generalnews the travel news that's turning heads Monarch hits hot spots


Monarch has boosted its services to the Eastern Med this summer with the launch of new scheduled flights to Bodrum in Turkey and the Greek island of Corfu. Fares start from £68.99 one- way including all taxes and charges. The airline has also added services


to key European hot spots across the Balearic and Canary Islands, plus Cyprus. Monarch now operates three flights


Talk straight on Middle East


The travel industry must be more straightforward with holidaymakers about the risks involved in travelling to Arab destinations hit by the recent wave of civil unrest, according to the Middle East & North Africa Travel Association. MENATA’s executive director, Peter


Lilley, said: “In some ways, there is no better time to visit Egypt or Tunisia. There are thousands of bargain holidays available. Package prices to Egypt have been slashed with summer holidays to Tunisia available for less than £300 for seven nights’ half-board. You would struggle to find a weekend break in the UK for that price!” Lilley added: “MENATA’s advice to


potential holidaymakers to Egypt and Tunisia is straightforward. We believe the countries are essentially safe and that there is no mitigating reason not to visit.


Worldhotels adds 12


Independent hotel group Worldhotels has signed an agreement with Spain’s Husa Hotels for 12 additional properties to become Worldhotels affiliates. Six Husa properties are already


Worldhotels affiliates, and the 12 new affiliate hotels bring a total of 1,914 extra rooms to the Worldhotels portfolio. Of the 12 new properties, eight are located in Spain, two in Morocco, one in Andorra and one in Germany opening in 2012. www.worldhotels.com


MORE... online at www.sellinglonghaul.com


news • advice • chat • information


Both countries desperately need tourists to return and those that travel can be assured of a warm welcome. We feel it is much better to be upfront about any risks involved with traveling to the region, to assist potential holidaymakers to make an informed decision." Lilley said he believes one of the


reasons why tourism has been slow to return to the region is the mixed messages from the travel industry, with national tourist offices claiming resorts are safe at the same time as tour operators are busy slashing their programmes in the Middle East. Lilley urged all those promoting


tourism to the Middle East and North Africa to work more closely together to provide visitors with reliable and consistent information and guidance. www.menata.org


a week from Luton to Corfu and two flights a week to Bodrum from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham. An additional weekly flight has been added to Palma and Tenerife from Gatwick and three additional departures now operate to Paphos from Gatwick. Out of Manchester, additional flights run to Larnaca, Paphos and Tenerife. www.monarch.co.uk


Go Swiss with Inghams


Inghams has some attractive last- minute summer deals to Switzerland. All guests booking a seven-night stay


in the country will receive Saturday and Sunday nights free for all departures in July, August and September. Clients can choose from 18 resorts and over 80 hotels, departing from 10 UK airports. Prices start from £499pp for two sharing, including seven nights' half- board, return flights, rail transfers and a travel card worth £60 pp. www.inghams.co.uk


Natural beach warmth in Iceland's newest spa


The Laugarvatn FONTANA spa in Iceland was due to open on July 1 offering ‘the latest in Icelandic relaxation’. The brand new spa sits on the steamy waters of Lake Laugarvatn. With interconnecting open-air baths, a sauna and a stream room, all heated geothermally, traditional Icelandic remedies will be available daily year- round. The waters are heated naturally to between 40°C - 50°C and there's even a warm sand beach. The spa’s location is ideally placed


along the famous Golden Circle route between the Thingvellir National Park and the dancing geyser fields and it's a


theround-up GEIcelandair's new non-stop flights from


lasgow and Manchester to Iceland begin on


September 20. They will replace the current Reykjavik-Manchester-Glasgow-Reykjavik 'triangle route' and connect to Icelandair's North American destinations. The Glasgow flights will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The Manchester flights will also operate up to three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. www.icelandair.is


E ESmart card technology operator, the Leisure Pass Group, has added Copenhagen


to its range of city passes. The cOPENhagen CARD includes free entry to 60 museums and attractions, transport by train, bus and Metro plus discounts on restaurants, car hire, shops and sights. Available as a 24-hour, or 72-hour option, the cOPENhagen CARD also allows two free child passes (for under nines) with every adult card purchased. www.visitcopenhagen.com


g E Longwood Holidays is offering free olf in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el Sheikh


this summer for all golfers booking a holiday at any of the resort's three five-star Maritim Jolie Ville hotels. Prices start from £458pp for a week, all-inclusive, at the Maritim Jolie Ville Royal Peninsula, including flights and five rounds of golf on a par-72 PGA championship course that features 18 lakes. The offer is available until August 31 2011. www.longwoodholidays.co.uk/golf


E Titan HiTours has added three new tours to Durham, Bath and to combine


Lincolnshire & Rutland in its 2011 stand-alone brochure for the UK. All tours include home pick-ups and the services of a tour manager. Tours to the Isle of Wight were the top seller for 2010. www.titanhitours.co.uk


SE Superbreak has merged its


one-hour drive from Reykjavik. Iceland Express has flights from £89


one-way including taxes from London Gatwick daily. Flights from Edinburgh have also been available since June 10. www.icelandexpress.com


uperbreak and Highlife programmes for the


first time. The combined programme includes over 300 new hotels and new attractions such as Great Yarmouth Pleasure Beach, Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester and experiences at Paradise Wildlife Park. A new Paranormal Activity themed break and Pontins breaks are also included. Prices lead in at £30 pppn. www.superbreak.com/agents


06 July/August 2011 • www.shortbreaksholidays.com


COSMOS


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24