Due to popular demand, award-winning low fares airline Monarch has added additional flights to Tenerife this Easter.

On 02, 09 and 16 April 2010 Monarch will be operating additional flights between Gatwick and Tenerife, bringing the total number of flights operated each Friday to five. In addition, on these dates, larger aircraft will be used to operate flights between Manchester and Tenerife, increasing the number of seats available by 46%.

The new flights and extra seats are available to book now via www.monarch.co.uk with fares starting from just £62.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Commenting on the additional flights to Tenerife this Easter, managing director of Monarch Flights and Holidays, Tim Jeans said, “We have seen continued demand for flights to Tenerife this Easter and the introduction of these additional services means an extra 3,000 seats will be available during this popular travel period. Our customers continue to choose our low fares and high quality service and these additional seats provide an even greater choice of low fare flights for those that haven’t yet booked their Easter get-away.”

Monarch operates scheduled flights from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester to a number of destinations throughout Mainland Spain, the Balearic and Canary Islands, Portugal, Gibraltar, Cyprus and Turkey. In addition to year-round low fares, Monarch also offers a unique range of tasty hot and cold meals that can be pre-booked or purchased onboard with prices from £2.00. Seats can be pre-booked from £7.50 per one-way flight to avoid the last minute free-for-all experienced on some other airlines, or from only £15, extra-legroom seats are available, which offer up to six inches of extra space.

Passengers travelling on scheduled flights can also avoid the queues at the airport and take advantage of online check-in, which is available between seven days and 4.5 hours prior to departure.

In addition to flights, Monarch also now offers a huge range of great value holidays, accommodation options, car hire and travel insurance.

For further information or to book Monarch Flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk.

Independent tour operator, Prestige Holidays, has seen a sharp increase in bookings for Summer 2010 with a year on year rise of 20%. Top selling destinations include: Morocco up 230%, Lake Garda up 328% and the Algarve which has seen a 72% increase in bookings.

John Dixon, chairman and managing director, Prestige Holidays, comments: “We are delighted with how the year has started. The growth has to be due to a combination of factors including some great early booking offers, our very competitive prices and an increase in public confidence. Also we have expanded our Algarve programme in recent years and this has had a positive impact on bookings.”

“Part of the reason Turkey and Morocco have sold so well is they are not in the Euro zone. Also a good proportion of our bookings come through agents and we have a very effective way of working with them. For example we are paying for mailings to their clients and going 50/50 on ads. Our innovative email system enables us to provide them with very keenly priced tactical offers within 30 minutes of one arriving from a hotelier.”

Prestige’s new Canada programme is also selling extremely well with over £500,000 worth of business booked since its launch at the end of last year. All of these bookings have come from our key agents.

Valentine’s offer : River cruises with free flights for couples
(and no solo cabin supplement for those still single!)

AMAWATERWAYS (www.amawaterways.com, tel. 0800 389 9811) is offering free flights up to the value of £250 per person, based on two sharing a cabin, or no single supplement for single occupancy of a double cabin (usually charged 50% supplement), for selected cruises on the Rhine, Main, Danube, Douro and the waterways of Russia on board the company’s state-of-the-art river cruisers. The offer is for bookings received by February 20th 2010 and prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. Sample cruises with free flights or zero single supplement include:

April 5th & 12th, `Tulip Time’: Eight days cruising Holland and Belgium’s historic towns and bulb fields, departing from Amsterdam on April 5th and 12th, from £1,378 per person, including free flights up to £250 (or no single cabin supplement) for bookings made by 20th February 2010. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. AMAWATERWAYS 0800 389 9811, www.amawaterways.co.uk

April – October `Romantic Danube’: Eight days cruising the historic cities and scenic waterways of the Danube between Budapest and Vilshofen departing on selected dates from April to October 2010, from £1,378 per person, including free flights up to £250 (or no single cabin supplement) for bookings made by 20th February 2010. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. AMAWATERWAYS 0800 389 9811, www.amawaterways.co.uk

29th October `Enchanting Rhine’: Eight days cruising the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel, cruising from Holland, through Germany into Switzerland, visiting historic cities that include Cologne, Koblenz and Heidelberg, from £1,397 per person, including free flights up to £250 (or no single cabin supplement) for bookings made by 20th February 2010, departing October 29. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. AMAWATERWAYS 0800 389 9811, www.amawaterways.co.uk

August, October & November `Legendary Danube’: Departing in August, October and November, a fascinating cruise through the Main-Danube Canal Eight days between Nuremberg and Budapest, taking in charming towns, beautiful vistas and the city of Vienna before concluding in Budapest. From £1,337 per person including free flights up to £250 for bookings made by 20th February 2010 (or no single cabin supplement). Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. AMAWATERWAYS 0800 389 9811, www.amawaterways.co.uk

17th April, Portugal and Spain: Departing on 17th April an 8 day cruise from Portugal’s home of port wine, Porto, inland to the Trás-os-Montes, past small picturesque villages amid steep terraces entering Spain to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site at Salamanca, returning to Porto, from £1,095 per person, including up to £150 towards flights (or no single cabin supplement) for bookings made by 20th February 2010. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. AMAWATERWAYS 0800 389 9811, www.amawaterways.co.uk

18th July, 28th September, Russia’s waterways: 13 days between Moscow and St Petersburg on MS Tolstoy, from £2,286 per person, departing August 23 or, St Petersburg to Moscow on July 18 and September 28, including free flights up to £325 (or no single cabin supplement) for bookings made by 20th February 2010. Prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts and free-flowing wine with dinner. AMAWATERWAYS 0800 389 9811, www.amawaterways.co.uk

The above prices include all meals and entertainment on board, champagne breakfasts, free-flowing wine with dinner, use of complimentary bicycles in port (except on the Douro and in Russia), shore excursions in every port, all port charges and either a contribution of £250 towards flight costs (£150 on the Douro, £325 for Russian sailings) OR single occupancy of a double cabin at no extra charge.

Save money by booking direct from the property owner on RyanairLettings.com

Ryanair, the world’s favourite airline, today (11 Feb) in partnership with Perfect Getaways, the leading holiday home search engine, launched its holiday home website www.RyanairLettings.com to deliver ‘guaranteed best price’ holiday accommodation to those looking for great value holiday villas, cottages, gites and apartments.

Perfect Getaways has secured over 1,000 beautiful properties in holiday resorts, city centres and rural retreats, in popular destinations including Italy, France, Spain and Portugal which can be booked on www.RyanairLettings.com or via Ryanair.com.

Homeowners can register with RyaniarLettings.com on a pay-on-results basis. Unlike many other holiday home providers, there are no annual subscriptions or joining fees for homeowners.

Ryanair’s Sinead Finn said; “This year, 73million passengers will book Europe’s guaranteed lowest fares on Ryanair.com. Now, in partnership with Perfect Getaways, Ryanair passengers can access further savings by booking holiday accommodation on RyanairLettings.com. With a combination of Ryanair’s guaranteed lowest fares and Perfect Getaways’ guaranteed best prices holidaymakers can get away for less than ever before.”

Dave Palmer, Sales Director at RyanairLettings.com said; “RyanairLettings.com gives holidaymakers the opportunity to book a great value holiday home with our guaranteed best price offer. This is also fantastic news for holiday home owners, who can attract holidaymakers to their properties without paying any fees or commissions to travel agents.’

Britain’s experiencing the ‘big freeze’, but with an array of holidays to look forward to starting from only £129 per party with Keycamp, there’s ‘snow’ reason to miss out on a fantastic getaway this February half-term.

Thrills and spills in Holland – Four nights for £129, accommodation only
Located next to the thrilling Tiki tropical waterpark, Keycamp’s Duinrell parc has enough waterchutes, whirlpools and wave pools to ensure the kids can let off some steam this half-term, while you enjoy a much-deserved winter break. Amsterdam is also within ideal day-trip distance and the local countryside is perfect for a spot of walking and cycling.

A four night break from 17 February for a family of two adults and up to four children staying in a Villanova mobile home, with heating, at Keycamp’s Duinrell will cost just £129, accommodation only.

Algarve adventure – Seven nights for £448, accommodation only
Overlooking the quaint village of Carvoeiro, with its winding streets and white-washed houses, Keycamp’s Algar Seco Apartment Resort is the ideal place to experience some traditional Portuguese charm. With the Algarve coast just minutes away and Faro and Lisbon within day-trip distance, there’s lots for families to enjoy.

Seven nights from 13 February for a family of two adults and two children staying in a one bedroom bungalow at Keycamp’s Algar Seco Apartment Resorts will cost just £448, accommodation only.

Relax on the French Riviera –Seven nights for £421, accommodation only
For a spot of glamour on the Côte d’Azur, check out Keycamp’s Pont Royal Apartment Resort, a traffic-free village situated in the heart of Provence, with an 18 hole golf course. As well as the activities in resort, there’s plenty of opportunity for a dose of culture as well, with the scenic town of Avignon and its famous bridge, the Roman ruins at Nimes and the home of Van Gogh all close at hand.

Seven nights from 13 February for a family of two adults and two children staying in an apartment at Keycamp’s Pont Royal will cost just £421, accommodation only.

EasyJet Extends Rescue Package for Flyglobespan Passengers

easyJet extends rescue package for Flyglobespan passengers

Following the announcement that Flyglobespan has suspended its operations, easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has extended its rescue package for stranded passengers to ensure they can get back to the UK for Christmas. For those passengers stranded in France, Switzerland, Mainland Spain, the Balearics and Portugal a special rescue fee of £60 (including taxes) is available to return to any UK airport, by 24 December.

For those passengers stranded in the Cyprus, Egypt the Canaries and Madeira a special rescue fee of £80 (including taxes) is available to return to any UK airport, by 24 December.

Passengers are advised that onward travel from the airport will be at their own expense.

This is in addition to the announcement that easyJet will offer a rescue package for passengers due to travel on routes the easyJet directly overlap with Flyglobespan; Faro to Glasgow; Malaga to Glasgow; Alicante to Glasgow and Geneva to Edinburgh, which is available for £60 (including taxes) for travel up to 30 December.

To claim the exclusive rescue package, passengers should call easyJet customer services on one of the numbers listed below.

Passengers must provide the agent with their Flyglobespan booking reference number and present their Flyglobespan booking confirmation at check-in as further proof of booking.

From UK: 0871 244 2366

From Spain: 807 0700 70

From Switzerland: 0900 000 258

From France: 0826 103 320

If you are calling from a country not listed above, you can call us on +44 871 244 2366.

Camping and mobile home specialist, Vacansoleil has launched its biggest ever brochure with the 2010 programme featuring around 335 European campsites – including 35 which are new for the coming year.

Around half of the new sites are in France, whilst there are also additions in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Denmark and Croatia.

The company is also introducing new and improved bungalow tents – with room for four sleeping compartments – at selected sites in France and Italy during 2010.

Outside of peak season, the programme features some superb free night deals – such as ‘seven-nights-for-the-price-of-five’ and ‘14-nights-for-the-price-of-seven’.

As an example of what’s new, Les Dunes is a lovely campsite situated alongside the 4-kilometere long Torreilles Plage sandy beach – which is ideal for young children – in the Roussillon region of southern France.

On-site facilities include heated pool and children’s pool, tennis, table tennis, mini golf, football pitch, games room, playground and cycle hire. For those who wish to explore further, oyster farms, pretty coastal villages and the city of Perpignan are all within easy reach.

A seven-night stay – for a family of up to six – in a fully-equipped Fiji mobile home costs from £434 per party in May, rising to £998 in peak season.

These prices include midweek return Dover-Calais P&O crossing for car and passengers. If no ferry is required, the price is reduced by £90 (the company now provides a link on it website which gives price comparisons of low cost airlines and it can also arrange car hire from the airports).

Member hotels are awarded with top accolades in the luxury hospitality industry

Great Hotels of the World (http://www.ghotw.com) is delighted to announce that a number of its member hotels have been awarded with top accolades in the luxury hospitality industry.

Mandala Spa & Villas in Boracay Island, The Philippines has been awarded Spa treatment of the Year for its “Hilot Trilogy” treatment at the AsiaSpa Awards 2009. The award is Hilot Trilogy’s second accolade, winning Asia Spa Holistic Treatment of the Year in 2007. The treatment pays tribute to Filipino heritage, combining traditional healing techniques and rituals to produce a new approach to the traditional art of therapeutic healing. The awards are presented by AsiaSpa magazine, the region’s most recognised spa and wellness publication.

For more information on the hotel please visit http://www.ghotw.com/mandala-spa.

All-Suites Palazzo Magnani Feroni in Florence, Italy has been awarded Condé Nast Johansens’ Award for “2010 Most Charming Hotel of Europe and the Mediterranean”. Tharroe of Mykonos in Mykonos, Greece has also been recognised as “2010 Most Excellent Value Hotel”. The Condé Nast Johansens’ Awards for Excellence are given annually to those properties worldwide that represent the finest standards and best value for money in luxury and independent accommodation.

For more information on the hotels please visit http://www.ghotw.com/palazzo-magnani and http://www.ghotw.com/tharroe-mykonos.

Abbaye de Talloires in Talloires, France has recently been awarded the Trophy of Clientele for 4* and 5* hotels for quality of service 2009. The trophy, now in its third year, is voted for by hotel guests and recognises excellent quality of service in the luxury hotel sector. 850 hoteliers from around France attended the awards ceremony held at the Hotel Marriotte, Les portes de Monaco à Cap d’Ail in Monaco.

For more information on the hotel please visit http://www.ghotw.com/abbaye-talloires.

Hotel Quinta da Marinha Resort in Cascais, Portugal has been recognised as the perfect place to spend a relaxing break by being voted as “Rated Top Quiet Hotel” by Venere.com. Solely based on consumer feedback, Venere.com, which is controlled by Expedia, selects the top rated hotels according to a selection of categories.

For more information on the hotel please visit http://www.ghotw.com/hotel-quinta-da-marinha

Could the all inclusive era soon be over as the British now go abroad to speak the lingo, sample the delicacies and see the sights?

Contrary to the British tourist abroad stereotype of sun, sea and sangria, it seems we are a nation of explorers. According to new research by villas4you, living like a local and immersing yourself in the local culture is what British holidaymakers are seeking out when travelling abroad.

The survey of 1,000 holidaymakers highlights the key triggers when booking an overseas holiday. Despite recent economic fluctuations, weather (37%) was cited as the main reason for booking above the cost of the holiday (one in three). However, when asked what people like doing on holiday, it is the taste of new experiences that sets our juices flowing with 93 per cent wanting to visit places of interest, followed by trying new food (89%) and speaking to the locals (81%).

Top five wish list for an overseas holiday

1. Having freedom and flexibility

2. Visiting places of interest

3. Trying new food

4. Speaking to the locals

5. Having more than a hotel room

It seems the stereotypical days of going abroad and never leaving the hotel are over with more people wanting to sample an authentic taste of their holiday destination. 45 per cent of those questioned had been on an all inclusive holiday but when asked what would they would have done to make the experience better, the most popular response (one in five) was leaving the resort more to experience the local area, culture and sights.

Almost all respondents said they like having the freedom and flexibility to enjoy the surrounding areas. 86 per cent of people want more than a hotel room and 72 per cent of people consider a private pool as a holiday must.

Geoff Cowley, managing director of villas4you said: “We carried out the research to see what influences our holiday choices and it seems we want some adventure with our annual holiday! Learning more about the destination and emerging ourselves in the culture and community is something that is obviously important and offers a more authentic holiday experience.

“The fluctuation in the economy has meant for many, European breaks have become an annual treat and so making the most of this time away is key. Our peak summer bookings this year increased by more than 10 per cent on 2008 for Spain and Portugal, with people choosing a villa holiday for the chance to sample an authentic taste of the location they are visiting. We launched villas4you in the Autumn to respond to this demand. Self catering offers complete flexibility and great value for money with the cost split between family and friends and meals can be cooked at home with local produce.”

To find out more about villas4you, please visit www.villas4you.co.uk or call 0845 268 0770.

The Italian routes operated by TAP showed their first signs of traffic recovery in October, with the company transporting over 61,000 passengers during this month, compared to 59,000 during the same period last year. The occupancy rate for TAP flights on these routes has also risen from 63% in October 2008 to 76% in the same month this year.

Italy is one of TAP’s largest European markets, generating important passenger flows from both Portugal and Brazil attracted by the beauties of one of the world’s most popular countries for historic and cultural heritage.

The positive signs also extend to the cargo sector, driven mostly by the increase of Italian exports to Brazil, in particular from the car industry.

Until the end of November, TAP is running a campaign in partnership with the Italian State Tourism Board – ENIT – which offers flights to Rome and Milan from €59 and Venice and Bologna from €79, for departures from Lisbon or Oporto.

* Prices are one-way, with all taxes included, for departures from Lisbon or Oporto on direct flights operated by TAP. Subject to special terms and conditions, with limited numbers of seats available. Sales until 30 November at www.flytap.com for journeys from 16 November to 14 December 2009, and from 11 January to 31 March 2010. For more information, call the TAP Reservation Office on +351 707 205 700 or visit your travel agent.