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All about
The Eastern Mediterranean September 2011
Your one-stop guide to all the latest news and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean
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www.travelbulletin.co.uk
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All about the
Eastern Mediterranean T
he countries in the eastern Mediterranean have experienced mixed fortunes over recent years, with Turkey performing particularly well at the expense of Greece and Cyprus. Being in the eurozone, coupled with the recent global economic upheaval, has had a big impact on tourism for both Greece and Cyprus, forcing prices up across the board, and making both countries less appealing to holidaymakers who themselves have reduced budgets. However, this summer, operators have seen a revival in fortunes for Greece and Cyprus, with competitive pricing and the Arab Spring prompting Britons who may have opted for destinations such as Egypt and Tunisia to rethink their holiday plans. In response, operators such as Tui Travel, have added capacity to Greece, while hotels in Cyprus have woken up to the popularity of allinclusive hotels for families that not only include everything in the one price but also offer a range of facilities and activities, such as on-site water parks. While the main Greek islands of Rhodes, Crete, Kos and Corfu are still popular, operators have seen a big demand for people who want to explore the smaller islands. As a consequence, operators have introduced island-hopping itineraries or options to tailor-make multicentre trips. Over recent years, Turkey has benefitted from not being in the eurozone, allowing its hotels and resorts to be much more competitive on price than its rivals, particularly when it comes to all-inclusive packages. However, operators have said that this year, bookings have been slightly down on previous years due to its proximity to countries that were affected the Arab Spring. Operators believe it is only a blip and have been busy introducing new hotels, resorts and guided tours for 2012. Like Greece and Cyprus, while the main resorts of Bodrum, Olu Deniz and Marmaris have been busy this year, operators have seen interest from clients who have visited Turkey before, experienced the delights of the leading resorts and are keen to explore the other side of Turkey. Operators, big and small, have responded to this demand and added tours that take visitors off-the-beaten track to rural destinations, as well as exploring the history and the heritage of Turkey. City breaks to Istanbul are proving popular too with one operator putting 850% increase in winter 2011/12 bookings down to demand for short breaks to Istanbul. With all this activity in the eastern Mediterranean over the next 12 months, make sure you are in the know with a little bit help from Travel Bulletin’s All About the Eastern Mediterranean supplement.
Angela Cronin Supplements editor
All about the Eastern Mediterranean
CONTENTS 4 What’s New 8 Cyprus
12 Greece
15 Turkey
Published by
Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661 Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Genaro Santos, Ranganath GS, Prashanth AP Printed by: Wyndeham Heron Limited Cover Picture: iStock ISSN: 0956-2419
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what’s new
The lazy river is one of the newest additions to the recently refurbished Olympic Lagoon resort in Ayia Napa
What’s new… The eastern Mediterranean countries have had their fair share of upheaval over recent years but 2012 looks set to be a promising one with the opening of new hotels, the expansion of operator programmes and the inclusion of new tours Cyprus Titan Travel ours specialist Titan Travel is featuring its first tour of Cyprus with the launch of its newlook Worldwide brochure. The nine-day Contrasts of Cyprus tour takes in the island’s classical sites, ancient cities, the Troodos mountains and the capital of Nicosia. There are six possible departure dates in 2012, with prices from £1,545 per person including flights, transfers, accommodation and tours.
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Prestige Holidays The all-suite, adults-only Asimina Suites in Paphos has been added to Prestige’s winter programme. Facilities at the hotel include three pools, tennis, a gym and a spa. Prestige offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in April from £969 per person including flights and transfers. Cyplon Holidays The Greece and Cyprus specialist is celebrating its 40th anniversary by offering agents £40 Capital Bond vouchers for any bookings made by 10
October for summer 2012. Cyplon has added new hotels to its Greece programme for 2012. These include: the Grecotel Creta Palace in Rethymnon; the Grecotel Cape Sounio in Athens; the Atrium Platinum in Ixia, Rhodes; the Kipriotis Panorama Hotel and Suites in Psalidi, Kos; the Met Hotel and Electra Palace in Thessaloniki; Iliomare Hotel and Resort and Royal Paradise Beach Resort and Spa in Thassos; Porto Carras Meliton and Porto Carras Sithonia Beach in Halkidiki. Sunvil Holidays The Cyprus specialist has added Casal Panayiotis, in the heart of Kalopanayiotis village in the Troodos mountains, for Sunvil’s 2012 programme. Rooms are in traditional buildings that have been converted into chic, comfortable accommodation and act as a base for guests, who are keen to explore the rural surroundings. Prices for Sunvil’s Cyprus 2012 programme lead in at £582 per person for seven nights’ B&B at the Souli Hotel in Paphos.
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what’s new
St Raphael Resort A new Serenity Spa has opened at the five-star St Raphael Resort in Limassol, replacing the hotel’s health and beauty centre. Inside the new spa is a swimming pool, water-jet massage bed, a solarium, massage rooms, a body treatment room, a beautician’s suite, dedicated manicure/pedicure room, a relaxation room, a private sauna and steam bath. Decleor and Neoderma products are being used in the spa’s treatments. Prices start at £52 for the rasul ritual. A new beach tavern has also opened at the Limassol resort. Seashells is located on one of the largest Blue Flagaccredited beaches in Limassol and is open daily during the summer season from 10am until late. Meanwhile, St Raphael Resort has launched a new-look website, raphael.com.cy which offers online booking, special offers as well as a flight booking search facility. So Nice Boutique Suites This boutique hotel in Ayia Napa, has introduced a new beach wedding venue, suitable for small and stylish civil ceremonies, with a special introductory package. Any couples looking to get married who book seven nights’ accommodation at So Nice will be offered the beach wedding venue for free – the hire of the venue alone usually costs £436. So Nice Boutique Suites is a collection of 60 beach bungalows in the Makronissos area of Ayia Napa, Cyprus. Kanika Hotels The Olympic Lagoon Resort opened its doors earlier this year after a multi-million pound expansion and upgrading programme. The 259-room hotel, which now offers an all-inclusive option, has seven swimming pools, four restaurants, two entertainment venues, two kids’ clubs, a spa and six different room types, from standard rooms to superior bungalows, deluxe suites and family suites. Sister hotel Elias Beach Hotel has also undergone an extensive refurbishment project with improvements to all of its 174 guest rooms, a full agenda of daytime and evening entertainment for all the family and a new entertainment venue. An all-inclusive option has also been introduced at the hotel. Meanwhile, Alexander the Great Beach Hotel in Paphos, also recently renovated, now offers guests a half-board or full-board plus option which means they can dine in any of the hotel’s five restaurants with drinks included. Columbia Beach Resort Two hotels in Pissouri Bay on the southwest coast of Cyprus have launched new diving packages. Kembali Diving is opening at the five-star Columbia Beach Resort and sister property Columbia Beachotel in November offering guests a range of diving activities and the chance to get PADI certification along with special accommodation rates. To become a PADI-certified scuba diver takes two days and
All about the Eastern Mediterranean
Two new villas have been introduced at the exclusive Porto Zante resort
costs £250. To gain the open-water scuba diver’s certification costs £345. Guests who book the four-day open-water scuba diving course or the three-day winter season diving package will be able to book accommodation at the Columbia Beach Resort for £114 per room per night. Constantinou Bros Hotels The four-star, 429-room Athena Beach Hotel and the 253room Pioneer Beach Hotel in Paphos are poised to undergo a full refurbishment and upgrade in time for summer 2012. All hotel rooms at the Athena will be renovated, new junior suites with pools will be introduced and the number of superior rooms and suites will increase to 103 with the addition of a new superior floor. A new ultra all-inclusive option will be also be rolled out next summer. Meanwhile, all of the rooms will be renovated at the Pioneer and new luxury rooms will include new superior deluxe seafront rooms and new executive one-bedroom suites. Renovation of all the public areas will also take place and the hotel will be branded as a Thomson Couples hotel and will be being sold exclusively through the Thomson brand in the UK when it reopens on the 1 May.
Aegean Airlines Aegean Airlines operates a number of daily direct services from Heathrow to Greece and Cyprus. The carrier, which is a full service airline with a fleet of Airbus A320s and A321s, offers four daily direct flights to Athens, one daily direct flight to Larnaca and, during the summer season, a direct flight to Heraklion, Crete twice a week from Heathrow. In addition, Aegean, which also codeshares with Bmi on UK domestic routes, operates an extensive domestic network through Athens to many of the Greek islands. Prices lead in at £72 one way from Heathrow to Athens or Larnaca and £136. 5
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what’s new Greece Cosmos Cosmos Holidays has launched its largest-ever Greece programme with new smaller islands featured for 2012 along with tailor-made holiday options. The 11 new destinations include Paxos, Santorini, Ithaca, Leros, Kalymnos, Telendos, Symi, Skopelos, Alonissos, Meganissi and on the mainland, the resort of Sivota. The new flexible option means clients can tailor-make their holiday to their exact needs with multi-centre breaks now a possibility. More than 70 new properties are now available for summer 2012 in 20 different destinations. Early-booking offers include £100 low deposit per person and free child places. Prices lead in at £289 per person for a seven-night stay in Zante. Meanwhile, Cosmos has launched its 2012 Villas with Pools programme featuring its new Something Special category which highlights properties with wow factor qualities, such as outstanding locations or amazing decor. The new brochure features a number of new destinations including the resorts of Kalivia and Skiathos Town on the Greek island of Skiathos. Other new resorts include Lourdas in Kefalonia, Aghios Nikolaos in Crete, Keri in Zante and Kayakoy in Turkey. Villa package holiday prices lead in at £199 per person, while villa accommodation-only prices start at just £185 per villa per week. Olympic Holidays The Greece and Cyprus specialist has added the Greek islands of Samos, Lesvos and Thassos to the Alternative Greece section of its summer 2012 programme. Properties offered in Samos include the luxury Doryssa Bay Hotel, with seven nights’ half-board from £625, and the Samos Sun Hotel and Apartments with seven nights’ bed and breakfast from £515. On Lesvos, the Pasiphae Hotel, the Molyvos 1 Hotel and the Belvedere Hotel are featured with seven nights’ all-inclusive at the Belvedere starting at £815.
The five-star Ilio Mare Resort and the four-star Alea Hotel and Suites and Makryammos Hotel are offered on Thassos with prices leading in at £595 for seven nights’ half-board at the Makryammos. Avro Flight-only operator Avro has expanded its Greece flying programme for 2012. Flights from Bristol to Corfu, Zante and Crete have been added along with new routes from Newcastle to Corfu and Zante. Services to Greece from Birmingham have been significantly expanded with the introduction of Birmingham to Chania in Crete offered for the very first time in the UK market as well as Birmingham to Kefalonia, Rhodes and the mainland gateway of Preveza. Prices for the new routes lead in at £249 based on seven-night durations from Birmingham to Chania during June 2012. Flights to the Greek port of Volos from both Gatwick and Manchester are offered again for 2012 priced at £290 return. Sunvil Holidays Sunvil Holidays has added new islands, hotels and activities to its 2012 Greece programme. The island of Thassos features for the first time, with the five-star Ilio Mare hotel added, while the 27-bedroom, four-star boutique hotel Almyra in the resort of Fiscardo on Kefalonia has also been introduced. Sea kayaking on the island of Alonissos is also being offered for the first time. Prices lead in £547 per person for seven nights’ self-catering at the Irene Studio on Corfu. Ionian Weddings Wedding specialist Ionian Weddings is planning to start working with agents by the end of this year. Jane Stuart-Palikira and Andreas Palikiras set up the company after they planned their own wedding in Corfu, They’ve gone from organising 40 weddings in 2008 to 225 so far this year. The operator has a wealth of contacts and unique venues in Greece and Cyprus for couples to tie the knot. New for Greece for 2012 from Ionian Weddings is Melissani Lake in Kefalonia where couples can get married in a boat floating on the lake. Also new as a wedding venue is the 19th-century Achilleion Palace, Corfu. Islands of Greece Islands of Greece is offering more regional departures for 2012 as demand soars for high-value, multi-island bookings. The Greece specialist now offers a new flight from Bristol to Skiathos with Thomas Cook, reintroduced services to Chania in Create from Birmingham with Monarch and launched flights from Birmingham to Prevaza in northwestern Greece. There are also flights from Edinburgh to Athens and from Glasgow to Crete. In response to demand for high value, multi-island bookings, the company is looking at adding new quality accommodation in its best-selling islands including Skopelos and Skiathos. Seven nights at the Aegialis Hotel on Amorgos lead in at £499 per person including flights and all transfers.
Raffles is opening a five-star hotel in Istanbul in 2013
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Porto Zante Villas and Spa Porto Zante Villas and Spa has introduced two new villas on the All about the Eastern Mediterranean
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what’s new
Prestige Holidays has added the all-suite, adults-only Asimina Suites in Paphos to its winter programme
hotel’s hillside location in Zakynthos, bringing the total featured in the resort to six. The newly opened presidential spa villa and grand presidential villa both feature Armani Casa interiors, two double bedrooms and private pools in the gardens of the villas. The villas benefit from 24hour personalised service. A range of in-villa spa and beauty services are available and activities ranging from scuba diving, sailing and private boat excursions to local beauty spots such as the Blue Caves can be arranged. Prices start at £1,222 per villa per night including taxes and airport transfers. Turkey Anatolian Sky Anatolian Sky has added a new guided tour to its 2012 Turkey programme following an increase in demand from clients to experience a taste of the country’s culture. Highlights of the new seven-night tour include the opportunity to spend two nights in a village on the Black Sea where visitors can collect eggs, dig for vegetables and learn how to milk a cow. The artisan craft town of Safronbulu also features in the new itinerary where clients can learn first-hand about traditional Turkish crafts. The latest addition brings the total number of guided tours featured to four. Prices for the new seven-night tour lead in at £1,300 and include some meals, flights and transfers. Wings Abroad Turkey specialist Wings Abroad has launched its 2012 summer programme with new regional departures, prices held at 2011 levels and low deposits of £50 per person for all bookings made by 31 December. More than 30 Turkish resorts are featured in the new programme plus city breaks to Istanbul. The new resorts feature in the regions of Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum, Altinkum, Kusadasi, the Turkish Riviera and gulet cruises.
All about the Eastern Mediterranean
The operator also offers flights from Gatwick, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Glasgow International, Glasgow Prestwick and Aberdeen. Price lead in at £287 per person for seven nights’ B&B at the Sami Plaza Hotel in Gumbet. The price is based on 10 May departures from Gatwick. Kempinski Hotel Kempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay has launched new honeymoon spa experiences. The new packages include a 50-minute couples, private Turkish hammam, two nights in a room with sea views, candle-lit dinner on the terrace of the Olives restaurant, aroma bath in the privacy of the room, early check-in and late check out, sparkling wine and fruits and return airport transfers. Prices start at £702 per couple for two nights in a sea-view room with the honeymoon spa experience. Additional nights on a bedand-breakfast basis are charged at £120 per room per night. Raffles Hotels and Resorts International luxury hotel chain Raffles has unveiled plans to open a hotel in Istanbul in 2013. The hotel will be a key feature of the new Zorlu Centre, which will house a performing arts centre, offices, residential property, retail and the Raffles hotel. The Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Centre will be developed by Zorlu Property with an investment of over $175 million. Its design will reflect the cultural and characteristic features of Istanbul, with 130 guestrooms and 50 suites. The hotel will have a ballroom, two restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a heliport and a Raffles Spa. Prestige Prestige Holidays has added the Gloria Golf Resort in Belek. The sister resort of the Gloria Serenity, Prestige offers seven nights at Gloria Golf in April for £773 per person including flights and transfers. ■ 7
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Cyprus
Time for Cyprus Aphrodite's Rock
With its quality hotels, great hospitality, stunning landscapes and captivating culture, it’s easy to see why holidaymakers keep going back to Cyprus year after year
G
etting the price right seems to have been a challenge for Cyprus over recent years. With destinations, such as Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia being really competitive when it comes to pricing, Cyprus has found it hard to rival some of the amazing deals these countries have been able to offer. However, operators are seeing demand for the Mediterranean island bounce back as people look for quality from their holiday destination, which Cyprus has in abundance. Classic Collection Holidays has experienced a solid performance from its Cyprus programme all year round with bookings for summer 2011 up 12% year on year. A spokesman for the operator says: “We feel that winter sales could be stronger and so we are hosting an agents’ educational with flight support from the Cyprus Tourism Organisation for the middle of November. “We also have a short joint trade marketing campaign with the CTO to stress Cyprus’s suitability as a yearround destination. The campaign will stress the mild year-round climate
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and highlight the excellent opportunities for walking, cycling, hiking and golf holidays.” As always, the tourist office is keen to work with the trade with a number of fam trips planned and a lot of support across the board for operators and their marketing activities to promote Cyprus within the UK. The CTO website has also developed a free app for smart phones so that visitors can access information they need to know before they go to Cyprus. The app can be downloaded from m.visitcyprus.com. The tourist organisation is also planning a national press and TV campaign using the ‘Cyprus in our Heart’ slogan. We talk to the experts to find out where to head in Cyprus next year. Keep it in the family The long, golden sandy beaches of
Ayia Napa and the variety of water sports on offer make this resort popular with families too. For parents who want to combine style with an affordable family holiday, So Nice Boutique Suites in Ayia Napa ticks all the right boxes. A contemporary collection of 60 white island-style bungalows, So Nice Boutique Suites offers the convenience of self-catering combined with two onsite restaurants. A family of three or four can stay in either a junior suite or superior suite that have fully equipped kitchens. Each bungalow has air-conditioning and under-floor heating, marble bathrooms, LCD TVs and internet access. Beach suites have private pools and Jacuzzis. A playground area is set aside within the hotel’s gardens along with a children’s pool. A few minutes’ stroll through the gardens leads to the Blue Flag Golden Beach where
The Lounge at the Library
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Cyprus volleyball, mini football and water sports, are available. Sample product: Planet Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast for £808 per adult and £599 per child including flights and transfers. Over in Limassol, the five-star St Raphael Resort is popular with families due to its wide range of facilities and its ultra all-inclusive board basis which means that all meals, snacks, ice cream and imported house brands of alcohol already are included in the price. Facilities at the hotel include an outdoor playground, a separate shaded kids’ pool, a supervised mini club and water slide as well as disco nights for the little ones and a babysitting service. Family accommodation includes a separate bunk bed area and in the marina view rooms this area can be closed off with a sliding door. Sample product: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ allinclusive for £2,805 for a family of four including flights and transfers Adult time The Library, a boutique hotel and wellness retreat in the village of Kalavasos, 25 miles southwest of Larnaca, is the perfect retreat for couples who want to escape for a few days. Previously a 19th-century mansion, the hotel has been restored by an environmental architect and is now an adultsonly property with eight rooms and three suites, each individually styled. Trails for biking in the Troodos Mountains start outside the village and the surrounding area is a treasure trove of history and culture for those keen to explore. Sample product: Sunvil holidays offers seven nights’ B&B from £845 per person including flights and transfers. Authentic Cyprus To immerse yourself in the real Cyprus, Inntravel suggests agents recommend a self-guided walking break that will explore the two best walking regions on the island – the rugged pine-clad Troodos mountains and the gentler Mediterranean landscapes of the Akamas Peninsula. Visitors will discover traditional hamlets, rich flora and fauna and astonishing scenery. Other highlights include Krasochoria, home of traditional wine villages, and a walk to the fabled baths of Aphrodite. Stay at four authentic and welcoming hotels en route. Sample product: prices lead in at £530 per person based on two sharing, including seven nights’ B&B with five dinners, luggage transfers between hotels, walking maps and notes with. Flights are extra. Health and wellbeing A rural spa hotel hidden away in a tranquil and lush valley in Miliou, between Paphos and Polis, the 56-room Ayii Anargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort is housed in a converted monastery where the original spa was first opened in 1649 by two brothers who offered free treatments using the local natural mineral spring water. All about the Eastern Mediterranean
Today, the spa has made the most of its special location close a mineral-rich spring, channelling a stream to the spa where it is combined in numerous treatments in the hotel’s natural spring lounge. The waters are beneficial for joint or muscle discomfort and some circulatory problems and the therapies are natural, non-invasive and numerous. The spa also includes holistic massage, meditation and yoga. Sample product: Classic Collection offers seven nights’ B&B from £1,291 per person including flights and transfers. Luxury If it’s designer chic surroundings your clients want, then look no further than the Anassa on Asprokemnos beach in Chrysochou Bay in the northwest of Cyprus. Part of the family-run Cypriot Thanos Hotel chain, the Anassa is built in the style of a traditional Cypriot village with white-washed walls and wooden doors and shutters. Its discreet, location stylish decor and high-quality service have made it popular with the rich and famous looking to get away from it all, including Gordon Ramsey, sir Phillip Green and Vanessa Feltz. Sample product: Prestige holidays offers seven nights’ B&B including flights and transfers from £1,088 per person in November.
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Cyprus Stunning beaches secluded coves
Rustic villages friendly people
AGENT OFFER Mention ‘Love Cyprus’ when making your next Cyprus booking to receive a complimentary box of chocolates Offer limited to one booking per agent. Expires 31/10/2011
CALL 0800 008 7288
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Cyprus Larnaca Larnaca is currently undergoing a five-year revitalisation to make the region a popular area for tourists to visit. The project started with the new international airport and the creation of three town squares, and continues with developments such as a new golf course, development of the marina and port and excavations of the ancient port of Kition. The work that have taken place this year include the Larnaca Cultural Walk, which involves the development of new signed walks that take in the town’s various
attractions, named after the great philosopher Zenon who lived in Kition (ancient Larnaka). The first walk covers the seafront and town centre, the second walk is dedicated to the town’s archaeology and museums and the third walk combines cultural aspects with sites of natural beauty. Also opened this year is the Olympic Standard Shooting Range in the village of Klavdia . On schedule for 2013 is the excavations of the ancient port of Kition, one of the world’s major surviving ancient ports. These will be relocated and the site will become an
archaeological park along with an Archaeological Museum, showing off the many ancient artefacts that have been unearthed. A four-mile walkway linking the villages of Pyla and Voroklini will be completed by 2013, while an environmental centre will be established at Salt Lake. A new international, 18-hole par 71 golf course will be built by 2014 in the village of Tersefanou, while the port and marina at Larnaca is being redeveloped to accommodate 900 berths. This project will also include luxury villas, a five-star hotel and commercial and recreational area. ■
market is the five-star Aphrodite Hills resort, set in the hills above Paphos, offering a spa and golf course in addition to its superb accommodation and dining options. It has immense appeal for total relaxation,” according to Lambrianides. Culture vultures: “Village houses in Omodhos, Tochni and Kalavassos are all part of the island’s agrotourism programme, which involves renovating old village properties to create authentic holiday homes. Pissouri is a good ‘in-between’ option, in that it’s not quite so off the beaten track, but nevertheless has not been over-developed and is surrounded by vineyards and attractive scenery,” says
Lambrianides. Affordability: “Ayia Napa and Protaras has a good choice of self-catering accommodation, with some good value half board and all-inclusive properties too. Our exclusive property, the Macronissos Village has hit a winning formula for families of low prices and a popular activity and entertainment programme put together by the enthusiastic resort team. There’s flexibility here too, with a choice of either self-catering or all-inclusive plan,” says Lambrianides. “Other good value properties are the Kapetanios Bay the Konnos Bay Apartments and the Adelais Bay Hotel.”
Best for… Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides offers his advice on the resorts in Cyprus are best suited to… Families: Protaras has proved very popular this summer, “perhaps more so than we expected,” says Lambrianides. “A significant proportion of families on a tight budget opted for self-catering this summer and Protaras has one of the highest concentrations of selfcatering apartments on the island.” Health/wellbeing: “Limassol has two superb five-star hotels, Amathus Beach and the Four Seasons, with their own thalassotherapy spa treatments,” says Lambrianides. Luxury: “One of the most enduringly popular choices for the British
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New luxury all suite Hotel for adults only Superb beach front setting in Paphos Executive Suites with private pools
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Fine dining and spa facilities
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Greece
The Adrina Resort and Spa on the Aegean island of Skopelos is featured by Islands of Greece
Greece is the word Greece has experienced a revival in its tourism fortunes this year as Britons rediscover their fondness for a much-loved, summer holiday destination
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Classic Collection Holidays launched a dedicated Greece and Cyprus brochure at the start of the summer and the operator has seen a strong performance. A spokesman for Classic Collection says Crete remains a perennial favourite among our clients and consistently produces some very high-value bookings. “Our Greek island programme has
sold better than expected and we are currently contracting more properties for summer 2012 in Kos, Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and we shall be featuring Corfu for the first time in 2012,” he says. “Athens and Halkidiki on the Greek mainland have performed solidly, especially the Sani hotels which have a very loyal following.” From its cultural offering to its party islands, we ask Greek specialist operators for their recommendations on how to experience the best of this vast and varied country. Culture club Cox and Kings has launched escorted group tours to Greece for the first time. The luxury specialist has put together an eight-day Journey through Ancient Greece
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Greece itinerary that visits the classic highlights of Athens, Mycenae, Olympia, Delphi and Epidaurus and explores the Corinth Canal and monasteries of Mereora. Sample product: prices lead in at £1,155 per person and include seven nights’ bed and breakfast, flights, transfers and tours. Olympic Holidays features an Alternative Greece section that showcases the islands of Syros, Paros, Naxos, Ios, Symi, Halki, Kalymnos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Paxos and Lefkada. For summer 2012, the section has been expanded to include Samos, Lesvos and Thassos. “Each of the small islands – some of which can be combined with interisland ferries or flights to create memorable two-centre holidays – has The cobbled streets of the pretty town of Lindos on the island of Rhodes their own character,” says Olympic Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Delos, Mykonos and Athens. Holidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides. “And Highlights of the holiday include a trip to the ancient the mainland resorts of Sivota and Parga are beautiful, sites in Athens, a visit to the Cycladic islands of Santorini, and among the most under-appreciated destinations in Paros, Naxos and Mykonos with the chance to explore Greece. I particularly rate Parga, with its red roofs and Delos, the birthplace of Apollo. white-washed walls above the harbour.” Sample product: the eight-day cruise leads in at £1,399 Sample product: Olympic Holidays features a two-centre and includes seven nights’ full board, flights and holiday with seven nights at the Sunrise Village on transfers. Skopelos, followed by seven nights on Yalis Apartments Shearings has also introduced a new 16-day Treasures on Skiathos for £610 per person. The price is based on of Ancient Greece. This tour combines time to relax on June departures and includes flights, airport transfers the beach with visits to many historical sites, including a and inter-island ferry transfers. guided tour of Athens, a visit to Delphi – thought to be Escorted tours specialist Shearings has introduced a the centre of the earth in ancient times – time out at the new Greek cruise for 2012. The Secret Islands of the beach resort of Tolo and a trip to Olympia. Aegean cruise will give clients the chance to explore the Customers can also choose from a range of optional culture and history of Greece with stops in Rhodes, excursions, including visits to the National
Top tips Sunvil Holidays programme director Alexis Josephides recommends that the best way to avoid the crowds is to fly to a gateway island and hope on a ferry to a quieter island. Fly to Skiathos and hop on a one-hour ferry crossing to the island of Skopelos or Alonissos, which is one hour and 20 minutes away. Alternatively, fly to Kefalonia but head to Ithaca, which is 45 minutes way. Fly to Prevesa and travel 40 minutes to the unspoilt island of Meganissi (40 mins). Fly to Corfu and travel for two hours to the picturesque island of Paxos. Josephides also recommends the smaller Dodecanese islands, such as Karpathos, Nissyros and Lipsi.
All about the Eastern Mediterranean
Archaeological Museum in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion, as well as a cruise to the Saronic Islands. Sample product: the 16-day tour leads in at £1,779 and includes 15 nights’ accommodation, 15 breakfasts, 12 dinners, four excursions, return travel by Grand Tourer coach and the services of a tour manager. To discover the real Greece, Inntravel offers the 14night Enchanting Cyclades island-hopping tour, which takes in the white cliffs of Milos, where the Venus de Milo statue was discovered, the cobbled lanes of Sifnos, and the picturesque white villages of Serifos before concluding in Athens. Sample product: 14 nights’ B&B from £898 per person including six picnic lunches, most transfers (ferries payable locally), walking maps and notes. Flights are extra. Meanwhile, Inntravel’s 12-night Grand Tour of the Peloponnese travels along the Gulf of Corinth to Byzantine Mystras, crosses the fertile Laconian plains to the hidden 13
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Greece gem of Monemvasia, journeys north to the outer Mani for perfect walking country, before heading north to ancient Olympia and Nafplion, the former Greek capital. Sample product: 12 nights lead in at £1,085 per person including B&B accommodation, 12 days’ car hire, walking maps and notes. Flights are extra.
Aldemar Royal Olympian in the Peloponnese
City slickers To experience the world that inspired the philosophies of Socrates, pack your bags and head to Athens where ancient worlds collide with busy street markets – a shop lover’s dream – and 21st century nightlife. Top of the must-see sites is the Parthenon, which is well worth the climb around the Acropolis to visit this ancient building built – its construction begun in 447BC – and get some spectacular views of Athens. The National Archaelogical Museum is close by.
The Peloponnese A hand-shaped land mass that is separated from the southern Greek mainland by the Corinth Canal, the Peloponnese is just a three-hour drive from the Greek capital, making it a particularly popular region with professional Athenians keen to escape the heat of the city during the summer months. There is plenty to do here such as visit the ancient town of Olympia, home of the first Olympic Games, and a museum dedicated to their history; alternatively head for the temple of Epicurean Apollo called the Parthenon of Peloponnese. Marvel at the 13th-century fortress in the town of Methoni, surrounded on three sides by the sea and the fourth by a moat, the fortress is an entire medieval town where you can spend hours exploring. Take in Pylos town, an attractive coastal village where daily life takes place around the central square down by the waterfront. There are two castles, one on each side of the bay, and nearby is the Mycenean palace of Nestor, one of the best preserved of all Mycenean palaces. Relaxing and luxurious places to stay in the Peloponnese include the Aldemar Olympian Village and Aldemar Royal Olympian – both in the same location. The hotels have recently developed a traditional guest house – Epohes. The stone buildings have 22 rooms with rustic furnishing, a fire place and fantastic views to the chestnut forest. The restaurant serves authentic homemade food which can be enjoyed before retiring to a seating area for a drink or a game of cards. There is also a well stocked library and bar, a main courtyard with a stone oven and wooden benches. Sample product: Planet Holidays offers seven nights’ half-board at the Aldemar Royal Olympian including flights and transfers for £1,137 per person.
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Then head back down the Acropolis to squeeze in a bit of shopping at Monastriki flea market before making your way to Plaka, a great district for bars and restaurants. Sightseeing tours of the city are available. Sample product: for a roof garden view with some spine-tingling views of the Acropolis, Classic Collection Holidays recommends the Royal Olympic Hotel. Three nights’ B&B lead in at £501 per person and include flights and transfers. Party people Making the headlines for all the wrong reasons in years gone by, Malia on the island of Crete has been back in the spotlight again this year but for slighter better reasons. The boys from cult Channel 4 series The Inbetweeners made a movie version of the hit programme, some of which was filmed in Malia. Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambriandes says while resorts such as Faliraki on Rhodes, Kavos in Corfu, Laganas in Zante and Kardamena on the island of Kos are great with the party crown, the release of The Inbetweeners film has led to a late-season boost for Malia. Sample product: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights at the Danaides Apartments in August next year for £375 per person including flights and transfers. ■
All about the Eastern Mediterranean
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Turkey
Turkish delights Despite a few challenges this year, Turkey is still proving to be a popular, affordable option for sun, sea, sand and a lot of sightseeing
O
perators have experienced mixed fortunes in demand for Turkey this year, with pricing and concerns over the Arab Spring’s possible impact on the destination influencing people’s decision to holiday elsewhere. Classic Collection Holidays has seen a 10% drop in year-on-year bookings for summer 2011, although the luxury specialist is optimistic that next year
will be another good one for Turkey, with business for this winter already showing good signs of improvement. A spokesman for the operator says this year has been a difficult one for Turkey. “Its popularity over the last couple of seasons has seen destination prices become less competitive in comparison with euro destinations where a dearth of bookings has seen the destinations
and hoteliers concentrate on offering better value to win back holidaymakers. “It might also have suffered owing to its geographic proximity to the areas touched by the Arab Spring. It’s easier to switch sell Egypt to the Canaries than to Turkey while so many countries close to Turkey are in the news. “However, it is still very good value for couples and families on an allinclusive basis,” he adds. Olympic Holidays commercial director Photis Lambriandes agrees that Turkey is the perfect destination for families, in particular the resort of Marmaris.
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Turkey
Ece Boutique Hotel on the island of ŞÜvalye, 15 minutes across the water from the port of Fethiye
“Families have given us some excellent feedback about the three-star Club Antique Palace Hotel in Marmaris that we introduced last year. It’s a large complex with lots for families, including a kids’ club and mini aqua park. “Other good family resorts are Gumbet, Bitez and Turgutreis. We introduced the Lidya Apartments in Turgutreis and these one and two-bedroom apartments with their own private beach are a popular option, with a kids’ pool and a disco for older children,� he adds. Cosmos Tours and Cruises product manager Vicki Wye
Tailor-made Holidays & Guided Tours with your award-winning specialist
Let your clients experience Turkey in their own style and time with one of Anatolian Sky’s tailor-made holidays or small group GUIDED TOURS s ! WONDERFUL RANGE OF sample tailor-made tours is available. s )TINERARIES INCLUDE #APPADOCIA %PHESUS 0AMUKKALE +ONYA 4ROY s 0LACES STILL available on our Turkey small group guided tours in September & October. For expert advice, reservations & agency support
call:
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or visit www.anatoliansky.co.uk. To order brochures visit www.trade-gate.co.uk Viewdata ASK#
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Star Independent Tour Operator to Turkey 2007 & 2009 Best UK Turkish company of the year 2010
says Turkey continues to be popular with the operator’s guests. “Those who have travelled there with their families to enjoy the country’s beaches are now looking to see more of what the country has to offer. Most don’t really appreciate its size and the sheer wealth of sites and culture there is to see so this new shorter tour is a bit of a taster.â€? We have put together some recommendations and updates from operators about their programmes for 2012. Culture club Cox & Kings is launching private gulet cruises along the Turkish Riviera following an increase in demand for small group tours that cater for clients looking for the ultimate in flexibility. The boats, which vary in size, are available on a private basis so are being promoted with families or small groups of friends in mind. The tailor-made specialist also has two new private journeys for 2012: the seven-day Istanbul and Cappadocia excursion and the five-day Istanbul and Gallipoli tour. An eight-day Lycian cruise leads in at ÂŁ3,245 per person, based on two sharing the boat, with the per person cost decreasing if there are larger numbers in the group. The seven-day Istanbul and Cappadocia tour leads in at ÂŁ995, while the Istanbul and Gallipoli trio costs from a ÂŁ1,595 per person. The tours include flights, transfers, excursions and accommodation with breakfast daily. Cosmos Tours and Cruises’s Europe 2012 brochure features a new eight-day Discover Southern Turkey trip.t Highlights of the tour include visits to Pamukkale, also known as the cotton castle, the archaeological site of Aphrosias and the Amyntas rock-cut tomb and Kaya Village in Fetiye. Accommodation is in the Club Letoonia in Fetiye on an all-inclusive basis for three nights and the Tripolis in Pamukkale for four nights’ half-board. Prices lead in at ÂŁ859 per person and include flights to Dalaman and stays in both the Dalaman and Pamukkale areas. For those who want to see more of Turkey, the 13-day Grand Tour of Turkey takes in Gallipoli, Troy, Izmir, Pamukkale, Agzikarahan, Cappadocia, Gordion and the tomb of King Midas, Bursa with its Great Mosque, covered
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Turkey Bazaar and silk market, and Istanbul. Prices start at £819 and include flights to Istanbul and halfboard accommodation in Istanbul, Canakkale, Kusadasi, the Denizli area, Konha, Cappadocia, Ankara and Bursa. The family market Classic Collection Holidays recommends the Gloria Serenity Resort in Belek, which offers three children’s clubs covering ages from one to three, four to seven years and eight to 12. The clubs offer a whole range of activities including dance lessons, trampolines on beach, tenpin bowling, water slides and an entertainment centre with a cinema. Accommodation is in two-storey villas with double and twin bedrooms with en-suite facilities for both, furnished terrace, large sundeck, open-air Jacuzzi in close proximity to swimming pools. Sports facilities include floodlit tennis courts and football pitches, alongside table tennis, aqua gym and mini golf. Classic Collection Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for a family of four from £7,991 including flights and transfers. Away from the crowds As Turkey’s percentage of repeat visitors increases, so does
A must-see site is Pamukkale, which means cotton castle in Turkish
the demand for something different to the beachfront hotels in the mass-market resorts. To capitalise on this demand, Turkey specialist Exclusive Escapes has introduced a wide selection of private villas with pools with the option of hotel services. As part of this service, in-villa dining is an option, with
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Turkey
Its stunning beaches make Olu Deniz a popular holiday destination with the UK market
freshly-prepared meals made and served by a selection of leading restaurants, as well as luxury hampers provided every morning. Talking about the increase in demand from clients for something different, Andrew Lee, owner-manager of Exclusive Escapes, says: “Coastal Turkey has a reputation as a mass-market holiday destination, but over recent years, it has been developing an increasingly upmarket clientele. The backpackers have moved on and the mass market is declining to be replaced by what we term third-generation tourism – independent-minded guests looking to travel to authentic regions that provide a real feel for history and culture. “Conservation laws have limited beachfront development in the smaller towns, which has paved the way for the growth of small, characterful hotels and private villas with pools. All Exclusive Escapes’ properties are of this nature and family-owned. Most of our guests are looking for breaks that combine boutique accommodation in off the beaten track locations. “Add-ons such as private cultural guides, days at sea on board gulets, excursions to smaller historic sites away from
the crowds, plus a wide range of sporting activities are now part-and-parcel of our Lycian Coast offer.” Exclusive Escapes features a wide range of properties including: large town houses in Kalkan with prices leading in at £900 per person for seven nights, based on two sharing, and £550 for each additional guest, including return flights; and a designer pad near in the historical Dalyan Delta, a designated nature reserve. Seven nights lead in at £1,250 per person based on two sharing and £550 for each additional guest, including return flights and car hire. Specialist indepedent operator Ilios Travel also features a range of villas with private pools that are located in small villages, off the beaten track. “The most popular destination is the Bodrum Peninsula where you are never very far from a beach,” says Patricia Woodburn, product manager of Ilios Travel. “However, Selimiye on the Bozburun Peninsula is our new favourite place and until now has been kept secret by the yachting community. It is a great place for history and ancient sites such as Hydas, Hygassos and Baybassos and there are a number of authentic and unspoilt villages to stay in where the emphasis is on relaxation.” ■
News from the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office Turkish tourism is on course for another record-breaking year, with worldwide visitor numbers from January to July exceeding 17 million: a 10.6% year-on-year increase. “While UK visitor numbers are slightly down compared with last year, the overall upwards trend is encouraging,” said Tolga Tuyluoglu, director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office in London. ● The number of beaches and marinas in Turkey awarded the Blue Flag now stands at 331, the country’s highest ever number. ● Istanbul is to serve as 2012 European Capital of Spor. Event ●
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highlights include the IAAF World Indoor Athletics Championships (911 March 2012), likely to be the final opportunity to see athletes such as Jessica Ennis and Dwain Chambers competing on an international level prior to the London Olympics. Meanwhile Antalya, capital of the Mediterranean region and Turkey’s golfing capital, is preparing to host the World Amateur Team Golf Championships in Autumn 2012. ● Archaeologists have uncovered the tomb of St Philip on the site of ancient Hierapolis, Denizli; the Apostle is believed to have been martyred in the city in 80 AD. The
site, once opened to the public, is expected to become an important place of Christian pilgrimage. ● An Istanbul Museum Pass for foreign tourists has been launched. Enabling single entrance to several of the city’s top attractions including Hagia Sophia, the Istanbul Archaeological Museum and the Topkapi Palace, the Pass is valid for 72 hours and costs £25. ● Belek in Antalya is hosting the International Golf Travel Market from 14 to 17 November, while Izmir’s Travel Turkey Expo takes place from 8 to 11 December. Website: gototurkey.co.uk
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CYPRUS Prestige Holidays offer a range of beautiful hotels in Cyprus, smaller boutique hotels to larger resort hotels. Family friendly with children’s facilities & great child discounts or hotels with their own spa or golf course. Don’t forget you will receive Marks & Spencers vouchers for each booking made. Ask us about our offers, including children stay free, free nights, free half board and free Spa treatments. Prices start from £464 per person for a weeks stay in a 4 star hotel, in December on bed and breakfast. More affordable luxury holidays from your local airport.
Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or www.prestigeholidays.co.uk
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