Jetsettersblog

Setting sail from Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas the idyllic capital of the US Virgin Islands, you will find yourself in shopping heaven before embarking upon a 5 night journey around the Caribbean. Widely known as the duty free shopping capital of the world – Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas combines rich history with some of the world’s best shopping.

SeaDream I is an exclusive & intimate mega-yacht which hosts just 56 couples who are serviced by a team of 95 crew, providing a truly 5 star luxury experience.

Leading cruise holiday specialists ecruising Asia Pacific are providing you with this dream opportunity at a saving of up to 65%. Through ecruising you can enjoy 5 nights aboard luxury mega-yacht SeaDream I for only HK$19,249.00 usually HK$61,000.00

ecruising Asia Pacific is a fully registered and licensed travel agency who are specialists in cruise holidays. Recently launching their regional centre for Asia Pacific in Hong Kong, their team of dedicated customer service agents are providing Asia with a gateway to the world of cruising.

This exclusive package on SeaDream I includes all main meals, complimentary beverages, personal refreshment bar and entertainment. The mega-yacht also features an Award-winning Thai certified Spa (massage rooms, steam shower and sauna), Fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, Outdoor whirlpool, pool and spa facilities.

Caribbean Itinerary

18 Jan - Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas

19 Jan - Cruz Bay, St. John

20 Jan - Anguilla, British West Indies

21 Jan - Gustavia, St. Barthelemy

22 Jan - Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

23 Jan San Juan, Puerto Rico

Details
For sale until: 16 January 2009
Destinations: Caribbean
Ship: SeaDream I
Embarkation Port: Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas
Duration: 5 Nights
Departure Dates: 18 Jan 2009

Other great cruise holidays available through ecruising Asia Pacific include:

China, Vietnam & Thailand HK$13,499.00
14 nights on board Costa Allegra from Hong Kong to Singapore. Departing 21 Feb 2009
For sale until: 21 February 2009
Destinations: Asia
Cruise Line: Costa
Ship: Costa Allegra
Embarkation Port: Hong Kong, China
Duration: 14 nights
Departure Dates: 21 February 2009

ecruising Asia Pacific can be contacted for information about cruise holiday products here and world-wide by simply visiting

 www.ecruising.travel/hk

or phoning (852) 3711 3238.

Cruising and boating holiday specialists Blue Water Holidays have revealed that their customers are just as exotic as their destinations. With recent customers booking a cruise on Russian Waterways from Zimbabwe, a Rhine cruise from Kuwait, and even a boating holiday in Ireland from Barbados, Blue Water Holidays have an important international customer base.

General Manager Rachel Aydin comments, “We have always explored new international markets and are finding it a real bonus now with the current uncertainty in the UK. We have booked customers from every single EU country and over 125 different countries worldwide, including Argentina, Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, French Polynesia, Malaysia, and even Tokelau and Norfolk Island!”

“Unlike most agents and operators, we are not tied to a specific geographical customer base”, adds Rachel. “Our international marketing expertise and in-house technology means that we are able to book someone from Thailand onto a European river cruise without a problem.”

Blue Water Holidays are the UK cruising and boating holiday specialists with comprehensive coverage of all destinations and cruise types, including traditional river and ocean cruises, coastal voyages, expedition cruises, luxury cruises and self-drive boating holidays in the UK and Europe. For more information about what they offer, see www.bluewaterholidays.com.

For more information, please contact Juliet Peters, Marketing Manager on 01756 693626 or email Juliet@bluewaterholidays.com

For the price of your morning coffee, you could see the coffee beans for yourself in Costa Rica.

G.A.P Adventures, the world’s leading adventure travel company, expands its range of tours to South and Central America.

G.A.P Adventures is offering its travellers 10% off all new South and Central America 2009 trips booked by November 15, 2008 with travel completed by April 30, 2009.

“South America is a continent of contrasts: from the idyllic shores of Mexico to the glaciers in Patagonia, it offers more variety of culture, wildlife, and natural beauty than any other continent. This, combined with the liveliness and the warmth of its people, makes it an all-time favourite destination.” says Bruce Poon Tip, CEO of G.A.P Adventures.

“G.A.P Adventures is now launching a brand new range of small group tours that will allow travelers to experience this intriguing continent in a new way,” adds Mr. Poon Tip. “Our tours have an excellent value for money. For the price of their morning coffee, our customers could see the coffee beans for themselves in Costa Rica.”

G.A.P Adventures’ new South and Central America trips include:

Peru on a Shoestrin

Everything you imagined Peru would be and more! During this two-week adventure travellers will fly over the desert to see the mysterious Nazca lines and visit Cuzco, heart and soul of the Inca empire, with the opportunity to choose among rafting, horseback riding and mountain biking. The major highlight of the trip is a four-day Inca trail hike, a once-upon-a-lifetime journey across the Andes, which culminates with an unforgettable sunrise over Machu Picchu.
Patagonia Experience

The perfect tour for mountain lovers! Imposing glaciers, unique wildlife and breathtaking scenery are found at every turn in this amazing 11-day trip in the Patagonian Andes. Travellers will have the opportunity to hike within Glacier National Park, home to the third largest ice field on Earth, witness one of the few advancing glaciers in the world, the Moreno Glacier, and travel by boat amongst the icebergs of Torres del Paine National Park.

Ecuador in Style

This 8-day trip is a great way to see and experience Ecuador while travelling in style. Wonder around the pre-Inca handicraft markets of Otavalo, and take a guided tour to Cuenca with its charming cobblestone streets. After exploring the ancient Inca ruins of Ingapirca, relax at the natural hot springs of Baños. Finally, once in Quito, take advantage of a range of activities ranging from hiking to rafting.

Active Yucatan Jungle and Ruins

Get active and see the Yucatan peninsula from a different perspective! During this 10-day adventure, travelers will visit the world famous ruins of Tulum and Chichén Itza, and spend four days in the less-visited Sian Ka’an Biosphere reserve. Surrounded by breathtaking landscape, they will take snorkelling trips, swim and paddle through caves, before heading up to Playa del Carmen for a final stroll down the beach.

This two-week tour stretches from southern Costa Rica to western Panama. After a scenic boat tour through the mangrove delta of Rio Sierpe, visitors will explore Corcovado National Park’s wildlife and then reach the mountain retreat of Boquete, the ideal location for white water rafting and other outdoor activities such as hiking and horseback riding. Finally, they will snorkel, scuba dive or just relax on the top-notch beaches of the archipelago of Bocas del Toro and conclude their trip at the picturesque village of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

Las Terrazas on the island of Ambergris Caye, Belize, is offering winter value packages, including a seven-night Belize Adventure priced at $2,549 per person, double occupancy, which is more than a $500 savings. The package includes a trip for two to Altun Ha Mayan Site, a trip to the mainland jungle including cave tubing and the Belize Zoo.

 Also offered is a seven-night Dive the Maya Reef package from $2,199 per person double, which is a more than $450 savings.

The package includes four two-tank dives.

All packages include round-trip local transfers, continental breakfast, high-speed Internet access, use of Kayaks and welcome drink. Three- to five-night custom packages are also available. Refer to promo code “LTWINTER1.”

Prices are subject to 19 percent tax and services charges. Offer is valid until Jan. 31, 2009. Las Terrazas is an island community of 38 fully-furnished townhomes with an additional 40 planned townhomes on 4.8 acres of private beachfront on the island destination of Ambergris Caye, Belize.

Each residential townhome has been fully furnished and handsomely appointed with stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, flat-panel televisions, iPod docking stations, high-speed Internet and cable TV.

For more information, call 800-447-1553 or visit www.lasterrazasresort.com

Costa Rica’s Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort is offering four nights for the price of three in January and February. The deal includes accommodations, a welcome drink, Temazcal, the native Indian sweat lodge for two, $125 credit per room towards any treatment in the Grand Spa, and free entrance to Tabacón thermal mineral springs. Rates for a superior premium room start at $1,208, representing a savings of $361.

Rates for a superior room start at $1,033, representing a savings of $302. The package is available from Jan. 4 to Feb. 28, 2009. The property is also offering three nights for the price of two.

For more information, call 877-277-8291 or visit www.tabacon.com

World Expeditions’ Top 10 Active Adventure Trips for 2009

Make it your 2009 New Year resolution to get fit and healthy on an active adventure holiday with World Expeditions, the trekking and adventure holidays specialists.

From our Classic Mont Blanc Ascent to Alaskan trekking and kayaking, cycling the Glens of Scotland, or trekking the remote wilderness of Bhutan with Rebecca Stevens - the first female to ascend Everest; with World Expeditions’ unbeatable 2009 prices you’ll find our Top 10 New Year Active Adventure Trips for 2009 hard to resist.

You don’t need to be a top-class athlete to join our fun and affordable, all-inclusive holidays. At World Expeditions we have tailored a wide selection of active adventures to suit nearly every level of fitness. Whether you’re looking for an active family adventure or relaxing vineyard amble, a moderately active walk or cycle journey, or a challenging mountain trek or summit ascent, our experienced travel advisors will ensure you plan the right Active Adventure Trip for 2009.

World Expeditions’ Top 10 Active Adventure Trips 2009

1.Experience the highest peak in the European Alps by yourself, or with your family. Join the Classic Ascent of Mont Blanc on a 7-day guided trip. Price from £1,275 pp. Or, a Mont Blanc 7-day Family Adventure from £560 per adult; £430 per child.

2.Trek the un-trodden trails of China’s Yunnan Province and experience Zhongdian, the real Shangri-la, on our 15-day Yunnan Meili trip . Price from £1,350 per person.

3.Not all great adventures have to be a flight away! Cycle the Great Glens of Scotland on an 8-day self guided cycle trip. Price from £670 per person.

4.Looking for a new Himalayan trail? Trek the remote paths of the Manaslu Circuit in Nepal, on a 25-day guided trip. Price from £1,440 per person.

5.Climb the ‘Mountain in the Sea’ on our Crossing Corsica, 7-day self guided walk. Price from £685 per person.

6.Trek the Bhutan Circuit with Rebecca Stevens; the first British woman to ascend Everest (14 days, 9-day trek) Price from £2,495 per person.

7.Discover Italy’s 15th century walking trails high above the sea in Cinque Terre, on an 8-day self guided walk. Price from £455 per person.

8.Spoil your Valentine with a Wine Lovers Burgundy, 8-day self guided cycle trip in France. Price from £995 per person.

9.Trek and kayak the pristine and rugged Wilderness of Alaska, on a 12-day guided trip this summer. Price from £2,190 per person.

10.Climb to the roof of Africa. Experience Kilimanjaro by the remote Shira Route, on a challenging 10-day trip. Price from £1,420 per person. All inclusions.

For more information on our Top 10 Active Adventure Trips for 2009, please visit www.worldexpeditions.co.uk  or call our experienced travel team on 0800 074 4135

Titan HiTours, the escorted tours specialist, has released the first of its new National Geographic Journeys brochures in conjunction with the National Geographic Society. The new programme of exclusive holidays contains an inspiring collection of exceptional journeys, each accompanied by a National Geographic expert to ensure a rewarding, insightful holiday quite unlike anything else on the market.

The first National Geographic Journeys brochure is Africa & the Near East 2009/10, featuring wonderful wildlife, ancient civilisations and spectacular landscapes in countries as varied as Jordan, Rwanda, Namibia and South Africa.

Over its 120-year history, the National Geographic Society has delivered to a worldwide audience fascinating stories about diverse cultures, wildlife conservation, scientific discoveries and exploration of the planet’s most remote and breathtaking regions. Now, National Geographic Journeys offer travellers the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of great explorers and discover the wonders of the world, National Geographic-style.

What makes these holidays exceptional are the memorable – and often unique – experiences included in each itinerary, such as private access to museums and attractions, meetings with National Geographic contacts and experts around the world or specially-arranged dinners in awe-inspiring locations. In addition to specialist guidance, travellers will enjoy the finest hotels in their class, comfortable transportation, the award-winning VIP Home Departure Service (with transfers to and from their own front door) and, of course, the high levels of quality, customer satisfaction and value for money for which Titan HiTours is renowned.

The first tour featured, the 12-day ‘Temples, Treasures & Tombs: The Mysteries of Ancient Egypt’, leads in at £2,498 per person and provides a good example of how a National Geographic Journey differs from a standard escorted tour. Departing in June, September and December 2009, and January and February 2010, this outstanding tour includes expert guiding by an authority on ancient Egyptian art, an exclusive visit to Luxor’s amazing Tomb of Queen Nefertari (usually closed to the public, now restored to its original glory and as vibrantly colourful as it was 3,000 years ago), private access to the Great Pyramid and Sphinx enclosure, and a private talk by National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence and Secretary General of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, Dr Zahi Hawass.

Other options include the 15-day ‘Natural Wonders of Namibia’ tour, which features visits to towering sand dunes, Stone Age artwork and wildlife-rich reserves as well as private, torch-lit dinners at Sossusvlei and Etosha, a private visit to the Gobabeb Desert Research Centre and tracking wild leopard at Erindi Game Reserve. The first departure is in June 2009 and costs £4,298 per person to include all flights, accommodation, meals and excursions plus the services of a Titan tour manager, a National Geographic expert and the VIP Home Departure Service.

Alternatively, take the 18-day ‘Rainbow Nation Revealed’ tour, which uncovers South Africa’s fascinating and turbulent history through the eyes of its various peoples. Unforgettable elements include a journey aboard the luxurious Rovos Rail, a meeting with a traditional isAngoma (mystic-healer) in Soweto and an exclusive visit to the Sterkfontein Caves, a UNESCO World Heritage Site credited as being the ‘Cradle of Humankind’.

This tour departs on selected dates from September 2009 and costs from £5,498 per person, covering all flights, accommodation, transfers, most meals, plus the services of a Titan tour manager, a National Geographic expert and the VIP Home Departure Service.

In every destination, hotels, lodges and partners have been carefully selected both for the exceptional quality of the services they provide, and for their support of local charities, community initiatives and conservation trusts. Participation in a National Geographic Journey provides support to National Geographic’s mission of increasing global understanding through exploration, geography education and scientific research.

In addition, through this alliance, holidaymakers in the UK will have the opportunity to travel on any of National Geographic’s expedition ships operated by Lindblad Expeditions, when a second brochure (National Geographic Journeys by Sea) is launched in January 2009. These voyages will be aboard the new, state-of-the-art National Geographic Explorer which plies the seas from Antarctica and South Georgia to the Seychelles, and on other ships in the fleet, exploring destinations such as the Galápagos Islands, Alaska’s fjords, Costa Rica and the Panama Canal.

National Geographic Journeys will be bookable by telephone (0800 988 5175), online (www.ngjourneys.co.uk) and in person, with a staff of expert personal travel consultants at the new National Geographic retail store at 83-97 Regent Street, London, which offers a range of products from casual travel gear to expedition-quality apparel, and also features an exhibition area, auditorium, tapas café and photography studio.

Commenting on the launch brochure, Richard Tarrant, Titan HiTours’ Affinity Manager said, “We are so privileged to be working with National Geographic on this wonderful product. Not only will British travellers have the chance to enjoy extraordinary, expert-led holidays full of unforgettable experiences to the world’s most beautiful and inspiring places, they will also be directly helping local communities and supporting National Geographic’s mission to inspire people to care about the planet.”

Lynn Cutter, Senior Vice President, Travel and Business Development at National Geographic, said, “We are delighted to be working with Titan HiTours to extend our successful travel programme into the UK market. We look forward to offering our unique brand of trips, blending exploration and learning, to this discerning new audience.”

To request a copy of the launch brochure call 0800 988 5174 or visit the website www.NGjourneys.co.uk

oneworld® has become the first in the travel industry to sell multiairline
round-the-world air tickets on-line with its new internet booking tool for its oneworld Explorer fare. This also makes oneworld the first global airline alliance to offer any of its public fares for sale through the worldwide web.

The new on-line booking tool is available now through oneworld.com The alliance’s member airlines will add it to their own websites too or provide links from their internet sites to the oneworld.com facility – at www.oneworld.com/ow/flight-info/plan-and-book-your-itinerary
oneworld Explorer is among the most popular multi-airline tickets worldwide, enabling passengers to travel right around the globe using the flights of any of oneworld’s ten member airline and 20 or so affiliates, who together serve some 700 destinations in approaching 150 countries.

With the launch this new oneworld internet tool, customers or their travel agents can for the first time both plan their round-the-world itinerary and now book and pay for their tickets on-line. The system has a number of special features to make it as simple as possible for customers to plan oneworld Explorer round-the-world trips.

As they build their itinerary - simply by clicking on destinations displayed on the alliance’s interactive map - the system automatically checks availability and displays only flights that have seats available for each route and date selected. It also validates that the itinerary meets all the fare’s rules and conditions - and then provides an instant price for the trip. Once customers have finalised their itinerary - which can be of up to 16 sectors - they can pay online using a credit card (see notes) and print out all the details. The e-tickets for the entire trip are then sent to the customer by email.

oneworld Vice-President Commercial Nicolas Ferri said: “The tremendous value and flexibility our oneworld Explorer fares offer now combined with the ease and simplicity of planning, booking and paying on-line extends oneworld and our member airlines’ leading position for worldwide travel. We are delighted to be the first and only alliance - and indeed the first in the travel industry - to offer this level of convenience to our customers and travel agency partners, building further on our record of
innovation.”

The booking engine project has been led on behalf of all the alliance’s carriers by Qantas. Its General Manager Sales and Distribution Rob Gurney said: “With so many possibilities of places to visit and routes to take, planning and booking a round-the-world trip can be time-consuming - both for our customers and sales representatives. Our new, easy-to-use on-line booking and payment facility simplifies the entire operation, saving customers a huge amount of time and providing them with far more flexibility in planning their trips. It will also reduce costs for our member airlines and free up time of airline and travel agency reservations agents to handle other tasks.” oneworld first to sell alliance fares on-line…

Unlike other round-the-world fares, oneworld Explorer’s price is based on the number of continents visited (three to six), not the mileage flown, making planning and pricing journeys much more simple and flexible. It covers flights worldwide by all oneworld member and affiliate airlines.

With oneworld the only airline alliance with members based in South America, Australia or Asia’s Middle East, it is just the ticket for anyone who truly wants to circumnavigate the globe. It offers great flexibility and value, generating the largest portion of the US$725 million revenues earned by oneworld for its member airlines through its alliance fares and sales activities last year.

Around 50,000 people bought a oneworld Explorer round-the-world ticket last year. oneworld Explorer can be booked for travel in Economy, Premium Economy (where available), Business or even First Class, and earn frequent flyer programme mileage awards and tier status points. Prices from the USA start at US$3,900, from the UK at GBP1,349, from Euro-zone countries at EUR1,999, and from Australia at A$3,499, all excluding any taxes, charges and surcharges. For lead-in prices from other countries and full details, see www.oneworld.com/ow/air-traveloptions/
round-the-world-fares/oneworld-explorer#fare-estimate

The on-line booking tool build on oneworld’s record for innovation. More than three years ago, it became the first of the global alliances to put in place interline e-ticketing (IET) links between all members of the grouping, enabling customers to travel with the convenience of just one electronic ticket for journeys involving any combination of alliance’s member airlines. Rival alliances have only recently completed links between their own member airlines.

Initially, oneworld Explorer itineraries ticketed through British Airways (generally when the first sector flown is on British Airways) will still need to have their payment processed through a British Airways sales outlet rather than on-line. The airline ticketing the itinerary will be displayed in the reservations’ confirmation page, before the booking is completed and payment requested. oneworld Explorer sectors in Premium Economy cabins cannot at this stage be booked on-line. oneworld developed the on-line booking engine in cooperation with Innovata, the global leader in travel related content management and content distribution, and Amadeus, the global distribution system, which also supports the majority of oneworld’s member airlines.

About oneworld oneworld brings together some of the best and biggest names in the airline business - American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malév Hungarian Airlines, Qantas and Royal Jordanian, and around 20 affiliates including American Eagle, Dragonair, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru. Mexicana and its affiliate Click Mexicana will join the alliance in 2009.

Between them, these airlines
:
• Serve almost 700 airports in nearly 150 countries, with more than 9,000 daily departures.
• Offer nearly 550 airport lounges for premium customers.
• Carry some 320 million passengers a year.
• Employ 250,000 people and operate almost 2,500 aircraft.
• Generate more than US$100 billion annual revenues.

oneworld is the only alliance with any member airlines based in Australia, South America or Asia’s Middle East. The alliance enables its members to offer their customers more services and benefits than any airline can provide on its own. These include a broader route network, opportunities to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles and points across the combined oneworld network and more airport lounges. oneworld was voted the World’s Leading Airline Alliance for the sixth year running in the 2008 World Travel Awards, retaining the title ever since it was first presented.

THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAY GIFT

Providing access to an unrivalled world of privileges, benefits, expert knowledge and a global network of insider information, a Quintessentially membership offers the perfect present this Christmas.

Quintessentially is a unique private members’ club and global luxury lifestyle group committed to delivering nothing but the best in high quality services. Available 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, by telephone or email, Quintessentially provides unlimited access to an unrivalled package of privileges, preferential rates and bespoke services, and acts as your very own PA – any time, anywhere.

With three tiers of membership available, starting from $1500 per year Quintessentially provides an affordable and long-lasting support to help guide you through to 2009. From securing last minute hotel reservations and travel deals, to restaurant bookings and access to events and galas around the world, Quintessentially is here to help. Offering an excellent benchmark of service and a unique network of insider information and benefits, Quintessentially aims to bring you nothing but the best, making it not only an invaluable resource but, more importantly, an easily accessible time and money saving solution.

Membership also includes access to the growing number of expert Quintessentially sister companies which can cater to all your needs including the dedicated personal shopping service Quintessentially Gifts, the bespoke experience company Quintessentially Escape, the bespoke wine service Quintessentially Wine and many more including Quintessentially Art, Quintessentially Events, Quintessentially Estates and Quintessentially Flowers. Members are also sent a weekly Quintessentially newsletter, packed full of the latest news, views, events and benefits, as well as the Quintessentially Magazine, published quarterly.

Quintessentially now encompasses a staggering 44 offices in a host of major cities worldwide, in destinations as diverse as Hong Kong, Cape Town, Istanbul, Mozambique, Cairo, Panama, Los Angeles and Sydney with a number of new office launches planned in the coming months, including those in Amsterdam, Auckland, Chicago, Luxemburg and Kuala Lumpur.

Goes Farther And Faster To Achieve Top Results

New travel search engine nowfly.co.uk launches today, looking set to overhaul the standards of speed and accuracy established by other well-known market leaders. At a time when finding the best value option is more important than ever to travellers, nowfly.co.uk delivers equal or better fares than its rivals. And it is seriously quick, too.

Cleanly designed and easy to use, nowfly.co.uk was started by a group of online and travel experts with a clear objective to provide an easy, fun, and best priced way of finding a flight, hotel or car rental. The business is headed by Dan Hart, who has extensive experience in the online and travel sectors.

There are a number of factors which set nowfly.co.uk apart from its competitors:

• The site has gone through extensive usability testing and the results have shown that the site is clearly presented and easy to navigate.

• The content is broad and wide, searching more than 340 airlines with routes, fares and availability and giving the user essential information about booking their flight, hotel or car rental.

• The team studied the way flight results are presented with other travel and airlines websites and recognised that the user wants maximum flexibility when booking their flight itinerary. nowfly.co.uk uses an airline-style search, presenting results for each sector rather than lumping outbound and inbound options together.

• nowfly.co.uk searches low-cost, charter and scheduled airlines, giving a well-informed choice to the traveller, along with the flexibility to choose the best departure and arrival times.

• The site has third-party integration with leading, well-known travel sites as well as airlines, hotels and car rental suppliers.

• The website has geo-coded results for all the leading hotel chains and major consolidators, using the Google Maps Application Programming Interface (API) to visually place hotel results.

• Car rental options are found by using the leading car rental suppliers and consolidators globally.

• nowfly.co.uk uses the Ajax web application, retrieving data from the server asynchronously in the background. This means it loads before the user’s very eyes, without the need for a separate wait page.

Utilising cutting-edge technology, nowfly.co.uk is the first site in the UK to employ the full suite of the TRAVELfusion API. Dan has worked closely with TRAVELfusion over the past year. “I knew they were a great, innovative travel technology company and felt that they were the right people to work with,” Dan comments. “I believe that the combination of good content from TRAVELfusion, matched with a great user-face, is a compelling proposition for travellers booking trips online.”

Comments Moshe Rafiah, TRAVELfusion CEO: “This is exactly the kind of partnership that we envisioned when we created our XML API programme. By combining the most advanced travel search technologies developed by TRAVELfusion with innovative applications such as nowfly.co.uk, we have created a winning formula for success.”

TRAVELfusion is a world leader in constructing powerful travel search and web fare booking tools which search, aggregate, compare and book travel content from the web. Based around the company’s patented TRIPplannerXML platform, TRAVELfusion has integrated hundreds of travel suppliers including air, hotel, car, rail and ferry as well as adding its unique content generated directly by travel suppliers.

Money-saving price comparison websites have grown in reach and reputation over the last few years. According to a 2008 study undertaken by e-consultancy.com, Comparison Shopping Engines (CSEs) contributed to around 10% of online sales for retailers. Approximately 43% of these retailers claimed that their sales had increased in the last 12 months.

The next phase for nowfly.co.uk is to introduce further useful travel tips as well as community-based content to help users make better informed decisions.

The company will also run a number of marketing campaigns to keep users abreast of great travel offers, including ancillary products such as travel insurance, car parking and foreign currency. Product innovation and enhancement is key and will be driven forward to keep nowfly.co.uk looking fresh, without losing sight of the founding principle – fast and highly competitive travel search results every time.

About www.nowfly.co.uk:

nowfly.co.uk was established at the beginning of 2008. The management team comprises a mix of travel and online experts with extensive experience within these fields. The business is headed by Dan Hart, who has worked within the travel and online sectors for over 15 years. Dan worked within the Virgin Group for 12 years, initially starting his career at Virgin Atlantic and most recently with thetrainline.com.