On the water . . .

IN conjunction with the launch of the new 2017 brochure, #Sunsail announced the arrival of 17 brand new 34 and 38 monohull #yachts as well as 21 new 454 catamarans in almost all featured countries listed in the new brochure. 

The first deliveries will be to the Caribbean followed by the Mediterranean in spring and eventually to all other Sunsail destinations. In addition to the brand new models, another 50 yachts will be added throughout the year.

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Picture Credit: Jaydee! flickr.com/photos/58879582@N00/9033121338 P1030094 via photopin.com

Fashion at Blenheim

A NEW exhibition celebrating three centuries of fashion is to open at Blenheim Palace in February 2017. ‘A Passion For Fashion – 300 Years of Style at Blenheim Palace’ will include unique and historic items from our own priceless collection.

The exhibition will be mounted throughout the Palace with displays in 11 separate locations, and there will be a special digital display featuring the recent Dior S/S17 Cruise collection catwalk show which took place in the State Rooms in May 2016

'A Passion for Fashion’ - 300 years of style at Blenheim Palace runs from February 11th to March 12th 2017.

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Picture Credit: KathrynW1 flickr.com/photos/32706865@N07/30553438751 Bleinham Palace via photopin.com

Happy Halloween

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Domestic tourism on the rise in South Africa

BETWEEN January and June this year, South Africans made 12.7 million domestic trips which is an increase of 23% when compared to last year. They spent R15.3 billion compared to last year’s spend of R9.1 billion in the same period. About 25% of this expenditure was on holiday trips, which accounted for 10% of the total number of trips.

“A lot of work has gone into encouraging South Africans to get to know and travel their own country. These figures show that they heeded the call. This is significant because the more we know our own country, the better hosts we can be to visitors from other countries,” concludes Chief Executive Officer of South African Tourism, Sisa Ntshona.

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Picture Credit: Paul Saad flickr.com/photos/114138418@N08/24751369312 Alberton South Of Johannesburg via photopin.com

Sea Kayaking off the coast of Scotland

JOIN Wilderness Scotland on its Sea Kayaking – The Scottish Highlands trip, combining sea kayak lessons with easy hiking in gorgeous settings. 

Kayak through sheltered sea lochs, secluded bays and uninhabited islands, keeping an eye out for rare wildlife such as sea eagles, otters and porpoises. 

Mid-trip, enjoy a day off to rest, or join a guided hike through the mountains. Stay in a friendly Highland inn on the shores of Loch Torridon. 

The holiday costs from £1,195 pp (two sharing), including five nights’ B&B, five lunches, two dinners, guiding, equipment and all transport to and from Inverness. Departures from 13 May 2017. 

wildernessscotland.com

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Picture Credit: Let Ideas Compete flickr.com/photos/7200789@N06/4235391306 Slicing the amber glow via photopin.com

On the runway . . .

BELFAST International Airport has had its busiest September ever with record numbers of passengers using the facility.

A total of 488,680 passengers passed through Northern Ireland’s main airport, which exceeded by 7,800 the previous September record set in 2007. The figure is up 73,000, or 17.5%, over September last year.

The figure brings to 3.8 million the total number of passengers in the first nine months of the year.

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Journey to Sulawesi

JOURNEY into the heart of the Indonesian archipelago on Explore’s new 14 day Discover #Sulawesi trip. Known for its indigenous tribes and their fascinating traditions spend time in Rantepao to discover the eerie Tau Tau statues. 

Learn about their mystifying customs with the dead, spot hornbills on the remote tropical Togian islands and explore the megalithic stones of Lore Lindu National Park in the Besoa Valley, only recently made accessible by road. 

www.explore.co.uk

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Picture Credit: Doryce flickr.com/photos/72162041@N00/28709077862 243.jpg via photopin.com

Roomspace opens in Reigate

ROOMSPACE has announced the opening of Trinity House Serviced Apartments, Reigate, this being their third new location this year, after the addition of Reading and Kew earlier in 2016. 

Ideally situated in the business district of Reigate, Surrey, just 35 minutes into central London by train, and close to the M25 and the two major London airports of Heathrow and Gatwick.

'This is another strategic location for Roomspace offering spacious, comfortable one and two bedroom apartments in a key location. We are delighted to add Reigate to our already strong portfolio across the UK and Europe' says Jo Layton - MD Group Commercial Sales.

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Demand increases for long-haul destinations

RECENT data gathered by flight search and deals platform Cheapflights has shown that the poor Pound-to-Euro exchange rates are driving up the demand for long haul destinations amongst holidaymakers.

Pre-Brexit vote, three Eurozone countries – Spain, France and Greece – were in Cheapflights’ top-five most-searched-for destinations, ranking two, three and four respectively. Following the ‘flash crash’, 

• Spain remains second on the list, but demand for the destination has dropped by 22%. 
• France has dropped from third place to number five on the list, with searches down 28%
• Greece has fallen from number four to number seven, with demand dropping by 34%.

On the flip side. . . 

• Australia has moved up from sixth to fourth in Cheapflights’ long haul search rankings with searches up 28% 
• Searches for China are up a staggering 138% and the country is now number three on Cheapflights’ long haul search list (up from number eight pre-Brexit vote) 
• Searches for US destinations are up 12% overall versus pre-Referendum levels, despite the Pound falling to a three-decade low of just US$1.18 value. It remains Cheapflights users’ number one long haul search destination 
• Searches for Canada, at number six, are up 3%

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Christmas in Iceland

HOTEL Rangá luxury resort celebrates Iceland's distinctive holiday folklore with new #IcelandChristmas campaign. Discover holiday travel tips, local celebrations and Iceland's weirdly wonderful #Christmas culture.

• Iceland has not one, but 13 Yule Lads who are the descendants of trolls.

• The Yule Lads live in the mountains with their ogress mother Gryla.

• Children who don't get new clothes for Christmas may be eaten by the giant Black Christmas Cat.

• The Yule Lads enjoy playing pranks on children and adults alike.

• The brothers have unusual names like Candle-Beggar, Window-Peeper and Meat-Hook.

• Fermented skate, potentially the world's stinkiest fish, is traditionally eaten on December 23rd.

• On New Year's Eve elves become visible, the dead walk from their graves, seals take on human form and cows develop speech.

Hotel Rangá is a luxury countryside hotel and the only four-star resort in South Iceland. Located one hour from the capital, Hotel Rangá is perfectly situated for visitors to discover everything South Iceland has to offer. The inviting log-cabin style property features 52 luxurious rooms including seven themed suites designed to represent each of the seven continents.

www.hotelranga.is

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Picture Credit: Lovepro flickr.com/photos/63429844@N07/14588308748 Landmannalaugar at sunset via photopin.com

Gold for being green

ST LUCIA'S Jade Mountain resort has become the first hotel in the #Caribbean to receive the coveted LEED GOLD (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification status.

Nick Troubetzkoy, who designed and built the multiple award winning resort which overlooks the Piton Mountains rising from the Caribbean Sea in front of Jade Mountain, said: "The beauty of St Lucia's landscapes, the warmth and character of its people and the unlimited potential to create something very special here captured my imagination. "

Troubetzkoy described Jade Mountain, artfully sculpted into the mountainside, as "a response to almost every hotel I've ever visited ... where I found myself disappointed by what I encountered."

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Picture Credit: Prayitno flickr.com/photos/34128007@N04/24143692642 Jade Mountain Resort via photopin.com

SkyMiles redeemable for Delta Private Jets travel

DELTA'S SkyMiles Members now have a way to redeem their miles toward luxurious and convenient travel on Delta Private Jets.

Starting  at 2.5 million miles for a $25,000 Jet Card, SkyMiles Members can redeem for Delta Private Jet service, opening up a new world of luxury to Members.

The Jet Card enables customers to pre-fund a travel card, allowing for simplified booking, guaranteed jet availability and locked-in rates for private jet travel. Price points for the card ordinarily begin at $100,000.

“With this new option, SkyMiles becomes the only major airline loyalty program to provide its members the opportunity to redeem miles for a private jet experience,” said Karen Zachary, Managing Director – SkyMiles Program. “We are committed to finding ways to make the SkyMiles program even more rewarding for our Members, from buying a drink in a Delta Sky Club to redeeming miles for private jet service.”

SkyMiles Members may utilize the Jet Card to purchase both private and commercial air travel on Delta Private Jets and Delta Air Lines respectively for business and pleasure travel, a unique advantage for Jet Card members.

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Picture Credit: AndrewC75 flickr.com/photos/85726777@N00/28204506475 N143DA - Delta Boeing 767-300 via photopin.com

Global Scavenger Hunt 2017

THE dates of April 14 throuth to May 6 are set for the 2017 edition of The Global Scavenger Hunt, the world's only real-life international #travel #adventure competition and would-be Indiana Jones-type wannabe's can apply online for the thrilling around the world adventure event limited to an exclusive group of just 15 teams of two travellers.

The 2017 theme of the event is to have participants answer the question: When was the last time you did something for the first time? With the 2016 champions, Lawyers without Borders, who hail from Houston, Texas, defending their "World's Greatest Travelers" titles in this event that is all about authentic, challenging and participatory travel.

Participants are given numerous volunteering opportunities along the way, but the event also serves as a platform to raise funds for interest-free micro loans, the building of remote medical clinics and co-ed elementary schools in places of need. Ten schools and a medical clinic having already been built in places like: Kenya, Sierra Leone, Ecuador, Niger and Sri Lanka.

The 23-day around the world event is limited to 15 teams of two, and the $25,000 per team entry fee includes: all international airfare, first class hotels, 40% of meals and event-sponsored travel gear. Single travelers welcomed and all travelers will be interviewed for suitability.

Apply online at GlobalScavengerHunt.com

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Picture Credit: Ian D. Keating flickr.com/photos/32008328@N08/29166578334 The Turret Vista via photopin.com

Best in Devon 2016

WINNERS in the 2016 Food & Drink Devon awards programme included Chunk of Devon, Ottery St Mary: Pork, Apple and Scrumpy Sausage Roll, Pork & Chorizo Sausage Roll, Steak & Ale Pie, Steak Pasty, Steak & Blue Pasty, Squealer Pork Pie (Gold award winner) and the The Well Hung Meat Company, Buckfastleigh (Best Producer).

Other winners were:

Me & Mrs Jones, Torquay – Best Café

The Lamb Inn, Sandford – Best Pub

Goierri Foods, Chudleigh – Best Street Food / Takeaway

The Cove Café Bar, Hope Cove – Best Bistro (Winner in 2015)

Old Vienna, Torquay– Best Fine Dining Restaurant      

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Picture Credit: Jayembee69 flickr.com/photos/93448689@N02/8647921775 Hope Cove via photopin.com

The power of film

DISNEY'S Pete’s Dragon was shot entirely in #NewZealand and in August this year was released globally to overwhelmingly positive reviews. #Tourism New Zealand’s marketing and publicity campaign, in partnership with Disney and Air New Zealand, sought to clearly articulate New Zealand as the home of Disney’s Pete’s Dragon. 

The campaign work in America was targeted through a Facebook campaign and included extensive PR activity, a virtual reality collaboration with Disney and partnership with Air New Zealand.

Rebecca Ingram, Tourism New Zealand’s General Manager, PR and Major Events says Tourism New Zealand can capitalise on the tourism opportunities generated by blockbuster films, including high impact broadcast partnerships, marketing opportunities and cast endorsement which drive preference for New Zealand.

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Picture Credit: Stuck in Customs flickr.com/photos/95572727@N00/24079984901 Hiking In Queenstown via photopin.com

Sky high dining

#Ottawa2017 is pleased to welcome feast + revel, the signature restaurant of Andaz Ottawa ByWard Market, as the Official Sky Lounge Culinary Partner and to announce that Executive Chef Stephen La Salle will create the menu for this unforgettable culinary experience. Tickets to the Sky Lounge will go on sale at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, October 28. 

Canada’s 150th anniversary celebrations will offer Canadians and visitors from around the world an exceptional and memorable year of high-caliber experiences while bringing a record number of visitors to Ottawa in 2017 to celebrate this important milestone for our country.

An Ottawa 2017 Signature Event, the Sky Lounge will take flight between July 14 to 20, 2017 at Ottawa City Hall. Each evening, participants will be hoisted 46 meters (150 feet) in the air over the city, to enjoy breathtaking views and fine dining.

Two different culinary journeys will be offered, the Sky Lounge Cocktail experience and the three course Sky Lounge Gourmet Dinner experience.

To purchase tickets, visit Ottawa2017.ca.

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Picture Credit: courtesy Ottawa 2017

Fearless Flyer

easyJet, Europe’s leading airline, will be launching its “Fearless Flyer” course for the first time in Birmingham next month.

The course, which has now helped more than 3,500 people nationwide to overcome their fear of flying since launching in late 2012, will take place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole hotel at the NEC on Saturday 12 November, followed by an experience flight to and from Birmingham Airport on Sunday 13 November.

Around one in six people have a fear of flying, with #aerophobia estimated to affect millions in the UK alone.

easyJet's Fearless Flyer course is one of the best priced aerophobia courses in the UK at just £189. Participants can also invite a companion with them on the flight if they wish for just £69.

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