Jetsettersblog

General Tours is offering new affordably priced trips to Asia and the Middle East.

New for this year, Across the Himalayas is a 10-day journey from Lhasa to Kathmandu. Traveling by Jeep and Land Rover with their own personal mountain guides, guests explore high-mountain landscapes including the 17,000-foot Gyatsola Pass, a remote spot famed for its clear-day views of Mt. Everest.

The Silk Road of Uzbekistan is a new, privately guided trip that travels along the ancient caravan route to three oases — Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva. Priced at $1,999 per person, the eight-day trip features first-class and deluxe hotels, 19 meals, in-depth privately guided sightseeing including three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and all on-tour transportation starting and ending in Tashkent.

Growing interest in travel to Syria is evidenced in two recent New York Times articles featuring Damascus and Aleppo.

With decades of experience welcoming Americans to the Middle East, General Tours has redesigned its Ancient Syria & Baalbeck tour for a maximum of just 10 guests.

Priced from $4,499, this nine-day Small Group Escorted Tour visits Damascus, Hama, Aleppo, Palmyra and Baalbeck.

Guests enjoy handpicked hotels like the luxurious Four Seasons Damascus, 15 meals, all on-tour transportation and in-depth sightseeing every day include six UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

General Tour’s new Family & Friends program offers $50 to $150 per person savings when three or more guests travel together.

Travel agents can combine these client savings with the company’s other offers, including World Traveler Club discounts and exclusive AARP Member Benefits. As always, all of the company’s departures are guaranteed.

For information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.GeneralTours.com

In a world first for low cost airlines, Jetstar and AirAsia announced today they would form a new alliance that would reduce costs, pool expertise and ultimately result in cheaper fares for both carriers.

The alliance brings together the Asia Pacific’s two leading low cost, low fare carriers and will focus on a range of major cost reduction opportunities and potential savings – to the benefit of customers throughout the region.

Key to the agreement is a proposed joint specification for the next generation of narrow body aircraft, that will best meet the needs of the low fare customer of the future. Both airline groups will also investigate opportunities for the joint procurement of aircraft.

Qantas Airways Chief Executive Officer Alan Joyce, Jetstar Chief Executive Officer Bruce Buchanan and AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes finalised the agreement in Sydney today.

Qantas Airways Chief Executive Officer, Mr Alan Joyce, said the historic non-equity alliance would give Jetstar and AirAsia a natural advantage in one of the world’s most competitive aviation markets.

“Jetstar and AirAsia offer unmatched reach in the Asia Pacific region, with more routes and lower fares than their main competitors, and this new alliance will enable them to maximise that scale,” Mr Joyce said.

“Just as both carriers have pioneered the development of the low cost, long haul airline model, today’s announcement breaks the mould of traditional airline alliances and establishes a new model for achieving reduced costs and increased efficiency.

“The aviation market in Asia is a growth market, and has proven resilient over the past 12 months, despite the tough operating environment, with significant growth in passenger numbers forecast in the region.

“This partnership will ensure that both airlines can capitalise on these growth opportunities.”

The agreement includes the development of cooperation in areas such as:

Future fleet specification – both carriers will investigate opportunities for joint procurement of the next generation of narrow body aircraft. A collective goal is to achieve cost reductions in terms of order volume and influencing design specification to deliver more efficient, low cost operations;

Airport passenger and ramp handling services – developing cooperative arrangements for the provision of passenger and ground handling in Australia and within Asia at overlapping airports by leveraging scale;

Shared aircraft parts and ‘pooling’ – pooling inventory arrangements for aircraft components and spare parts;

Procurement – Joint procurement, with a focus on engineering and maintenance supplies and services, with Jetstar maintaining its existing use of and commitment to Australian facilities; and

Passenger disruption arrangements – reciprocal arrangements for passenger management (i.e. support for passenger disruptions and recovery onto the other airline’s service) across both the AirAsia and Jetstar flying networks.

Jetstar Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bruce Buchanan, said the cooperative approach was a result of the two organisations’ strong focus on costs.

“Jetstar and AirAsia are passionate about offering consistently low fares,” Mr Buchanan said.

“Year on year, Jetstar is reducing its controllable costs by up to five per cent annually. This agreement will enable a further step-change in our cost position and ensure sustainable low fares.

“In coming years Jetstar and AirAsia want to work with manufacturers on the next generation aircraft to ensure it best meets our business requirements.”

AirAsia Group CEO Datuk Seri Tony Fernandes hailed the agreement as another step in the airline’s strategy to maintain its global leadership as the lowest-cost airline operator.

“AirAsia strongly believes the strategic tie-up will help the airline maintain its position as the lowest-cost airline in the world despite rising costs associated with the fledgling global economic recovery,” Mr Fernandes said.

“It is key for us to keep our costs as low as possible. This is what enables us to provide the low, low fares that our guests have enjoyed, and will continue to enjoy.”

Mr Fernandes said a common aircraft type specification in terms of the next generation narrow body offering should be proactively pursued by both airlines because of the many efficiencies it would bring.

“With joint purchasing power it means that we can potentially work with airline manufacturers on the right configuration and design of an aircraft specifically for AirAsia and that best suits our operational needs for the future,” Mr Fernandes said.

“A strategic arrangement with Jetstar focussed on investigation of operational synergies is a logical development for us. AirAsia and Jetstar share the same philosophy of low cost, low fares and high quality customer service.

“There is clear sense in finding the right cost solution for a range of airline and associated services which support AirAsia’s expanding route network.”

The two largest airlines in the Asia Pacific in revenue terms, Jetstar and AirAsia jointly earned nearly AUD3 billion in revenues in the 2009 financial year.

These arrangements are, where required, subject to regulatory approval.

If the latest wave of Beatlemania has got you harking after the days of your misspent youth, or perhaps rueing the lack of them, then the time has arrived to hang up your suit and jump on board the Hippie Trail bus – the latest epic travel adventure from the beautiful people at Oz-Bus.

Ready for a Ticket to Ride? If the latest wave of Beatlemania has got you harking after the days of your misspent youth, or perhaps rueing the lack of them, then the time has arrived to hang up your suit and jump on board the Hippie Trail bus – the latest epic travel adventure from the beautiful people at Oz-Bus.

Half a century on since the formation of the Beatles and the birth of the hippie subculture, the 21st Century Hippie Trail will depart Istanbul and follow in the footsteps of the free-spirited westerners who set off in search of spiritual enlightenment and a better world.

The first Hippie Trail of 2010 gets underway on 8th March with up to 15 re-born hippies boarding a bus to head east over 7 weeks. Together, staying in simple, authentic accommodation and enjoying adventures along the way, the intrepid travellers will relive the legendary overland journey through the cradle of civilisation, crossing Turkey, Iran, Pakistan, India and Nepal, finally arriving in Kathmandu.

A quick glance at the 46 day itinerary evokes hazy memories of clapped out VWs, magical faraway kingdoms and the heady days when travellers still had the feeling of being true pioneers and explorers.

Departing Istanbul, the bus heads to Ankara and onto the spectacular terrain of Cappadocia, where possible tours include the underground cities, or a hot air balloon flight, followed by a sun-downer in the cave bars in Goreme; The next stop is Mt Nemrut, famed for its giant statues built before Christ, and well worth the hike to the summit to greet the sunrise;

The bus crosses the border into Iran to Tabriz, where people still inhabit 3000 year old caves, followed by Tehran, Qom and Esfahan, once the capital of Persia, before arriving in Shiraz, the city of poets, wine and flowers.

The Hippie Trail heads north to Lahore, ‘heart of Pakistan’, and onto the hustle, bustle and culture shock of Delhi, sharply contrasted by the ‘pink city’ of Jaipur, the wondrous Taj Mahal, and the Ganges. Nepal is the hotly anticipated highlight on this Hippie Trail, and especially a visit to Dharamsala, the abandoned colonial hill station in the foot of the Himalayas, and the nearby village of McLeod Ganj, the Tibetan leader’s exile home.

This is without doubt the greatest opportunity to experience Tibetan culture firsthand in all its vibrancy. The Royal Chitwan National Park will blow the minds of even the most world-weary hippie.

This World Heritage listed site is testimony to successful nature conservation in South Asia, with 43 species of mammals to be found in the park including the endangered one horn rhino, tiger and crocodile, and over 450 species of bird.

Kathmandu is the final and much vaunted resting place for the Hippie Trail bus.

In a nod to 21st century ideals, Oz-Bus implements its strong belief in a responsible and sustainable travel ethos to ensure that local services, guides and meals are provided. Hippie Trailers stay in authentic roofed accommodation with breakfast provided each morning, and some evening meals.

Local guides, drivers and adventurers work hand in glove with the tour leader to give Hippie Trailers the best experience possible. Thanks to their local knowledge, the Hippie Trail can visit the lesser known gems and interact more with the local communities. The cost of the 46 day Hippie Trail is £2750 per person, exclusive of international flights.

For further information visit www.hippie-trail.com  or call the beautiful people at Oz-Bus on 0800 7319427 or for calls from outside the UK: +44 1480 810080 or visit www.oz-bus.com

Quick facts about Oz-Bus

The 92 day London to Sydney journey costs £4399 per person.

From February 2010 it will be a regular ‘hop on hop off’ service running eight times per annum.

The New Year’s Eve Special takes one week longer, and arrives on Sydney on 31 December, costing £4799.

The first ever Sydney to London departure will run in 2010 with two departures planned in April and May.

The first ever London to New York bus departs London in March 2010, early booking price from £5999.

The Oz-Bus price is inclusive of all travel, accommodation, breakfast, some meals, tour leader, local guides and national park entry fees.

Any addition flights taken by Oz-Bus due to unforeseen circumstances will not be charged for.

On An Exclusive 21 Day, 17 Destination Trip In A Classic Convair CV580

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of the first scheduled flights between Australia and England, Qantas Holidays (www.qantasholidays.co.uk ) is offering two once in a lifetime trips with travellers reliving the grand touring days on an exclusive 21-day or 22-day, 17 destination trip in a classic Convair CV580.

These two trips, exclusive to Qantas Holidays, will see a total of 44 passengers, only 22 on each trip, travelling from Sydney to London or visa versa with the option of booking additional pre and post touring.

• The 22-day London to Sydney ‘Highlights of the Classical Route’ departs on 8th April 2010 and includes stops at some of the world’s finest archaeological wonders, as well as a ‘flight seeing’ expedition over the Himalayas. This tour is priced from £20,390 per person.

• The 21-day Sydney to London ‘Highlights of the Nostalgia Route’ departs on 18th March 2010 and follows as closely as possible the original flight route from Australia to England by the first scheduled air service back on 14 December 1934. This tour is priced from £21,900 per person.

Highlights include:

• great views as the aircraft flies slightly over 6,000 metres
• each passenger will have a window seat and business class leg-room

• daily flying time is limited to under four hours
• there are 17 stops on the eastbound journey and 16 on the westbound
• excursions include a Ganges dawn cruise and the Taj Mahal by moonlight
• hotels include the Raffles, the Oriental Bangkok and the Strand in Rangoon
• fast, private check-ins and immigration formalities in each destination
• the use of executive lounges with private departure gates to the aircraft

The eastbound ‘Highlights of the Nostalgia route’ includes stops in:
• Australia
• Indonesia
• Singapore
• Thailand
• Burma
• India
• United Arab Emirates
• Syria
• Turkey
• France

The westbound ‘Highlights of the Classical Route’ includes stops in:

• the Czech Republic
• Bulgaria
• Armenia
• Uzbekistan
• India
• Nepal
• Laos
• Vietnam
• Brunei
• Indonesia
• Australia

All prices are per person based on two people sharing and include:

• travel by Convair CV 580 one way
• travel in premium economy by Qantas A380 one way
• all hotels
• all meals
• transfers
• admission fees
• sightseeing
• guide

The Convair CV 580 is a fully pressurised, air-conditioned jet-prop airliner operated by the New Zealand airline Pionair. Normally providing seating for up to 56 passengers, the aircraft used for these journeys has been fitted with just 44 reclining armchair seats with a Business Class seating pitch of 96.5cm.

For additional comfort the number of passengers will be limited to 22 thereby allowing every passenger to have a window seat and plenty of room in which to move around the cabin. There is a hot and cold galley from which complimentary drinks and light refreshments will be offered throughout the journey. The aircraft is also equipped with a full-size toilet.

The Qantas Airbus A380 is the world’s largest and most advanced airliner with a choice of First, Business or Premium Economy Class. Each of the 14 First Class suites contains a large armchair with in-built massager that converts into a wide, flat bed, a 43cm LCD screen, ottoman, dining table for two and plenty of storage.

The fully-reclining Business Class seats are situated on the upper deck and convert into fully flat two-metre-long beds. There are 31cm TV screens, a small lounge and stand-up self-service bars.

With a 23cm recline, the seats in Premium Economy class offer more leg room than Economy Class in a Business Class 2-3-2 seat configuration. Priority boarding and check-in is also provided.

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts Shines At Asia’s 1st Culinary Cup

At the inaugural Asia’s 1st Culinary Cup last month, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok emerged as the overall Asian winner, clinching the Asia’s Best Participating Establishment trophy along with 12 other awards. Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok was also part of the Thailand National Culinary Team that secured a second place in the National Gourmet Team Challenge. In addition, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok, took top position in three categories.

Panom Muekhuntod, Assistant Artist of Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok, was named the Best Culinary Artist for earning the highest points with one gold, two silvers and a bronze in three categories.

He won the individual Ice Carving category and came in second with the team. His third placing in the Freestyle Showpiece individual category and a further team silver for the Fruit & Vegetable Carving category boosted him to the top of the leaderboard.

Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok dominated three individual categories to win the Best Sandwich-Making, Best Dress-the-Cake and Best Petit Fours titles.

As part of Food & Hotel Thailand 2009, one of the Thailand’s largest hospitality trade exhibitions, the Asia’s 1st Culinary Cup is the first international culinary art contest and convention.

Teams from national and regional culinary associations as well as individual professionals from countries including Australia, Austria, China, UAE, Holland, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Slovakia, Taiwan and Thailand, flew in to showcase their talents at Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon from 2 – 5 September.

Organised by the Thai-Swiss Culinary Consultants in association with the Thai Chef’s Association, the Thai Hotels Association and the Thai Convention and Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the Asia’s 1st Culinary Cup saw experts from World Association of Chef’s Societies (WACS) as consultants.

The four-day Culinary Cup saw about 600 participants competing in more than 20 team and individual categories, including fruit and vegetable-carving, ice-carving, Thai cuisine, Asian cuisine, Western cuisine, US turkey-cooking, modern sandwich-making, breakfast-cooking, cake-dressing, meat and poultry-cooking, Italian pasta dishes, petits fours/pralines/tea pastry-marking, dessert-making, East-meets-West cuisine, a Gourmet Team Challenge and the Hans Bueschkens Junior Chefs Challenge.

List of Awards:

Titles
1. Asia’s Best Participating Establishment: Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
2. National Gourmet Team Challenge, 1st Runner-up: Represented by Willment Leong of Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok, Thailand National Gourmet Team Manager (Gold)
3. Best Culinary Artist: Panom Muekhuntod, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
4. Best Modern Sandwich-Making Contestant: Nuttaphol Lipiphan, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
5. Best Dress-the-Cake Contestant: Sutee Navawuttiwat, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
6. Best Praline and Petit Fours Display Contestant: Jamsai Srichubaung, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
7. Special Appreciation Award – Best Logo Design for Asia’s 1st Culinary Cup: Raywat Gatgoson, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok

Gold
• Modern Sandwich-Making (Individual), Overall 1st
Nuttaphol Lipiphan, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
• Ice Carving (Team), Overall 2nd
Raywat Gatgoson, Panom Muekhuntop and Jaray Katelarng, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok

Silver
• Ice Carving (Individual), Overall 1st
Panom Muekhuntop, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Petit Fours / Pralines / Tea Pastries (Individual), Overall 1st
Jamsai Srichubaung, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
• Fruit & Vegetable Carving (Team)
Panom Muekhuntop, Den Fongkaew and Tinnapat Munpian, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok

Bronze

• Dress-the-Cake (Individual), Overall 1st
Sutee Navawuttivat, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
• Freestyle Showpiece (Individual), Overall 3rd
Panom Muekhuntop, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Fruit & Vegetable Carving (Individual)
Wanyen Promcome, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Freestyle Dessert-Making (Individual)
Baby Kangngloouam, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Modern Sandwich Making (Individual)
Kazamasak Junrat, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Western 5-course Set Menu (Team)
Virachai, Sompong and Chid, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok

Diploma

• Freestyle Showpiece (Individual)
Ging Oon Nog, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Live Dress the Cake Display (Individual)
Pastry Chef Dexter Villamin, Swissôtel Le Concorde, Bangkok
• Fruit and Vegetable Carving (Individual)
Piyawan Ketkeaw, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
• Italian Hot Pasta Dish (Individual)
Jirawat Wanaonthornwong, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok
• US Hot Turkey Cooking (Individual)
Munin Thitichairat, Swissôtel Nai Lert Park, Bangkok

About Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts

Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is a distinctive group of deluxe hotels for today’s discerning business and leisure travellers, combining the renowned Swiss touch with a fresh, contemporary and modern design. Each Swissôtel hotel offers personalized service with charm and efficiency. Located in main gateway destinations and city centres, the hotels have convenient access to business and shopping districts, and local attractions. Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts worldwide have won prestigious awards and accolades.

CNNGo is the ultimate insider guide for Asia’s greatest cities. Set to be the definitive, indispensable city lifestyle resource, it harnesses the unrivalled experience, integrity and excellence of the CNN brand in a unique digital destination.

Updated dozens of times throughout the day, CNNGo initially focuses on six cities — Bangkok, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, and Tokyo — with more to be added in the coming months.

For the most discerning local, the cultural voyeur and the visitor (travelling for business or pleasure) alike, CNNGo compiles the best each city has to offer, often dishing up the unexpected and opening up these cities like never before.

While the convenient Eat, Shop, Sleep, Drink and Play sections cover the essentials, like places to go, things to see, must-do events, hidden gems or city secrets — the site goes beyond that to provide real insight and experiences of these cities and their surrounds.

Importantly, the CNNGo content is provided by insiders. The editorial management team is based in Hong Kong and each city section is run by locally-based City Editors whose on-the-ground expertise and insider knowledge is unsurpassed. They in turn work with local professional writers, journalists, video/photographers, bloggers and more — the very people that form the soul of a city.

 The site also reaches out to CNN’s vast resources of regional anchors and correspondents.

Video and other multimedia are a key constituent of this site, and combined with the frequency of daily content updates, provide plenty of reasons to make this site a daily visit. Access daily and weekly newsletters for each city and the region, in addition to substantial compatibility across social networking platforms, allowing users to send details of favorite destinations to their PDA, blog and more.

Nick Wrenn, Vice President, digital services, CNN International comments: “CNNGo is an exciting and timely addition to the CNN Digital Network, delivering unrivalled insights through editorial excellence and local knowledge. We look forward to it becoming the definitive lifestyle destination for our global audience.”

Andrew Demaria, Editor in Chief, CNNGo says: “Simply, CNNGo is meant to be fun — an enjoyable daily visit — that celebrates from an insider’s view all that makes up these amazing cities. The good, the not so good and the outright strange. It’s for anyone that is interested in these places, not only for things to do or places to go, but for really discovering more about the city’s true character.”

CNNGo will be visible across CNN’s platforms including on-air, online and mobile in coming months.

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Daily Hitlist

The regular morning dietary intake of ‘must dos, sees and experiences’ — the latest news, topics, blog posts, events of the day — pertinent to CNNGo’s audience of city dwellers, travelers and cultural voyeurs who are curious about life, and its many perspectives, in the city.

Cool.
Precisely that. Cool.(stop) is a regular weekly gallery post highlighting what simply is cool. Fashion, style, art, design, scenes, sights, locations, things, people occasions and more can make up Cool.

City Pulse

To cover the world the way it demands to be covered, we need you. Your experience, your local insight, your unique view of the world. After all, you make up the lifeblood of your city and no one knows your city better than you. Check out City Pulse to find out how you can be one of our guest contributors.

Urban Safari

With Urban Safari, CNNGo proves the know-all, access all areas, insider that finds and guides our audience to discoveries in and around the city. Hidden gems, city secrets, new takes on old haunts, tours wild and wonderful — Urban Safari inspires by opening up the city like never before.

Love & Other Catastrophes

From tears to laughter, from joy to angst, life on the road brings with it all kinds of tales that make travel experiences much more than just the journey or an album of scenic photographs. Each week we bring the best tales of Love & Other Catastrophes and revel in the experiences of our viewers.

The Week Ender

Get off the couch and engage with the town. From events to shows, to shops, to scenes and sights, CNNGo works for your weekend, trawling through the multitude of offerings to land the choicest options with The Week Ender.

Master Concierge
Master Concierge is high-end tailored travel for those that demand and appreciate the very finest of life, things and places.

Trendcatcher
Each week, Trendcatcher profiles the innovation, business idea, new and exciting concept or latest inspirational people-drawing trend in each city or country. Find out how this trend is moving and shaking, how it could take hold locally or abroad, or how overseas ideas and trends are finding a home here.

Snack Nation
It’s hot and then it’s gone. Japan is gripped by trends and fads that come and go in a blink of an eye. Snack nation serves up the latest unusual craze.

My Hong Kong (and Bangkok, Tokyo, Shanghai, Mumbai, Singapore)

The local voice. Each week, a city local outlines the city according to them — what they love about it, what makes them so passionate, what connects them to it and it to them.

Click www.cnngo.com  to visit CNN’s unique new digital destination, CNNGo.

Online travel agent ZUJI Australia  and our hotel partners across the globe are offering the chance to stay at all the places you’ve dreamed of visiting – at massive savings up to 70% off! So get out your bucket list and start booking (and saving) with ZUJI.

Go global or stay local- but be quick! Savings are for those who can book by 31 October and stay by 30 November 2009. The more you stay the more you save.

See sample below for destinations and savings for hotels stays which will send you packing.

The world awaits; so choose from more destinations and great hotels at the banner ad at right.

Save even more when you book flights, hotels and cars together with TripSaver on zuji.

Visit the banner ad at right  to book hotels and save a bundle.

Validity: book by 31 October for stays until 30 November 09 or until sold out.

Advertised prices are correct at time of publication and include taxes and surcharges.

Unite with new friends over the love of travel with Just You

Single travellers can discover a world of new opportunities and delve deeper into some of the most fascinating travel destinations with the UK’s leading single traveller specialist Just You (0800 112 3311, www.justyou.co.uk).

Leave behind the boredom of everyday travel, and find a world of fascinating adventures with a new set of companions on a Just You escorted tour. Satisfy your inner adventure junkie on holidays ranging from walking the mountains of the Himalayas to exploring the ruins of the Incas.

Every Just You tour attracts a cosmopolitan and diverse range of people, all keen to make the most of once in a lifetime holidays. Just You welcomes anyone who wishes to travel alone, whether single or not. Each holiday and short break attracts a mix of ages and you’ll find common ground with your companions over the shared love of travel.

There is a great atmosphere on every Just You holiday – you may be travelling alone but you are not on your own. With a great choice of included and optional excursions to choose from, you will see the best of you destination.

Adventurous tours include Polar Bear encounters, train voyages through a myriad of landscapes, journeys to the relics of early civilisations, excursions across an entire continent, cruises along fabled rivers and grand explorations of numerous countries in a handful of days.

Gentle adventure can be found closer to home as Just You offers many culturally rich, historically fascinating or restful and relaxing tours across Europe and even the UK. Old favourites such as Spain, Italy and France have been given a new lease of life with unusual itineraries.

Every holiday is accompanied by a Tour Manager, there are no single supplements and every customer is allocated their own room.

Just You’s new Europe and Worldwide 2009/10 brochure has been launched with a fresh, new look to inspire and intrigue single travellers. The following are just some of the amazing tours available…

The Silk Road to Samarkand – Eight days from £1,439
From the fascinating city of Uzbekistan, start your tour along the ancient Silk Road and make your way across the captivating landscape and colourful local culture of Central Asia. Try your hand at haggling at a Samarkand bazaar and visit the monuments and mosques of Bukhara. Enjoy a range of sightseeing tours, including visits to the ancient city of Khiva, the spectacular Kyzylkum desert – which translates into ‘Red Sands’, and Gijduvan, a town famous for its handmade ceramics.

Just You (0800 112 3311, www.justyou.co.uk)  offers a seven-night tour through Central Asia’s Silk Road from £1,439pp, departing London Heathrow on 23 February, 20 April, 11 May, 21 September, 12 October, and 9 November 2010. The price includes six nights’ full board accommodation in your own room, return flights, transfers, excursions and the services of a Just You Tour Manager.

The Wonder of China – Ten days from £1,200

Travel to three major cities of China, each rich with its own historical and magical sights. Begin your adventure within the “bamboo curtain” at the capital city of Beijing. Spend the first day touring the fascinating city, including Tian an Men Square and the Forbidden City. Walk along the Great Wall of China – one of the wonders of the world – and then head to the temples of Chengde. In the third city of Xian, view the famous life-sized terracotta soldiers that protect the tomb of the first Qin emperor.

Just You (0800 112 3311, www.justyou.co.uk)  offers a ten-day journey past the “bamboo curtain” into the heart of China, with departures from London Heathrow in January, March, April, June, July, September, October & November 2010.

Prices start at £1,200pp and include return flights, eight nights’ full board accommodation, welcome drink, all meals in China, excursions, transfers and the services of a Just You Tour Manager and an English speaking local representative.

Polar Bear Adventure – Seven days from £3,499
Wrap up warm and spend your next holiday observing the natural habitat of the magnificent polar bears.

Fly into Winnipeg and wander through this easy to explore city, before heading to Churchill, also known as the ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World’. Spend the day aboard a Tundra Buggy – a specially designed heated vehicle – and watch the polar bears in their natural habitat.

Just you (0800 112 3311, www.justyou.co.uk)  offers this seven-day adventure with departures from London Heathrow on 11 October and 10 November 2009. Prices start at £3,499pp and include return flights, five nights’ bed and breakfast accommodation, welcome drink and dinner on day two, farewell dinner on day five, lunches on day three and five, excursions, transfers, and services of a Just You Tour Manager.

until 6 Sep 2009

THAI’s Mid-Winter Global Sale is now on : Fares are available to Thailand, India, Middle-East, China, Japan, Europe, Vietnam, Cambodia, Nepal : book and ticket by 6 September, 2009, travel until December 2009 (travel validity varies according to chosen destination).

THAI is offering a limited seat sale in Economy Class and Royal Silk Business Class for travel from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Thailand plus other popular destinations across the network in Indo-china, the Indian Sub-continent and Europe.

The sale is on until 6 September 2009 – contact travel agents to finalise your plans today. (Special offer is available via travel agents only)

Fares from $575* return to Bangkok or Phuket plus taxes (approx $340 return).

Choose from a huge list of destinations across the THAI network – in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Pakistan, Nepal, the Middle East and to all THAI’s destinations in Europe.

Royal Silk Business Class fares start from $3,265 return to Bangkok plus taxes.

Special fares are also available for Seniors (60 years plus) from $2,939 per person plus taxes.

SPECIAL OFFER for Business Class travellers : Stopover in Thailand from only $9 per person. For more information about THAI’s Thailand Plus promotion, log on to www.thairways.com.au

Emirates airline is expanding its presence in West Asia with additional services to Colombo and Malé from Dubai.

The expansion also marks the resumption of Emirates’ flights on the Malé-Colombo route.

In total, Emirates will add four flights to Colombo and five flights to Malé, bringing its total frequency to 18 flights per week to Sri Lanka and 14 flights per week to the Maldives.

An additional 1,800 seats per week, per direction will be made available for business and leisure travelers.

EK 654 will operate a circular route, Dubai-Malé-Colombo-Dubai, every Monday, Wednesday and Friday using a modern Airbus A330 aircraft in a three-class configuration of 12 first, 42 business and 183 economy class seats.

Emirates will also introduce an additional direct connection between Dubai and Colombo every Friday on EK 650, and another two connections between Dubai and Malé on Wednesday and Friday with EK 658.

These services will be operated with the technologically advanced Boeing 777 series.