Friday, February 18, 2011

Rezidor plans new South African hotel

Rezidor Hotel Group is set to open a number of new establishments in 2011, including one in South Africa.

The company is currently one of the world's fastest growing chains and is set to open five Radisson Blu hotels and three Park Inns by Radisson hotels in Africa before the end of the year.

It is expected that the new resorts will be in Mozambique, Nigeria, Zambia, Ethiopia and South Africa and are response to growing demand.

News Source

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Banyan Tree expands Phuket

Banyan Tree Hotels & Resorts has confirmed that it will start managing the Sheraton Grande Laguna in Phuket from the start of July this year.

The hotel is currently managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts but the contract is ending on June 30th. It is understood that the resort will undergo extensive refurbishment costing $30 million before being opened under Banyan Tree's sister brand Angsana Hotel & Resorts as the Angsana Laguna Phuket.

News Source

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Melbourne to welcome Pharaoh's tomb

Brits taking flights to Melbourne should consider visiting a new Ancient Egypt exhibition at the city's museum.

The Melbourne Museum is expecting around 700,000 domestic and international visitors to its largest ever exhibition which will celebrate the history of Egypt.

Opening in April, the exhibition will include tombs, statues, weapons and perfume jars that are thought to be around 3,000 years old and a vital part of the age of Tutankhamen and the Pharaohs.

News Source

Monday, February 14, 2011

New flights to Thailand to boost tourism

An increase in flights to Thailand from India could boost the number of tourists taking trips to the region over the next 12 months.

According to the director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, around 900,000 Indian tourists will visit Thailand in 2011 because of new flights, the creation of new Thai resorts and relaxed visa controls.

"Nearly 800,000 Indian tourists visited Thailand in 2010. We expect 15-20 per cent increase this year," Chattan Kunjara Na Ayudhya told IANS.

He added that three airlines are planning to increase flights to Thailand from India in 2011 - IndiGo, Bangkok Airways and Philippine Airlines.

News Reference

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Etihad and Air New Zealand agree codeshare deal

Holidaymakers taking flights to New Zealand and Australia could benefit from a new codeshare agreement between Etihad Airways and Air New Zealand.

The new partnership means that Etihad will be able to codeshare on Air New Zealand flights to Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown and Rotorua.

Air New Zealand will also be able to share services on Etihad flights between Abu Dhabi to Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia.

News Reference

Monday, February 7, 2011

Bangkok holidays 'rich in culture'

People may be inspired to book flights to Bangkok after hearing the city described as one of the greatest places to visit.

A blog post published on EasyDestination.com said that the Thai capital is a "wonderful and exotic city" that is rich in history and culture.

Bangkok is at the heart of cultural and political life in the south-east Asian nation, meaning that the number of people booking Thailand flights has boomed in recent years.

Indeed, more than 11 million visitors travel to the city each year, making it one of the most popular destinations in the world.

News Reference

Friday, February 4, 2011

'So much to do' in Koh Samui

People may wish to book flights to Thailand after hearing excellent reviews about the island of Koh Samui.

Saboey Resorts and Villas, located on the island, said that travellers are finding the destination both appealing and affordable.

In a statement, the hotel said that Koh Samui's "incredible" surroundings, as well as its many events and activities, have made it a "key place to stay in Thailand".

News Reference

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Best beaches in Thailand listed

People booking flights to Thailand may benefit from reading a new article on the country's best beaches.

Vipasai Niyamabha named Phuket, Samui, Trang and Krabi in the report, which was published in the Nation.

In response to a reader's query, the travel writer said that all these destinations are just one hour away from the capital, Bangkok, by plane and as such are easy to include as part of a holiday in Thailand.

While Phuket continues to be the most popular island in the south-east Asian nation, other lesser-known ones such as Krabi and Trang are fast catching up.

News Reference

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Enchanting Sights from Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur, a melting pot of numerous colourful ethnicities and cultures, and with a mind blowing shopping, sightseeing, and feasting scene, lures thousands of travellers planning to visit Malaysia to book airline tickets to the destination. Guarded by rugged hills, the city snuggles in a valley and emerges as a treat to the eye. Gleaming uber modern skyscrapers seem to exist in perfect harmony with quaint Chinese structures and grand colonial era homes. Amongst scores of sightseeing attractions dotting the landscape, a couple of powerful crowd pullers are the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve and the Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery.

Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve

The Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve is one of the major draws behind booking a flight to Kuala Lumpur. This enchanting forest is full of endearing snake like nature trails and is well stocked with colourful flora and fauna. The towering Menara KL seems to watch over the forests below. Checking out the Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve amongst other glorious attractions is definitely well worth the money spent on taking a cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur.

Dharma Realm Guan Yin Sagely Monastery

This huge Buddhist temple makes for a serene pious stopover. Dedicated to Buddhist goddess of kindness, Guan Yin, this shrine is the perfect place to soothe one’s frayed nerves. Huge gilded statues, intricately designed mandala ceilings, and potted bonsais, all seem to create the right ambience for some quiet soul searching.

Some other Attractions

Despite being a pretty cheap place, Kuala Lumpur cannot be called wanting in tourist spots. Some of the other sightseeing gems are Cosmo’s Park, Galeri Petronas, Guan Yin Temple, Chulan Tower, and Guandi Temple.