Travel Week Mag

The world’s largest Titanic Museum Attraction in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee is launching this Thursday 8th April 2010 at 10 a.m. with a star-studded grand opening hosted by Regis Philbin, most famous for presenting the US version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. The event, which is open to the public, will be attended by descendants and family members of those onboard the Titanic, and continues throughout the weekend with special events and celebrity guests. The new $25 million dollar family attraction in Pigeon Forge, which overlooks the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, is a permanent three-deck reproduction of the Titanic. The interactive museum houses 20 galleries to display hundreds of authentic, priceless Titanic artefacts on two decks that were either carried from the ship and into lifeboats by passengers and crew, or were found afloat soon after the sinking and quickly salvaged by rescue boats. Many of these pieces are on display for the first time. Inside the Titanic Museum, visitors find full-size reproductions, built to actual Titanic blueprints, a First Class suite, First Class hallways, Third Class accommodations and the museum’s  centrepiece; a $1 million exact reproduction of the Titanic’s Grand Staircase.

In addition to being a world class museum, Titanic Pigeon Forge is also highly interactive and offers a hands-on experience for children, teenagers and adults. You will be able to learn how to send a wireless SOS signal, feel what it was like to stand in the icy night air while touching a soaring wall of ice that simulates the  iceberg that sliced through the ship and experience water chilled to 28 degrees which delivers a stark reminder of what two-thirds of the Titanic’s passengers and crew had to endure. The ship is anchored in water and a two hour self-guided tour gives visitors the sensation of sailing on the original ship’s 1912 maiden voyage. Upon entry each guest receives a boarding pass bearing the name of an actual Titanic passenger or crew member whose fate is revealed on the Memorial Wall at the end of the tour.

Titanic Pigeon Forge will take you on an incredible historical journey as part of the entertainment and fun in the Smoky Mountains. For further information visit www.titanicpigeonforge.com.

easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, will carry over 1 million passengers across its network over the Easter holidays. Easter is the busiest travel period of the year so far, and with the addition of 78 new easyJet routes to convenient airports over the last 12 months, customers have an even greater choice of destinations across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East to explore at famously low prices.

This Easter travellers are clearly looking to take advantage of the last of the snow in the Alps or escape for a little winter sun, with the top five easyJet destinations over the holidays being:

1. Geneva, Switzerland

2. Malaga, Spain

3. Faro, Portugal

4. Palma, Spain

5. Marrakech, Morroco


And the airline’s new routes to the Egyptian resort of Sharm El Sheik, the Canaries and Cyprus are proving increasingly popular, particularly for families.

As a result of beach holidays being so popular this Easter, city break destinations still have good availability and great low fares are still available to destinations such as Amsterdam, Berlin, Copenhagen and Paris, with fares from as little as £102, £152, £170 and £102 return inc taxes, respectively. Ideal for couples seeking a romantic break away.

Paul Simmons, easyJet UK general manager commented: “This Easter travellers are looking to escape post Budget blues and the endless grey winter. The majority seem to be seeking a little winter sun with families heading for the beaches and couples seeking romantic get-aways in some of the great cities of Southern Europe.”

Oman's Tourism Ministry, Oman Air and Muscat's leading hotels have joined forces to launch the Sultanate's first pan European campaign. The campaign is a fresh and exciting start for a new era of marketing Oman in Europe.

The Ministry of Tourism's Undersecretary of Tourism, His Excellency Mohammed Al Tobi said that "the campaign, under the theme 'Now is the Time!" has been made possible by an unprecedented level of close cooperation and focus, unseen in the industry before. As a result, we have an exciting campaign that positions Oman as a year-round destination underpinned by highly competitive inclusive holiday packages, which include return air fares, accommodation and breakfasts at price points, all of which we see as very good value. I am sure the campaign will generate many first-time visitors to our beautiful country".

The "Now is the Time!" campaign offers highly competitive 6 and 7-day holiday packages, return air fares and accommodation. Packages are common-rated across Europe. The packages include return air fares, 4 and 5 star twin share accommodation and breakfasts for travel from 12 April to 1October 2010.

Oman's tourism strategy is aimed at boosting the European market.

His Excellency continued "Our research shows there were close to four million arrivals from Europe to our neighbouring countries in 2009, so our campaign's objective is to attract first-time visitors as well as those able to include Oman as part of a wider travel plan to the region. Additionally, we see Oman Air's growing European presence, with non-stop services from London, Frankfurt, Munich and Paris, as an opportunity to develop Muscat as the 'authentic' gateway to the Gulf, as Muscat was in the age of sail".

Oman's tactical campaign builds on Oman Air's European expansion, with the carrier allocating a record of 12,000 seats to the campaign, its largest ever commitment to a single promotion.

Peter Hill, Oman Air's Chief Executive added "Oman Air is totally committed to this campaign which showcases our non-stop services to Muscat and our new Airbus A330 services that are second to none in terms of comfort and hospitality and offer a unique flying experience. The campaign will turn heads and put Oman Air on the map. It comes at a time when we are looking to increase services to Europe".

Speaking for the hotels involved in the campaign, Arbind Shrestha, General Manager of Shangri-La's Barr Al Jissah Resort and Spa concluded "the campaign demonstrates the industry is working to a single vision, and the synergy it drives will no doubt optimize the benefits to all "
Alison Cryer, Director UK & Ireland announced "The campaign has been well received in the UK and we have already agreed joint marketing activity with Dream Ticket and Lotus and are finalizing proposals from several other tour operators."

She added: "The UK saw a growth of 9% in 2009 and with this new campaign we are expecting a higher level for 2010".

Continental Airlines on Saturday, March 27, will inaugurate service between New York and Munich, Germany, with daily nonstop flights from the airline's hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.

"Launching nonstop service to Munich allows us to link Continental's New York hub to the Munich hub of our new partner Lufthansa," said Jim Compton, Continental's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "It's a great example of how joining Star Alliance is allowing our customers to seamlessly connect to a greater number of travel destinations."

Convenient Flight Schedule

Continental will operate the nonstop daily flight with a Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, seating 25 passengers in BusinessFirst and 149 passengers in economy class. Flight CO106 will depart Newark Liberty daily at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Munich at 7:40 a.m. the next day. The return flight, CO107, will depart Munich's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport daily at 9:20 a.m. and arrive at Newark Liberty at 12:35 p.m. the same day. The schedule of the Continental service complements that of Lufthansa's existing daily New York/Newark-Munich service, which departs Newark Liberty about three hours later and Munich about six hours later.

The new flight has been timed to provide convenient connections at Munich, where Star Alliance member flights provide service to more than 95 destinations in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and at New York/Newark with an extensive network of Continental flights to more than 100 destinations throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America. Continental operates the largest hub in the New York City metropolitan area at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Munich becomes the fourth German city to be served with daily flights to New York by Continental after Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg; the airline also operates daily service between Frankfurt and Houston. Munich is the 30th destination in Continental's overall trans-Atlantic network.

Award-winning BusinessFirst Service

The new flights will feature Continental's BusinessFirst service, rated by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as the highest among all U.S. carriers for trans-Atlantic flights for 10 years in a row. Continental's BusinessFirst amenities include an extensive gourmet menu served with premium wines and champagnes created by Continental's Congress of Chefs and Sommeliers. A specially selected and trained corps of concierges is available to provide individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 35 international airports worldwide. Customers traveling in BusinessFirst are also able to access any of Continental's 24 Presidents Clubs and other airline affiliated lounges worldwide.

Munich Destination

The new service will provide daily nonstop flights to Germany's third largest city and the economic centre of southern Germany. Munich, the capital of Bavaria, has a population of 1.3 million in the city and 5 million in the Munich Metropolitan Region. Famed for its historic and modern architecture and annual Oktoberfest beer celebration, Munich boasts a wealth of cultural attractions and institutions. Among the many world-renowned companies whose headquarters are in the city are Siemens AG (electronics), BMW (cars), MAN AG (trucks, engineering), Allianz (insurance) and Munich Re (re-insurance). Lufthansa operates a hub at Munich's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport, which is the second-largest airport in Germany after Frankfurt.

Continental also offers tour packages to Germany through Continental Airlines Vacations.

Orient-Express’ hotels in Koh Samui, Siem Reap, Yangon and Luang Prabang have each created a special ‘Water Festival’ package, available between 9th-18th April to celebrate Songkran. Each package includes a traditional Buddhist monk blessing ceremony, complimentary round-trip airport transfers, and full daily breakfast, as well as additional extras unique to each resort.

Napasai, a luxury beach resort in Koh Samui, offers a Water Festival Package which includes a relaxing one hour Thai massage at the newly renovated spa, and a complimentary dinner at either the recently opened beach BBQ restaurant, which serves fresh local seafood, or the Lai Thai restaurant, which offers French specialities and Thai dishes. Set on a hillside within 17 acres of lush tropical land, Napasai boasts its own private beach and spa. Rates for this package start from 170 GBP per room, per night.

For a more relaxed New Year celebration, La Résidence d’Angkor in Siem Reap, Cambodia is offering a one hour meditation session in the Kong Kea spa and a sunset tour to Tonle Sap Lake followed by a monk blessing as part of their package. Dedicated excursions to the famous temples of Angkor Wat, one of the man-made wonders of the world, can also be arranged. Prices for the Water Festival package start from 184 GBP per room, per night.

The Water Festival package at the two storey teak mansion, The Governor’s Residence in Yangon, Myanmar, includes an exclusive dinner for two at the Mandalay restaurant as well as a complimentary third night if guests wish to extend their trip. The Governor’s Residence is situated only ten minutes away from the city centre and is surrounded by luscious gardens and lotus ponds.

Visitors to The Governor’s Residence are also a short flight away from Mandalay where they can opt to see the sites of Burma by water, on the legendary Road to Mandalay river cruise. The price for the Water Festival package at The Governor’s Residence starts from 172 GBP per room, per night. Prices for a three night Highlights of Burma cruise on Road to Mandalay start from 1400 GBP per person and include all meals, accommodation on board, transfers, and sightseeing in Myanmar.

Luxury spa hotel La Résidence Phou Vao in Luang Prabang will arrange a unique Baci ceremony (traditional blessing) for its guests at New Year, as well as free transfers to participate in the Songkran festivities. In addition to this, two children can stay free of charge when sharing their parents room and the hotel is also offering a complimentary fourth night if guests wish to extend their stay. Laos is deeply rooted to its Buddhist culture and this is reflected in its art, language, and many temples. The country’s many unspoilt national parks and mountainous terrain offer visitors an array of outdoor activities such as trekking, kayaking and caving and Luang Prabang’s two markets, which are famed for their fresh fruit, vegetables, and spices as well as their silk and linen garments, are a must see for tourists who want to take away a souvenir from the country. Prices for the Water Festival Package at La Résidence Phou Vao start from 187 GBP per night.

The ritual of throwing water at Songkran symbolizes the renewal and cleansing of the spirit and stems from a tradition where people would try to catch water used to gently cleanse statues of Buddha. This blessed water was then presented to the elderly for good fortune and to bring prosperity for the New Year. Over the years, the tradition has evolved into a water festival where people joyously throw water over each other using buckets and water guns.