"From my point of view it's a great company and a great business," Blume says. "With seven million (room) transactions a year we are the No 1 player in Australia and New Zealand, which is a major achievement for the company."
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Explore Denmark's Viking history - Telegraph
Explore Denmark's Viking history - Telegraph
The Vikings are coming! Exactly 1,000 years ago, that must have been the cry along the coasts of England as Danish king Swein Forkbeard and his son Canute mounted a conquest of our green and pleasant land.
The helmeted bunch had been making forays across the North Sea for many years, but this time Swein managed to send English king Ethelred the Unready scuttling off to Normandy and declared himself ruler.
A common perception of Vikings is of bloodthirsty warriors but, whatever the truth, their Danish descendents today are among the friendliest folk you’ll find anywhere – and keen to celebrate the more romantic aspects of their ancestors.
I joined in the fun by taking my own car on the overnight DFDS Seaways ferry from Harwich in Essex to Esbjerg on Denmark’s west coast.
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And once I‘d enjoyed all the dining and entertainment facilities on board, I drove straight off on my Viking adventure.
If you follow in my wake this year, in between discovering Viking history, you can indulge in Denmark’s fantastic sandy beaches, picturesque countryside, charming villages, excellent museums and galleries and fine cuisine.
I’d suggest Ribe as the first stop. The oldest town in Scandinavia – just half an hour from Esbjerg – it has a huge cathedral and lovely cobbled streets filled with shops and cafes.
There’s also the VikingeCenter, a brilliant family park with recreations of a Viking farm, longhouse, market and more, with lots of hands-on activities such as archery and regular falconry displays. Volunteers dress in costumes of the age to enhance the whole effect.
Meanwhile, I found the Ribes Vikinger to be a well-thought-out museum stuffed with Viking-era artefects that were discovered nearby and depictions of scenes from a millennium ago and from the Middle Ages. The model of how Ribe looked in Viking times sets the scene well, and youngsters will enjoy sitting in the full-size boat recreation, guessing the weight of a suit of chainmail or dressing up in period togs.
My next visit was to Jelling, the place to get a real feel for the Viking era just before their invasion of England. One of Europe’s most important historical sites – and now a UNESCO World Heritge Site – it is home to two huge rune stones. The smallest was inscribed by King Gorm the Old – grandfather of the marauding Swein Forkbeard – and is often called the nation’s birth certificate because it is the first recorded mention of the land of Denmark.
The smaller stone is that of Harold Bluetooth, his son; it’s known as Denmark’s Certificate of Baptism as it reveals the country’s conversion to Christianity.
The rune stones are outside a beautiful white church that dates back to around 1100; it lies between two Viking burial mounds. As you’d expect, the whole site is on Unesco’s World Heritage List.
Make sure you pop in to the Kongernes (Royal) Jelling visitors centre opposite. It gives a detailed explanation of the significance of the monuments; if that’s too deep for children, they can try writing their name in runic letters or play a Viking game.
If you happen to be in the area on the first weekend in July, there will be a spectacular Viking Market on the lawns next to the mounds with craft workshops and all sorts of warrior activities.
In summer, there are trips on a reproduction Viking ship on Fårup Sø, a pretty lake close to the town.
Jelling is little more than an hour’s drive from Esbjerg. Don’t tell the kids, but it’s also close to Legoland, the major theme park devised around the little plastic bricks.
A few miles west of the town of Vejle is Ravning Enge, site of a huge bridge built across the river valley by Harold Bluetooth’s men. Two of the giant pierheads have been reconstructed.
I found Vejle to be a convenient overnight stop. From here, it’s worth heading north-east to the next monument, Fyrkat, thought to be the oldest of the Viking ring fortresses and built by Harold Bluetooth around 980.
Once, 16 identical longhouses were established within the circular ramparts – their positions have been marked out by archaeologists so you can imagine how it would have looked. There’s a very good oak reconstruction of one of these buildings along with a farmstead where Viking crafts are demonstrated during the summer.
A little further north is another fascinating sight – almost 700 graves scattered on a hill that make up Scandinavia’s largest Viking burial ground, Lindholm Høje, near the city of Aalborg. Vikings tended to be cremated on their ships and their remains buried here, which is why many of the stones are arranged in oval ship shapes. Look closely and you can still see markings that were preserved under drifting sands for centuries.
Heading back towards the DFDS Seaways ferry that will take you home, I would suggest taking the route to Ringkøbing, on the coast a little more than an hour north of Esbjerg.
This town is on the Ringkøbing Fjord – more like a giant lagoon – and its contribution to our theme is Bork Vikingehavn (Viking Harbour). Another vibrant depiction of life 1,000 years ago, it’s an open-air museum with a special focus on the sturdy ships the Vikings sailed from here to raid and trade across the seas.
Probably the highlight is Havørnen – Sea Eagle – a 60ft reconstruction of a ship whose remains were found in a Norwegian fjord. It is joined by a longhouse and activities include archery with a traditional longbow, baking bread and making jewellery.
Every August the celebrations are ramped up with a special fair featuring hundreds of wannabe Vikings.
All these attractions and more can be enjoyed on a tour of Jutland, which is the largest of the three main geographical landmasses that make up Denmark.
With more time, or to try a different route, the large islands of Funen and Sealand are also easy to reach from Esbjerg and have several more excellent Viking sites.
On Funen, these include the Viking Museum at Ladby. When a chieftain died, his ship was hauled ashore and covered with a burial mound, along with his worldy goods. Today, the imprint of the ship is still clearly visible.
Zealand is the name of the easternmost large island, where you’ll find Denmark’s capital Copenhagen.
In the city, a major exhibition will open on June 22 at the Danish National Museum, called simply Viking. The highlight will be a huge shipwreck from the era, plus important finds from Viking sites including chess pieces from the Outer Hebrides.
Around Roskilde, which is a short drive from the capital, there are outstanding attractions in addition to the impressive cathedral where Viking kings and queens are buried.
The Viking Ship Museum features five restored ships that were recovered from the nearby fjord. It’s possible to take a sailing trip on the fjord on a reproduction ship – great fun for children.
A few miles away there’s Sagnlandet Lejre, the “Land of Legends”. Once an important Viking settlement, it is now an open-air museum with a recreation of the original market town of Ravnsborg that will transport you back to the year 900.
The largest farm from the Viking age was found at Trelleborg, also on Zealand. Here is another example of King Harold Bluetooth’s work – a huge circular fortress, the thick, low walls of which are remarkably well preserved. Expect to find more displays of significant finds that are 1,000 or more years old, plus games for kids and even the chance to try the beer of the day.
Denmark is not a large country and, with my own transport, I found it very easy to combine an appreciation of Viking history with plenty else to see and do, all in one leisurely tour.
Hospitality Biz India :: Czech Republic to promote J&K’s tourism potential
Hospitality Biz India :: Czech Republic to promote J&K’s tourism potential
The Czech Republic would depute its tour and travel operators and mediapersons on a Familiarisation trip to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) for encouraging its citizens to visit the state, as per an IANS report. This information was revealed by Miloslav Stasak, Ambassador of Czech Republic, during his meeting with Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Minister for Tourism, Government of J&K in Jammu recently. He also offered his support to the J&K government for "promotion and showcasing of the abundant tourism potential of the state".
The Ambassador appreciated efforts of the state government for promoting tourism by "creating world-class tourist infrastructure and offering Adventure and Golf Tourism for high-end tourists".
He also hailed "the government's efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the state", and added that J&K was as safe as other parts of the world, "so there should be no reservations to any tourist to visit the state".
Mir briefed the Ambassador about the overall tourism scenario of the state. He said that J&K offered varied attractions for tourists round the year. Mir apprised Stasak that the J&K government was focusing on promotion of tourism in the state. "We have not only developed new tourism spots but upgraded world-class infrastructure facilities for the tourist," Mir said.
"Unfortunately, J&K has passed through hard times in the past, but the resilience of the people of Kashmir has helped tourism to pick up yet again," the Minister added.
The Czech Republic would depute its tour and travel operators and mediapersons on a Familiarisation trip to Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) for encouraging its citizens to visit the state, as per an IANS report. This information was revealed by Miloslav Stasak, Ambassador of Czech Republic, during his meeting with Ghulam Ahmad Mir, Minister for Tourism, Government of J&K in Jammu recently. He also offered his support to the J&K government for "promotion and showcasing of the abundant tourism potential of the state".
The Ambassador appreciated efforts of the state government for promoting tourism by "creating world-class tourist infrastructure and offering Adventure and Golf Tourism for high-end tourists".
He also hailed "the government's efforts to restore peace and normalcy in the state", and added that J&K was as safe as other parts of the world, "so there should be no reservations to any tourist to visit the state".
Mir briefed the Ambassador about the overall tourism scenario of the state. He said that J&K offered varied attractions for tourists round the year. Mir apprised Stasak that the J&K government was focusing on promotion of tourism in the state. "We have not only developed new tourism spots but upgraded world-class infrastructure facilities for the tourist," Mir said.
"Unfortunately, J&K has passed through hard times in the past, but the resilience of the people of Kashmir has helped tourism to pick up yet again," the Minister added.
More tourists from Latin America visit Armenia
More tourists from Latin America visit Armenia
YEREVAN, April 19. / ARKA /. More and more tourists from Latin America are visiting Armenia, according to Armine Adamian, head of Amistad Tour travel agency, who spoke to a news conference today.
She said tourists from Argentina, Uruguay, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and some other Latin American countries choose Armenia as a tourist destination and many of them are not Diaspora Armenians. She said an increasing interest in Armenia may be motivated by search for new experiences, as well as by a desire to visit a new faraway country.
"So far, they are not very many, but in view of the fact that each of Latin American tourists visiting Armenia may act as a "live advertisement" for their country fellows, it is extremely important for Armenia", she said.
She said many of foreigners who visited Armenia last year had planned originally to visit Syria, but then refused to travel to that country because of the clashes between the government and opposition forces.
She said the major obstacle to the development of tourism in the country is the high cost of airfares.
"Prices for flights to Armenia are much higher than to many neighboring countries, and this makes foreign tourists to choose other than Armenia countries,’
she said.
The executive director of Eurasia travel agency, Gagik Mkrtchyan, said another obstacle to tourism development is lack of advertising and low level services in eateries outside the capital city.
According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, some 843,330 foreign tourists visited Armenia in 2012, an increase of 11.3% from the previous year. -0-
Travel firms take flight in a digital age | The Australian
Travel firms take flight in a digital age | The Australian
BY:TIM BOREHAM
From:The Australian
May 03, 2013 12:00AM
BY:TIM BOREHAM
From:The Australian
May 03, 2013 12:00AM
Australia’s top wineries launch Unique Winery Tours - Wining and Dining News - etravelblackboard.com
Australia’s top wineries launch Unique Winery Tours - Wining and Dining News - etravelblackboard.com
Some of Australia’s top wineries have joined forces to raise the profile of Australia as one of the world's leading wine tourism destinations, with Ultimate Winery Experiences of Australia, a consortium of high-end, award winning wineries offering unique wine experiences including barrel, private and structured tastings, food-wine matching, wine education and in Australia’s wine regions, launched at Australian Tourism Exchange in Sydney this week.
The group includes Jacobs Creek and Seppeltsfield from the Barossa Valley; Leeuwin Estate and Xanadu from Margaret River; De Bortoli, TarraWarra and Yering Station from the Yarra Valley; Wyndham Estate from the Hunter Valley; Montalto on the Mornington Peninsula; Moorilla Estate and Josef Chromy from Tasmania.
Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said the collaboration also included support from State tourism offices and aimed to tap into the potential of the combined wine and tourism industries, worth A$140 billion annually to the country’s economy.
He said that Tourism Australia was pleased to be involved in this new exciting initiative allowing Tourism Australia to support the tourism and wine industries by packaging up and promoting the best of the best of Australia’s wineries, cellar doors and wine experiences, adding, “These wineries are not simply venues to taste and purchase wine. Most of them offer a complete tourism experience - restaurants, accommodation, tours, as well as exciting behind the scenes winery experiences.”
“They allow visitors to interact with the product, the winemaker and enjoy first-hand, the rich diversity that our many wine regions have to offer”.
New iPad App facilitates travel planning to Austria
New iPad App facilitates travel planning to Austria
In early April 2013, the Austrian Tourist Office launched its new marketing and social media campaign. From the newest boutique hotels in Vienna to the best gourmet destinations in Salzburg, the goal of the “Austria. Moments of Bliss” campaign is to equip travelers with a convenient, well-researched and wanderlust-inspiring collection of recommendations - a roadmap, essentially, for having an unforgettable time in Austria. "The new campaign provides guidance to potential travelers and offers examples of authentic, hands-on experiences that go beyond the ordinary,” says Michael Gigl, Director of the Austrian Tourist Office, North America & Australia.
Travelers will find over 250 stories and experiences on http://www.austria.info/bliss, where they can browse among the various categories such as Food & Wine, Art & Architecture, and Hotel Tips. The lively conversation on the Austrian Tourist Office’sFacebook page is another source of information, as is the new destination magazine, and the brand-new, free iPad App.
The iAustria App provides helpful information and inspiration for planning a trip to Austria. Travelers can peruse a digital version of the Austrian Tourist Office's latest issue of the "arrive" magazine, a destination magazine featuring a multitude of suggestions and tips for every interest from architecture to outdoor activities. A map feature shows in detail where to find each location. The App also has an “Inspiration” section where one can browse through the most beautiful images from right across Austria and watch short clips highlighting the most popular destinations. In addition, it features carefully curated recommendations on where to stay, what to eat and what to see in Austria. The handy search function helps find the latest brochures and information folders for all major vacation destinations in Austria.
In terms of statistics, Austria is off to a good start of the year. Continuing last year’s trend, arrivals and overnights for February 2013 show a significant increase: arrivals (20,600) and overnights (59,800) from the US are up by 15% compared to the same month last year. As the Euro exchange rate remains favorable and demand for Austria products seems to be strong, we are confident this positive trend will continue for the rest of 2013. We're delighted to be contributing with this new campaign.
Jacada Travel: An Almost-Interplanetary-Adventure : Driving Argentina's Puna
Jacada Travel: An Almost-Interplanetary-Adventure : Driving Argentina's Puna
When people think of Argentina, many imaginations never wander quite as far as the surreal and solitary expanses of its north western Puna de Atacama where the topography is more like Mars than planet Earth. When the picture is often populated by boina-wearing gauchos, the sophisticated wineries of Mendoza or the mountainous south western regions of Patagonia, when you grasp the beauty of this semi-arid plateau -- filled with strange geological formations, salt flats, pumice fields, sand dunes and an absurd array of colors -- you won't quite believe it's the same country, let alone the same planet.
In fact, NASA has been studying the area in an attempt to better understand the conditions of Mars, so the Puna is considered to be the best example of extreme planetary geology making a trip here almost like your own interplanetary adventure but without the space travel.
One of the Jacada team recently travelled to this remote corner all in the name of research, with a privately guided 4WD trip from the town of Tolar Grande to El Peñón visiting the various and bizarre natural sights in between. Check out their journey in the slideshow below:
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Travel briefs - Just In! | Travel News - MiamiHerald.com
Travel briefs - Just In! | Travel News - MiamiHerald.com
The Lighthouse Bay Resort in Antigua and Barbuda is the most expensive hotel in the Caribbean, according to a new survey conducted by CaribbeanResorts.net and Allinclusiveresorts.net. The rankings are based on each hotel’s average rate for the most affordable double room. The Caribbean’s high travel season of January to March 2013 served as the basis of comparison.
To stay in the Lighthouse Bay this past season, travelers had to spend an average of $2,490 per night. That’s considerably more than the second most expensive hotel, the Amanyara resort in the Turks & Caicos Islands. The No. 2 finisher came in at an average of $2,059 per night. Anguilla’s Sheriva Villa Hotel rounded out the top 3 at an average of $1,914 per night.
Following are the rankings for the other most expensive luxury hotels in the Caribbean. The rates shown reflect the average rate for each hotel’s most affordable double room for the period January 15 to March 30, 2013.
4. Jumby Bay (Antigua and Barbuda) $1,898
5. Le Toiny (St. Barthelemy) $1,812
6. Petit St Vincent (St Vincent) $1,640
7. Sandy Lane (Barbados) $1,597
8. Coco Point Lodge (Antigua and Barbuda) $1,515
9. Jade Mountain Resort (St. Lucia) $1,504
10. Hermitage Bay (Antigua and Barbuda) $1,423.
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