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June 04 2021 | ISSUE NO 4,174 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Giving agents the edge
AGENT INSIGHT
AGENT BULLETIN
CARIBBEAN
CRUISING
Not Just Travel’s Sarah Watts on the new traffic light system for travel
Win gift vouchers, holidays, cash rewards and more with these incentives!
Bright-white beaches to offroad adentures, the best that the Islands have to offer
As cruising resumes in the UK, here are all the latest updates from the industry
CITY BREAKS
Cover pic : © Adobe Stock
From New York to Rome, experience all the glamour & glitz
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NEWS BULLETIN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
THIS WEEK
AT THE READY Expedia’s latest travel survey has revealed what exactly it is that travellers are looking for when booking their next holiday.
04 NEWS News from the industry to help agents sell more holidays.
07 AGENT BULLETIN All about Visit Sweden’s new training platform for agents, gift vouchers, getaways, and more.
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Cleanliness is the top factor shaping booking decisions among respondents.
BULLETIN BRIEFING Tracey Poggio, ANTOR chairman, offers a round-up of member updates.
11 CARIBBEAN Our holiday picks to the sun-drenched islands, from St Lucia to Cuba.
14 CRUISING The latest updates from river and ocean cruise lines.
EXPEDIA GROUP has revealed insights from its latest survey, ‘What travellers want in 2021’. A total of 16,000 respondents gave their answers when asked for their post-pandemic travel priorities and preferences. Traveller considerations Nearly half (45%) of travellers are considering a beach holiday in the next 18 months, while more than a third (36%) would prefer a major city, and a third (33%) would prefer a small town. Regardless of the type of destination, a top decision factor for respondents is a “drivable destination somewhat close to home.” After the preference for nearby destinations,
travellers are also likely to choose a longer stay, outdoor tours or activities, and to travel to a “once-in-alifetime" destination for their next holiday. Factors shaping travel decisions Cleanliness is the top factor shaping booking decisions among the respondents. Nearly half (42%) of travellers say cleanliness guidelines are important to them. Nearly two-thirds (60%) of travellers say they are unlikely to book a nonrefundable room in exchange for a reduced rate. The research also reveals how travellers’ expectations for on-property experiences
impacts booking decisions. While more than eight in 10 travellers say “there is room for improvement among ‘kidfriendly’ hotels,” nearly three in four (71%) say they would return for another stay if the hotel “got ‘kid-friendly’ right,” and more than a third (34%) would stay longer. Rebuilding traveller trust The research also reveals the importance that travellers place on trust. 40% of travellers say reviews are more important today than before the pandemic. Almost all travellers (91%) say property owners and managers should reply to negative reviews. See the full report here
18 CITY BREAKS Europe and beyond: treat your clients to a much-needed city escape.
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NEWS BULLETIN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Leger adds to its Luxuria Signature Collection
A visit to Stratford-upon-Avon is part of Leger’s Warwickshire itinerary.
One example of an available tour is the 'Picturesque Warwickshire and the Cotswold at Warner Studley Castle' itinerary. Located in rural Warwickshire, your clients will stay at Studley Castle, which is the ideal base for exploring Stratford-uponAvon, a historic market town and the birthplace of
Shakespeare. There is also free time to enjoy the facilities Studley Castle offers, including traditional sports, spa treatments and grounds to wander. There is also an optional excursion to Royal Leamington Spa. Five days is priced from £679 per person. www.leger.co.uk
RYANAIR HAS announced a new route from Teesside to Faro, operating twice a week from June 16, as part of the airline's UK summer 2021 schedule. The route expands Ryanair’s offerings from Teesside as the airline returns to the region this summer, with routes to Alicante, Faro and Palma de Mallorca from June, and to Corfu from July. With quarantine-free travel now permitted to Portugal, even more flights have been added to the UK schedule, in order to meet the demand from customers. For the full flight schedule, visit www.ryanair.com
A-ROSA to offer new ‘Rhine in Flames’ itinerary in 2022 IN SEPTEMBER 2022, A-ROSA River Cruises will feature a new ‘Rhine in Flames’ cruise, taking in the St Goar event. After a week sailing the Southern Rhine, this trip culminates with an evening joining the ‘Rhine in Flames’ celebrations in St Goar – where fires on the riverbanks light up the night sky, illuminating the mountains and castles.
Image Credit: A-ROSA
LEGER HOLIDAYS has expanded its Luxuria Signature Collection with six new UK tours. Destinations featured include Windsor and Cambridge, the Cotswolds, Warwickshire, the Isle of Wight, Chester, Shrewsbury, Lincoln and Nottingham. The new holidays are available to book for this summer through to the end of October. All five-day tours include four nights’ hotel with breakfast, evening meals, evening entertainment and daily activities. Travel is by Luxuria coach with local joining points. Prices of the new tours start at £469 per person and are securable with deposits from £50 per person.
Ryanair announces new Teesside to Faro route for 2021
Image Credit: Leger Holidays
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As darkness falls, A-ROSA AQUA will join ships as they sail as a flotilla as part of the celebrations. The night culminates with a firework display and music, which can be enjoyed from the ship’s sundeck. This seven-night itinerary departs on September 11, 2022, and travels from Cologne to Koblenz, Speyer, Kehl (for Strasbourg), through the Lorely Valley to Boppard and St Goar before returning to Cologne. The holiday is priced from £1,361 per person, cruise only, on a premium allinclusive basis. www.arosa-cruises.co.uk
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NEWS BULLETIN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Riviera Travel to cover testing costs for guests RIVIERA TRAVEL will cover all testing costs required under the UK government’s traffic light system for guests booked on European river cruises and yacht cruises, departing in July and August 2021. The free testing offer applies on new bookings made until June 30, 2021. Riviera is currently only planning to operate holidays to ‘green-listed’ countries, and expects more destinations to be added to the list in the coming weeks. The announcement comes as Riviera has confirmed a £200 price reduction on five of its river cruises that will sail a Douro, Porto and Salamanca itinerary this summer. Prices now start at £1,939 for its sailings on July
partnered with The Travel Visa Company who will provide a quick and easy way for our guests to book their required tests, and will be on hand to support throughout the process.”
UNIVERSAL ORLANDO Resort will debut an all-new, interactive character experience: ‘DreamWorks Destination’ this spring, where guests can meet their favourite DreamWorks characters. Located in the KidZone area of Universal Studios Florida, DreamWorks Destination will be a first-of-itskind character experience where guests can interact with multiple beloved characters from DreamWorks Animation’s hit film franchises: Trolls, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda. DreamWorks Destination will open this spring, and an exact opening date will be shared soon.
www.rivieratravel.co.uk
www.UniversalOrlando.com
The announcement came as Riviera confirmed a £200 price deduction.
11, 18, 25 and August 1 and 8. Jim Forward, Riviera Travel chief commercial officer, said: “We recognise the current government tests add to the requirements of booking a holiday, so we’re very happy to cover the associated costs. We’ve
Universal Orlando Resort announces “DreamWorks Destination”
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NEWS BULLETIN
AGENT
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
INSIGHT
SARAH WATTS NOT JUST TRAVEL WITH MORE of the population being vaccinated, the travel landscape is opening up for holidaymakers, and we seem to be seeing increasing confidence when it comes to booking holidays. In May, we had seen a big rise in bookings, not just to UK staycations, or to ‘green list’ countries like Portugal and Iceland, but also to Disney’s new Seacations. These have proven hugely popular with families looking to getaway but also have all the entertainment of a traditional resort, with the security of knowing they will not have to quarantine. And who, whether youngsters or the young at heart, doesn’t love Disney? Speaking of the Government’s Travel List, we are still waiting to see what countries get added this month. But so far, Israel, Portugal, Iceland and Gibraltar are open for travellers, with testing being required before and after returning in all cases. At Not Just travel we are offering low-cost PCR testing from £45 per person. This, along with our Covid travel insurance, has proven very popular with travellers and has given them confidence in their bookings. Customers are wanting confidence, reassurance and a guide through new processes right now. That’s why we have our partnership with Hays Travel and Assured Screening. Through this, we are able to offer customers the peace of mind and a selection of testing options, from home-testing to same-day testing. It’s just another way the industry is showing how it is flexible, adaptable and doing what it can to protect customers and restore faith in the process. Before, there was a degree of inflexibility around rebookings and refunds in the industry as a whole, but let’s face it, the last year has seen some longneeded changes coming to the fore, which can only be a good thing for customers and travel agents alike.
TRAVEL-CENTRIC PR consultancy firm, Lotus, has been appointed as the UK agency to promote Estonia as a visitor destination by Visit Estonia. The agency's campaign will use the pillars of the destination, including nature, food and drink, culture, wildlife, and adventure, to make Estonia a key focus for UK travellers. www.visitestonia.com
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle offers Covid-19 testing bundles EUROTUNNEL LE Shuttle is offering Covid-19 test packages for guests, with pre-departure and return tests available. Partnering with testing company Prenetics, passengers travelling with Eurotunnel will benefit from a discounted price, with at-home PCR testing kits or in-person PCR test pods at 20 locations across the UK available. Deborah Merrens, chief commercial officer at Eurotunnel, said: “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers a straightforward way to meet the current testing requirements. Safety is paramount and our collaboration with Prenetics makes the testing process as stress free as possible.” Pre-departure tests start from £57 for the 'Fit to Travel' option. The in-person option starts from £104.50 at one of the 20 testing centres across the UK. All results are available within 24 hours of receipt.
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle guests will benefit from discounted tests with Prenetics.
Tests upon return to the UK start from £93.10 for the 'Test to Release' kit on day five of return quarantine. Compulsory tests on day two and eight of quarantine upon return from ‘amber list’ countries are available from £155.80, with an in-person option from £104.50 per test. www.eurotunnel.com
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JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
AGENT BULLETIN
AGENT TRAINING VISIT SWEDEN has launched ‘Sweden for Travel Professionals’, a new training platform to help agents learn more about what Sweden has to offer. The website will offer insight and information to help agents sell the destination year-round. ‘Sweden for Travel Professionals’ will also offer a Travel Trade toolkit, containing constantly updated movies, images and sample copy, which agents can use on their own platforms and communication channels. The site content will continue to develop as time goes on. https://traveltrade.visitsweden.com/
G ADVENTURES' largest G-Normous incentive has come to a close, with the operator awarding four lucky UK agents with £6,000 in cash prizes. The grand prize draw, which was announced live on Facebook by G Adventures’ sales team, saw the G-Normous jackpot of £3,000 awarded to adventure travel fan, Charlotte Randell from The Adventure People. Three additional cash prizes of £1,000 were awarded to Catherine England from Audley Travel and the teams from Gap360 and Wildfoot Travel.
AGENT INCENTIVES ● AGENTS WHO make a Malta booking with Belleair Holidays by July 16, 2021, for travel this year, will be entered into a draw to win a three-night stay, for two, at the Hilton Malta in St Julian’s. The three-day getaway is for two people on a bed-and-breakfast basis. Return flights from a UK airport and local transfers are included in the incentive prize. Eligible booking departure dates need to be between September 7 and December 17, 2021. Reservation dates depend on flight seat and accommodation availability, at the time of booking. www.belleair.co.uk/maltaincentive ● TO CELEBRATE the launch of Wendy Wu’s new Japan brochure, the operator is offering agents a £30 Love2shop voucher for every Japan booking made. Agents can also receive a £20 Love2shop voucher for bookings to all other destinations. www.wendywutours.co.uk ● THE VILLA Collection has launched its first ever agent rewards programme, and to celebrate, it is giving agents the chance to win a seven-night stay for four people at a luxury Bali Villa. For every villa booking up to £20,000, agents will earn £20 cash and every booking over £20,000 will result in a £40 cash reward. All existing rewards members will be automatically included in the prize draw. To be in with a chance of winning this holiday prize, agents need to sign up to The Villa Collection Rewards at www.thevillacollectionrewards.com by June 30, 2021.
WEBINARS Register now to attend the
Travel Bulletin
Mediterranean Virtual Showcase Join us at 2pm on 8th June to receive the latest updates and learn top selling tips from our supplier partners, Be live Hotels S.L and Israel Government Tourist Office.
CLICK HERE to reserve your space.
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NEWS BULLETIN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Mauritius TPA appoints MMGY Hills Balfour
LUXURY OPERATOR If Only..., along with AMResorts has launched a a joint weddings and honeymoons campaign: 'Tie the Knot'. Running throughout June and July 2021, the campaign includes a newly-launched mini brochure with a selection of wedding and vow renewal ceremonies and honeymoons across Dreams Resorts & Spas, Secret Resorts & Spas, and Zoëtry Wellness Spa & Resorts. As part of the campaign, agents have the opportunity to win a £500 gift voucher for a luxury hotel of their choice. To be in with a chance of winning, agents must make as many wedding and honeymoon bookings across AMResorts (through If Only...) throughout the campaign, from June 1 to July 31, 2021.
Image Credit: AMResorts
Tie the knot with If Only... and AMResorts
Agents can win a £500 gift voucher for a luxury hotel of their choice.
The prize will be awarded to the top booker throughout this period. Annika Rieley, If Only's marketing manager, said: “I am extremely excited about the brochure launch... as ever, our travel agent partners are our top priority, and we have been getting
feedback for some time regarding an increased demand for this sort of tool, so when the chance to work with AMResorts on a campaign arose, it was the perfect opportunity to do something special.
MAURITIUS TOURISM Promotion Authority (MTPA), which handles the destination's marketing organisation worldwide, has appointed a new UK PR specialist, MMGY Hills Balfour. London-based MMGY Hills Balfour specialises in integrated marketing and communications for the travel and tourism trade. From family-fuelled excursions to accommodation for honeymooners, Mauritius hosts a diverse product offering. MMGY Hills Balfour will target these different segments, promoting the 'beyond the beach' concept to highlight Mauritius' diverse attractions and draws for visitors, positioning the island as a haven for long stays and digital nomads.
www.ifonly.co/TietheKnot. Image Credit: Adobe Stock
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Stuba offers hotel confirmation number on all bookings ACCOMMODATION SPECIALIST Stuba is set to include a hotel confirmation number (HCN) within seven days prior to check-in for all bookings, to protect agents’ brand integrity. HCNs will come straight from the property, ensuring bookings migrate into the hotel’s own system. Stuba believes this will eliminate all chance of in-resort issues. While the issue of bookings not transferring onto a property’s system only sits at around 1% of Stuba’s bookings, including a HCN eliminates this small possibility even further-
decreasing these cases by 88%. Matt Stuart, Stuba’s CCO, explained: “Travel agents work so hard to create the perfect customer experience... we want to ensure that in-resort guest arrival issues are a thing of the past for travel agents and operators. It will help agents avoid the dreaded call from a client in-resort with a problem, as well as protect their reputation and brand, which can be far-reaching.”
Arvind Bundhun, director of MTPA, said: “As we prepare to welcome back international visitors, we are confident that, with MMGY Hills Balfour, we will accentuate the destination’s visibility. Our aim is to develop together an integrated PR strategy for Mauritius.”
www.stuba.com
www.tourism-mauritius.mu/en-uk
Image Credit: CAYO Resort
CAYO Exclusive Resort opens for inaugural season CRETE'S NEWEST design hotel, CAYO Exclusive Resort and Spa, opened its selection of two- and three-bedroom villas for guests on May 21, 2021. The two-bedroom pool villas are spread across three levels of the resort, and all villas offer a panoramic view of the nearby sea from the private terrace, as well as a heated fresh-water swimming pool and fullyequipped gym. Guests will enjoy two spacious rooms, an en-suite and a lounge. Deluxe two-bedroom villas start from approximately £837 per night. www.cayoresort.com
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PUZZLE BULLETIN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
SUDOKU
Win a £50 M&S voucher in the Su Doku prize puzzle A Fill in all the squares in the grid so that each row, column and each of the 3 x 3 squares contains the digits 1-9. Once you have completed the puzzle, simply identify the numbers that relate to the letters, A, B, C and D then e-mail the solution, with your name, company name, and full postal address plus phone and ABTA number if applicable to:
B
competition@travelbulletin.co.uk
C
Closing date for entries is Thursday, June 17. Solution and new puzzle will appear in the next issue. The winner for May 21 is Sarah Doody from Millington Travel, Kettering
D
May 21 solution: A=3 B=8 C=4 D=5
?
I M A E WHER
This region straddles Argentina and Chile with the Andes mountain range as its dividing line. The Argentinian side features grasslands, deserts and arid steppes while the Chilean side has glacial fjords and temperate rainforests.
Across
Down
1
1
3 6 8 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18 19
Hotel and resorts company, part of Wyndham (6) Flows through Tuscany (4) Pretty seaside resort in Pembrokeshire (5) American actor and film-maker, ___ Gibson (3) Famous mountain in the Bernese Alps (5) African country, initially (3) Day of the week, in short (3) San Francisco international airport code (3) Ferry line with HQ in Gothenburg (5) Flag carrier of Lebanon, initially (3) Search engine and email provider (5) The latest cruise ship in P&O's fleet (4) This Haworth parsonage is a popular tourist attraction (6)
City which recently hosted the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest (9) 2 Manchester international airport code (3) 4 Sensual latin dance (5) 5 Island featured in a book and film about a Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (8) 7 Wightlink operate from Lymington to this port (8) 9 Island where you can visit the museum home of the artist and architect César Manrique (9) 13 This country is a popular European holiday destination (5) 17 Party, strictly for birds! (3)
Mystery Word: MANAMA
Where am I? - Patagonia
Solution: Across: 1 RAMADA, 3 ARNO, 6 TENBY, 8 MEL, 10 EIGER, 11 RSA, 12 MON, 13 SFO, 14 STENA, 15 MEA, 16 YAHOO, 18 IONA, 19 BRONTE. Down: 1 ROTTERDAM, 2 MAN, 4 RUMBA, 5 GUERNSEY, 7 YARMOUTH, 9 LANZAROTE, 13 SPAIN, 17 HEN.
CROSSWORD
Fill in the crossword to reveal the mystery location highlighted by the green squares.
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BULLETIN BRIEFING
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JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Industry insight by...
As restrictions slowly but surely ease, Tracey Poggio, ANTOR chairman, offers a roundup of the ways in which ANTOR members are proactively retraining to prepare for the reopening of travel.
ANTOR wishes all of our fellow member countries and industry partners its full support... of some of our members who are actively preparing themselves for the return of the international traveller. Since June of 2020, the Montserrat Tourism Division has engaged in a series of industry training initiatives for its tourism stakeholders, including taxi operations, housekeeping, cruise destination preparedness, customer service and packaging of souvenir items. Over the next 4 months the Division will facilitate workshops in tour guiding,
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
AS THE industry discovered the details of the UK Government roadmap for international travel last month, ANTOR members from each of the different travel lists have continued briefing trade and media with updated product news and current entry requirements through innovative online training sessions. We all look forward to the re-opening of international travel in a safe and sustainable way. While many questions still remain around vaccination certificates, testing and quarantine requirements, providing accurate product information to the trade is at the forefront of destination marketing. All memberupdated destination information can be found at at ANTOR’S website, but here we straw poll the work
Croatia is highlighting its ‘Safe Stay in Croatia’ project for tourism.
use of social media and managing sites and attractions. The tourism agency is finalising a travel agents tour to be launched in the summer. Grenada and its sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique remain open and ready to safely welcome visitors, once UK restrictions ease. With user-friendly entry requirements and the Pure Safe Travel inspection and accreditation scheme, visitors to the tropical paradise islands this year will find a warm welcome. Travel trade online training continues. Croatia has recently launched the “Safe stay in Croatia” project, a web platform that provides information about the health and safety measures that are in place across the tourism sector in Croatia during the
coronavirus pandemic. Travellers are informed on what they can expect during their time in Croatia and also see which Croatian businesses have the ‘Safe Stay in Croatia’ label, which serves as a designation of adherance to all local protocols. Meanwhile, the addition of ANTOR members Iceland, Israel and Gibraltar to the Green List has prompted increased interest for this summer. Undoubtedly, over the coming weeks we will get to hear more from our member countries on how they are preparing for reopening and the travel trade will be able to use the knowledge from their training programmes to get ready for the incoming season. Agents interested in current product training should head to the ANTOR website and ANTOR training portal to find a full range of recorded training webinars. ANTOR wishes all of our fellow member countries and industry partners its full support as we move to restart international travel. For a full list of updates, visit www.antor.com
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Image Credit: Adobe Stock
CARIBBEAN
Audley Travel's Jamaica intinerary offers a combination of beach relaxation with excursions that allow clients to get to know the island, away from the typical tourist spots.
INSPIRING TRAVEL Company is offering a seven-night stay at Bequla Beach Hotel, St Vincent & the Grenadines, from £1,519 per person. Bequla Beach Hotel is a fivestar, family run boutique resort, offering two restaurants, two swimming pools, a spa, and access to a beach with views of the Mustique. The price is based on two adults sharing a Classic Room, including daily breakfast, return economy class flights from London Heathrow, inter-island flights and private transfers.
Image Credit: Audley Travel
JAMMIN’ JAMAICA
Secluded sea and sun with Inspiring Travel Company
The holiday offers travellers the chance to float on a traditional raft.
Four nights at Port Antonio in the wilds of the Blue Lagoon follow. Activities include floating along the Rio Grande on a traditional bamboo raft, as an expert local guide explains the history and culture of the area. A day trip to Kingston includes a visit to the former home of Bob Marley, along with the historical village of Port Royal and the National Gallery. After the city, the
tour takes in the Blue Mountains and samples the world-renowned coffee produced here. A nine-night, two-centre tailor-made trip to Jamaica costs from £3,295 per person (based on two sharing). The price includes flights, transfers, accommodation on a bed-and-breakfast basis and excursions.
If booked by June 30, your clients can save 35% on accommodation, and receive complimentary transfers and a bottle of Champagne on arrival. This is valid for travel completed between now and August 31, 2021.
www.audleytravel.com/jamaica
www.inspiringtravelcompany.co.uk
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
AUDLEY'S RECOMMENDED itinerary gives an introduction to Jamaica's reggae-infused culture, beautiful beaches and varied cuisine. Clients spend four nights in Montego Bay with activities including an excursion to Saint Ann for a guided tour of a family-run farm. The hosts share insights into local produce and then invite guests to enjoy a sevencourse, plant-based lunch.
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CARIBBEAN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
COAST AND CARS
Sandals specialists can earn up to £13k per client
Image Credit: Journey Latin America
From a vintage car tour to a guided expedition around a wildlife reserve, Journey Latin America’s ‘Family Cuba: Salsa, Beach and Vintage Cars’ leaves no stone unturned.
CUBA MAY not cross your clients’ mind when they book their next exotic family escape, but the Caribbean destination is a lesser-known family haven. Journey Latin America’s ‘Family Cuba: Salsa, Beach and Vintage Cars’ offering ticks off a host of these diverse experiences, from kick-back Caribbean cayes and coastlines to an exciting cycle experience in the Viñales Valley. Arriving in Havana, holidaymakers check in for three nights to an atmospheric hotel in the heart of the city’s historic center. With a guided tour of Havana in a 1950s American car, guests will visit many of the UNESCOprotected city’s sightseeing highlights. Day three brings a sightseeing tour of Matanzas, before transferring to the rural La Terrazas on day four. The UNESCO biosphere reserve offers one of Cuba’s premier ecotourist experiences, and the La Moka Eco-resort offers two nights of sustainable accommodation here. Day five is spent with a tour of a nearby
coffee farm from the 19th century, with a dip in the natural pools of the Río San Juan river. Onward to Viñales, a half-day guided biking tour awaits on day seven. En route to Trinidad, the tour calls at the wildlife peninsula Zapata, home to flamingos, lizards and crocodiles, for a guided tour. Families check in for two nights at a hotel in Trinidad. A boat trip along Ancón Beach and a salsa lesson brings the whole family together on day eight and nine. The final days are spent in the historic Cayo Santa María, where guests can soak up the rustic charm and string of coral ‘cayos’, kicking back before a transfer to Havana on day 14 and a return flight home. The 15-day offering starts from £3,076 per person, including accommodation, five scenic road journeys between destinations, guides, and a selection of meals. www.journeylatinamerica.co.uk
AS PART of Sandals and Beaches Resorts new 'Lifetime Journey of a Sandals and Beaches Customer' campaign, the brand has revealed how agents can earn up to £12,610 in commission for the company’s Caribbean properties. Launched via the Selling Sandals for Agents website and Facebook page, an infographic aims to help agents understand the value of repeat bookers with the Sandals brand. Leah Marshall, director of sales for Unique Vacations UK, an affiliate of the exclusive worldwide sales and marketing representative for Sandals, says: “Not only does this campaign highlight how much earning potential is there for agents but also what benefits they
Image Credit: Sandals Beaches and Resorts
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can get through the Sandals Specialist programme. We hope this infographic will incentivise agents who make one or two Sandals bookings each year to turn their clients into repeat bookers.” Visit the brand’s trade portal at www.sandals.co.uk/tas
Image Credit: Casa de Campo
Bend it like Beckham at Casa de Campo’s football school CASA DE Campo Resort and Villas, Dominican Republic, has partnered with Real Madrid to launch a year-round football camp for its junior guests. Children looking to be the next Cristiano Ronaldo or Alex Morgan can hone in on their football skills on a FIFA-sized football field at the luxury five-star resort. Classes are for aspiring footballers from seven to 17 years old, who will be coached by experts from the Real Madrid Foundation. The five-star luxury golf resort offers a ‘Casa Inclusive’ option, fully inclusive of meals, selected drinks and activites from US$499 per night. www.casadecampo.com/do
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CARIBBEANN
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
LIVING IT UP IN ST LUCIA
Image Credit: St Lucia
St Lucia has launched ‘Live it’ – an extended stay programme that will allow visitors to stay in the destination for up to six weeks.
Family friendly stays at Windjammer with Carib Tours CARIB TOURS is offering a sevennight bed-and-breakfast stay at Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, an upmarket complex that is suitable for families. Kids will enjoy the daily Jacquot Fun Club, which offers coconut bowling, puppet making, t-shirt tie dye and pizza making, while teenagers can head to a disco and enjoy different kinds of fruity mocktails. For a family day out, there are plenty of options available, from daily snorkelling and scuba diving to catamaran sailing. The Jammer’s Beach Bar & Grill offers casual all-day dining, while dinner options at the romantic Upper Deck include steak and seafood. The authentic Caribbean cuisine at Dragonfly, or authentic Italian dishes at Papa Don’s Taverna are worth a try.
formalities, guests will be paired with a Live it Island Specialist, who will be their personal guide for all travel related arrangements, including Covid-related entry requirements. While living on the island, visitors can explore the Pigeon Island National Park, and go hiking, kayaking, snorkelling, and swimming; while history enthusiasts can walk around and explore old forts and ruins. Those who prefer a beach holiday can head to Rodney Bay in northern Saint Lucia, which offers beaches and popular nightlife spots. While in Saint Lucia, guests can also try Piton, the country’s local beer, named after the iconic volcanoes, and Chairman’s Reserve, a locally-produced rum.
Prices start at £1,459 per person, based on two adults and two children sharing a room, including return flights and complimentary private transfers, for October 2021 departures.
www.stlucia.org/en/liveit/
www.caribtours.co.uk
Image Credit: Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
SAINT LUCIA has recently launched a new programme titled ‘Live it’, for families looking to take an extended ‘workcation’ or ‘schoolcation’. The new immersive programme allows visitors to live like a local St Lucian with a long stay. Visitors can plan their ideal summer getaway in the Caribbean for up to six weeks, (which can also be extended up to a year). The ‘Live it Island Specialists’ will tailor activities that suit any family, such as learning creole cooking, discovering the biodiversity of rainforests, deep diving to catch sight of reefs, hiking in the Pitons, or engaging in philanthropic activities. Visitors also have the option of working remotely, with the help of free Wi-Fi, available across the island. After the booking
Dive into the biology of Dominica
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
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THOSE WISHING to discover what birdlife the Caribbean has on offer can choose to head to the Dominica island. This destination has some incredible birdlife, largely because there are so many species to be seen – hence the nickname ‘Nature Island’. Led by an expert conservationist from the island, visitors can opt for a guided tour of the island and learn about how the variety in the landscape aids such a diverse range of bird species. There will even be the chance to discover some species that are only known to exist in Dominica, such as Jacquot Parrots, as well as learn about the conservation efforts from the island to protect these birds. www.discoverdominica.com
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CRUISING
ALL HANDS ON DECK AmaWaterways will resume sailings through Europe from July 3.
www.amawaterways.co.uk
https://celestyal.com/uk/
Image Credit: AmaWaterways
evolving in a positive direction. We are proud to announce a selection of sailings starting the first week of July in Portugal with other restart dates throughout July on select ships on all the European rivers including the most luxurious ship on the Danube River, the AmaMagna on July 21.”
ON THE heels of announcing the resumption of operations on May 29 with the Celestyal Crystal, Celestyal Cruises has announced that it will deploy a second ship, the Celestyal Olympia. Setting sail from Celestyal’s dedicated terminal at Lavrion Port & Marina (Athens), located 16 miles from Athens Airport, the new, seven-night “Legendary Archipelago” itinerary will operate from June 28 through August 30. As of August 30, Celestyal Olympia will operate her scheduled threeand four-night 'Iconic Aegean' and 'Iconic Discovery' itineraries from Lavrion Port & Marina for the remainder of the season. The new 'Legendary Archipelago' itinerary will call in Thessaloniki, Mykonos, Santorini, Agios Nikolaos (Crete), Rhodes in Greece and Limassol in Cyprus, with all-inclusive pricing starting from £759 per person. Celestyal’s Thessaloniki embarkation/disembarkation port will provide additional flight options from Western and Northern Europe.
The AmaMagna will commence sailings on the Danube from July 21.
AMAWATERWAYS HAS announced its return to the rivers of Europe, resuming sailings aboard select ships beginning July 3 in Portugal. AmaDouro will commence sailings through Portugal from July 3; AmaMagna will commence sailings on the Danube River from July 21; AmaKristina will commence sailings in France on the Rhône River; AmaLyra will commence sailings in France
on the Seine River from July 22; AmaVida will commence sailings in Portugal and Spain from July 27; AmaDolce will commence sailings through Bordeaux, France; and AmaSiena will commence sailings on the Rhine River from July 29. AmaWaterways’ executive vice president and cofounder, Kristin Karst, stated: “We are so excited to see the situation in Europe
Celestyal Cruises moves to expand deployment of fleet
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CRUISING
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
Cruisingexcursions.com has released a host of new commissionable destinations and tours, in preparation for the return to cruising.
WITH TRAVEL agents reporting increased cruise bookings, cruisingexcursions.com has added new tours and destinations to match changes to cruiseline itineraries. Of the new destinations, Cruising Excursions has added three new ports in Russia – Sochi in Southern Russia, Pionersky and Vladivostok. Sochi was made famous for hosting the 2014 winter Olympics and the new tour will investigate the historical city, including a visit to Stalin’s home. The Azamara Pursuit, Crystal Symphony and Silver Spirit are among the ships featuring Sochi. Located on the Baltic Sea, Pionersky has 100 kilometres of sandy coast, a UNESCOlisted National Park and lots of historical buildings, museums and monuments. Cruising Excursions has added six new excursions to cater for cruisers arriving on ships that include Norwegian Dawn and Amera. Diamond Princess, MS Noordam, MS Westerdam, Queen Elizabeth and Amadea
have all added Vladivostok to its itineraries and Cruising Excursions’ tour ‘The Gateway to Asia’ will explore the history and surroundings of this city, famous for being the east end of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. In other countries, the Icelandic town of Grundarfjordur is new for Cruising Excursions and is on the itineraries of many ships, including Seabourn Quest, Costa Favolosa, Silver Whisper and Spirit of Discovery. Priaia Da Vitoria in the Azores is also new, with a ‘Trail of the Black Mysteries’ hiking tour on the volcanic peninsular. A host of ships will visit, including MS Europa, Costa Magica, Silver Dawn and Carnival Pride. The final new port example is the northern Italy city of Trieste on the Slovenia border, for a ‘Lake Bled and Ljubljana Tour’. Ships visiting will include MSC Opera, Celebrity Infinity, Azura and Celebrity Constellation. The company offers up to 16% commission for agents. www.cruisingexcursions.com
Viking to restart European river sailings in July VIKING HAS announced that it will restart its European river operations in July 2021, with select itineraries in Portugal, France and along the Rhine. Offered exclusively for vaccinated guests as part of Viking’s 'Welcome Back' collection, the first five European river itineraries, now available in July, are among the company’s most popular: Rhine Getaway (eight days; Amsterdam to Basel), Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon to Porto), Paris & the Heart of Normandy (eight days; Paris roundtrip), Lyon & Provence (eight days; Avignon to Lyon) and France’s Finest, a 15-day journey that combines northern and southern France itineraries into one experience.
Image Credit: Viking Cruises
ALL ABOARD AGAIN
The company is actively working on developing additional ‘Welcome Back’ itineraries in a variety of other destinations, with the goal of announcing further 2021 sailings as soon as possible. For more information, including the health and safety programme, visit www.viking.com
Nicko Cruises to restart Portugal river cruises
Image Credit: Nicko Cruises
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NICKO CRUISES will commence its 2021 programme with the choice of two river boats, the Douro Cruiser, or the newly launched Douro Serenity. Both will operate eight-day round trip cruises through the UNESCO Heritage Site of the Douro Valley, from Porto, with excursions at Régua, with a guided excursion into the pilgrim city of Lamego; Pinhão, with its Baroque Mateus Palace in Vila Real; Vega Terron, with a day trip over the border to the Spanish university town of Salamanca; and, Barca d’Alva. The cruise on board MS Douro Serenity starts from £1,695 per person, and the same cruise on the MS Douro Cruiser is from £1,745 per person. www.nicko-cruises.co.uk
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CRUISING
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
AURORA ADVENTURE
Image Credit: Aurora Expeditions
Aurora Expeditions' latest ship, the Sylvia Earle, has launched its inaugural conservation-conscious programme, with a series of Arctic and Global voyages throughout 2022.
CHAMPIONED BY its Conservationist namesake, Dr. Sylvia Earle, Aurora Expeditions' latest ship has launched its 2022 inaugural programme with a number of worldwide voyages. Expeditioners will join the ship as it sails to a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites and natural havens. Baja California Odyssey On this route, guests sail around the islands of The Gulf of California. Cruising through the 'aquarium of the world', guests can enjoy excursions spotting the region’s marine life. This 13-day adventure starts from £5,836, with a 20% saving currently available. Alaska Adventure Sailing across the ever-changing landscape of Alaska's Inside Passage, cruisers will have the chance to go whalespotting for the nine native varieties of whale, or kayak
through the icy waters. This 13-day exploration starts from £6,746.25 per person, with a 25% discount currently available on selected rooms and cabins.
Princess Cruises returns to the seas of the States ON JULY 25, 2021, Princess Cruises is returning to the seas of America, as Majestic Princess restarts its round-trip voyages from Seattle, exploring the glaciers and signature spots of Alaska. Sales are open for the sevenday cruises, which see the ship tick off a number of highlights. The ship will sail through the Glacier Bay National Park, the three-million-acre landmark which is home to the Margerie Glacier. Voyagers will also visit Juneau, Alaska's capital, for the chance to see humpback whales and Mendenhall Glacier in the whalewatching and sightseeing haven. Tradition awaits at the Gold Rush-era Skagway, including a ride on the White Pass Scenic Railway.
Image Credit: Carnival Corp
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Aleutian Islands Forming the ‘Pacific Rim of Fire’, this arc of islands separates the Pacific Ocean and the Bearing Sea, giving guests the chance to explore a unique wilderness rich in biodiversity. With brown bears, dolphins and seals, this adventure fulfills the ship's conservation mission while showcasing Alaskan history, including Aleut villages and remnants of World War II. This 17-day journey departs on June 22, 2022, with prices starting from £10,025.75 per person, with a 15% saving available.
The Alaska cruises start at £699 per person for Princess Savers, or from £909 per person for the Princess Plus fare that includes drinks, on-board Wi-Fi and port taxes. Until June 30, 2021, all bookings will receive up to £140 of onboard spending per stateroom as part of the Indulge at Sea promotion.
www.auroraexpeditions.co.uk
www.princess.com
Image Credit: Heritage Expeditions
Heritage Expeditions welcomes MS Hanseatic to its fleet NEW ZEALAND-BASED expedition cruiser Heritage Expeditions is welcoming the Polar exploration vessel, formerly known as MS Hanseatic, to its fleet from May 2022. The 184-capacity ship will operate with 140 expeditioners as the ‘Heritage Adventurer’ for a more spacious on-board experience. “Heritage Adventurer, with its history of Polar exploration firsts and ice capabilities, will take centre stage as our new flagship, adding new levels of comfort and sophistication to the intimate small group expeditions Heritage Expeditions was founded on,” said Aaron Russ, director. www.heritage-expeditions.com
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CRUISING
MEDIEVAL GERMANY
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Riviera Travel showcases the best of the Baroque and the Bavarian across Germany, with highlights including Miltenberg, Rothenberg and Nuremberg along the way.
FOR THE best of historic Germany, Bavarian towns, and fairytale villages, the ‘Medieval Germany River Cruise’ trip with Riviera Travel is an ideal option. Beginning with a flight to Frankfurt, a coach awaits to bring cruisers to the five-star MS George Eliot. Day two brings a guided tour of Mainz, with iconic Romanesque architecture providing a number of postcard-perfect photo opportunities. As the heart of Germany’s winelands, Mainz is home to a number of authentic bars and taverns. Onto Miltenberg, cruisers get their first taste of truly medieval Germany, with well-preserved alleys. Sailing overnight to Würzburg, the elegant palaces of this Bavarian city await. A drive along the ‘Romantic Road’ on day five ticks off a number of the region’s folkloric palaces and medieval villages, including Rothenburg, whose meandering river is an
ideal spot for strolls. Ochsenfurt, a small drive away, is a picturesque little town and a great spot for lunch on day five, with the mechanical clock a popular photo spot for tourists. Then, the cruise arrives in Bamberg, a UNESCO-protected showcase of classic Franconian heritage, home to ‘Little Venice’. Guests spend their final day in Nuremberg, home to cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, as well as an enchanting castle, with a day spent at leisure. After a final night on board, guests return to Munich for the return flight home. The ‘Medieval Germany River Cruise’ starts from £1,789 per person on a full board basis, with aforementioned visits and excursions, and airport transfers. Guests can secure places on the trips with a £250 per person deposit. www.rivieratravel.co.uk
Arena on the Rhine: ‘The Ultimate Rhine & Danube Cruise’ AS MANY Brits long for the continent’s historic cities and a leisurely break, Arena Travel blend exactly these on its ‘Ultimate Rhine & Danube Cruise’ offering. Arriving in Cologne, guests board the four-star MS Arena, sailing to Rüdesheim overnight. Cruisers soak in Rüdesheim at leisure before sailing to Mainz and an overnight voyage to Miltenberg. The cruise’s Bavarian adventure begins as the MS Arena sails to Würzburg, Bamberg, Nuremberg, Regensburg and Passau over the next few days. From Passau, voyagers sail on to the Baroque Salzburg, and venture on to Linz, Melk, Vienna and Bratislava, before arriving in Budapest for two days in the Hungarian capital at leisure. A rail transfer to Munich brings cruisers to their return flight home.
This itinerary starts from £1,695 per person, based on two people sharing on a full board basis, with outbound travel via Eurostar and a return flight to London Heathrow and coach transfers. www.arenatravel.com
Oceania Cruises unveils signature spaces aboard Vista
Image Credit: Oceania Cruises
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Image Credit: Adobe Stock
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
VISTA, THE first of two 1,200-guest-capacity Allura Class ships set to join Oceania Cruises' fleet, is setting sail in 2023, with a number of the brand's hallmark luxury experiences awaiting guests on board. Purposely designed to deliver the brand’s hallmark small-ship luxury experience, Vista features a wide variety of social, recreation, and wellness spaces oriented across six of the ship's 11 guest decks – including relaxation spots, bars and restaurants. A second Allura Class ship will debut in 2025. www.oceaniacruises.com
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Image Credit: Adobe Stock
CITY BREAKS
G ADVENTURES has launched a new programme of 36 culturally immersive ‘Mini Adventures’ – two- to six-day short breaks with experiences across 28 cities in 19 countries globally. These trips can be booked as extensions to an existing G Adventures tour, and standalone for those wanting to make the most of an extended stay in a city they are visiting. Stu Darnley, national sales manager, G Adventures, says the new Mini Adventures give agents the ability to tap into the trend for longer travel by upselling both existing and new customers, and also provide the opportunity of a ‘taster’ tour for clients looking to try adventure travel for the first time. Classic Bangkok Mini Adventure This three-day holiday is priced from £219 per person, and includes a visit to the
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
G Adventures has announced the release of ‘Mini Adventures’ – 36 ‘add-on’ trips in popular cities across the world.
A visit to the Grand Palace is part of the Bangkok Mini Adventure.
Grand Palace, a klong riverboat cruise along the canals to Chinatown for a street food experience and a traditional Thai foot massage. Classic Reykjavik Winter Mini Adventure This three-day holiday to Iceland's capital starts from £569 per person, and includes a walking tour of the city’s street art and the opportunity to hunt for the northern lights by boat.
Classic Marrakech Mini Adventure A three-day holiday to Morocco is priced from £289 per person, and includes two nights in a riad, a Tanjia cooking experience, and a hands-on experience with artisans who have mastered the crafts of wood turning and painting, and leather and brassware production. www.gadventures.com
In fair Verona with Inghams INGHAMS IS offering a Verona city break, at Hotel Accademia, for your clients looking to take a romantic Italian holiday in the city made famous by Romeo and Juliet. Hotel Accademia is located in central Verona, dating back to the 1700’s, with guests still able to enjoy original decor fixtures such as wooden beams. The hotel is strategically located near some of Verona's most popular sites, with many shopping destinations, such as vintage shops and designer boutiques, also nearby. Also located nearby is a well-known restaurant district, which includes the equally famous restaurants Enoteca Segreta and Ciro Leone's Pizza. Image Credit: Adobe Stock
CITY SLICKER
A three-night stay at Hotel Accademia, with breakfast included, is priced from £676 per person. This is based on a Sepember 1, 2021 departure date from London Gatwick. www.inghams.co.uk
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CITY BREAKS
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
CLASSIC CITIES Classic Collection Holidays has released a selection of new city break holidays from across the globe, with destinations ranging from New York to Istanbul.
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Undiscovered Lincoln ticks all staycation boxes FOR YOUR clients looking to holiday closer to home this year, Lincoln is the ideal, undiscovered UK city break destination this summer. Located in the East Midlands, the city offers history, nature, shopping, and more. History Many of the ancient structures can still be seen today, including the country’s only remaining Roman arch, the 1,000-year-old Lincoln Cathedral, and Lincoln Castle.
CLASSIC COLLECTION Holidays has revamped its city breaks programme to showcase a broader range of destinations and hotels from across the globe. Following demand from travel agent partners, the operator has added a range of new destinations within France, and are also featuring New York as well as Athens, Istanbul and more. An example of a getaway to the newly ‘green listed’ Portugal includes a stay at the PortoBay Marques in Lisbon. The hotel is available for a last-minute getaway this month, and is priced from £690 per person for a three-night, bed-and-breakfast stay. Your
clients can choose to add a river cruise along the Tagus, or a half-day tour of Lisbon, each from £32 per person. Restrictions on travel, and phased reopenings of countries, means that the operator is taking a cautious approach to launching its new cities programme. Countries and territories on the ‘green list’ are available to book now, whilst those on the amber list are on sale from June 21 onwards, and red destinations are bookable from August 1. For further information, and to book, visit www.classic-collection.co.uk
Image Credit: Visit Lincoln
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
Nature Surrounded by countryside, many natural beauty spots are just a short distance from the centre of Lincoln. For those looking to enjoy scenery, the ‘Castle to Coast’ cycling route is highly recommended.
Shopping and dining At the heart of the city’s centre is the new Cornhill Quarter, which offers contemporary bars, shops, and restaurants. The development offers a mix of independent businesses along with high-street brands. www.visitlincoln.com
Image Credit: Marriott Hotels
Stay in the Land of Fire and Ice with Marriott SET INSIDE the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark, Marriott's Courtyard Reykjavik Keflavik Airport hotel is the perfect base for explorers. The property is strategically located around 20 minutes from the Blue Lagoon, and is also nearby to Duus Hus Cultural Centre, known for the Reykjanes Heritage Museum, the Reykjanes Art Gallery, and the Reykjanes Maritime Museum. The 150-room hotel offers a balcony that allows for catching glimpses of the northern lights in winter and the Snæfellsnes glacier in the summer. Rates start from £139 per room, per night. www.marriott.co.uk
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CITY BREAKS
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
ON TWO WHEELS
A Roman Holiday with Citalia
Image Credit: Larnaka Tourism
The Larnaka Tourism Board re-vamps its Thematic Cycling Routes 2021 to encourage sustainable mobility in the region.
WITH HOPES of encouraging sustainable tourism and mobility when leisure travel resumes to Cyprus, the Larnaka Tourism Board has updated its collection of thematic cycling routes across the city. Larnaka’s year-round sunshine and unique cultural attractions make it a cyclist’s haven, with each of the routes serving as an ideal taster of what the city has to offer. Now with these thematic routes, a bike ride can also be combined with a piece of history or tradition. There are eight themed cycling routes that can be downloaded from the website and include a map, distances, altitude differences, degree of difficulty, the type of bike that is recommended to be used, plus the various points of interest. Visitors can try out Europe’s oldest cycling route on the ‘Neolithic Route’, which spans 28km of the island’s most historic settlements, including the villages of Tochni,
Zygi, Maroni and Psematismenos. Wine lovers and foodies can give the ‘Wine & Gastronomy Route’ a go, should they wish to travel 54km through some of the city’s most picturesque villages and visit some traditional wineries, silversmith artisans and a Halloumi cheese workshop along the way. The ‘Larnaka Birdwatching Route’ is a more manageable 11km, giving birdwatchers a chance to spot the 370 different species that migrate via the island, as well as the chance to visit Voroklini Lake, Larnaka Salt Lake and Larnaka Medieval Castle en route. Completing the collection is a series of routes including the ‘Wheat & Bread Route’, ‘Camel & Donkey Route’, ‘Venetian Towers (Eastern and Western)’ and the ‘Multi-religious Route’. For more information, visit: www.larnakaregion.com/page/thematiccycling-routes
FOR THOSE looking to take a short city break in Rome, Citalia is offering a three-night stay at the Hotel Nazionale, located in the heart of the city, within a few minutes’ walk from the Spanish Steps, overlooking the Piazza Montecitorio. While in the city, travellers can visit historical landmarks such as the Sistine Chapel, and the world’s largest amphitheatre – the Colosseum. The trip also includes a small-group food tour. Located a short distance from the Fiumicino airport, the 95-room Hotel Nazionale is ideally situated for exploring the neighbourhood’s cobbled street on foot. The décor reflects Rome’s traditional past with contemporary furnishings and features. The spacious Deluxe Room has a comfortable seating area, a choice between a queen bed or twin single beds, and offers views of the inner courtyard, square, or the city scape.
Image Credit: Citalia
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Prices start from £549 per person, including flights from Heathrow, complimentary transfers and daily breakfast, based on a September 17 departure date. www.citalia.com
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
Singapore Food Festival beckons tourists this summer THE SINGAPORE Food Festival (SFF) is back for its 28th edition this summer, running from August 27 until September 12. SFF is the only event dedicated to Singapore's local cuisine and local food and beverage talent, which celebrates the best of Singapore's food culture – from haute cuisine to UNESCO-listed Hawker Culture. Your foodie clients who visit the festival will get to experience a showcase of culinary delights, virtual tours, live masterclasses and exclusive food bundles. www.visitsingapore.com
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CITY BREAKS
FLYING SOLO Image Credit: Just Go! Holidays
With a classic seaside resort of Llandudno and the thriving metropolitan hubs of Liverpool and Chester, Just Go! Holidays brings solo travellers together for a close-to-home adventure.
IDEAL FOR those looking for a solo escape to some of the UK’s liveliest cities, Just Go! Holidays’ city break offerings, including ‘Liverpool, Llandudno & Chester (Going Solo)’, blend a warm group atmosphere with the freedom of a solo venture. This particular coach journey ticks off the highlights of Liverpool and Chester, with a laidback day at leisure in the Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno, Wales. As the coach arrives in Liverpool, a guided tour of the city awaits, calling at the Liver Building and Royal Albert Dock, home to a number of trendy coffee shops, bars and restaurants. Music fans will recognise the famous Cavern Club as the birthplace of The Beatles, and should they wish to, guests can spend the afternoon visting Penny Lane, the British Music Experience and The Beatles Museum. The coach travels south to Llandudno, known as the ‘Queen of the Welsh Resorts’. A
classic British seaside resort, the destination is full of Victorian charm and seaside attractions, with the town’s pier a draw for many visitors. As the tour continues on to Chester, the city is at guests’ explorational disposal. A sightseeing cruise along the River Dee spotlights the city’s forgotten history, including its history-spanning heritage, from the Roman empire to the 21st century. A guided city tour shows some of the spots that guests can take in with an evening at leisure. Across the five-day itinerary, the group checks in to the four-star Daresbury Park Hotel, near Warrington, enjoying breakfast and dinner at the property as well as two-for-one drinks at the hotel’s bar from 6pm-9pm nightly. ‘Liverpool, Llandudno & Chester (Going Solo)’ starts from £349 per person, fully inclusive of coach travel, accommodation, entertainment and the aforementioned tours. www.justgoholidays.com
Family favourites with Al Fresco Holidays WITH SAVINGS of up to 30% on a selection of European family breaks, Al Fresco Holidays' autumn escapes could be an ideal choice. The operator offers value selfcatering holidays across a number of Europe's best parks. Options span six countries and 24 regions, all of which are easily accessible by train, car or plane from the UK. Each location offers dining options, children's activities, and sporting facilities for all budgets. As the operator prepares to welcome back British guests from June 25, 2021, the Al Fresco Holidays team is offering up to 30% off autumn 2021 breaks. With the offer, families can enjoy a seven-night, self-catered stay at Domaine des Ormes in Brittany, France, from £255.50 for a two-bedroom Classic mobile
home, which can sleep up to five. This price is based on an October 23, 2021 arrival date and does not include transport, but this is available with Al Fresco. The offer saves guests over £100 (the original price was £360.50). www.alfresco-holidays.com
Desert skies and skyline in Qatar
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
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Image Credit: Al Fresco Holidays
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
FOR THOSE looking to take a city break with a difference, the Qatar National Tourism Council is offering experiences in partnership with tour operator Gulf Adventures. The holiday blends a city escape with desert excursions, with activities including camping under the stars, a moonlit desert safari, and the option to stay in the five-star Marsa Malaz Kempinski in the heart of Doha city. The packages can be accompanied with trips to heritage sites such as Al Zubarah Fort or the Souq Waqif. Alternative dining options include the Torch 360 restaurant, which offers panoramic views of the Doha skyline. www.qatarjourneys.com
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CITY BREAKS
JUNE 4 2021 | travelbulletin.co.uk
Explore the Andalucían city of Cádiz with Love Holidays LOVE HOLIDAYS is offering a seven-night holiday to Andalucía, where visitors can explore historic architecture, relics of the Phoenicians and Moors, or kick back in a chiringuito (beach-side bar) tucking into seafood tapas caught just off the city’s coastline that same day. Cádiz stakes a claim as Europe’s oldest city, with archaeologists discovering walls that date back to the 8thcentury BC. Nowadays, your clients can enjoy its year-round sunshine, art and architecture, and seafood tapas. Excursions include a visit to the neighbouring Doñana National Park, a wetland landscape that serves as an important area for wildlife, such as the endangered Iberian lynx and for birdlife, including species
Image Credit: Adobe Stock
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person, based on two adults sharing a double room on a roomonly basis. This price is based on a August 19, 2021 departure.
FROM EXPLORING the highend district of Chiado to visiting Rossio Sqaure in the heart of Lisbon, ToursByLocal is offering a private Lisbon walking tour. The local guide, Silvia, is a Portugese native and knows all the best spots to take in incredible views from around the city. Guests will be able to head up several hills which overlook the city and stroll along the main street “Augusta”, wandering through the streets of Alfama. ToursByLocals offers the three hour, 30 minute walking tour from £187 per person, for up to six people.
www.loveholidays.com
www.toursbylocals.com
Cádiz is both a city and port in southwestern Spain.
migrating from Africa to Europe. Love Holidays offers a sevennight holiday staying at the four-star Senator Cádiz Spa Hotel with return flights from London Stansted to Seville for £467 per
Get to know Lisbon like a local
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