In the News this Week...

Nick Pulley, Managing Director of Selective Asia commented “the single visa system has been in the pipeline for a number of years, but if and when it comes into place, it will simplify visa procedures significantly and hopefully also reduce visa costs to visit Asia.”

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, said “In an Internet age, we need to ensure that people aren’t being left behind as more and more services and businesses move online. But this issue isn’t just about fairness as Martha’s work shows, promoting digital inclusion is essential for a dynamic modern economy and can help to make government more efficient and effective.

Silver Travel Advisor’s MD, Debbie Marshall, said “This is exactly the kind of initiative that we fully support, in particular the projects to help older people get online. Of the 9 million adults in the UK who have never used the Internet, over 39% re over 65 years of age and it’s really important that these people aren’t excluded or left behind as more and more services move online”

The UK currently has 40 million internet users, with 30 million people using the web every day. The government aims to inspire, encourage and support millions more people online by the end of 2012, via partnerships with government, industry, charities and individuals.

As the internet’s first travel and holiday review website exclusively for older internet users, Silver Travel Advisor has pledged support for the initiative by providing an open forum for advice, information sharing and exchange of experiences.

Click here to Write a Review about your holiday to the Isles of Scilly

Tallinn will be of considerable interest for visitors in 2011. The city is organising daily cultural events as it takes on the role of European Capital of Culture,www.tallinn2011.ee. The country is also marking 20 years since Estonia became independent from the Soviet Union and the theme of the Capital of Culture is `Stories of the Seashore’, as the city continues to re-open the city to the sea following Soviet occupation.

Estonia Tourst Board’s director, Tarmo Mutso, said “Tallinn airport is only ten minutes’ drive from the centre of the city, hotel prices are around a third cheaper than many major European capitals while the quality is on a par with good Scandinavian hotels. We are delighted with the airlines’ confidence in Tallinn and anticipate that the city will be the city break capital of 2011“.
Tarmo Mutso added “Tallinn city is buzzing with activity and energy. There’s a real vibrancy as people prepare for 2011 with optimism and enthusiasm for the numerous events and openings that will be taking place. We are very much looking forward to welcoming British and Irish visitors in greater numbers than ever before.

The CRUISE show brings together everything an experienced or virgin cruiser need to know about cruising, and provides an excellent day out at London Olympia. And we’ve negotiated a very special rate of just £6 per adult entry (under 16’s free), saving £4 on the normal price. Tickets can be purchased online at www.cruisingshow.co.uk, quoting `Silver Travel Advisor’, or by calling 0871 620 4024.

Visitors to the cruise show can find out about a tranquil cruise along Burma’s Irrawaddy river visiting World Heritage Sites, an expedition to Antarctica, taking a tall ship cruise through Central America with David Bellamy, learning a skill afloat – such as cookery, painting or a language – or being pampered at sea with fine dining, fine wines and top spa treatments.

All of the major and specialist cruise lines will be at CRUISE, which will save a lot of time researching online, or ordering brochures through the post. There will also be a schedule of free talks, lectures and Q&A sessions, led by industry experts and journalists, and exclusive show offers, discounts and competitions not available on the high street.

The Daily Telegraph presents CRUISE London takes place at Olympia’s Grand Hall, on Saturday March 26 from 10am-5pm and on Sunday 27 March from 10am-4pm.
 

Private cook and a bath on the balcony
Arguably one of the finest luxury villas in Greece, Kaparelli House is located in the exclusive North East coast of Corfu with a breathtaking horizon pool, a master suite that includes a Jacuzzi bath on the balcony and far-reaching sea views. For rental over Easter, Kaparelli House comes with its own private cook to prepare daily breakfast and one other meal a day, perhaps a traditional Easter meal? A week’s stay costs £4200 for ten sharing, including maid service and welcome food hamper but excludes flights, which can be arranged on request, and food costs.

Luxury villa that doesn’t cost the earth, 7 nights £285pp
Luxury villas in Greece needn’t cost the earth and for a weeks stay over Easter 2011 Villa Mokoras on Corfu’s exclusive north east coast costs just £285pp based on ten people sharing. This price includes maid service, a welcome food hamper and car hire, with flights available on request. Villa Mokoras has wide open terraces, a built in barbecue and a freeform pool of varying depths.
 
A villa in Greece over Easter
Within an hour’s drive of Corfu Town, with its flamboyant Easter festivities, and a few minutes drive to the lively harbour town of Kassiopi, Villa Karakousi is in a great location from which to enjoy Greek Easter. The villa has spacious terraces and a private pool and can be rented for £2310 for six sharing, including car hire, maid service and a welcome food hamper. Flights are available on request.

Villas in Greece straight out of the pages of a glossy magazine
Straight out of the pages of an interiors magazine, Trifylli House is a Greek island villa that combines style with an unique setting amid the fabulous Rou Estate, a 200 year old stone baked hamlet, set high above Corfu’s north east coast brought back to life by a British architect and his holistic therapist wife. Privately located at the top of the village of just 13 houses, Trifylli House enjoys the benefit of a spa and one of the most breathtaking horizon pools shared by any villas in Greece, while having its own plunge pool and sunny terraces too. The price of £1640 / week includes maid service, car hire and a welcome food hamper and is based on four sharing. The price excludes flights.

For further information and details of other villas in Greece, visit CV Villas.

The Department for Culture Media and Sport is to remove its official backing for the star system because it argues that it is out of date and does reflect value for money or what guests want. The government proposal argues that consumers are often given more truthful insights and holiday advice by fellow customers posting travel reviews on the internet of where they have stayed than the independent assessors who work for the national tourism industry. Travel and hotel reviews on the web are far more up to date than ratings. John Penrose, the tourism minister, said that customer websites enabled people to get clear and accurate information and travel advice, and declared that star systems were sometimes inaccurate. “We will encourage customer websites that improve the quality of information which visitors can use to choose the right holiday for them, so they make informed choices rather than discovering problems when it’s too late”.

Source: Sunday Times

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Bellamy will escort a group of Star Clippers guests from the UK on a week-long adventure in December 2011 on board the 170-passenger tall ship Star Flyer, visiting some of the world’s most pristine rainforest and beautiful beaches. The offer includes a private reception for the UK guests; two lectures by David Bellamy; and an escorted shore excursion with the botanist in Playas del Coco.

Before Bellamy boards Star Flyer with the guests on December 11, the group stays for two nights at the five-star Royal Corin Hotel, with breathtaking views of the famous Arenal Volcano, one of the ten most active in the world.

The week-long voyage from Puerto Caldera includes some of the most beautiful beaches and anchorages along the Pacific costs of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, among them the surf resort of San Juan del Sur; the half-moon bay of Playas del Coco, with spectacular wildlife; National Park Santa Rosa, famed for its cloud forest and wildlife; Samara, for kayaking and bird-watching; Puerto Carrillo; the National Reserve of Curu, with a good chance of spotting whales and dolphins; and the remote Isla Tortugas (overnight), before returning to Puerto Caldera.

The 10-night tour costs from £2,239 per person and departs December 8, 2011. The price includes return flights from London to Costa Rica; transfers; three nights’ hotel accommodation; seven nights’ full board accommodation on Star Flyer; two exclusive lectures by David Bellamy; one shore excursion hosted by David Bellamy; guided tours on the pre-cruise section; and watersports from the ship.

For more information, please contact [email protected]

Marina has ten exceptional dining venues, comparable to the best shore-side restaurants, and is the first cruise ship to feature a hands-on cooking school. She is a ship of firsts, the new `Jaques’ restaurant, named after Master Chef Jacques Pépin, is his first namesake restaurant at sea; the ship also features Ralph Lauren Home-furnished Owner’s Suites and luxurious accommodations by designer Dakota Jackson; a Wine Spectator wine programme and wine pairing in La Reserve, wine tasting centre; a Lalique grand stairway and the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, with its complimentary SpaClub menus.

After the Christening festivities in Miami, Marina sets sail Feb. 8 on the first of two 18-day Panama Canal transits that visit San Francisco or San Diego, both new ports for Oceania Cruises. Marina then operates a 12-day Caribbean cruise, sailing a round-trip from Miami, departing March 16, before sailing along the U.S. Eastern Seaboard and on to Europe to begin her inaugural Mediterranean season.

Oceania Cruises’ new Marina has been purposefully designed to carry 1,250 guests to the world’s most alluring ports in elegance and style. Rich woods, marble and granite, fine wool carpets and illustrious leathers adorn public rooms. Facilities include 10 dining venues including six open-seating gourmet restaurants, an array of bars and lounges, a full-service Canyon Ranch SpaClub and fitness centre, swimming pool and hot tubs.

To find out more about Oceania Cruises, visit  www.oceaniacruises.co.uk  or call 0845 505 1920.

Currently 11,800 people in the UK are aged 100 or over and fewer than 100 are over 110.

The government figures suggest that of the more than 10m will go on to reach 100, 3m are currently aged under 16, 5.5m are aged between 16 and 50, and 1.3m are aged between 51 and 65.  About 875,000 are already aged over 65, it says.

Source: BBC News Report – 30 Dec 2010

"The over-50s are keener tna ever to see the world, and have a thirst for adventure, " says Archers Direct head of product David Binns. "They want to learn how to cook in Morocco, go walking in the Grand Canyon and explore South America.  Touring in Jordan and Morocco is proving particularly popular for 2011."

Travellers to Malawi can now get e-visas. The new system took effect on 1 November. Applicants can complete sand submit the necessary forms online, upload any supporting documents and photos, and pay the fee. Approvals are sent my email and visitors can download a confirmation document to carry with them. Go to www.immigration.gov.mw or www.evisa.gov.mw.