New tours, new destinations and early bird savings. The internet may have changed the way travellers do their research, but brochures are still one of the best and popular ways to obtain travel information.
1. Get Creative in Dubai!
Creative Holidays teamed up with KarryOn’s parent company Leedham Creative for the production of the wholesaler’s new and exciting 2015 Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Oman and Qatar brochure.
Leedham handled the design and production of the 36-page brochure, which features an array of itineraries across the exotic Middle Eastern destinations.
In 2015, agents can select from 15 new hotels including the Sofitel Downtown Dubai and stunning luxury resort, One & Only The Palm Dubai as well as Crowne Plaza Yas Island and Traders Qaryat Al Beri in Abu Dhabi.
New hotels in Oman include Six Senses Zhigy Bay, Alila Jabal Akhdar and The Chedi Muscat with the Swiss Belhotel Doha being added in Qatar.
Previously, featured Dubai hotels have been concentrated in the Old Town district though the 2015 brochure includes a balance of hotels in Old Town, Downtown, Jumeirah Beach and The Palm.
Additionally, Creative Club hotels have been highlighted in each destination, all with a range of added value and benefits such as free room upgrades, bonus nights and discounts and price-match guarantees.
Exclusive itineraries it the brochure include a ‘Shop & Dine Dubai’ three-night program at the Warwick Hotel Dubai. Priced from $1,013 per person, twin share it includes traditional half-day Dubai shopping tour with an English-speaking guide, afternoon high tea at Skyview Bar in Burj Al Arab and return airport transfers.
There’s also the ‘Adrenalin Rush’ four-night itinerary in Abu Dhabi at the Crowne Plaza Yas Island priced from $661 per person, twin share. Price includes Ferrari World and Yas Water World General Admission tickets and return airport transfers.
Other enhanced features include larger and clearer maps, top five sightseeing suggestions in each destination and ‘kids will love’ attractions for families.
Creative Holidays’ managing director James Gaskell said itineraries were created after agent feedback revealed returning clients are seeking three or four night stopover packages in the destinations.
“We’ve also received demand for more in-depth itineraries that visit multiple emirates and countries so have designed a range of exclusive three to seven-night packages that combine old and new, beach, desert and city experiences.”
James Gaskell, Creative Holidays managing director
For more information call 131 222 or your sales manager.
2. New Zealand self-drive & extended tours
Infinity Holidays has printed at a separate New Zealand self-drive and extended tours brochure featuring escorted and unescorted products.
The New Zealand Self Drive & Extended Tours brochure includes sections such as self driving and car hire packages in the North and South Islands; self drive motorhome packages in the North and South Islands; extended escorted tours with AAT Kings and Haka Tours; and guided walks.
3. Cruise the icy Svalbard in Spring
Hurtigruten will be the only company to take travellers on expedition cruises to Norway’s Svalbard in the spring of 2016.
The line’s new ten-day itinerary ‘Polar Pioneers of Svalbard’ will depart on 25 April and 4 May aboard MS Fram.
Sailing from Tromso, travellers will visit the remote island of Bjornoya, Spitsbergen and the North Cape (the northernmost point of mainland Europe) before heading back to Tromso.
While flowers are starting to blossom on the European mainland, in Spitsbergen the polar winter still reigns during the spring.
Sea ice is dominant in the fjords and wherever passengers make landfall they will encounter snow and ice. They may even spot female polar bears with their clumsy cubs or seals giving birth to their young.
The voyages are already on sale as part of Hurtigruten’s Explorer programme for 2016.
MS Fram was built in 2007 and carries 318 travellers. It has numerous lounges onboard plus a well-equipped gym and Jacuzzis.
4. Insight’s special interest itineraries
Image: TTstudio/Shutterstock
Insight Vacations will again run the ‘Picture Perfect Italy’ and ‘Country Roads & Vineyards of Italy’ special interest itineraries this year, following sell-out tours in both 2013 and 2014.
The 15-day ‘Country Roads & Vineyards of Italy’ tour departs 2 September visiting Torgiano, Assisi, Florence, Tuscany, Cinque Terre, Benevello, Parma and Modena before finishing in Venice.
Signature Experiences include a privately guided tour of the Vatican Museums in Rome, and a wine tasting and information session with two local Brunello di Montalcino producers in Tuscany.
The itinerary is priced from $5,389 per person, twin share.
The 18-day ‘Picture Perfect Italy’ holiday starts on 22 September and stops in the Italian Lake District, Lake Como, Portofino, Cinque Terre, Tuscany, Florence, Villa Lante, the Isle of Capri, Pompeii and concluding in Rome.
Signature Experiences include a visit to the beautiful island of Isola Bella, renowned for its opulent palace and gardens and a tour of the Accademia Museum.
The itinerary is priced from $6,369 per person, twin share.
5. Crystal cruises around the atlas
Luxury cruise line, Crystal Cruises has unveiled its 2017 global itineraries, with 32 maiden calls and fares already available for booking – a full two years in advance.
In total, the Worldwide Cruise Atlas has 57 voyages sailing to 268 ports in 84 countries.
Inaugural visits will be made to destinations such as Maroantsetra, Madagascar; Iquique, Chile; and Djúpivogur, Iceland; along with lesser known gems such as Calvi, Corsica; Sète, France; and Santa Margherita, Italy.
The cruise line will return to the Middle East, with Crystal Symphony making visits to destinations such as Qatar and Abu Dhabi in November next year. There’s also Crystal’s first-ever voyages to New Guinea, and maiden calls in Vanuatu and New Caledonia, all featured on a January segment of the 99-day Grand Pacific Explorer Grand Cruise.
European options offer more Mediterranean cruises and variety than ever before; new itineraries beginning or ending in Portsmouth, England and Valletta, Malta; and multiples overnights on virtually every voyage.
Additionally, the program has Crystal’s first-ever South Africa Holiday Cruise, a roundtrip from Cape Town.