Congress in The Gambia in May 2010.

The Africa Travel Association (ATA) was established as an international travel industry trade association in 1975. ATA’s mission is to promote travel, tourism and transport to and within Africa, and to strengthen intra-Africa partnerships.

For more information, visit ATA online at www.africatravelassociaton.org  or call 212-447-1357. WRTA is the leading global network for the $18 billion faith tourism industry.

For more information, call 859-219-3529 or visit www.WRTAreligioustravel.com  or www.WRTAexpo.com

In addition to onboard presentations, guest experts will accompany Crystal Adventures ashore. The Ancient Civilizations voyages include Crystal Symphony’s May 17 sailing from Dubai to Athens and Crystal Serenity’s October 8, Athens to Venice cruise.

“The ‘Ancient Civilizations’ voyages are designed to add relevance and perspective to ports and countries that’s have shaped world history,” said John Stoll, director, land programs.

“Visiting these destinations in the company of renowned experts will arguably deepen our guests understanding and appreciation of different cultures – and how those cultures have impacted the evolution of civilization.”

Guest experts will offer commentary and insight to select Crystal Adventures, including:

• Exploration of Luxor & Valley of the Kings – A full-day Egyptian excursion visiting the Pharaoh’s tombs, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the Temple of Luxor and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, accompanied by archeologist and professor Bridget Buxton, an expert on the treasures of the Middle East and Greece;

• Rose City of Petra – An excursion out of Aqaba, Jordan, exploring this 2,000-year-old city, also accompanied by Buxton.

• Full Day in Cairo – An intimate look at the world’s most famous monuments of antiquity, the pyramids and the Sphinx, accompanied by Ken Rees, a veteran broadcast journalist and foreign correspondent for the Middle East and Mediterranean, on the May 17 cruise, and historian and author Diana Preston on the October 8 itinerary.

• Full-Day Tour of Jerusalem – From Ashdod, Israel, guests can explore this sacred city with insight from Rees.

The cruises will also feature theme-related films in staterooms and the Hollywood Theaters.

The 14-day Dubai to Athens voyage transits the Suez Canal, Arabian Sea and Gulf of Aden and calls in Salalah, Oman; Luxor and Cairo, Egypt and Aqaba, Jordan. The 12-day Athens to Venice itinerary calls at Santorini, Rhodes and Corfu, Greece; Ashdod, Israel; Cairo, Egypt and Dubrovnik, Croatia. Cruise fares begin at US$5,690 per person, double occupancy.

The Crystal Difference

Aboard the ultra-luxurious Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, refined elegance meets casual simplicity. With an emphasis on innovative product differentiation, the renowned Crystal experience is distinguished by classic service, abundant space, extensive choices and superior quality, providing worldwide vacations of seven to 100+ days that bridge the best of land and sea. Grounded in more than a decade of accolades, Crystal has been voted “World’s Best” by the readers of Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler more than any other cruise line, hotel or resort in history.

For additional information or booking, please contact Miramar Express at +852 3960 0388 or visit the luxury line’s website at www.crystalcruises.com

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has launched a brand new service, Personal Hotelier, across the Crowne Plaza estate throughout Middle East and Africa. Guests staying in Club rooms or on the Crowne Club floor can now enjoy the undivided attention of a hotelier dedicated to catering to their every need.

Crowne Plaza Personal Hotelier is an initiative that provides guests one point of contact, one face, one name and one telephone number to call prior to and during their stay at the hotel. This exclusive service is designed to alleviate the stress of corporate travel, allowing the guest more time and space to think, resulting in making their business trips more efficient and effective.

Commenting on the launch, Haitham Mattar, Director of Marketing Middle East and Africa, said, “Most of our guests are frequent business travellers. While they tend to enjoy travel, it can be exhausting and hectic so we decided to introduce a service to help them get the most of their time with us. “

From the moment a booking for a Club room is made, a member of the Personal Hotelier team will be assigned to the guest, contact them to introduce themselves and then offer them any assistance if required.

A personal hotelier can help guests with everything for business needs, such as updating a presentation, printing documents, making reservations at a restaurant or spa and even personal shopping.

The pilot program, conducted at Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City, received an overwhelmingly good response.

Results from a survey* conducted amongst guests who participated in the program demonstrated that 95 per cent rated the service excellent with regards to its efficiency and usefulness.

The Personal Hotelier service is available to guest who book Club rooms or on the Crowne Club Floor at all Crowne Plaza properties across Middle East and Africa.

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

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).