EUROPE | ASIA | AFRICA | SOUTH AMERICA | NORTH AMERICA | CRUISES IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU 1 ASIA EUROPE Thailand 04 Croatia 12 Vietnam 05 Venice 13 Indonesia 06 Greek Islands 14 Sri Lanka 07 South of France 16 Maldives 08 Paris 17 Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 09 Tuscany 18 IN COLLABORATION WITH Goa - India 10 Low Cost destinations 19 Borneo 11 Jewels of Sri Lanka 11 2 IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH & NORTH AMERICA CRUISES Cape Town 20 Argentina 26 Disney Cruise 36 Botswana, Okavango Delta & Moremi 21 Belize 27 MSC Cruises 38 Mauritius 22 Brazil 28 Costa 40 Tanzania, Zanzibar & Kenya 23 Chile 29 Royal Caribbean 42 Seychelles 24 Costa Rica 30 Serengeti & Zanzibar 25 Guatemala 31 Vic falls to Cape 25 Tango & Samba 32 Quetzal Highway 32 Colombia Highlights 32 L.A. 33 Las Vegas 33 Miami 33 Orlando 34 Hawaii 35 3 ASIA Thailand is Asia’s primary travel destination and offers a host of places to visit. Yet despite this vast influx of visitors, Thailand’s humble cultural integrity remains largely undamaged – a country that adroitly avoided colonization has been able to absorb Western influences while maintaining its own rich and beautiful heritage. Though the high-rises and neon lights occupy the foreground of the tourist picture, the typical Thai community is still the farming village, and you need not venture too far to encounter a more traditional scene of fishing communities, rubber plantations and Buddhist temples. Thailand is an ideal place for a tropical beach honeymoon with the perfect balance of city life too. tips Hotel & Resorts • The currency used is Thai Baht but US dollars are also accepted. AMARI CHAIN • Airlines flying to Bangkok include Turkish air, Egyptair, Etihad and Emirates. Celebrate the colours and rhythms of modern Asia with Amari. One of Thailand’s largest locally owned hotel and resort groups, with a • Your backpack should always include sun block- the sunburn can be harsher than you think. network of properties in desirable beach, rural and city destinations across Thailand. Amari has introduced travellers from all corners of the world to the warmth of Asian hospitality for nearly four decades. ARNOMA HOTEL Complementing convenience with style, Arnoma Hotel Bangkok affords a welcoming sense of space and a graceful interior décor of understated elegance. Throughout the stay, guests will appreciate impeccable service and the warmth, attentive hospitality that is traditionally Thai. CENTARA HOTELS Centara Hotels & Resorts has become the leading hotel chain in Thailand offering idyllic locations, international standards, and gracious Thai hospitality, operating and managing hotels and resorts domestically in Thailand. 4 ASIA Less than forty years since the savagery and slaughter of the American War, this resilient nation is buoyant with hope. It is a country on the move: access is now easier than ever, roads are being upgraded, hotels are springing up and Vietnam’s raucous entrepreneurial spirit is once again alive and well as the old-style Communist system gives way to a socialist market economy. As the number of tourists visiting the country soars, their talk is not of bomb craters and army ordnance but of shimmering paddy fields and sugar- white beaches, full-tilt cities and venerable pagodas; Vietnam is a veritable phoenix arisen from the ashes. Many visitors find a vast number of places to visit that intrigue and excite them in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and the other major centres; but despite the cities’ allure, it’s the country’s striking landscape that most impresses. tips Hotel & Resorts • Airlines operating from Malta to Hanoi are Lufthansa while airlines operating to Ho Chi INTERCONTINENTAL The hotel boasts 305 elegantly appointed rooms, bespoke treatments Minh City are Lufthansa, Emirates and Turkish air. at Spa InterContinental, three restaurants and spectacular views of • Vietnamese Currency is the Dong, however they also accept US Dollars. Saigon from the InterContinental Club Lounge. This 5-star luxury Ho • Watch out for the Sun’s UV – it’s a lot stronger than it seems! Chi Minh City hotel is located in the city centre, just a short stroll to famous landmarks such as Notre Dame Cathedral and Saigon Opera House. The Tan Son Nhat International Airport is 7 km away. CROWNE PLAZA Vietnam’s first Crowne Plaza is situated in Hanoi’s newest business district. Crowne Plaza West Hanoi is the lynchpin of a commercial and residential complex, only minutes away from the National Convention Centre and the National Stadium and is only 30 minutes drive to Noi Bai International Airport. THE HYATT Poised on a tranquil stretch of white-sand beach, between the Marble Mountains and the sun-kissed beachscape of renowned Non Nuoc is Hyatt’s newest offering in Vietnam. The resort feels secluded, yet just 15 minutes from Danang International Airport making both location and accessibility very favourable for group events. 5 ASIA Indonesia is blessed with the most diverse landscape, from fertile rice lands on Java and Bali to the luxuriant rainforests of Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi, to the savannah grasslands of the Nusatenggara islands to snow-capped peaks of West Papua. Here wildlife ranges from the prehistoric giant Komodo lizard to the orangutan and the Java rhino, to the Sulawesi anoa dwarf buffalos, to birds with exquisite plumage like the cockatoo and the bird of paradise. Culturally, Indonesia fascinates with her rich diversity of ancient temples, music, ranging from the traditional to modern pop, dances, rituals and ways of life, changing from island to island, from region to region. Yet everywhere the visitor feels welcomed with that warm, gracious innate friendliness of the Indonesian people that is not easily forgotten. tips Hotel & Resorts • As Indonesia is primarily a Muslim country, modesty in dress is advised; remember to cover 5-STAR NUSA DUA BEACH HOTEL & SPA up if you intend visiting a mosque. Set in lush tropical gardens, the 5-star Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa, • Treat your tastebuds and try out a warung (a small traditional roadside eatery). Bali is designed to resemble a Balinese palace. Built and opened in 1983, the hotel has welcomed kings and queens, presidents and other • The Indonesian Rupiah is the currency of Indonesia. dignitaries over the years. Each guestroom offers stunning views of meticulously manicured tropical gardens or vistas of the ocean from the terrace or balcony. THE OBEROI The Oberoi, Bali offers luxurious beachside accommodation filled with traditional Balinese architecture and The Ayana Resort boasts an elegant beachside view. Built in traditional Balinese style, you can relax in truly fabulous settings that celebrate your privacy with charming thatched roof villas, private pools, unique garden bathrooms and exquisite interiors featuring Balinese art. 6 ASIA Situated just off the southern tip of the Indian sub-continent, for millennia Sri Lanka has been regarded as special - a jewel in the Indian Ocean. A Sri Lanka Holiday is a holiday like no other. A country with vast history and culture, Buddhist temples, rock formations and wildlife from elephants to crocodiles, monkeys and dolphins, the teardrop-shaped island is a magical place, perfect for your honeymoon. Sri Lanka is a wonderful country full of mystery and amazement. If you are an avid traveller with a passion for unique cultures, breathtaking landscapes and palm fringed beaches, and like to discover cultural heritage with luxury and elegance, you should surely consider Sri Lanka. tips Hotel & Resorts • Airlines operating to Colombo, Sri Lanka are Emirates, Alitalia, Etihad and Turkish. THE TAJ SAMUDRA (5 STAR) • Never assume that your own beliefs give you protection from causing offence to local The Taj Samudra is strategically based in Colombo’s business hub people. Antony Ratcliffe was arrested for his Buddha tattoo despite being a practicing and is also just a short stroll to the city centre for shopping and Buddhist. entertainment. Spread across 11 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, the hotel also boasts a peerless view of the Indian Ocean and • There are four kinds of visas which permit a person to enter and/or stay in Sri Lanka, ask the Galle Face Green, a hallmark of Colombo. one of our travel consultants for yours. HILTON COLOMBO A short drive from Bandaranaike International Airport, Hilton Colombo Residence is set in a convenient location close to Colombo’s best attractions such as the National Museum. Allow the Hilton Reception Team to greet you with a welcome drink and help you settle into one of the spacious Deluxe Suites. Start the day with a swim in the outdoor pool or opt for a game of tennis. Rejuvenate with a workout in the state-of-the-art gymnasium or unwind in the sauna or whirlpool. Book a massage or play 18 holes at the nearby Royal Colombo Golf Club. 7 ASIA Welcome to the Maldives, where sands are as white as the smiles of the locals, where fish swim happily in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, where the weather is a dream, and the deep rays of the sun wait to engulf you in their arms. In ancient times, the shores of the Maldives welcomed lost travellers. Still welcoming, these shores remain, providing a tranquil haven for visitors. Far-flung and exotic, Maldives is the ultimate luxury beach escape. tips Hotel & Resorts • 3 airlines operate between Malta and Male which include Turkish, Etihad and Emirates. OLHUVELI BEACH AND SPA RESORT • Would you like to be under the sea? Even if diving with sharks isn’t your thing, there are Nestled amid lush tropical vegetation and shaded by graceful palms. Encircled by stretches of powdery sandy beach and a vast crystal clear underwater cocktails bars. Go ahead, dive in! lagoon, a truly breathtaking island with plenty of secluded sandbanks • Get around by using seaplanes, speedboats or a dhoni – a local, slower boat the locals use where paradise seekers escaping from the pressures of daily modern for getting around.