25 Nov 2015
Contents:
1. Introducing ITC Luxury Travel Group
2. Western & Oriental introduces holidays to Guadeloupe
3. New Cuba-Costa Rica twin-centre trip amongst the new offerings from Rainbow Tours
4. Regent Holidays unveils a new destination and new group tours for 2016
5. Villa Select increases its villa portfolio in Menorca due to customer demand
6. ITC Luxury Travel expands to northern Portugal with Six Senses Douro Valley
7. Be a part of Formula One's biggest ever season with ITC Sports Travel
8. Experience the Dubai World Cup with Horse Racing Abroad
1. Introducing ITC Luxury Travel Group
In the summer of 2015, ITC Luxury Travel acquired Western and Oriental Travel Ltd, creating ITC Luxury Travel Group consisting of seven travel companies – ITC Luxury Travel, ITC Sports Travel, Horse Racing Abroad, Western & Oriental, Rainbow Tours, Regent Holidays and Villa Select. ITC Luxury Travel Group now offers a complete variety of holidays including luxury beach stays, bespoke cultural trips, small group tours, classic rail journeys, luxury cruising, self-catering villas, off-the-beaten track adventures, wildlife trips, sports travel and more. A summary of each brand and the trip styles and regions it specialises in can be found in the newly-released Portfolio brochure, available to view online.
www.itcluxury.co.uk / www.itcsports.co.uk / www.horseracingabroad.com / www.westernoriental.com / www.rainbowtours.co.uk / www.regent-holidays.co.uk / www.villaselect.com
2. Western & Oriental introduces holidays to Guadeloupe
As an overseas region of France, Guadeloupe has long been the preserve of French visitors, but now Western & Oriental has become one of the first mainstream UK tour operators to introduce holidays to the Eastern Caribbean destination. Actually an archipelago, Guadeloupe is an ideal option for a multi-centre holiday combining beach, adventure and culture. The mountainous island of Basse-Terre is dominated by the Soufriere volcano, surrounded by rainforests, waterfalls and hot springs. Grande-Terre is home to the Memorial ACTe museum and cultural centre dedicated to the history of the slave trade - a new attraction opened by French President Francois Hollande in May 2015. To the south, the island of Marie-Galante boasts spectacular beaches with golden sand and very few visitors. To many, Guadeloupe is better known as 'Sainte-Marie', the setting for the BBC's popular detective drama Death in Paradise.
Western & Oriental currently features six three- and four-star properties in Guadeloupe, making it an affordable choice for a Caribbean holiday. As a sample package, seven nights at La Toubana Hotel & Spa start from £1,255 per person, based on two sharing and travel dates between 3rd May and 18th July 2016. This price includes flights, accommodation in a partial ocean view room on a bed and breakfast basis, and transfers. To book, call Western & Oriental on 020 3588 6130 or see www.westernoriental.com.
Details on Guadeloupe holidays and hotels are included in Western & Oriental's new 2015/2016 Caribbean brochure which was released in November 2015. The brochure, which can be viewed online, covers Western & Oriental's top selling Caribbean destination, Cuba, along with other popular options such as Saint Lucia, Barbados and the Dominican Republic; lesser visited gems including Dominica, Anguilla and Grenada, and more, including island-hopping and twin-centre ideas combining Caribbean and the USA.
www.westernoriental.com/region/caribbean-holidays/
3. New Cuba-Costa Rica twin-centre trip amongst the new offerings from Rainbow Tours
With different attractions to offer but both in high demand, Rainbow Tours has introduced a new twin-centre trip combining Cuba and Costa Rica. The suggested itinerary begins with three nights to explore the cultural highlights of Havana, from its museums to the crumbling yet elegant colonial architecture. Travelling onwards to Costa Rica, the next eight nights will be spent discovering wildlife and enjoying active pursuits in the Arenal region, visiting the Monteverde Cloud Forest and on the Pacific Coast in Manuel Antonio National Park. The 12-day trip, Cuba & Costa Rica Discovery, costs from £2,475 per person including all flights, transfers and accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis. This is just one of several new Latin American itineraries introduced for 2016. Another is Jaguar Spotting in the Pantanal, a 12-day trip to Brazil which travels into the vast freshwater flood plains of the Pantanal and the Meeting of the Waters State Park, bringing opportunities to view jaguar along with many other species of wildlife and birds including ocelots, giant river otters, monkeys, anteaters and macaws. The trip also visits Rio de Janeiro and Iguazu Falls and prices start from £4,025 per person including flights, transfers and accommodation. To book either tour, call Rainbow Tours on 020 7666 1266.
Meanwhile, in Africa, Rainbow Tours is now offering accommodation at Chapwani Private Island Resort, a five hectare island in Zanzibar housing just 10 bungalows and one family villa. Guests are assured privacy and a sense of exclusivity whilst relaxing on the coral island, away from modern distractions such as televisions and telephones. Activities available include massage treatments, snorkelling, diving, sunset dhow trips and daily boat trips to nearby Stone Town for shopping and exploration. Prices are available on request within a tailor-made itinerary from Rainbow Tours.
4. Regent Holidays unveils a new destination and new group tours for 2016
Regent Holidays will introduce new group tours to Papua New Guinea, Bhutan and Slovenia in 2016, as well as re-introducing a journey around Siberia and running a special expert-led tour to Albania to celebrate 45 years since its first tour to the country. The Bristol-based company has been pioneering travel experiences to alternative and off-the-beaten track destinations since 1970 and these new trips are included in its Small Group Tours 2016 brochure, released in mid-November. It is the first time the company has offered an itinerary in Papua New Guinea – the 12-day Explore Papua New Guinea tour departs in October 2016, combining traditional tribal encounters, jungle exploration and beach. The new Bhutan in Depth tour departs in June 2016 and includes a visit to a Tsechu (festival) and Highlights of Slovenia, in August 2016, explores various corners of the country from a central base in the pretty capital of Ljubljana. The Albania 45th Anniversary Tour will showcase Albania's past and present, led by Bradt guidebook author Gillian Gloyer and departing in June 2016. Perhaps the most intrepid of all is the Sayan Ring Group Tour, a journey across the Sayan Mountains in Southern Siberia to Tuva. Travellers will stay in yurts, participate in a Russian 'banya' and witness a performance of traditional throat singing. This tour departs in June 2016.
Full details of all these trips, including pricing information and exact departure dates can be viewed in the brochure here. Transylvania, Moldova, Stalingrad, Turkmenistan and North Korea are amongst the other 'alternative' destinations to which Regent Holidays will offer group tours in 2016.
http://www.regent-holidays.co.uk/brochure/
5. Villa Select increases its villa portfolio in Menorca due to customer demand
Villa specialist Villa Select has introduced five new properties in Menorca for 2016 in response to growing interest from customers and increased airlift being introduced for 2016. British Airways, Monarch and Jet2 will all expand their capacity to Menorca next year, providing more choice for holidaymakers travelling from different regions of the UK.
The villas each accommodate between six and nine guests. Villa Rocamar, sleeping eight, is a modern villa situated on a cliff with steps leading down to a bathing area. This can be rented from £1,688 per week. Also sleeping eight, Villa Maribel is in the sought-after area of Binibeca, within walking distance of a beach and local shops and is available from £868 per week. Situated on the highest point of the Lluis Ganxo urbanisation, the six-person Pura Vida has floor-to-ceiling windows in several rooms to make the most of the views. Prices to stay here start from £731 per week. At Villa Paraiso, the views over Santo Tomas beach are also spectacular and can be enjoyed from the barbecue area on the open terrace or from the solar-heated infinity pool which also has massage jets. Villa Paraiso sleeps six and costs from £1,625 per week. Finally, Santo Tomas takes its name from the sandy beach which is just steps from its grounds. The nine-person villa has a private pool which can be gated off for families with younger children. Prices start from £1,645 per week.
Villa Select's rental prices do not include flights. Villas can be booked by calling 01789 595435 and further information is available at www.villaselect.com. Beyond Menorca, Villa Select offers hand-picked properties across Mediterranean regions including Mallorca, Cyprus, Greece and the Algarve; plus properties in Thailand and Barbados.
6. ITC Luxury Travel expands to northern Portugal with Six Senses Douro Valley
ITC Luxury Travel has introduced its first mainland Portuguese property beyond the Algarve with the addition of Six Senses Douro Valley. Located in the UNESCO World Heritage setting of the world's oldest demarcated wine region, the converted 19th century manor house reopened as Six Senses' first European property in July 2015. Drawing inspiration from the ancient vineyards that surround it, the hotel features a Wine Library and Terrace offering tastings; and there is a strong emphasis on using local produce across its dining outlets, including the intimate Chef's Table. The Six Senses Spa is another key feature, with 10 treatment rooms, an indoor pool, outdoor pool and gym. ITC Luxury Travel offers five nights at Six Senses Douro Valley from £799 per person, based on two adults sharing a Quinta Superior Room on a bed and breakfast basis. The price also includes economy class flights and private transfers. This is a special offer price, saving up to £55 per person, for stays completed before 31st March 2016 or between 1st November and 23rd December 2016. To book, contact ITC Luxury Travel on 01244 355527 or see www.itcluxurytravel.co.uk.
7. Be a part of Formula One's biggest ever season with ITC Sports Travel
2016 is set to be Formula One's biggest ever season, with a record 21 races currently scheduled. ITC Sports has released details for packages to two highlights of the calendar – the Monaco Grand Prix, probably the most iconic race in world motor sport; and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the final race of the season. As well as organising high-end hospitality and grandstand tickets, ITC Sports offers its clients the chance to experience the inner sanctum of Formula One with a pit lane walkabout a matter of hours before a Grand Prix.
In Monaco, fans can choose between viewing and hospitality packages from the 3rd or 7th floor balconies at the Ermanno Palace – ideally positioned to view the start/finish line – or from on board a 45-metre tri-deck super yacht, moored immediately adjacent to the track. The Monaco Grand Prix takes place on 28th and 29th May 2016 and ITC Sports organises flights and accommodation in a choice of five star hotels in Monaco. For additional luxury, guests can opt for a helicopter transfer between Nice and Monaco, stay on board a super yacht or book a supercar driving experience through the French Alps in a Ferrari, Lamborghini or McLaren Supercar.
The Abu Dhabi Grand Prix takes place on 26th and 27th November 2016 and viewing packages are available from a range of positions around the circuit. In the F1 Team Suite at the Paddock Club, guests have the chance to meet drivers after qualifying and before the race as well as taking an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the team's cars from inside the garage. Another option is to watch from the Yas Viceroy – the world's first hotel to be built over a race circuit. ITC Sports can organise entry to after parties – and, of course, a visit to Ferrari World on Yas Island for fans of fast cars.
All of ITC Sports' Formula One packages are tailor-made and prices are available on application. For more information, call 01244 355617 or see www.itcsports.co.uk.
8. Experience the Dubai World Cup with Horse Racing Abroad
The Dubai World Cup is the world's richest race day, worth $30m in prize money and attracting top participants from around the globe. Specialist tour operator Horse Racing Abroad is offering packages to enjoy the meet in style combined with a luxury stay in Dubai. Racing fans can attend 'Breakfast with the Stars' two days before the World Cup – an entertaining morning watching the early morning work-out accompanied by informal interviews with racing celebrities from across the globe whilst enjoying a buffet breakfast. Come race day, the package includes Premium Seats in a prime position opposite the finish line, offering fans some of the best views of the track from the comfort of an indoor seat. Food and drink including house wines, beers, soft drinks, afternoon tea and gourmet dinner snacks are included in the price. Race fans can also opt for upgraded packages at The Tiered Restaurant, a glass-fronted restaurant situated on levels two and three of the Grandstand with excellent views over the Meydan Racecourse. Guests will receive afternoon tea on arrival, followed by a five course set menu inclusive of specified drinks.
Dubai World Cup packages start from £2,500 per person, based on two sharing and travel dates from 22nd – 28th March 2016. As well as the race meet inclusions, this price includes return flights from London Heathrow with Emirates and accommodation at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in a Deluxe room. The itinerary includes plenty of time at leisure for sightseeing, shopping or simply relaxing and making the most of the hotel's facilities. To book, call Horse Racing Abroad on 01244 355580 or see www.horseracingabroad.com for further details.
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For further information or images, please contact Kate Popham, Group Head of PR on 020 7666 1259 or email kate@westernoriental.com
