ttglive.com Festive holidays Some star pickings
Many people want to get away for Christmas, whether it’s to avoid jingle bells and turkey or just to celebrate in a warmer climate. It may be a peak time for travel, but there are still lates available for the festive season. Operators tell Debbie Ward what’s on offer
TENERIFE.
Classic Collection says euro-using destina- tions are seeing a more promising winter than last year, so late bargains are likely to be more scarce. But for those who want to sneak in a break just before the festivities, it suggests Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque in Tenerife, which is offering seven nights for the price of five on all holidays taken by December 24, with no book-by date. Classic Collection offers a holiday for £1,159 per person on a bed and breakfast basis, with flights and private transfers.
EGYPT.
There are still late deals available to a raft of beach destinations for Christmas and New Year CYPRUS.
GOA.
“There is less capacity to Cyprus this winter, and there are a few hotels closing over the season,” says Planet Holidays managing director Mathilde Robert. “That has been a trend for the past five years, but having said that it is a great island to get away to and offers plenty to see and do with mild winter temperatures.”
She says rooms in high-end hotels are still available, but long-stay offers the best value, sometimes working out as little as £33.57 per person per day.
Planet offers Louis King Jason self-catering apartments in Paphos from £705 for a 21-day stay, £909 for 28 days, departing December 19. For the same departure and durations, all-inclusive at the four-star Riu Cypria near Paphos costs £1,569 or £1,735.
Unlike the rest of India, Goa is predomi- nantly Catholic, so while holidaymakers heading here miss the cold weather back home, they don’t miss the Christmas spirit. Cosmos has a 14-night holiday at the three diamond La Seasons Beach Resort in Candolim departing Gatwick on December 16 for £1,075 per person. The operator says the New Year’s Eve return flight might explain why there’s still availability for this popular Christmas sun destination. “Situations like this happen where the flight operates on a specific day of the week and, of course, we’re not able to change it to suit public holidays,” says Kim Barber, Cosmos’s product and commercial manager, while pointing out that the 12.05 landing time means you can still make the party.
Egypt doesn’t celebrate Christmas, so there is some good ex-UK availability there over the period. Classic Collection says holiday- makers are also finding the non-euro zone is not the bargain it previously was. This week around 50 seats were still available on Cosmos’s Luxor departure from Gatwick on December 20. A seven- night all-inclusive on the four diamond MS Magic Nile Cruise is priced at £1,045 per person.
Having sold out for Christmas and New Year, Discover Egypt has added capacity for seven-day Nile cruises departing December 20 and 27. The five-star Beau Soleil is priced at £1,149 per person, including flights and 10 excursions. Director Philip Breckner welcomes easyJet’s addition of twice-weekly flights to Luxor starting November, saying it had been “starved of direct flights from the UK, especially during the peak winter season.”
Egypt is also available through Olympic Holidays. “We have expanded our Egypt and Red Sea programme this winter, and have our own twice-weekly charters out of Manchester and Gatwick,” says commercial director Photis Lambrianides. For one week all-inclusive at Sharm el Sheikh’s three-star Al Diwan Hotel departing December 19, two adults with two under-12s will
Turn to 58 22.10.2010 57
winter breaks knowledge
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