Malta Blog

The percentage of people who book their holidays and trips away via the internet increases every year, and with ticketless flights, reviews of hotels from previous guests and currency delivered to your home, the impression might be that booking a trip a few days before departure is the norm.

Not for UK tourists, according to research undertaken by leading online travel site Expedia.

In fact, many British people still book their overseas trips months ahead - but then they are the most organised tourists in Europe!

Before the recession, the trend was to book different parts of a holiday with different online travel firms, ensuring each part of the trip was done at the best price - but with some small companies going under Expedia note that more people are booking both flights and hotels at the same time.

And it’s not just the recession that’s caused the shift back to booking with the same company, the recent Icelandic volcano left many travellers stranded while those who had booked with well established tour operators such as Thomson and Thomas Cook were well looked after and alternative ways home organised on their behalf.

And it’s in times like this that tourists realise that cheap isn’t always good - but a resource like Expedia does allow money to be saved while booking all or some parts of a trip with one company.

Take Malta for example. There are plenty of different options for booking holidays in Malta available, and different parts of the trip can be booked seperately - or all with someone like Expedia.

Hotels can be viewed and reviews from people who have stayed there be seen, and a little extra research can be done to see which area might be most suitable. Valletta for history, Mellieha for a good beach for example. Both areas have a wide choice of accommodation and any of the Malta hotels can be booked with the one resource.

Flights are slightly different for the island. In recent years the low cost carriers have started to fly in and out of Malta, and not all of them are represented on travel sites that do the other components of a trip. Search Expedia for example for return flights and it might not bring up Ryanair who were the first budget airline to fly to the island, and provide flights from both Luton and Bournemouth.

So for the cost conscious it might be worth checking their site to see how much their Malta flights are.

But overall booking everything with one company does have its benefits, with hotels, car hire, flights, holidays and travel insurance all possible, and for Malta holidays Expedia is able to offer all these at a good price.

More details about the island are at yourmalta.com and there are other free to use articles

Tenerife has topped Cosmos Holidays sales chart with a 60% increase year-on-year, report traveldailyco.uk

Majorca, last year’s number one, is now fourth in the sales list with Florida and Turkey before it.

Other Canary Islands have seen bigger rises in sales, particularly Fuerteventura (250%), Gran Canaria (100%) and Lanzarote (40%).

Menorca

The Algarve, Menorca, Shaem el Sheikh, Zakynthos and Mexico are also within the top ten.

“Whilst early booking trends indicated that this summer was all about the Eastern Mediterranean, the improved strength of the Pound against the Euro has resulted in a last minute surge of bookings to destinations throughout the Western Mediterranean and the Canary Islands,” said Monarch Travel Group Tour Operations Managing Director Hugh Morgan.

“After the challenges of the past 12 months, confidence has clearly been restored in the market and it’s great to see holiday durations lengthening from last year’s seven and 10 night durations to the traditional 14 night breaks.”

For the latest Menorca weather visit yourmenorca.net

Breakingnewstravel report that there’s a new guide to the island from the official tourist board:

The Menorca Tourist Board has created a brand-new insiders travel guide to Menorca - revealing the natural, archeological, cultural, and gastronomic delights of one of the Med’s most pristine islands.

Easy to navigate and packed with tips from locals the guide will help holiday-makers decide where to stay, what to do and how best to experience this lesser-known Spanish island.

Boasting more than 200kms of coastline Menorca has almost as many beaches as Ibiza and Mallorca combined yet remains the most untouched and tranquil of all the Balearics.

Imagine a magical island with rugged caves and green rolling hills on one side, sandy beaches from where you can kayak round to hidden coves on the other. A paradise for nature lovers the island was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, to conserve and protect both its natural habitats and strong cultural identity.

Visit S’Albufera des Grau wetlands to get up-close to turtles and migrating birds or explore the island’s distinctive barrancs (deep ravines and canyons which run from the central part of the island to coast), home to Peregrines, Egyptian vultures and booted eagles.

Whether you’re day-tripping from Mallorca or coming from the UK the guide covers all the essentials on how to reach the island and what to expect from the weather. Like your beaches wild or prefer the convenience of shops and restaurants? In-depth information on the beaches will match you to your perfect stretch of sand.

And if you’re wondering how you might fit in all the island’s attractions turn to the top tips and take your pick from sightseeing in the charming old port of Ciutadella to some snorkeling in the calm waters of the Bay of Fornells.

Or if that all sounds a bit energetic then dive into the food and drink section and find out about the island’s world-class gin and cheese producers and where to eat the local speciality dish of “caldereta de llagosta” or lobster stew.

For more information about the island including today’s Menorca weather visit yourmenorca.net

Good news for those considering a holiday in Menorca at the moment - leading tour operators Thomas Cook and Thomson have some great deals available - visit yourmenorca.net to access both of them plus First Choice.

As the Daily Express report:

HOLIDAY firms are set to slash the price of package deals by hundreds of pounds after a slump in bookings for late August and September holidays.

A focus on the World Cup and fears over travel disruption have left tour operators with leftover stock.

Discounts on brochure prices are expected to reach up to 70 per cent.

Even families hoping for a break before school starts in September could save as much as 50 per cent on a week in a European destination such as Tenerife.

TUI Travel, owner of Thomson Holidays and First Choice, yesterday revealed a two per cent drop in UK sales over the past three months, normally its busiest time of year.

And it announced the volcanic ash cloud disruption had hit its last-quarter profit by £105million.

Chief executive Peter Long added: “It remains difficult to predict how the later-booking pattern will change over the next 12 to 18 months in the light of the current economic environment.”

A spokeswoman for TUI confirmed there would be “great value deals” during autumn. Among its best was a week on the Greek island of Rhodes in October, starting at £189 per person.

Thomas Cook was also expected to record a drop in sales today.

Long-haul holiday firm Hayes and Jarvis said the downturn in summer sales would mean a “glut” of heavily discounted deals, bringing down the cost of travelling to exotic countries in the Far East to under £500.

The tourist board have been busy promoting Menorca and the other Balearic Islands for late August to end September holidays, with Opodo reporting:

People considering a late summer break this year have been offered a number of reasons to choose Spain’s Balearic Islands as their destination.

The tourist board representing the archipelago pointed out that one of the region’s main advantages is its weather, with 300 days of sunshine every year.

Beach lovers will be spoilt for choice in the Balearics, with Salines in Ibiza, Cala Pregonda in Menorca and Es Trenc in Mallorca among the seafront hotspots being recommended.

People who enjoy a bit of celebrity spotting will be in with a good chance of seeing some famous faces on the Spanish islands, according to the tourist board.

Michelle Obama recently visited Mallorca, while Kate Moss regularly enjoys breaks in Ibiza and Formentera and both Claudia Schiffer and Elle Macpherson own villas in the region.

Travellers who enjoy outdoor activities were encouraged to try some of the sports on offer in the Balearics, with both Majorca and Ibiza boasting an extensive network of cycling routes and most islands providing facilities to go scuba diving.

Hello magazine has listed the best places in Europe to watch a sunset, and Cala En Porter is one of those making their favourites.

They say:

Minorca has plenty of stunning sunset sites, too, including the unmatchable Cova d’en Xoroi, a cave whose rocky walls are transformed each night to house one of the island’s most unusual discos. The sunset views from the terraces overhanging the cliff edge are, quite simply, breathtaking.

For a Menorca map showing where Cala En Porter is visit yourmenorca.net - the village is popular for Menorca villa holidays

If you’re off on holiday to Menorca soon and it’s the first time with a toddler, we’ve found the airlines to be helpful and understanding.

Thomson who we have flown with from Gatwick to Mahon were good - they seat passengers with babies and toddlers in the same area towards the back of the aircraft which seems to work well.

Thomas Cook Holidays have come up with a guide that’s pretty good, and the Daily Mirror reported on it yesterday.

Flying with very young children can be a challenge - it’s frustrating for parents and other passengers when little ones play up.

Cabin crew at Thomas Cook Airlines have come up with the following tips to help families taking Majorca flights this summer…

COMFORT

When taking off and landing, give your baby a bottle or a dummy as this will help stop their ears from popping.

Be prepared if you’re travelling on a night flight. Some parents think their child will sleep but this often isn’t the case as the child is not in their usual environment.

Take a small blanket in case your child gets cold, as some Majorca flights don’t provide them for short-haul trips.

Nappy-changing facilities are in the aircraft toilets and there isn’t much room - dress your baby in clothes that are easy to get on and off.

Consider getting a baby sling for your journey. That way you can carry your tot and have two hands free for luggage.

Pack your child’s favourite snacks so you have food to hand if they want something to eat quickly.

If your child is having an inflight meal, be prepared with alternatives in case they don’t like what they’re given.

If you want to give them milk while flying, pick up some once through check-in/security as this is not often available on board.

Entertainment on Menorca Flights

Crayola’s Colour Wonder paper pad and markers are a great way to keep kids entertained. The pens only work on the special pad so you don’t have to worry about your child marking the seats or the walls of the aircraft.

Kids love presents, so wrap up lots of small surprises you can give to your child throughout the flight to keep them entertained.

Bring toys out one by one so that you can keep children entertained with each toy individually.

For more information about holidays with Thomas Cook Holidays visit their site.

They also do Majorca flights

The Independent in the UK recently reviewed some boutique hotels, and had this recommendation for Menorca:

Sant Joan de Binissaida, Menorca

The owners of San Joan de Binissaida have reforested half of their sprawling estate with pine and wild olive trees, leaving the other half for sheep and pure-bred Menorcan horses to roam. In the midst of it all stands a once-decrepit homestead that has been rescued and restored to become an elegant rural hotel with an acclaimed gourmet restaurant. Rooms are named after great composers and are either bright and rustic or sleek and contemporary.

For other Menorca hotels visit yourmenorca.net and for hotels in Majorca visit yourmajorca.net

Andorra Blog

The Pyrenees is probably not the first place you would look for good internet connections, but add to that requirement being able to live in a tax friendly environment and you might think you are asking a little too much.

Happily there is such a place - Andorra.

Situated between France and Spain in the Pyrenees, it’s an independent country with a population of 80,000, plus those who have taken residency to live in the Principality.

Best known to the general public for her skiing, the country became well known for it in the 1980’s and in recent years has improved her infrastructure to the extent that it now competes with French ski holidays on an even footing.

For those considering a tax haven such as traders who need high speed internet acess and for those where time is critical, it’s a good working environment with or without tax, and Andorra steps up to the mark for them.

For such a small country in the middle of a mountain range Andorra impresses by being the 11th in the world for broadband speed - beating the United Kingdom for example, and according to Ookla who carried out the research Andorra has 14.79Mbps.

Good news indeed for those who need high speed communications in a tax friendly country whether for business or for social media like facebook - but what else can it offer apart from the financial advantages and good communications?

It has an infrastructure that matches any Western European country, with a good road network that has easy access to both France and Spain. Some residents drive to the Spanish coast for the weekend while some own property elsewhere and for example frequently enjoy Majorca villa holidays with a journey time of around five hours door to door.

For people considering taking Andorra residency, medical facilities are important, and more good news is that the hospital is modern and well equipped, with surgeons contracted from Barcelona to deal with non-emergency teatment as well as local doctors.

For tourists, there’s a good choice of hotels, both in the capital la Vella and in the villages and towns. Some of the hotels are as good as you’ll find on Swiss ski holidays, and there’s a wide range of culinary experiences available, including Michelin Star restaurants. Soldeu is one of the best known areas for ski holidays and first class quality hotels equivalent to anywhere else include the Sport Hermitage.

And it’s not just those who take Andorra residency who benefit from low or no taxes. For tourists Andorra is great for shopping with some of the lowest prices in Europe. To the extent that people make the trip from Barcelona to pick up the bargains. They visit the hypermarkets in Sant Julia just across from the Spanish border or make their way to the capital where there are department stores.

The destinations UK holidaymakers choose could be changing more in the coming years ahead, according to one of Britain’s big travel agencies, who say:

Mediterranean resorts will no longer be the number one destination for UK holidaymakers by the end of this year.

New research by The Co-operative Travel has revealed that once popular resorts in the Western Mediterranean, such as the Costa del Sol and Algarve, are being shunned in favour of holidays in up-and-coming holiday spots.

The new number one area has been nicknamed ‘the Mett’ after its key destinations: Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey.

This year Mediterranean resorts have seen a cumulative fall in bookings of 11.6% compared to the Mett’s increase of 23.4%. If these current trends continue then the two areas will swap places by the end of 2011, with the Mett becoming the number one choice for package holidays.

This would mean that by summer 2012, the Mett would be receiving over 38% of UK package holidaymakers.

Trevor Davis, director of retail distribution at The Co-operative Travel said: “The growth of all-inclusive deals, which appeal to people wanting to fix the total cost of their holiday, has helped to increase demand for these fast-growing destinations.

“At the same time increased capacity and the high cost of the Euro have both contributed to a significant rise in bookings.”  For the full article at Yahoo! click here

For Menorca holidays visit yourmenorca.net and for Ibiza holidays visit youribiza.net

He added: “If these trends continue, it will represent the biggest change in bookings patterns since the boom of the package holiday in the 1970s.”