Leisure Travel e-Newsletter - Sept 2007

Every quarter we draw a winning name. The odds are miles better than winning the lottery (and cost you nothing!), so anyone who has not already done so, now is the time to subscribed to our free e-Newsletter, and be in with a chance of winning the subscribers' prize draw for the 3rd quarter 2007!

EasyJet is to add the Bulgarian capital of Sofia to its network from the UK with flights from Gatwick.

The three times a week service from November 6 is one of seven new routes being opened by the airline across Europe. Fares start at £27.99 one-way.

A new Liverpool-Innsbruck connection is designed to serve skiers while a  Liverpool-Lisbon route is targeting people wanting city breaks and business travellers.

Liverpool-Innsbruck flights will run three times a week from January 8 with fares starting at £22.99 one-way, while Lisbon will be served four times a week from November 2 with prices starting at £20.99 one-way.

Please bear in mind that the variety of airlines and fares to most European destinations is considerable, and we can save you a great deal of time, and possibly save you a lot of money by researching your trips for you, with the experience and powerful tools our qualified consultants have.

President Bush has signed legislation designed to send a more 'welcoming message' to international visitors to the US. Hailed by the US travel industry as 'the most significant travel reform since 9/11', the legislation contains a provision to strengthen and expand the Visa Waiver Programme.

This will allow more legitimate business and leisure travellers to visit the US visa-free. At the same time, there are plans to enhance security through an air exit tracking system, increased information sharing between nations and other controls.

The legislation will also ensure a more 'efficient and welcoming' arrival at the country's top 20 overseas inbound airports through queue management and welcome videos. An additional 200 US Customs and Border Protection officers will be drafted in to help alleviate excessive wait times at these airports.

This is claimed to be the most significant travel reform since 9/11. A Travel Industry Association of America spokeswoman said it would take a few years for all of the provisions to be put into place, but it sends a clear message around the world that visitors are welcome and will enjoy a positive experience when they arrive.

With the dollar exchange rate being so favourable to British travellers currently, now is a good time to explore North America, so why not let our knowledgeable consultants help you create an exciting and varied holiday for you?

In the recent survey of our corporate clients, responders were asked not only to report on their experience with our corporate travel services, but also on our leisure travel department.

Apart from scoring the quality of the service our consultants provided - see report in the Summer edition of this e-Newsletter - we asked responders to comment on the leisure section of our website.

Whilst the new website is still to be completed (if that can be said ever to happen with a website that is always being updated and expanded!), it has clearly met with approval from those who had taken a look, although some others had sadly not yet got round to visiting it!

Some examples of the appreciative comments we received were:

"Easy to use, informative facts and assistance. Will be great once all aspects are complete"
      Karen Hobson of Wolseley plc

"I am very happy with the design of the new website - it is easy to navigate"
      Liza Kenny of Eaton Williams Ltd

"Excellent. Extremely informative and easy to use"
      Val Chantry of Intier Automotive Interiors Ltd

"Clear and useful"
      Kathleen Wratten of Planit Holdings Ltd

We would like to thank all those kind responders who took the trouble to complete the survey and return it to us.

Readers who have not yet used our leisure department, will hopefully gain the confidence from these results to contact us with your next holiday plans, and take a look themselves at the many interesting holiday ideas we illustrate the enormous variety of memorable experiences we are able to create, to suite your particular holiday ambitions.

Avis has introduced the hybrid Toyota Prius to its UK fleet in another move towards offering environmentally friendly rental cars.
 
Twenty hybrid (petrol/electric) Toyota Prius models will be available from Avis rental offices in London, as the company trials the car in the UK.
 
According to Avis, London is the first port of call for the trial in the UK, because the car will be exempt from the congestion charge, but it may well be rolled out to other large cities, such as Manchester later in the year.
 
Hertz introduced the Prius in the Hertz Green Collection last October. But Avis's "green" move to the UK comes after the success of Avis Portugal, which introduced hybrid cars to its fleet in 2005 and currently has 50 hybrids across the country. Avis Scandinavia also offers over 400 ethanol-powered Saabs, 75 Ford Flexi-fuel cars and 20 Toyota Prius' across its fleet.
 
In February, Avis Germany introduced natural gas VW Tourans to its fleet in 15 cities across the country.

Daniel McCarthy, commercial director, Avis UK said: "Our environmental commitment has been palpable since we launched our relationship with The Carbon Neutral Company in 1998 and within the past five years Avis Europe has offset 76,500 tonnes of CO2 through a combination of forestry and climate friendly projects."

Other green car-rentals are on the way. For example, Budget Rent-a-Car has hinted that it has similar plans. A recent announcement said that it accepts the responsibility to consider the environmental impact of its operations worldwide and is keen to introduce the new 'hybrid' petrol-electric powered vehicles across its fleet. Budget is trialling a limited number of petrol/electric hybrid type vehicles at selected locations during 2007.

In addition to your normal business or leisure trips, it's not a bad idea to try out the model you have in mind before buying a new car, by hiring it for a day or two - far better than a dealer's brief "test drive"!

Medway Travel has access to many preferential rates with over 50 car rental companies worldwide, and we are always pleased to arrange car rentals for clients. We will make special efforts to book the car type requested, even if it means researching the less well-known providers, so do contact us with your car rental requirements.

Hebridean expands programme for 2008

Six new itineraries have been introduced by luxury line Hebridean Intenational Cruises for its ship Hebridean Princess next year.

The 49-passenger vessel will offer more than 30 routes in 2008 with the expanded programme of sailings.

The 2008 cruise season covers Scotland's highlands and islands, the coast of County Antrim in Northern Ireland, the Norwegian fjords and a 'Jewels of English Heritage' trip along the south coast from Portland to London.

Prices on the new schedules start at £1,190 per person for a five-night 'Spring in the Inner Isles' sailing departing on March 5 from Oban.

Readers interested in these specialist cruises - or any others for that matter - should contact our specialist cruise consultants, Stephen and Astra, for advice and more information.

Celebrity Cruises Launches new luxury cruise brand.

Medway Travel's cruise specialists are pleased to pass on the following announcement from Celebrity Cruises, and looks forward to advising you about the relative merits of this and the many hundreds of offerings by the worlds cruise lines, to ensure you enjoy the cruise ideally suited to your expectations.

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Azamara is the new, deluxe cruise experience for discerning travellers who long to reach out-of-the-ordinary destinations and indulge in amenities and service unparalleled on the high seas.

The unique offerings of Azamara are beyond compare: butler service is provided in every stateroom; our shore excursions (we prefer to call them shore immersions), are designed to let guests become part of the fabric of life in each destination, instead of merely being an observer; our enrichment programs offer everything from culinary to photographic explorations; our two specialty restaurants provide the finest cuisine at sea; live entertainment can be enjoyed nightly; and the level of service offered is unmatched.

Azamara Cruises consists of two intimate ships, Azamara Journey and Azamara Quest. Each can carry 710 fortunate guests and because they are smaller and sleeker than larger cruise ships, they can sail to ports that others simply cannot reach.

In addition to offering a more personalized experience, our ships have recently undergone a $17.5 million revitalization with new European bedding and soft goods, flat screen televisions, new veranda decking and furniture, and wireless internet service in all staterooms and public areas. Plus, 93% of our staterooms offer ocean views and 68% have a private veranda.

We love the flowing name that conjures up the imagery of magnificent journeys around the world. And we look forward to sharing these voyages with our guests.

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Please contact us for further information and advice about the ideal cruise for you, whether or not it may be with Azamara

 

Enjoy the Christmas-New Year aboard Silver Whisper

 

After this wretched summer, why not consider Silversea's offer for guests to enjoy the festive season this year cruising the warm tropical waters of the South Pacific aboard Silver Whisper's 16-day "Barrier Reef Discovery" voyage?

It sails from Singapore to Sydney on December 20, with calls in Kura Kura (Karimunjawa) and Semarang in Indonesia, and the Australian ports of Darwin, Thursday Island, Cairns, Brisbane, and Whitsunday Islands.  Early Booking Incentive fares start at £6,245 per person, double occupancy, including all port charges and taxes.  

This cruise line is encouraging travellers to wrap themselves in ultra-luxury this festive season with a collection of six-star voyages traversing the globe from Africa and the South Pacific to the Caribbean and South America.  Guests aboard these extensive 14- and 16-day sailings will have the pleasure of exploring new destinations while enjoying the special ambience that accompanies a celebration of both Christmas and the New Year.

Silversea Cruises is recognised as an innovator in the luxury segment, offering guests large-ship amenities aboard four vessels, Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, all designed to offer an atmosphere of conviviality and casual elegance. 

For the seventh year, Silversea was named "Number One" small-ship line in the 2006 "Reader's Choice" survey conducted by Conde Nast Traveller magazine and was for the fourth time voted "Best Cruise Operator" by readers of the Daily Telegraph in 2005.

So, if you enjoy some real luxury, visiting interesting places, warm sunshine and some festive celebration, what could be better? But don't forget, availability for flights gets tight as one approaches the year end, so we would advise interested readers to contact us soon!

No longer are oenophiles content with just buying wine and drinking it at home. They're traveling around the world to taste it at its source.

People who are interested in wine want to travel to spots where they can learn more about it and enjoy wine vacations. This involves visiting wineries and getting a hands-on educational experience about the area where it is produced.

Specialist tours are about the wine--and a lot more! That's because travellers who visit wineries not only get to sample vintages, but also get to enjoy amazingly scenic surroundings.

Visitors to the Stellenbosch wine region near Cape Town, South Africa, for example, will see original Dutch houses which date to the early 17th century. And travellers to the Maipo wine region near Santiago, Chile, will visit wineries with several-hundred-year-old estancias.

These definitely are not typical wine-tasting trips. And that's the point. While your first instinct might be to book a tour of Tuscany or Napa Valley, hwy not go to less touristy places? That way, you're more likely to get personalized attention.

If you visit smaller wineries or regions that aren't overrun, the chances are you'll meet the owner of the winery, who can take the time to walk you through everything about the wine. On more crowded trips to the more touristy places, it would rarely, if ever, happen.

West Coast's Winning Wineries

California is the top U.S. destination for wine travel, according to a 2006 Culinary Travel Study compiled by the Travel Industry Association with the International Culinary Tourism Association and Gourmet magazine.

That could mean drunken crowds?

Avoid the throngs in Napa and head instead to the up-and-coming Paso Robles region, midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. This region, with about 200 wineries, has the third-largest concentration in the country. It's known for its cabernet sauvignon, merlot and syrah. You can reach many wineries easily by bike, as well as by car.

While there, visit Justin Vineyards, famous for its cult wine, Isoceles (a cabernet and bordeaux blend), Vina Robles for its 2002 syrah and J. Lohr for its cuvees.

Stay at the Just Inn, on the grounds of Justin Vineyards. The property has a swimming pool and the four suites have tapestry-covered furniture, frescoed ceilings and marble baths. The inn provides bikes to explore the region.

Tippling In Italia

If you can't imagine a wine trip that doesn't include Italy, skip Tuscany and head north to Piedmont. This hilly area is home to the ancestral grape Nebbiolo, which produces the red wines Barolo and Barbaresco, both rich with overtones of truffles, cherries and plums. The wines are produced on a small scale, and the wineries are perched on the Langhe hills.

Gaja, which boasts such pricey vintages as Sperss Nebbiolo Langhe, is a major producer. Visit Bruno Giacosa, situated 1,300 feet above sea level, to taste Barberesco Santo Stefano, one of the most coveted wines in the country. To sample wines from a winery that dates back to the 19th century, check out Pio Cesare.

You could stay at the Turin Palace Hotel when you're in the area. This 18th-century property is on Piazza San Carlo; its suites are furnished with antiques.

Money Matters

Since visiting wineries to sample wine is free, a wine lover's vacation can be done on a reasonable budget.

The biggest cost on a wine vacation is the kind of hotel you stay in and the kind of restaurants where you dine. If you stay and eat at the best, and costs can climb to £2500 a week, excluding your airfare, but you can of course do it for a lot less than that, and have a truly memorable holiday.

Ask us for details of these and other holidays for wine connoisseurs

 

Two airlines - Aer Lingus and Ryanair - had, at the time of writing, still fully to comply with measures laid down by the Office of Fair Trading to prevent misleading pricing on their websites. 

Both carriers have given guarantees to the OFT that they will be altering their websites to do so as soon as it is possible.

They have changed their homepages to include fixed, non-optional costs but technical issues prevented them from changing their booking processes by the deadline of July 31 set by the OFT.

In the interim, Ryanair has agreed to place a clear statement on its website to inform consumers how much taxes and charges will add to the final price.

The OFT said it will be working with the National Consumer Agency in Ireland and other international partners to ensure compliance across the holiday and travel industries and undertakings provided by the airlines are complied with. 

The announcement follows action by both the OFT and ABTA to ensure that airlines and travel companies stop  "unfair and misleading" practices. The OFT has forced 11 airlines to change their advertisements and websites - both their homepages and booking processes - to include fixed, non-optional costs in their headline prices. They are: easyJet, bmibaby, Flybe, Thomsonfly, flythomascook, Monarch, Jet2, Globespan, Wizz Air, Sky Europe and Germanwings.

ABTA has taken action against "several members" over misleading price indications and has handed out fines and reprimands. OFT is committed to ensuring that consumers are not misled by advertised prices that bear little relation to actual prices. Misleading pricing not only undermines consumer confidence but also distorts competition and the law will be enforced "enthusiastically" by OFT where consumers are being misled.

In future, the public will be able to make a fair and accurate comparison of prices when shopping around to book their flights and holidays. It will therefore be of great benefit to consumers, many of whom haven't realised that the 'bargain' holiday they've been tempted to buy, would cost them much more at the end of the booking process. 

It is surprising how often we, at Medway Travel, find clients have looked enthusiastically on the internet for their holidays, only later to find that with professional advice and expert research, our consultants have been able to book a better value holiday for them. 
 

Azia Resort and Spa Cyprus

A small Cyprus hotel may have all the charm in the world, yet what the discerning guest will sometimes miss is the variety of experience to make their stay an unforgettable pleasure. This is the thinking behind the concept of the Azia Resort, a foray into sophisticated escapism that offers stylish barefoot living, understated luxury and casual unobtrusive service.

                          

Built as three different hotels on adjacent grounds, with a plethora of magnificent spaces for carefree living, the Azia Resort has all the desired diversity to keep its guests contented for a week or longer. Each element of the three-in-one boutique Cyprus hotel concept has its own character and fulfils different aspirations of the visitor.

1. The Azia Blue is about sophisticated, spacious living and family luxury hotel.
2. The Azia Club and Spa is ideal for privacy and indulgence.
3. The Residence is a haven of individual pampering and innovative style.

The Azia Resort is situated a few kilometres from Paphos centre and is privileged to share close proximity to the finest locations and treasures of the island. One of the few resorts or Cyprus hotels with a west-facing outlook, the Azia hotel provides guests with a sublime view of blazing indescribable sunsets.

The sophisticated design of the trio owes as much to edgy London design as to Cyprus local influences. The result an atmosphere that is sensuous yet earthy, shaped by the whole history of Cyprus and by the natural beauty of the island.

               

Nights can come alive with your chosen theme night at the Azia Resort & Spa. With our beautiful setting, many venue options and grand gardens we are able to organize almost any type of theme night for a group - choose anything from a Cyprus night including live music and a 45' folklore show; BBQ night with live music; Italian night with live guitarist playing; Chinese night with live music; Flambé night with live classic music; Fish night with live music or a Gala dinner including a spectacular cabaret show.

The Azia provides a variety of produce bursting with unspoiled freshness, harvested daily from the trees of the Morokambos plantation which covers an area of 530.000sqm and includes 15,000 Mediterranean and tropical plants. Your hosts, the Economides family, invite guests to explore the plantation, pick their own fruits, and enjoy a satisfying picnic in the shade of the walnut groves.

Papua New Guinea - an historical trail

        

One of Papua New Guinea's forgotten historical wartime trails - Black Cat Track in Morobe Province - is being redeveloped as a major tourist attraction to rival the Kokoda Track.

On March 8, 1942 in World War II, the Town of Salamaua was captured by the Japanese. They had tried to take Port Moresby by sea, but were defeated in The Battle of the Corral Sea. Now they were going to take it by land. They tried to take the capital by going over the Owen Stanley mountain range, by the Kokoda Trail basing the operation out of Salamaua. They almost made it this time but were pushed back 30 miles short of the city, in a series of bloody battles. After this they converted Salamaua into a major supply base. After a few months had passed, they made their final attempt at Port Moresby, the Black Cat Trail. If they could capture the Allied Air Base in Wau, they could launch an offensive on the capital that would have overwhelmed the Australians, Americans, and Papua New Guinea Militia stationed there.

The Japanese attacked in force, but the Australians held out until reinforcements arrived. Then on April 23, the allies struck back along the trail taking it up to the hills called The Pimple, and Observation Hill. The Japanese were firmly entrenched there and the Australian advance was halted. Then on May 9, the Japanese launched there own attack in the Pimple area. They surrounded the foremost Australian Company and started closing in. The Australians were not relieved until the afternoon of the 11th. By this time they had withstood 8 attacks from parts of 2 Japanese battalions. The following day, they took The Pimple, supported by field guns where before there had been only 2 mountain batteries.

Then on the 14th, the Japanese launched a full scale attack, supported by guns and mortars, forcing the Australians to withdraw. On the 15th, over 100 Japanese planes attacked Australian positions in three raids, and on the 17th and 18th they raided the Wau airdrome.

In mid June, the allies started acting as if they were going to attack Salamaua, but really the target was Lae, on the other side of the Huon Gulf. The Japanese fell for this and on the 19th and 20th, they seemed to anticipate an attack, and started patrolling aggressively. The plan worked as planned, but the allies didn't attack until early September. Salamaua was captured on September 11 1942, a week after the Lae offensive began. 5 days later Lae was taken.

The Black Cat Trail is rarely remembered today, except as a hard hike through unforgiving terrain, and seldom then. The historical side of it is almost forgotten. Most hikers know that there is World War-II history behind it, and that's about it. It is sad that a place where so many men lost there lives defending their country, and ultimately the world from the Japanese Empire, would be forgotten so quickly. The glory was already taken by the men on the Kokoda Trail. All these men that lost their lives there are being forgotten.

Experience this tough environment for yourself, and imagine more clearly what the armies of both sides had to overcome, in terms of climate and terrain. At the same time, enjoy an incredible and memorable experience in a country so different from Europe with such diverse wildelife and flora.

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Contact us for more details and why not visit our website page designed for those who are looking for something different for their next holiday?

Many readers may already know that we have on our website a page entitled "Worldwide Leisure Events", to give surfers information about some of the most famous, interesting and fun events happening in the coming 6 to 9 months, one or more of which you may wish to incorporate into your next holiday.

We have extracted the following examples to give you a flavour, but strongly suggest you click here to see much more!

Perugia Eurochocolate Festival                               13th - 21st October

Love chocolate, you'll love Perugia. For 9 days, this beautiful city hosts its annual Festival celebrating this confectionary delight. The city's promenades are filled with vendors, and the many events include cooking classes, banquets, chocolate theatre and a chocolate cooking competition by top chefs. Join over a million visitors, and see the spectacle for yourself.

Abu Simbel Festival, Egypt                                       22nd October

When placing his temple, Ramses II, angled it so precisely that the statues of the inner sanctum would light up naturally from the sun twice a year, once on the anniversary of his rise to the throne and once on his birthday. A daily sound and light show which takes place at Abu Simbel is a sight to be seen - the natural lighting of the temple twice a year, is a once in a lifetime experience.

Singapore River Regatta                                              3rd - 4th November

Celebrating its 25th year in 2007, the annual boat racing regatta brings life once again to the Singapore River with over 2000 participants from 100 teams competing with their decorated boats.

Christmas Markets                                                 November / December

Get into the Christmas spirit with a visit to one of the beautiful European Christmas markets. Choose from France, Begium, Germany or Eastern Europe, and combine a few days away with some early Christmas souvenirs!

Reggae Marathon                                                   1st December

Where else but Jamaica would you expect to see marathon runners accompanied by reggae music? Starting from Long Bay Beach Park on Negril Beach, this annual Marathon and Half- Marathon continue along the beautiful Jamaican coastline towards Negril and north to the town of Green Island. Fun to watch, with plenty  of activities and attractions to enjoy.

New Year around the World

Paris

Celebrations begin on 29th December with a New Year's concert at the Mairie de Montmartre, followed by the Grande Parade de Chantilly, a fabulous street parade and concert, held in Chantilly on New Year's Eve. The fun doesn't stop there, with the Paris Parade Festival, bringing the city to life on New Year's Day.

Rio de Janeiro

Spend a New Year you will never forget among the crowds on Copacabana Beach. Fireworks take to the skies, as the beach comes alive with music, and dancing from the local samba schools.

Geneva

Festivities abound in the old town with a range of concerts, food markets, and late night parties in the city's squares. With many low cost flights to the city, why not make your New Year a Swiss New Year!

New York and Boston

Be part of the world famous Times Square scene at New Year, or opt for the festivities in Downtown Boston. With a laser show countdown, fireworks, and the First Night Grand Procession, Boston offers the ultimate experience. Why not combine the two, and spend the last days of 2007 in one city and the first of 2008 in the other?

Rimini

3 days of entertainment mark New Year in this Italian city. Take a visit and see it for yourself - everything from Jazz concerts, opera, theatre, skating and art exhibitions.

Sydney

Could there be a more spectacular setting for New Year's Eve Fireworks, than against the backdrop of Darling Harbour and the Sydney Harbour bridge. Together with one of our preferred South Pacific operators, we are pleased to be able to offer hotel availability for this premium time in Sydney - so if you are thinking of making a trip, please contact us

2008

Dakar Rally                                                             5th - 20th January

Take a visit to Lisbon, and you will see more than 400 drivers as they start their 15 day race over thousands of miles to Senegal. This world famous event includes motorbikes, buggies, 4 x 4s and quad bikes, all set to complete the journey from Portugal, across Morocco, Mauritania to their destination Dakar.

Snow and Ice Scupture Festival, Bruges                Until 13th January

Held in the city's train station square, this magical event showcases around 40 professional ice sculptors as they form their creations from 3000 kilos of ice and 400 tons of snow. Available  to see from 23rd November, but with so much to do before Christmas, why not visit the beautiful sights of Bruges in the New Year.

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We have not listed travel arrangements as there are often countless options available. If you are interested in any of the above events, please contact us  and we will research the most suitable for your requirements.

Unlike the large majority of travel companies, all Medway Travel consultants have undergone the necessary training to allow them to sell travel insurance under the new regulations.

We now offer a wide range of travel insurance packages to cater for the precise needs of our clients' travel requirements.

Our annual multi-trip policies are particularly good value, especially when arranged to cover your work colleagues' in one policy. This may also be set up to include your partners and dependants as well, if required, for a modest increase in premium.
 
You may choose either to contact us or use our online insurance quotation system.

 

In this section we bring you some of our outstanding offers that are currently available. If any of these are of interest, or have given you food for thought, please do contact our specialist consultants. They will be delighted to assist you and have a vast selection of other tempting alternatives to help you to choose from.

Egypt and Southern India Fly cruise - 19 days

From £1074 - a saving of 35% on brochure price

Depart 15th October 2007

Discover the sights from Europe to India, with visits to the ports of Gibraltar, Valletta, Port Said, Sharm el-Sheikh, Salalah and Cochin.
Includes:
Scheduled return flights
Transfers in Gibraltar and India
17 nights full board accommodation on board the MV Van Gogh
One night's hotel accommodation

Fiji, Tahiti, Ecuador and the Marquesas Islands - 24 days

From £1298 - a saving of 30% on brochure price

Depart 24th November 2007

Exotic wildlife, incredible landscapes and sophisticated cities - an unforgettable collection all from one cruise.
Includes:
Scheduled return flights
1 night's hotel accommodation at the 4* Warwick Resort and Spa Fiji
20 nights Full Board accommodation on board the MV Van Gogh
Transfers in Fiji and Ecuador

Prices dependent on cabin availability

Half Term in the Canaries

Enjoy some winter sunshine, and a touch of luxury, at affordable prices.
Now with added availability

Tenerife - 5* Mare Nostrum

Depart 21st October from Gatwick

7 nights room and breakfast

From £698 per adult, £331 per child

Gran Canaria - 5* Melia Tamarindos

Depart 22nd October from Gatwick

7 nights room and breakfast

From £613 per adult, £305 per child

Late summer Caribbean deals

St Lucia - 4* Coco Palm Resort

Depart 23rd September from Gatwick

7 nights, room and accommodation, and return transfers

From £659 per person

Antigua - 4* Dian Bay Resort and Spa

Depart 1st October from Gatwick

14 nights, All Inclusive  - From £1299 per person

All Inclusive Sri Lanka

3* plus Mermaid Hotel and Club - Kalutara

10 nights All Inclusive from an amazing £829 per person

Located beside a beautiful stretch of beach, the hotel is set in 2.5 acres amidst a vast garden of coconut palms.
Price includes Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner local alcohol and soft drinks, fresh juice and fruit.
Also -
2 free massages per person per stay

Prices available through to October 2008

Luxury Villas in Florida

Unbeatable value for 2008  at Reunion Resort

3 - bedroom Deluxe villa with Gardenview and pool - 1 week from an outstanding £699 per adult, and £489 per child.

For all the services of a 5 star hotel plus the convenience of a luxurious private villa, look no further than the Ginn Reunion Resort.

Located within 6 miles of Walt Disney World, the villas are set in a 2300 acre private gated resort. Among its vast range of facilities, the Reunion is home to 3 signature golf courses, and a water park.

Price includes:
Direct flights from either London or Manchester with Virgin Atlantic
Accommodation for 1 week - extra weeks from £159 each adult / child
Luxury minivan - including CDW and taxes

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These holidays offer just a snapshot of the vast range of holidays available around the world, so please contact Astra, James or Sue at leisure@medwaytravel.co.uk for your own personal choice.

Sabuti - A Tropical Paradise

Fractional ownership in South Africa allows you to experience pure indulgence for you and your family in this diverse paradise for your chosen period of the year but additionally it offers:-

1. Affordable property investment
2. Freehold share of overseas property
3. Capital growth on investment - the residential and leisure market had a average growth of 30% over the last 3 years*
4. Rental potential per two week period - ROI - 5 years*
5. Access to an exclusive rental network for maximum rental exposure

Sabuti is an exclusive development set within the Simbithi Eco-Estate approximately one hours drive from the centre of Durban. This beautiful estate has a diverse range of property, catering for permanent and occasional residence. It offers attractive investment opportunities from as little as £9,999 and excellent returns on investment owing to high economic growth in the area and throughout South Africa as a whole.

Click here to download the brochure

 

Dominican Republic - A new generation of overseas investment

The Dominican Republic is one of the most beautiful Caribbean destinations and is also one of the most exciting emerging property markets in The World. Government incentives to attract high quality sustainable tourism continue to successfully revitalise the countries economy and industry. The market continues to grow at unprecedented rates resulting in steadily increasing real estate prices, solid rental returns and:-

1. 8% Guaranted rental return for upto 10 years
2. Only 30% deposit & 70% mortgage available on completion
3. NO tax on rental income
4. NO property purchase tax
5. NO capital gains tax
6. Other government assisted tax advantages
7. Put downs from £40,350

There’s a wonderful choice of properties –  in Beach, Golf, Marina, Star Island and Tropical Village settings.
With the US Dollar at a rate of around $2 to a pound, now has never been a better time to invest!

click here to read more

 

Philippines

Lifetime Rental Guarantee of 10%!

This development on Boracay Island, Philippines will be created for individuals seeking the idyllic beauty of an exclusive villa on a tropical island. The fantastic investment opportunites include:

1. Lifetime Rental Guarantee with minimum yield of 10% net p/a.
2. Free corporate membership to Fairways & Blue Waters world class golf courses.
3. Fully furnished
4. Luxurious 5 Star standards
5. Excellent payment plans
6. Price from £54,250 - Initial deposit £27,125

Cick here to download the brocure(pdf)