If you want to escape the stressful city where you are presently staying then you’d better pack your things now and check the groovy city of Durban and see the beauty of South Africa!  Street Scene Tours will be here to guide you along the brightly lighted streets of Durban.  Go and see how it can even make your stay here in Durban an unforgettable one!

South Africa is no longer the ‘good old SA’!  Streets here in Durban are now brightly lighted with dancing and colorful lights.  In every corner your senses will surely be tickled with its mouth watering dishes and delicacies.  What make this city one of the most progressive cities here in South Africa are the historical events and treats they offer to local residents and tourists!  No wonder thousands of tourists keep coming back to Durban!

However, to truly enjoy the little known attractions of Durban you need the professional services of Street Scene Tours to guide you.  They are actually one of the best tour guide companies in Durban which you can trust and count on when it comes to seeing and experiencing all the unforgettable places in Durban, South Africa.  Street Scene Tours is a major tour operator here in Durban area which specializes in custom made tours for tourists.  This means you can actually tell them what events and places you would love to see in South Africa and they will tailor make a package for you.  Street Scene Tours will not only treat you well, a kind of treatment fit for a king and queen, but they will also show you all the wonderful and historical places here in Durban which I know you will never forget!

Just imagine, Street Scene Tours will not only show and guide you Durban’s downtown city scene but they will also show you the best townships the city has to offer!  They are the only tour guide here in Durban that knows exactly where all the wonderful and breath taking spots of the city are, which tourists from all over the world love to go and see!

So for your next stop here in Durban, South Africa, make sure contact Street Scene Tours and let them be your trusted guide and show you all the wonderful secrets that Durban has to offer. They will surely make your stay an unforgettable one.

For information:  http://www.streetscenetours.co.za

Or you can phone us on +27 (0) 83 320 2675

Ljubljana, Slovenia – 3^rd September 2010

Izzirent, in a continued effort to aid more and more business and leisure tourists across the world, reinvents its car rental facilities in the United Kingdom and introduces new destinations and an upgraded fleet. A collage of original and immigrant cultures, the UK remains one of the most visited places in the world. Izzirent.com makes it easy to travel across the country in ultimate comfort and style.

Vacationers can rent a car in the United Kingdom to explore the historic landmarks and the large array of parks in and around the place. The Edinburgh Castle, the royal fortress that has been used for more than a millennium and still remains in excellent condition, is frequented by visitors from across the globe. Other popular tourist hubs are the Stonehenge, an ancient stone circle near Salisbury, Wiltshire, York Minster in the historic York City and Stratford-Upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace.

Destination Manager Damijan Milivojevic says, “London is a hub for politics, finance, education, art, entertainment, fashion and culture and Izzirentacar.com enables tourists to enjoy this charming city to the fullest.”

Tourists can also consider car rental at London Heathrow Airport to tour the global capital of fashion, finance and trade. This vibrant, multicultural megalopolis abounds with historic landmarks, museums, galleries, parks and other entertainment opportunities. One should not miss the British Museum, National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery. And of course the Windsor castle, which is just a short drive from London.

One can also use a car rental at London Stansted Airport and travel to Piccadilly Circus, St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The Trafalgar Square, Westminster Abbey and the Palace of Westminster are also popular places of visit.

IzziRent.com is a global car rental dealer with a special focus on Central and East Europe. With very competitive prices and offering only high quality local car rental providers it strives to be the number one on-line dealer in Europe.

Airline operators and passengers are now suffering a second wave of cancellations as the Icelandic Eyjafjallajokull volcano continues to pump volcanic ash into the atmosphere and cause disruption to European airspace. Ash levels have been intensifying over the last few days as the volcanic activity has increased significantly.

Spain is suffering more than most European countries as a result of the economic downturn. With many Spanish regions relying heavily on tourism for employment, the cloud of volcanic ash drifting across Northern Spain from the Icelandic volcano is having an unwelcome impact on the Spanish economy.

As of today, many flights from the UK to France and Northern Spain have been cancelled, with Ryan Air predicting further disruption over the next few days. Currently affected Spanish airports include Barcelona, Reus, Zaragoza and Valladolid. Travellers to Spain are being advised to check with their airline before travelling to the airport.

Further south in areas such as the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca the tourism industry is keeping an anxious eye on the progression of the ash cloud and the activity of the volcano. Matt May from UK car rental company Blue Valley Car Hire who provide car hire in Malaga and car hire in Alicante and Murcia is hoping that the clould of ash will disperse quickly and the volcanic activity will die down for the busy summer months.

If the ash is still around in the peak holiday season of July/August, many businesses depending on tourism in Spain could find themselves counting the cost.

MustSeeIndia.com, one stop for all travel related information for India, has partnered with Rural Tourism Network Enterprise (RTNE) for hotel bookings. The deal makes provisions for customers to book hotel rooms directly on MustSeeIndia.com.

RTNE is known to empower hotels in rural areas. It works with locals in the Bharat part of India and imparts entrepreneurial skills to them. This is a significant contribution, considering that it helps in fuelling the rural tourism industry.

Vikas Rana, CEO, MustSeeIndia.com revealed, “The key consequence of this pact is that we have offered hotels to our customers at the far-off locations at the most affordable prices. Most importantly, all this happens at the click of a button, literally!”

This new option allows clients to scan through information of various hotels in India and see the photos to get a slice of reality and book directly. This saves the clients from the trouble of having to spend hours finding out viable accommodation options and zeroing in on one of them. There are very few sites that can book in remote areas.

Saurabh Jha from RTNE shared that, “I think MustSeeIndia.com and we at RTNE have struck the right chord by customizing the accommodation options and bringing them to the doorstep, or rather, the desktop of our clients. They can choose from a wide array of options that are meant to suit every pocket and taste.” Very true, as rooms are available starting at Rs 300.

Customers can book hotels at http://www.mustseeindia.com/india-hotels and know more about RTNE at http://www.rtne.co.in

Sunny Spain is no longer growing in popularity, whilst the USA and Egypt should be preparing for more and more tourists, according to new statistics from the UK’s fastest growing online independent travel agent. Tourist’s reasons for their destination likes and dislikes are also revealed.

Sale statistics and holiday booking figures released by online travel agent www.sunshine.co.uk have revealed the destinations that are most (and least) popular with consumers today. Spain is no longer as popular as it once was, judging by percentage share of bookings at sunshine.co.uk, whilst the USA is becoming a more desirable place to go on holiday.

When looking at the reasons behind the popularity of certain resorts, sunshine.co.uk found that found that 59% of people didn’t find Spain as appealing because of the high density of English tourists and bars, claiming it was not foreign enough. USA, on the other hand, has seen bookings almost double and 48% said they would cross the pond just to try and meet a celebrity.

When asked if and why they would be put off visiting Tunisia on holiday, 2 respondents claimed they would prefer not to go because they were scared of camels. One person commented that they were less likely to holiday in the Canaries because they were afraid of birds, but Turkey was a hit with 11 people who said they’d go for the kebabs.

The top five destinations that have seen the biggest growth in popularity on sunshine.co.uk are;

1. Egypt
2. Greece
3. USA
4. Turkey
5. Portugal

The bottom five destinations that have seen the least growth in popularity on sunshine.co.uk are;

1. Malta
2. Canaries
3. Italy
4. Tunisia
5. Spain

Speaking about the most and least popular destinations, Chris Brown, co-founder of sunshine.co.uk said;

“After looking at the popularity of certain destinations based on percentage share of bookings on our site from a trade point of view, we then wanted to hear why consumers like or dislike certain locations. Some of the reasons people gave for not wanting to holiday in certain places were very amusing, especially in the instance of the one respondent who was afraid of birds and as a result didn’t want to go to the Canaries.

He continued, “The fact that a select few would visit Turkey for a traditional Kebab is rather funny, but some of the reasons, such as Spain not being so popular for being “too English” were more common. On the contrary however, some did actually like the idea of Spain being a bit more familiar. I suppose in the case of holidays, everyone has different preferences.”

LINK http://www.sunshine.co.uk

ENDS

10 YETIS JOURNALIST TRIVIA QUIZ:

For a chance to win a prize, be the first to respond with the correct answer to the following question:

Q: What is the capital of Turkey?

For more information or to set up interviews with Chris Brown please contact Shannon Haigh of 10 Yetis Public Relation Agency, on 01452 348211 or email [email protected]

Editors Notes

Sunshine.co.uk is the UK’s leading online independent travel agent and was founded by Chris Brown and Chris Clarkson, the same people behind Holiday Watchdog which was bought by TripAdvisor in February 2008 for an undisclosed amount of money. Sunshine.co.uk offers low cost holidays and budget flights to destinations all over the world as well as great deals and discounted hotels.



India’s Ministry of Tourism organised four impressive Road Shows during October, 2009 in the high potential markets in the Middle East at Dubai, Doha, Kuwait and Jeddah. These road shows were supported by Indian Medical Travel Association (IMTA) and many of IMTA’s leading members that included leading lights from Indian Hospitals, Wellness services providers, Government and medical tourism facilitators participated in these events.
Middle East and Gulf in particular as a market for promoting medical tourism to India holds great potential. Traditionally patients have been coming to India from the region to leading hospitals in Mumbai and Chennai and the more affluent of them were preferring to go to Europe and America. But now with the establishing of over 100 most modern NABH and JCI internationally accredited hospitals in top ten cities of India during the last five years, no other country in the world can match the capacity, quality and cost value proposition that Indian hospitals have to offer to the overseas patients looking for advanced medical treatment options.
The phenomenon, now popularly known as Medical Tourism is often cited as the next big opportunity for India after the IT outsourcing to earn billions of dollars in forex earnings and create jobs in the healthcare sector. So far only a select group of Indian hospitals have been making valiant attempts to market their services in international arena. More than a million overseas patients already treated at top Indian corporate hospitals like Fortis, Artemis, Max, MIOT, Manipal and many others have already proved to the world that the clinical quality, technology and cost proposition offered by India is unmatched. The capacity in super specialty segment Indian hospitals is expanding fast and there is no waiting period for local or overseas patients.
Indian Medical Travel Association joined hands with the Indian Ministry of Tourism to promote these road shows that were attended by good numbers of local Insurance companies, travel and tour operators hospital administrators and medical tourism facilitators. India’s Ministry of Tourism has achieved phenomenal success in last five years with its much acclaimed “Incredible India “campaign that has multiplied the arrival of foreign tourists to India. Recently it has notified the Market Development Assistance (MDA) Scheme to eligible Medical Tourism players which enables them to get financial support for participation in overseas promotional events.
About Indian Medical Travel Association.
A non profit body aimed at preparing India for facing the challenges of global competition in Medical Tourism space and actualise the tremendous opportunity for India to become a leading global healthcare destination. IMTA’s membership has a diverse base of India’s leading JCI, NABH accredited hospitals, Indian System of Medicine and Wellness service providers, travel industry, Insurance, Assistance and Medical Tourism facilitation companies.
For more details please contact :-
Ms. Anoushka Singh, Manager PR, Indian Medical Travel Association
Phone – 91 9899993637
Email – [email protected]
Website – http://indianmedicaltravelassociation.com/

The Madhya Pradesh tourism industry is going to be seen in a new way by the introduction of Cruise at Badi Jheel.

New Delhi: Madhya Pradesh Tourism has the benefit of having world famous tourist attractions such as Khajuraho Temples and Sanchi Stupa under its supervision. Situated right in Central India, it has archeological marvels, historical heritage, popular wildlife preserves, and holy pilgrimage sites and temples of immense religious importance that attract domestic and foreign tourists alike. Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, upholds the charm of quaint, modernistic yet traditional town. Its various attractions have unquestionably included a cruise boat ride at the historic Upper Lake or Badi Jheel.

Last year, the water level in the lake was quite low. Hence, these cruise boat rides here were suspended for an indefinite period since September 26. Instead, tourists and residents of the city had to go as far as ‘Tawa Dam’ on the outskirts of the city to enjoy their favorite picnic pastime. This year, the monsoons in the state have been as benevolent as the share markets all over the world and the parched lake has been revitalized. Rising demand of tourists and healthier state of the lake led Madhya Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation (MPSTDC) to give permission for the cruise rides to resume their trips across the lake from December.

The news is a welcome relief for tourists, travel agents and tour operators in the city. The government is taking active interest in promoting Indian tourism. Madhya Pradesh Tourism, in particular, has seen a steep rise in domestic tourism in past two years. From the ninth place in 2007, it managed to make it to the list of Top 5 Favorite Destinations for Domestic Tourists in 2008, when it attracted about 2.2 crore tourists to the state. Now, MPSTDC is actively working to achieve the target of making it to the list of Top 10 Favorite Destinations for Foreign Tourists and International Visitors in the near future.

Contact Details:

Rajneesh Singh
TNS Travel Pvt Ltd
E- 14, Sushant Shopping Aracade
Shushant Lok Phase – 1
Gurgaon – 122002

Haryana, India
Mobile – 09971159990

E-mail: [email protected]

Web: http://www.indianluxurytours.com

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine. The earth might be one of the smallest planets in the galaxy, but when it comes to the splendour of them all, our planet ‘EARTH’ stands out, not because there is habitation here but because of the interesting history it has and thanks to noble souls, globally the world has become a information display board telling us stories about anything and everything man can ever think of. It is possible to go through travel books, encyclopedias, surf the internet and listen to various peoples’ travelogues and learn vast amounts about the richness the world offers, the experience of travel can be never be felt, thus, it’s necessary to visit the scene of the events and assimilate the essence of the location.

Once you decide that you are ready to explore the world the main question arises of where to go, whether to visit a historical site and gain knowledge about the events which took place ages ago, or take a luxury trip to one of the most exotic locations in the world or just back up across Europe and live life like a ‘local’. This is where we as ‘Worldwide Destinations’ come in picture, we provide you diverse locations varying from Morocco to Italy to Egypt to anywhere in the world; as we say ‘if its on the map the option lies with us’. Not only that, we plan your trip as per your needs; customized itineraries so that you get that ‘extra’ day to shop for your family and friends. Unlike any other tour operator, you the customer get to choose the budget-luxurious or shoestring and we build a tour based on your requests.

Why ‘Worldwide Destinations’ would be a question, but as a tour operator, which is committed to give you the ‘true travel experience’ and makes earnest endeavors to envisage and turn your dream holiday into a reality would provide valued services all along right from the moment you get in touch with us till the time you are back from your holiday. One experience with us would be more than enough for you to understand our expertise in destinations and travel packages. Don’t compromise on the experience of a holiday for a just another holiday. Get in touch with us; we are sure we will make your holiday to remember.

Ranjit Bhattacharya – the leader even today goes out of the way, to look at a new destination, resort or accommodation option, be it anywhere in the world. Worldwide Destinations has been instrumental in establishing a lot of idle destinations into the most bustling ones.

Each Package is unique by itself. To name a few: Magical Morocco (Staying at Deluxe Tented Camps at Sahara Dessert, Best of Turkey (Arabian Night Show at Istanbul included Free of Charge) and many more….
“Get a little MORE Pay a little LESS, at No HIDDEN Costs” is OUR VISION. You will know this the moment you knock our door

For more information on the travel packages we offer and the travel experience, visit http://www.myworldwidedestinations.com

The long Andalucian summer has just begun and this year promises to be particularly hot with Spain’s largest region hosting some of Europe’s liveliest cultural and sporting events. From music and dance, international golf tournaments, bull fighting and flamenco to the annual grape harvest for the region’s finest Sherries – Andalucia has it all! And all this within striking distance of Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa, a new luxury boutique hotel in southern Spain.

Few festivals can compete with Granada’s International Festival of Music and Dance for the splendour of the backdrop or the sumptuousness of the venues. The festival sweeps the stunning city off its feet for three weeks between 25 June and 14 July this year. Everywhere, from tiny cafes to courtyards in the Alhambra, the fairytale Palace of Charles V, will be hosting recitals and dance performances from the likes of The London Symphony Orchestra, The Baroque Music Ensemble, The National Ballet Company and local Andalucian guitarists and flamenco dancers. What better way to discover this beguiling city than through some of the best musicians in the world?

Nor is Granada alone in offering great music and dance in Andalucia this summer. Perhaps enjoy Placido Domingo singing with the Almeria City Orchestra in June, or discover the delightfully haunting sound of Sephardic Music in Cordoba’s Botanical Gardens, also in June.

The Feria is the most important festival of the summer in Andalucia. Whilst many towns and villages hold their own, Malaga’s is known to be the biggest and best and takes place from 14 – 23 August this year. By day join the throngs of flamenco dancers in the streets, sample local delicacies from the many food stalls or simply watch the locals and their horses ride through town in traditional dress. The real party begins in typically Andalucian style – late – and is dedicated to flamenco dance and music, pena music groups, firework displays and merriment.

The Andalucian summer lasts well into September and so do the region’s cultural offerings. The beginning of the month sees Ronda’s bullfighting stadium, the oldest in Spain, host the Corrida Goyesca, a fight between bull and men dressed as Goyaesque characters. If blood sports don’t appeal then Jerez’s celebration of the grape harvest might well. The festival not only celebrates Andalucia’s most famous drink, sherry, but also the renowned Spanish riders and Flamenco, in an event rooted in the region and its people.

Last but not least, this autumn sees Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa host the Volvo World Match Play Championship for the first time. The international golf tournament has seen the likes of Ernie Els taking the title in the past; in 2009, Finca Cortesin will welcome the best golfers in the world to Andalusia, including Tiger Woods.

Finca Cortesin Hotel, Golf & Spa is a new 67-suite five-star hotel near the tiny town of Casares on the Andalucian coast – the perfect base for Andalucia’s many cultural and sporting highlights.

Finca Cortesin offers a four-day “Golf Experience” package from 600 Euros per person. The package includes three-night accommodation with complimentary upgrade (dependent on availability) at the Finca Cortesin Hotel, two green-fees at Finca Cortesin Golf Club, complimentary breakfast, early check-in and late check out as well as access to the Finca Cortesin Spa.

For more information on Finca Cortesin and the Volvo World Match Championship please visit www.fincacortesin.com

Festival Dates
16 June – Placido Domingo with Almeria’s City Orchestra (www.placidodomingo.com)
25 June – 14 July – Granada International Festival of Music and Dance (www.granadafestival.org)
23 – 27 June – International Sephardic Music Festival, Cordoba (www.andalucia.org)
14 – 23 August – Feria de Malaga
(www.feria-de-malaga-es)
5 September – Corrida Goyesca, Ronda
(www.rondatoday.com/tourism/goyesca-feria)
5-6 September – Jerez Sherry Festival
(www.spanish-fiestas.com/spanish-festivals/sherry-festival-jerez)
Autumn 2009 – Volvo World Match Play Championship (www.fincacortesin.com)

Bought in March 2008 by Lake District Hotels, the Borrowdale Hotel is undergoing a refurbishment programme which will see a £1 million investment once finished.

Phase one which cost almost £1/2 million is now complete with a noticeable transformation to the entrance, lounges bars and some of the bedrooms. The hotel is now ready for the influx of visitors during the summer before commencing more work in the autumn.

Plans to refurbish the hotel were carefully phased to avoid disruption for guests at busy periods like Christmas, New Year, Easter and the summer holidays. The work has been overseen by General Manager Stephen Wilcock who has been working closely with the tradesmen – all of whom are local.

As the first coaching inn to be built in the Borrowdale Valley, the Borrowdale Hotel is steeped in history and has a reputation for warmth and traditional hospitality. Kit and Charles Graves, Directors of The Lake District Hotel Group were keen to ensure the refurbishment remained sympathetic to the hotel’s character. “We want to keep the warmth and heritage of the hotel because that is what visitors and guests really appreciate. We have developed a look and feel that still creates a cosy and welcoming atmosphere. Tradition and personality still pervade – like the original 41 room bells that still hang in the hall and the Victorian coffee grinders, bed pans and plate warmers that adorn the new, more open reception area. You will also still hear the homely tick of the Grandfather clock and the chiming of the hour.”

The lounges have new fire places, deep pile carpets, rich wallpapers and plush curtains. The comfortable sofas and chairs have an abundance of cushions and there are fresh flowers everywhere.

A third of the bedrooms have now been refurbished – meeting modern day expectations for quality; comfortable beds, rich classic fabrics and furnishings, sparkling bathrooms and of course, flat screen TV’s with SKY.

Some things have never changed at the hotel – like the friendly, hospitable staff and the fact that they are still happy to welcome well behaved dogs in a number of rooms – a custom dating back to when the hotel opened in 1866.

Investment by Lake District Hotels has ensured work for local tradespeople from plasterers and plumbers to painters, decorators, electricians and florists. This is set to continue during phase two of the programme which will include developing the restaurant and more of the bedrooms.

The redevelopment of the restaurant is something that Stephen Wilcock is particularly looking forward to. He has a passion for fine food and good wine – something that led him to become a Master Sommelier, a role he is eager to develop with the restaurant.

Kit Graves, Managing Director of Lake District Hotels Ltd said “We have been making changes since we bought the hotel and Stephen has worked hard to minimise disruption for guests when the lounges were being updated – they have made a real difference to the place, but regular visitors will still find the Borrowdale Hotel a very charming, traditional place to stay. The restaurant development will be the next exciting phase, but we will have to time that to keep dining disruption to a minimum and won’t be until the hotel gets quieter later in the year.”

One of the first changes was to open the bar and conservatory all day for food and drink. It has always enjoys good local trade for morning coffee, lunches and has a growing reputation for afternoon tea. The gardens at the hotel are particularly special this time of year as the ancient Magnolia tree is in bloom – attracting keen gardeners who enjoy lunch in the conservatory to admire the view.

“Visitors to the Lake District have high expectations and are more demanding than ever. We want to ensure guests enjoy their Lake District holiday and hope they want to visit us time and time again. The Borrowdale Hotel has very loyal guests but we need to continue our investment, to ensure we exceed their expectations.”