Travel Guides

The best of the South West were celebrating on Monday night (24th November 2008) at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards - and among them were twelve businesses from Cornwall. Having already reigned supreme in the Cornwall Tourism Awards last month the businesses earned a place in the regional awards and raised the flag for Cornwall with honours in no less than 12 of the 15 award categories.

Russ Kidger couldn’t believe his luck when he was told that he had won back the cost of his holiday after booking a romantic break in Yorkshire using the internet. After arranging the surprise weekend away for himself and his girlfriend he was delighted to discover that his city break would cost him nothing!

The Isle of Barra, often referred to as the ‘Jewel of the Hebrides’, is second to none for landscape and breathtaking views but is often overlooked in favour of its more popular cousins, such as the Isle of Skye. Completely remote, Barra - on the southern tip of the Outer Hebrides - is a wonderful escape for anyone looking to really get away from it all.

“The new Paris Ile-de-France” advertising campaign has just been unveiled in London as well as in 12 other European cities. Its goal is to spark the immediate desire to go – or go back – to Paris Ile-de-France to make the most of the region’s events and cultural offering. The campaign places particular emphasis on the destination’s ease of access via high-speed train.

An area the size of France with 11 regions, each one unique, there is much more to New York than the Big Apple.

Alberta has an exceptional array of culinary products, talent, and restaurants throughout the province that constantly please, surprise and delight diners. In October, Ryan Rivard, from Banff, was named Restaurateur of the Year in Western Living Magazine’s Top 40 (Under 40).

The cruise news and review site, CruiseCritic.co.uk has conducted a worldwide survey of more than 2000 cruise travellers on how the economic downturn might be affecting their plans for the coming year. Contrary to some of the dire predictions of rough times ahead for the cruise industry, only 13 percent of respondents said that they won’t be going on a cruise because they can’t afford it, while 23 percent said that their cruise plans were unaffected.

Salmon have been spotted in Miller Creek, Seattle, for the first time in 60 years. The decline of the salmon was due to the creek being so polluted that salmon could not swim up it properly or create a proper breeding ground with tires and concrete blocks in the way.

Saturday 22 November 2008 marks the 200th anniversary of the death of Thomas Cook – the legendary pioneer of short break excursions and the founder of the travel agency that is now called Thomas Cook Group. Since Thomas Cook arranged the first tourism short break back in 1841 when he packaged and sold a trip to Loughborough, Leicester and Leicestershire have continued to develop a strong reputation as an inspirational destination for visitors and tourists.

Barack Obama’s Presidential inauguration in Washington DC on 20th January 2009 is the hottest ticket going, with eager ‘GoBama’ fans reportedly offering up to £25,000 to get into the ceremony. Hotels within a 60 mile radius of the White House, are already fully booked, and airlines are planning to raise ticket prices to capitalise on the demand.

The Port of Seattle announced that in 2008 it surpassed Vancouver, BC, for the first time, in cruise passenger numbers. Seattle handled 210 cruise calls and 886,039 passengers, while Vancouver reported 854,453 passengers. The 2008 cruise season was the biggest in the port’s history with the Port of Seattle reporting that its cruise business generates $274 million in annual revenue, $8 million in annual state and local taxes and 2,380 jobs.

Baz Luhrmann’s epic film Australia premiered in Sydney yesterday and will open in UK cinemas on Boxing Day. This eagerly anticipated movie tells the story of an English aristocrat (played by Nicole Kidman), who travels to Australia where she meets a rough-hewn local (played by Hugh Jackman) and reluctantly agrees to join forces with him to save the land she has inherited. Together they embark on a transforming journey across the outback, only to face the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese forces in World War II.

Rocky Mountaineer Vacations (RMV) owes much of its success to the unspoiled scenery, fresh air and abundant wildlife of Canada’s West. As a result, the company continues to develop innovative sustainable tourism policies and programs that support all three pillars of Sustainability: Environmental Stewardship, Economic Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility.

ecoescape, the organisation promoting sustainable tourism in the UK and Ireland, is announcing the launch of a new membership scheme to assist businesses in their journey to going green. ‘ecoescape members’ is the UK and Ireland’s first cross-border sustainable tourism network. Its members already include a growing number of tourism enterprises including hotels, campsites, restaurants, activity providers, attractions and B&Bs.

Renowned chefs Rick Tramonto and Gale Gand, the newest additions to Chicago’s ambassador program, have produced a unique visitor’s guide to the culinary delights of their home city of Chicago – the birthplace of the deep dish pizza, and a destination full of gastronomic diversity. Whatever the taste or appetite, Chicago offers a true adventure in dining.

Ghent’s historic city centre has been named the third most authentic historic destination in the world by National Geographic in its 2008 Destinations Rated survey. The achievement, announced in the December issue of ‘National Geographic Traveler Magazine’, places the eclectic Belgian city ahead of 106 others.

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger train operator that links the UK with France and Belgium, today celebrates the first anniversary of operating twin stations in Kent, offering a double doorway from south east England to the Continent.

Ireland is only a couple of hours from Britain and a favourite holiday destination for millions of people across the world including Oasis front man Noel Gallagher who recently said that he loved playing anywhere in Ireland as the “Celtic Crowds” always gave the band a warm welcome. He also recalled fond memories of holidaying in Ireland every year as a child saying “The smell of the air brings it all back to me…I love it here, it’s the land of my fathers.”

Dominican Republic preserves and sanctuaries, like the Sanctuary for the Marine Mammals, the first whale sanctuary in the world located along the coast of Samana, are a vital tourism draw to the Dominica Republic's fabled lush green surroundings. The government's constant dedication to preserving the island’s environment makes eco- and adventure tourism in the country so remarkable and exciting.

A three-year-old Barbados company has won the 2008 World Travel Awards accolade for the Caribbean's Leading Travel Information Website. The announcement that TotallyBarbados.com copped the award for the second year in a row was made last Tuesday (November 11th, 2008) at the annual World Travel Market in London, England which features over 5,000 exhibitors from 200 countries.

With approximately 11 million Brits* heading abroad this winter - many enticed by the cheap deals being made available by tour operators and airlines - the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is appealing to holidaymakers to avoid additional financial strain by being thoroughly prepared for their trips abroad.

Already a leading premium family destination, Dubai always strives to provide the most incredible experience for parents and children alike. Whatever your preference, whether its culture, action or adventure - the emirate really does have something for everyone.

New Zealand was announced as this year’s winner at The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards, organised by responsibletravel.com. The country also scooped the Best Destination Award for its national, strategic approach to responsible tourism.

Introducing a new level of fusion style dining to Queenstown’s threesixty restaurant is Guest Chef Phil Ryan, a talented New Zealand chef with an impressive background in international cuisine. New to Queenstown, Phil is working alongside threesixty’s Executive Chef Joji Iwama, and has been immersing himself in threesixty’s menu while infusing it with his own style of cooking.

A recent ‘bucket list’ adventure holiday has provided a terminally ill Auckland woman with memories she hopes will sustain her family through the final stages of her disease. Several Queenstown businesses collaborated to make the holiday happen for 29-year-old Lisa Knapman-Smith, her husband, daughter and one-year-old son.

From big screen heartthrob Orlando Bloom to James Bond creator Ian Fleming, Kent is home to a prestigious line-up of celebrity names and faces. And with two major anniversaries in 2009 – the 500th anniversary of Henry VIII’s accession to the throne and the bicentenary of Charles Darwin’s birth - Visit Kent is launching a three-year campaign to encourage visitors to explore the county’s heritage.

Momentum builds on the back of the £30 million cash boost for tourism by Yorkshire Forward, as Yorkshire Tourist Board (YTB) is already well on the way to kicking off its six figure marketing campaign this Sunday (16 November 2008) which will promote Yorkshire as the number one winter destination of choice.

Google has this week launched Ancient Rome in 3D on Google Earth, making it easy and fun to explore the historic city as it stood centuries ago. Ancient Rome in 3D is one of the most extensive collections of three-dimensional buildings to be found on Google Earth.

The Commonwealth Club has launched a specific meeting product aimed at time-poor business executives. ‘Boarding pass to Boardroom’ is designed to meet the needs of business travellers who are in the capital for smaller meetings with clients or colleagues. Rather than having to book expensive meeting rooms, with their associated costs, or even perch in a lobby or coffee shop, The Commonwealth Club is offering a simple one-day business pass for £150.