the eastern mediterranean supplement 2011

Your one-stop guideto all the latest news and developments in the Eastern Mediterranean

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The Eastern Mediterranean

All about

September 2011

S01 TB E Med Supp - Regional Round-up_Layout 1 26/09/2011 15:22

• 20 Greek destinations on sale NOW• 11 newly featured Greek destinations include: Paxos, Ithaca, Santorini,Skopelos, Alonissos, Leros, Kalymnos, Telendos, Sivota, Meganissi and Symi

• Full range of new 14 night twin centre holidays now available• NEW flights from Bristol to Corfu, Zante and Crete / from Newcastle to Corfu and Zante• Flights available from Gatwick, Manchester, Luton, Birmingham• 2-5 diamond rated accommodation on wide choice of board basis available

ON SALENOW

Prices

from

£229

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NEWNEWDEDICATEDDEDICATED2012 GREECE

2012 GREECEBROCHUREBROCHURE

ABTA No.V0531COSMOS

HOLIDAYS PLCCOSMOS

HOLIDAYS PLC

Viewdata access via: Fastrak COS or Istel Cos # | Brochure requests: www.trade-gate.co.ukViewdata access via: Fastrak COS or Istel Cos # | Brochure requests: www.trade-gate.co.uk

Reservations & AdminReservations & Admin 0871 423 8518*0871 423 8518** Calls cost 10p per minute plus network extra


The countries in the eastern Mediterranean have experiencedmixed fortunes over recent years, with Turkey performingparticularly well at the expense of Greece and Cyprus.

Being in the eurozone, coupled with the recent global economicupheaval, has had a big impact on tourism for both Greece and Cyprus,forcing prices up across the board, and making both countries lessappealing to holidaymakers who themselves have reduced budgets.

However, this summer, operators have seen a revival in fortunes forGreece and Cyprus, with competitive pricing and the Arab Springprompting Britons who may have opted for destinations such as Egyptand Tunisia to rethink their holiday plans.

In response, operators such as Tui Travel, have added capacity toGreece, while hotels in Cyprus have woken up to the popularity of all-inclusive hotels for families that not only include everything in the oneprice but also offer a range of facilities and activities, such as on-sitewater parks.

While the main Greek islands of Rhodes, Crete, Kos and Corfu arestill popular, operators have seen a big demand for people who want toexplore the smaller islands. As a consequence, operators haveintroduced island-hopping itineraries or options to tailor-make multi-centre trips.

Over recent years, Turkey has benefitted from not being in theeurozone, allowing its hotels and resorts to be much more competitiveon price than its rivals, particularly when it comes to all-inclusivepackages. However, operators have said that this year, bookings havebeen slightly down on previous years due to its proximity to countriesthat were affected the Arab Spring.

Operators believe it is only a blip and have been busy introducingnew hotels, resorts and guided tours for 2012. Like Greece and Cyprus,while the main resorts of Bodrum, Olu Deniz and Marmaris have beenbusy this year, operators have seen interest from clients who havevisited Turkey before, experienced the delights of the leading resortsand are keen to explore the other side of Turkey.

Operators, big and small, have responded to this demand and addedtours that take visitors off-the-beaten track to rural destinations, aswell as exploring the history and the heritage of Turkey. City breaks toIstanbul are proving popular too with one operator putting 850%increase in winter 2011/12 bookings down to demand for short breaksto Istanbul. With all this activity in the eastern Mediterranean over thenext 12 months, make sure you are in the know with a little bit help fromTravel Bulletin’s All About the Eastern Mediterranean supplement.

Angela Cronin Supplements editor

Eastern Mediterranean

3

All about the

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Tel: 020-7834 6661Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe

Written and researched by: Angela CroninEmail: [email protected]

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CONTENTS8 Cyprus

4 What’s New

15 Turkey

12 Greece

All about the Eastern Mediterranean


Cyprus Titan Travel

Tours specialist Titan Travel isfeaturing its first tour of Cypruswith the launch of its new-

look Worldwide brochure. The nine-day Contrasts of Cyprus

tour takes in the island’s classical sites,ancient cities, the Troodos mountainsand the capital of Nicosia. There aresix possible departure dates in 2012,with prices from £1,545 per personincluding flights, transfers,

accommodation and tours.

Prestige HolidaysThe all-suite, adults-only Asimina Suitesin Paphos has been added to Prestige’swinter programme.

Facilities at the hotel include threepools, tennis, a gym and a spa.

Prestige offers seven nights’ bed andbreakfast in April from £969 per personincluding flights and transfers.

Cyplon HolidaysThe Greece and Cyprus specialist iscelebrating its 40th anniversary byoffering agents £40 Capital Bondvouchers for any bookings made by 10

October for summer 2012. Cyplon hasadded new hotels to its Greeceprogramme for 2012. These include: theGrecotel Creta Palace in Rethymnon; theGrecotel Cape Sounio in Athens; the AtriumPlatinum in Ixia, Rhodes; the KipriotisPanorama Hotel and Suites in Psalidi, Kos;the Met Hotel and Electra Palace inThessaloniki; Iliomare Hotel and Resort andRoyal Paradise Beach Resort and Spa inThassos; Porto Carras Meliton and PortoCarras Sithonia Beach in Halkidiki.

Sunvil HolidaysThe Cyprus specialist has added CasalPanayiotis, in the heart of Kalopanayiotisvillage in the Troodos mountains, forSunvil’s 2012 programme.

Rooms are in traditional buildings thathave been converted into chic, comfortableaccommodation and act as a base forguests, who are keen to explore the ruralsurroundings. Prices for Sunvil’s Cyprus 2012programme lead in at £582 per person forseven nights’ B&B at the Souli Hotel inPaphos.

What’s new…

4

The lazy river is one of the newestadditions to the recently refurbishedOlympic Lagoon resort in Ayia Napa

The eastern Mediterranean countries havehad their fair share of upheaval over recentyears but 2012 looks set to be a promisingone with the opening of new hotels, theexpansion of operator programmes and theinclusion of new tours


what’s new


St Raphael ResortA new Serenity Spa has opened at the five-star St RaphaelResort in Limassol, replacing the hotel’s health and beautycentre.

Inside the new spa is a swimming pool, water-jet massagebed, a solarium, massage rooms, a body treatment room, abeautician’s suite, dedicated manicure/pedicure room, arelaxation room, a private sauna and steam bath.

Decleor and Neoderma products are being used in the spa’streatments. Prices start at £52 for the rasul ritual.

A new beach tavern has also opened at the Limassol resort.Seashells is located on one of the largest Blue Flag-

accredited beaches in Limassol and is open daily during thesummer season from 10am until late.

Meanwhile, St Raphael Resort has launched a new-lookwebsite, raphael.com.cy which offers online booking, specialoffers as well as a flight booking search facility.

So Nice Boutique SuitesThis boutique hotel in Ayia Napa, has introduced a new beachwedding venue, suitable for small and stylish civil ceremonies,with a special introductory package.

Any couples looking to get married who book seven nights’accommodation at So Nice will be offered the beach weddingvenue for free – the hire of the venue alone usually costs £436.

So Nice Boutique Suites is a collection of 60 beachbungalows in the Makronissos area of Ayia Napa, Cyprus.

Kanika HotelsThe Olympic Lagoon Resort opened its doors earlier this yearafter a multi-million pound expansion and upgradingprogramme.

The 259-room hotel, which now offers an all-inclusive option,has seven swimming pools, four restaurants, two entertainmentvenues, two kids’ clubs, a spa and six different room types, fromstandard rooms to superior bungalows, deluxe suites and familysuites. Sister hotel Elias Beach Hotel has also undergone anextensive refurbishment project with improvements to all of its174 guest rooms, a full agenda of daytime and eveningentertainment for all the family and a new entertainmentvenue.

An all-inclusive option has also been introduced at thehotel.

Meanwhile, Alexander the Great Beach Hotel in Paphos,also recently renovated, now offers guests a half-board orfull-board plus option which means they can dine in any ofthe hotel’s five restaurants with drinks included.

Columbia Beach ResortTwo hotels in Pissouri Bay on the southwest coast of Cyprushave launched new diving packages.

Kembali Diving is opening at the five-star Columbia BeachResort and sister property Columbia Beachotel in Novemberoffering guests a range of diving activities and the chance toget PADI certification along with special accommodationrates.

To become a PADI-certified scuba diver takes two days and

costs £250. To gain the open-water scuba diver’s certificationcosts £345. Guests who book the four-day open-water scubadiving course or the three-day winter season diving packagewill be able to book accommodation at the Columbia BeachResort for £114 per room per night.

Constantinou Bros Hotels The four-star, 429-room Athena Beach Hotel and the 253-room Pioneer Beach Hotel in Paphos are poised to undergo afull refurbishment and upgrade in time for summer 2012.

All hotel rooms at the Athena will be renovated, newjunior suites with pools will be introduced and the numberof superior rooms and suites will increase to 103 with theaddition of a new superior floor. A new ultra all-inclusiveoption will be also be rolled out next summer.

Meanwhile, all of the rooms will be renovated at thePioneer and new luxury rooms will include new superiordeluxe seafront rooms and new executive one-bedroomsuites.

Renovation of all the public areas will also take place andthe hotel will be branded as a Thomson Couples hotel andwill be being sold exclusively through the Thomson brand inthe UK when it reopens on the 1 May.

Two new villas have been introduced at the exclusive Porto Zanteresort

Aegean Airlines operates a number of daily directservices from Heathrow to Greece and Cyprus.The carrier, which is a full service airline with a fleet ofAirbus A320s and A321s, offers four daily direct flightsto Athens, one daily direct flight to Larnaca and, duringthe summer season, a direct flight to Heraklion, Cretetwice a week from Heathrow.In addition, Aegean, which also codeshares with Bmi onUK domestic routes, operates an extensive domesticnetwork through Athens to many of the Greek islands.Prices lead in at £72 one way from Heathrow to Athensor Larnaca and £136.

Aegean Airlines

5All about the Eastern Mediterranean

what’s new


Greece CosmosCosmos Holidays has launched its largest-ever Greece programmewith new smaller islands featured for 2012 along with tailor-madeholiday options.

The 11 new destinations include Paxos, Santorini, Ithaca, Leros,Kalymnos, Telendos, Symi, Skopelos, Alonissos, Meganissi and onthe mainland, the resort of Sivota. The new flexible option meansclients can tailor-make their holiday to their exact needs withmulti-centre breaks now a possibility.

More than 70 new properties are now available for summer 2012in 20 different destinations. Early-booking offers include £100 lowdeposit per person and free child places.

Prices lead in at £289 per person for a seven-night stay in Zante. Meanwhile, Cosmos has launched its 2012 Villas with Pools

programme featuring its new Something Special category whichhighlights properties with wow factor qualities, such as outstandinglocations or amazing decor. The new brochure features a number ofnew destinations including the resorts of Kalivia and Skiathos Townon the Greek island of Skiathos. Other new resorts include Lourdasin Kefalonia, Aghios Nikolaos in Crete, Keri in Zante and Kayakoy inTurkey.

Villa package holiday prices lead in at £199 per person, while villaaccommodation-only prices start at just £185 per villa per week.

Olympic HolidaysThe Greece and Cyprus specialist has added the Greek islands ofSamos, Lesvos and Thassos to the Alternative Greece section of itssummer 2012 programme.

Properties offered in Samos include the luxury Doryssa Bay Hotel,with seven nights’ half-board from £625, and the Samos Sun Hoteland Apartments with seven nights’ bed and breakfast from £515.

On Lesvos, the Pasiphae Hotel, the Molyvos 1 Hotel and theBelvedere Hotel are featured with seven nights’ all-inclusive at theBelvedere starting at £815.

The five-star Ilio Mare Resort and the four-star Alea Hotel andSuites and Makryammos Hotel are offered on Thassos with pricesleading in at £595 for seven nights’ half-board at the Makryammos.

AvroFlight-only operator Avro has expanded its Greece flyingprogramme for 2012.

Flights from Bristol to Corfu, Zante and Crete have been addedalong with new routes from Newcastle to Corfu and Zante. Servicesto Greece from Birmingham have been significantly expanded withthe introduction of Birmingham to Chania in Crete offered for thevery first time in the UK market as well as Birmingham to Kefalonia,Rhodes and the mainland gateway of Preveza. Prices for the newroutes lead in at £249 based on seven-night durations fromBirmingham to Chania during June 2012.

Flights to the Greek port of Volos from both Gatwick andManchester are offered again for 2012 priced at £290 return.

Sunvil HolidaysSunvil Holidays has added new islands, hotels and activities to its2012 Greece programme.

The island of Thassos features for the first time, with the five-starIlio Mare hotel added, while the 27-bedroom, four-star boutiquehotel Almyra in the resort of Fiscardo on Kefalonia has also beenintroduced.

Sea kayaking on the island of Alonissos is also being offered forthe first time.

Prices lead in £547 per person for seven nights’ self-catering at theIrene Studio on Corfu.

Ionian WeddingsWedding specialist Ionian Weddings is planning to start workingwith agents by the end of this year.

Jane Stuart-Palikira and Andreas Palikiras set up the company afterthey planned their own wedding in Corfu, They’ve gone fromorganising 40 weddings in 2008 to 225 so far this year.

The operator has a wealth of contacts and unique venues inGreece and Cyprus for couples to tie the knot.

New for Greece for 2012 from Ionian Weddings is Melissani Lakein Kefalonia where couples can get married in a boat floating on thelake. Also new as a wedding venue is the 19th-century AchilleionPalace, Corfu.

Islands of GreeceIslands of Greece is offering more regional departures for 2012 asdemand soars for high-value, multi-island bookings.

The Greece specialist now offers a new flight from Bristol toSkiathos with Thomas Cook, reintroduced services to Chania inCreate from Birmingham with Monarch and launched flights fromBirmingham to Prevaza in northwestern Greece. There are alsoflights from Edinburgh to Athens and from Glasgow to Crete.

In response to demand for high value, multi-island bookings, thecompany is looking at adding new quality accommodation in itsbest-selling islands including Skopelos and Skiathos.

Seven nights at the Aegialis Hotel on Amorgos lead in at £499 perperson including flights and all transfers.

Porto Zante Villas and SpaPorto Zante Villas and Spa has introduced two new villas on theRaffles is opening a five-star hotel in Istanbul in 2013


what’s new


hotel’s hillside location in Zakynthos, bringing the total featured inthe resort to six.

The newly opened presidential spa villa and grand presidentialvilla both feature Armani Casa interiors, two double bedrooms andprivate pools in the gardens of the villas. The villas benefit from 24-hour personalised service. A range of in-villa spa and beautyservices are available and activities ranging from scuba diving, sailingand private boat excursions to local beauty spots such as the BlueCaves can be arranged. Prices start at £1,222 per villa per nightincluding taxes and airport transfers.

Turkey Anatolian SkyAnatolian Sky has added a new guided tour to its 2012 Turkeyprogramme following an increase in demand from clients toexperience a taste of the country’s culture.

Highlights of the new seven-night tour include theopportunity to spend two nights in a village on the Black Seawhere visitors can collect eggs, dig for vegetables and learnhow to milk a cow. The artisan craft town of Safronbulu alsofeatures in the new itinerary where clients can learn first-handabout traditional Turkish crafts.

The latest addition brings the total number of guided toursfeatured to four.

Prices for the new seven-night tour lead in at £1,300 andinclude some meals, flights and transfers.

Wings AbroadTurkey specialist Wings Abroad has launched its 2012 summerprogramme with new regional departures, prices held at 2011levels and low deposits of £50 per person for all bookingsmade by 31 December.

More than 30 Turkish resorts are featured in the newprogramme plus city breaks to Istanbul. The new resortsfeature in the regions of Fethiye, Marmaris, Bodrum, Altinkum,Kusadasi, the Turkish Riviera and gulet cruises.

The operator also offers flights from Gatwick, Bristol,Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh, GlasgowInternational, Glasgow Prestwick and Aberdeen.

Price lead in at £287 per person for seven nights’ B&B at theSami Plaza Hotel in Gumbet. The price is based on 10 Maydepartures from Gatwick.

Kempinski HotelKempinski Hotel Barbaros Bay has launched new honeymoon spaexperiences.

The new packages include a 50-minute couples, private Turkishhammam, two nights in a room with sea views, candle-lit dinner onthe terrace of the Olives restaurant, aroma bath in the privacy ofthe room, early check-in and late check out, sparkling wine andfruits and return airport transfers.

Prices start at £702 per couple for two nights in a sea-view roomwith the honeymoon spa experience. Additional nights on a bed-and-breakfast basis are charged at £120 per room per night.

Raffles Hotels and ResortsInternational luxury hotel chain Raffles has unveiled plans toopen a hotel in Istanbul in 2013.

The hotel will be a key feature of the new Zorlu Centre, whichwill house a performing arts centre, offices, residential property,retail and the Raffles hotel.

The Raffles Istanbul Zorlu Centre will be developed by ZorluProperty with an investment of over $175 million. Its design willreflect the cultural and characteristic features of Istanbul, with 130guestrooms and 50 suites.

The hotel will have a ballroom, two restaurants and bars, indoorand outdoor swimming pools, a heliport and a Raffles Spa.

PrestigePrestige Holidays has added the Gloria Golf Resort in Belek. Thesister resort of the Gloria Serenity, Prestige offers seven nights atGloria Golf in April for £773 per person including flights andtransfers. ■

Prestige Holidays has added the all-suite, adults-only Asimina Suites in Paphos to its winter programme


what’s new


Getting the price right seems tohave been a challenge forCyprus over recent years.

With destinations, such as Egypt,Turkey and Tunisia being reallycompetitive when it comes to pricing,Cyprus has found it hard to rival someof the amazing deals these countrieshave been able to offer. However,operators are seeing demand for theMediterranean island bounce back aspeople look for quality from theirholiday destination, which Cyprus hasin abundance.

Classic Collection Holidays hasexperienced a solid performance fromits Cyprus programme all year roundwith bookings for summer 2011 up12% year on year.

A spokesman for the operator says:“We feel that winter sales could bestronger and so we are hosting anagents’ educational with flight supportfrom the Cyprus Tourism Organisationfor the middle of November.

“We also have a short joint trademarketing campaign with the CTO tostress Cyprus’s suitability as a year-round destination. The campaign will

stress the mild year-round climate

and highlight the excellentopportunities for walking, cycling,hiking and golf holidays.”

As always, the tourist office is keen towork with the trade with a number offam trips planned and a lot of supportacross the board for operators andtheir marketing activities to promoteCyprus within the UK.

The CTO website has alsodeveloped a free app for smart phonesso that visitors can access informationthey need to know before they go toCyprus. The app can be downloadedfrom m.visitcyprus.com.

The tourist organisation is alsoplanning a national press and TVcampaign using the ‘Cyprus in ourHeart’ slogan.

We talk to the experts to find outwhere to head in Cyprus next year.

Keep it in the familyThe long, golden sandy beaches of

Ayia Napa and the variety of watersports on offer make this resort popularwith families too.

For parents who want to combinestyle with an affordable family holiday,So Nice Boutique Suites in Ayia Napaticks all the right boxes.

A contemporary collection of 60white island-style bungalows, So NiceBoutique Suites offers the convenienceof self-catering combined with two on-site restaurants.

A family of three or four can stay ineither a junior suite or superior suitethat have fully equipped kitchens. Eachbungalow has air-conditioning andunder-floor heating, marblebathrooms, LCD TVs and internetaccess. Beach suites have private poolsand Jacuzzis. A playground area is setaside within the hotel’s gardens alongwith a children’s pool. A few minutes’stroll through the gardens leads to theBlue Flag Golden Beach where

Aphrodite's Rock

The Lounge at the Library

Cyprus

8

Time for Cyprus

With its quality hotels,great hospitality,stunning landscapesand captivatingculture, it’s easy to seewhy holidaymakerskeep going back toCyprus year after year


S02 TB E Med Supp - Cyprus_Layout 1 26/09/2011 14:21

volleyball, mini football and water sports, are available.Sample product: Planet Holidays offers seven nights’ bedand breakfast for £808 per adult and £599 per childincluding flights and transfers.Over in Limassol, the five-star St Raphael Resort is popularwith families due to its wide range of facilities and its ultraall-inclusive board basis which means that all meals, snacks,ice cream and imported house brands of alcohol already areincluded in the price. Facilities at the hotel include anoutdoor playground, a separate shaded kids’ pool, asupervised mini club and water slide as well as disco nightsfor the little ones and a babysitting service. Familyaccommodation includes a separate bunk bed area and inthe marina view rooms this area can be closed off with asliding door.Sample product: Olympic Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusive for £2,805 for a family of four including flights andtransfers

Adult time The Library, a boutique hotel and wellness retreat in thevillage of Kalavasos, 25 miles southwest of Larnaca, is theperfect retreat for couples who want to escape for a fewdays. Previously a 19th-century mansion, the hotel has beenrestored by an environmental architect and is now an adults-only property with eight rooms and three suites, eachindividually styled.

Trails for biking in the Troodos Mountains start outside thevillage and the surrounding area is a treasure trove of historyand culture for those keen to explore.Sample product: Sunvil holidays offers seven nights’ B&Bfrom £845 per person including flights and transfers.

Authentic Cyprus To immerse yourself in the real Cyprus, Inntravel suggestsagents recommend a self-guided walking break that willexplore the two best walking regions on the island – therugged pine-clad Troodos mountains and the gentlerMediterranean landscapes of the Akamas Peninsula.

Visitors will discover traditional hamlets, rich flora andfauna and astonishing scenery. Other highlights includeKrasochoria, home of traditional wine villages, and a walk tothe fabled baths of Aphrodite. Stay at four authentic andwelcoming hotels en route.Sample product: prices lead in at £530 per person based ontwo sharing, including seven nights’ B&B with five dinners,luggage transfers between hotels, walking maps and noteswith. Flights are extra.

Health and wellbeingA rural spa hotel hidden away in a tranquil and lush valley inMiliou, between Paphos and Polis, the 56-room AyiiAnargyri Natural Healing Spa Resort is housed in aconverted monastery where the original spa was firstopened in 1649 by two brothers who offered freetreatments using the local natural mineral spring water.

Today, the spa has made the most of its special locationclose a mineral-rich spring, channelling a stream to the spawhere it is combined in numerous treatments in the hotel’snatural spring lounge. The waters are beneficial for joint ormuscle discomfort and some circulatory problems and thetherapies are natural, non-invasive and numerous. The spaalso includes holistic massage, meditation and yoga. Sample product: Classic Collection offers seven nights’ B&Bfrom £1,291 per person including flights and transfers. LuxuryIf it’s designer chic surroundings your clients want, thenlook no further than the Anassa on Asprokemnos beach inChrysochou Bay in the northwest of Cyprus.

Part of the family-run Cypriot Thanos Hotel chain, theAnassa is built in the style of a traditional Cypriot villagewith white-washed walls and wooden doors and shutters.Its discreet, location stylish decor and high-quality servicehave made it popular with the rich and famous looking toget away from it all, including Gordon Ramsey, sir PhillipGreen and Vanessa Feltz. Sample product: Prestige holidays offers seven nights’B&B including flights and transfers from £1,088 per personin November.

AFFORDABLE LUXURY

CALL 0800 008 7288www.classic-collection.co.uk/cyprus

Mention ‘Love Cyprus’ when making your next Cyprus booking to receive a complimentary box of chocolatesOffer limited to one booking per agent. Expires 31/10/2011

AGENT OFFER

the welcome in Cyprus is as warm as the year-round Mediterranean sun

CyprusRustic villages friendly people

Stunning beaches secluded coves

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Cyprus



Cyprus

10

Olympic Holidays commercialdirector Photis Lambrianides offershis advice on the resorts in Cyprusare best suited to…Families: Protaras has proved verypopular this summer, “perhaps moreso than we expected,” saysLambrianides. “A significantproportion of families on a tightbudget opted for self-catering thissummer and Protaras has one of thehighest concentrations of self-catering apartments on the island.”Health/wellbeing: “Limassol has twosuperb five-star hotels, AmathusBeach and the Four Seasons, withtheir own thalassotherapy spatreatments,” says Lambrianides.Luxury: “One of the most enduringlypopular choices for the British

market is the five-star AphroditeHills resort, set in the hills abovePaphos, offering a spa and golfcourse in addition to its superbaccommodation and dining options.It has immense appeal for totalrelaxation,” according toLambrianides. Culture vultures: “Village houses inOmodhos, Tochni and Kalavassos areall part of the island’s agrotourismprogramme, which involvesrenovating old village propertiesto create authentic holiday homes.Pissouri is a good ‘in-between’option, in that it’s not quite so offthe beaten track, but neverthelesshas not been over-developed andis surrounded by vineyards andattractive scenery,” says

Lambrianides.Affordability: “Ayia Napa andProtaras has a good choice ofself-catering accommodation,with some good value half boardand all-inclusive properties too.Our exclusive property, theMacronissos Village has hit awinning formula for families oflow prices and a popular activityand entertainment programmeput together by the enthusiasticresort team. There’s flexibilityhere too, with a choice of eitherself-catering or all-inclusiveplan,” says Lambrianides.“Other good value properties arethe Kapetanios Bay the Konnos BayApartments and the Adelais BayHotel.”

Best for…

LarnacaLarnaca is currently undergoing afive-year revitalisation to make theregion a popular area for tourists tovisit.

The project started with the newinternational airport and the creationof three town squares, and continueswith developments such as a newgolf course, development of themarina and port and excavations ofthe ancient port of Kition.

The work that have taken placethis year include the LarnacaCultural Walk, which involves thedevelopment of new signed walksthat take in the town’s various

attractions, named after the greatphilosopher Zenon who lived inKition (ancient Larnaka). The firstwalk covers the seafront and towncentre, the second walk is dedicatedto the town’s archaeology andmuseums and the third walkcombines cultural aspects with sitesof natural beauty.

Also opened this year is theOlympic Standard Shooting Range inthe village of Klavdia .

On schedule for 2013 is theexcavations of the ancient port ofKition, one of the world’s majorsurviving ancient ports. These will berelocated and the site will become an

archaeological park along with anArchaeological Museum, showing offthe many ancient artefacts that havebeen unearthed.

A four-mile walkway linking thevillages of Pyla and Voroklini will becompleted by 2013, while anenvironmental centre will beestablished at Salt Lake.

A new international, 18-hole par 71golf course will be built by 2014 inthe village of Tersefanou, while theport and marina at Larnaca is beingredeveloped to accommodate 900berths. This project will also includeluxury villas, a five-star hotel andcommercial and recreational area. ■

New luxury all suite Hotel for adults only

Superb beach front setting in Paphos

Executive Suites with private pools

Fine dining and spa facilities

UK sales: Paphos Cyprus



S03 TB E Med Supp - Greece_Layout 1 26/09/2011 15:12

Greece

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Classic Collection Holidayslaunched a dedicated Greece andCyprus brochure at the start of thesummer and the operator has seen astrong performance.

A spokesman for Classic Collectionsays Crete remains a perennialfavourite among our clients andconsistently produces some veryhigh-value bookings.

“Our Greek island programme has

sold better than expected and weare currently contracting moreproperties for summer 2012 in Kos,Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes and weshall be featuring Corfu for the firsttime in 2012,” he says.

“Athens and Halkidiki on the Greekmainland have performed solidly,especially the Sani hotels which havea very loyal following.”

From its cultural offering to itsparty islands, we ask Greek specialistoperators for their recommendationson how to experience the best of thisvast and varied country.

Culture club Cox and Kings has launchedescorted group tours to Greece forthe first time. The luxury specialisthas put together an eight-dayJourney through Ancient Greece

Greece hasexperienced arevival in its tourismfortunes this year asBritons rediscovertheir fondness for amuch-loved,summer holidaydestination

Greece is the wordThe Adrina Resort and Spa on the Aegean island of Skopelos is featured by Islands of Greece



13

Greece

itinerary that visits the classichighlights of Athens, Mycenae,Olympia, Delphi and Epidaurus andexplores the Corinth Canal andmonasteries of Mereora.Sample product: prices lead in at£1,155 per person and include sevennights’ bed and breakfast, flights,transfers and tours.Olympic Holidays features anAlternative Greece section thatshowcases the islands of Syros, Paros,Naxos, Ios, Symi, Halki, Kalymnos,Skopelos, Alonissos, Paxos andLefkada. For summer 2012, thesection has been expanded to includeSamos, Lesvos and Thassos.

“Each of the small islands – some ofwhich can be combined with inter-island ferries or flights to creatememorable two-centre holidays – hastheir own character,” says OlympicHolidays commercial director Photis Lambrianides. “Andthe mainland resorts of Sivota and Parga are beautiful,and among the most under-appreciated destinations inGreece. I particularly rate Parga, with its red roofs andwhite-washed walls above the harbour.”Sample product: Olympic Holidays features a two-centreholiday with seven nights at the Sunrise Village onSkopelos, followed by seven nights on Yalis Apartmentson Skiathos for £610 per person. The price is based onJune departures and includes flights, airport transfersand inter-island ferry transfers.

Escorted tours specialist Shearings has introduced anew Greek cruise for 2012. The Secret Islands of theAegean cruise will give clients the chance to explore theculture and history of Greece with stops in Rhodes,

Santorini, Paros, Naxos, Delos, Mykonos and Athens.Highlights of the holiday include a trip to the ancient

sites in Athens, a visit to the Cycladic islands of Santorini,Paros, Naxos and Mykonos with the chance to exploreDelos, the birthplace of Apollo.Sample product: the eight-day cruise leads in at £1,399and includes seven nights’ full board, flights andtransfers.

Shearings has also introduced a new 16-day Treasuresof Ancient Greece. This tour combines time to relax onthe beach with visits to many historical sites, including aguided tour of Athens, a visit to Delphi – thought to bethe centre of the earth in ancient times – time out at thebeach resort of Tolo and a trip to Olympia.

Customers can also choose from a range of optionalexcursions, including visits to the NationalArchaeological Museum in Athens and the Temple ofPoseidon at Cape Sounion, as well as a cruise to theSaronic Islands.Sample product: the 16-day tour leads in at £1,779 andincludes 15 nights’ accommodation, 15 breakfasts, 12dinners, four excursions, return travel by Grand Tourercoach and the services of a tour manager.

To discover the real Greece, Inntravel offers the 14-night Enchanting Cyclades island-hopping tour, whichtakes in the white cliffs of Milos, where the Venus de Milostatue was discovered, the cobbled lanes of Sifnos, andthe picturesque white villages of Serifos beforeconcluding in Athens.Sample product: 14 nights’ B&B from £898 per personincluding six picnic lunches, most transfers (ferries payablelocally), walking maps and notes. Flights are extra.

Meanwhile, Inntravel’s 12-night Grand Tour of thePeloponnese travels along the Gulf of Corinth to ByzantineMystras, crosses the fertile Laconian plains to the hidden

The cobbled streets of the pretty town of Lindos on the island of Rhodes

Sunvil Holidays programme director AlexisJosephides recommends that the best way to avoidthe crowds is to fly to a gateway island and hope ona ferry to a quieter island.Fly to Skiathos and hop on a one-hour ferry crossingto the island of Skopelos or Alonissos, which is onehour and 20 minutes away.Alternatively, fly to Kefalonia but head to Ithaca,which is 45 minutes way.Fly to Prevesa and travel 40 minutes to the unspoiltisland of Meganissi (40 mins).Fly to Corfu and travel for two hours to thepicturesque island of Paxos.Josephides also recommends the smaller Dodecaneseislands, such as Karpathos, Nissyros and Lipsi.

Top tips



Greece

14

gem of Monemvasia, journeys north to the outer Mani forperfect walking country, before heading north to ancientOlympia and Nafplion, the former Greek capital.Sample product: 12 nights lead in at £1,085 per personincluding B&B accommodation, 12 days’ car hire, walkingmaps and notes. Flights are extra.

City slickers To experience the world that inspired the philosophies ofSocrates, pack your bags and head to Athens whereancient worlds collide with busy street markets – a shoplover’s dream – and 21st century nightlife.

Top of the must-see sites is the Parthenon, which iswell worth the climb around the Acropolis to visit thisancient building built – its construction begun in 447BC –and get some spectacular views of Athens. The NationalArchaelogical Museum is close by.

Then head back down the Acropolis to squeeze in abit of shopping at Monastriki flea market beforemaking your way to Plaka, a great district for bars andrestaurants. Sightseeing tours of the city are available.Sample product: for a roof garden view with somespine-tingling views of the Acropolis, ClassicCollection Holidays recommends the Royal OlympicHotel. Three nights’ B&B lead in at £501 per personand include flights and transfers.

Party people Making the headlines for all the wrong reasons in yearsgone by, Malia on the island of Crete has been back inthe spotlight again this year but for slighter betterreasons. The boys from cult Channel 4 series TheInbetweeners made a movie version of the hitprogramme, some of which was filmed in Malia.

Olympic Holidays commercial director PhotisLambriandes says while resorts such as Faliraki onRhodes, Kavos in Corfu, Laganas in Zante andKardamena on the island of Kos are great with theparty crown, the release of The Inbetweeners film hasled to a late-season boost for Malia.Sample product: Olympic Holidays offers seven nightsat the Danaides Apartments in August next year for£375 per person including flights and transfers. ■

Aldemar Royal Olympian in the Peloponnese

A hand-shaped land mass that is separated from thesouthern Greek mainland by the Corinth Canal, thePeloponnese is just a three-hour drive from theGreek capital, making it a particularly popularregion with professional Athenians keen to escapethe heat of the city during the summer months.There is plenty to do here such as visit the ancient townof Olympia, home of the first Olympic Games, and amuseum dedicated to their history; alternatively headfor the temple of Epicurean Apollo called theParthenon of Peloponnese. Marvel at the 13th-centuryfortress in the town of Methoni, surrounded on threesides by the sea and the fourth by a moat, the fortressis an entire medieval town where you can spend hoursexploring. Take in Pylos town, an attractive coastalvillage where daily life takes place around the centralsquare down by the waterfront. There are two castles,one on each side of the bay, and nearby is theMycenean palace of Nestor, one of the best preservedof all Mycenean palaces. Relaxing and luxurious places to stay in thePeloponnese include the Aldemar Olympian Villageand Aldemar Royal Olympian – both in the samelocation.The hotels have recently developed a traditional guesthouse – Epohes. The stone buildings have 22 roomswith rustic furnishing, a fire place and fantastic views tothe chestnut forest. The restaurant serves authentichomemade food which can be enjoyed before retiringto a seating area for a drink or a game of cards. Thereis also a well stocked library and bar, a main courtyardwith a stone oven and wooden benches.Sample product: Planet Holidays offers seven nights’half-board at the Aldemar Royal Olympian includingflights and transfers for £1,137 per person.

The Peloponnese



Operators have experiencedmixed fortunes in demand forTurkey this year, with pricing

and concerns over the Arab Spring’spossible impact on the destinationinfluencing people’s decision toholiday elsewhere.

Classic Collection Holidays has seena 10% drop in year-on-year bookingsfor summer 2011, although the luxuryspecialist is optimistic that next year

will be another good one for Turkey,with business for this winter alreadyshowing good signs of improvement.

A spokesman for the operator saysthis year has been a difficult one forTurkey. “Its popularity over the lastcouple of seasons has seendestination prices become lesscompetitive in comparison with eurodestinations where a dearth ofbookings has seen the destinations

and hoteliers concentrate on offeringbetter value to win backholidaymakers.

“It might also have suffered owingto its geographic proximity to theareas touched by the Arab Spring. It’seasier to switch sell Egypt to theCanaries than to Turkey while so manycountries close to Turkey are in thenews.

“However, it is still very good valuefor couples and families on an all-inclusive basis,” he adds.

Olympic Holidays commercialdirector Photis Lambriandes agreesthat Turkey is the perfect destinationfor families, in particular the resort ofMarmaris.

Turkish delightsTurkey

15

Despite a few challenges this year, Turkeyis still proving to be a popular, affordableoption for sun, sea, sand and a lot ofsightseeing

S04 TB E Med Supp - Turkey_Layout 1 26/09/2011 15:15

“Families have given us some excellent feedback aboutthe three-star Club Antique Palace Hotel in Marmaris thatwe introduced last year. It’s a large complex with lots forfamilies, including a kids’ club and mini aqua park.

“Other good family resorts are Gumbet, Bitez andTurgutreis. We introduced the Lidya Apartments inTurgutreis and these one and two-bedroom apartments withtheir own private beach are a popular option, with a kids’pool and a disco for older children,” he adds.

Cosmos Tours and Cruises product manager Vicki Wye

says Turkey continues to be popular with the operator’sguests. “Those who have travelled there with their familiesto enjoy the country’s beaches are now looking to see moreof what the country has to offer. Most don’t really appreciateits size and the sheer wealth of sites and culture there is tosee so this new shorter tour is a bit of a taster.”

We have put together some recommendations andupdates from operators about their programmes for 2012.

Culture clubCox & Kings is launching private gulet cruises along theTurkish Riviera following an increase in demand for smallgroup tours that cater for clients looking for the ultimate inflexibility.

The boats, which vary in size, are available on a privatebasis so are being promoted with families or small groups offriends in mind.

The tailor-made specialist also has two new privatejourneys for 2012: the seven-day Istanbul and Cappadociaexcursion and the five-day Istanbul and Gallipoli tour.

An eight-day Lycian cruise leads in at £3,245 per person,based on two sharing the boat, with the per person costdecreasing if there are larger numbers in the group. Theseven-day Istanbul and Cappadocia tour leads in at £995,while the Istanbul and Gallipoli trio costs from a £1,595 perperson. The tours include flights, transfers, excursions andaccommodation with breakfast daily.Cosmos Tours and Cruises’s Europe 2012 brochure featuresa new eight-day Discover Southern Turkey trip.t

Highlights of the tour include visits to Pamukkale, alsoknown as the cotton castle, the archaeological site ofAphrosias and the Amyntas rock-cut tomb and Kaya Villagein Fetiye. Accommodation is in the Club Letoonia in Fetiyeon an all-inclusive basis for three nights and the Tripolis inPamukkale for four nights’ half-board. Prices lead in at £859per person and include flights to Dalaman and stays in boththe Dalaman and Pamukkale areas.

For those who want to see more of Turkey, the 13-dayGrand Tour of Turkey takes in Gallipoli, Troy, Izmir,Pamukkale, Agzikarahan, Cappadocia, Gordion and thetomb of King Midas, Bursa with its Great Mosque, covered

Ece Boutique Hotel on the island of Şövalye,15 minutes across the water from the portof Fethiye

Turkey

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Star Independent Tour Operator to Turkey 2007 & 2009 Best UK Turkish company of the year 2010

Tailor-made Holidays & Guided Tourswith your award-winning specialist

For expert advice, reservations & agency support

call: 08445 71 91 29or visit www.anatoliansky.co.uk. To order brochures visit www.trade-gate.co.uk Viewdata ASK#

Let your clients experience Turkey in their own style and time with one of Anatolian Sky’s tailor-made holidays or small group

sample tailor-made tours is available.

available on our Turkey small group guided tours in September & October.



Bazaar and silk market, and Istanbul. Prices start at £819 and include flights to Istanbul and half-

board accommodation in Istanbul, Canakkale, Kusadasi, theDenizli area, Konha, Cappadocia, Ankara and Bursa.

The family market Classic Collection Holidays recommends the Gloria SerenityResort in Belek, which offers three children’s clubs coveringages from one to three, four to seven years and eight to 12.The clubs offer a whole range of activities including dancelessons, trampolines on beach, tenpin bowling, water slidesand an entertainment centre with a cinema.Accommodation is in two-storey villas with double and twinbedrooms with en-suite facilities for both, furnished terrace,large sundeck, open-air Jacuzzi in close proximity toswimming pools. Sports facilities include floodlit tenniscourts and football pitches, alongside table tennis, aquagym and mini golf.

Classic Collection Holidays offers seven nights’ all-inclusivefor a family of four from £7,991 including flights andtransfers.

Away from the crowds As Turkey’s percentage of repeat visitors increases, so does

the demand for something different to the beachfront hotelsin the mass-market resorts.

To capitalise on this demand, Turkey specialist ExclusiveEscapes has introduced a wide selection of private villas withpools with the option of hotel services.

As part of this service, in-villa dining is an option, with

A must-see site is Pamukkale, which means cotton castle in Turkish

Turkey


freshly-prepared meals made and served by a selection ofleading restaurants, as well as luxury hampers providedevery morning.

Talking about the increase in demand from clients forsomething different, Andrew Lee, owner-manager ofExclusive Escapes, says: “Coastal Turkey has a reputation asa mass-market holiday destination, but over recent years, ithas been developing an increasingly upmarket clientele.The backpackers have moved on and the mass market isdeclining to be replaced by what we term third-generationtourism – independent-minded guests looking to travel toauthentic regions that provide a real feel for history andculture.

“Conservation laws have limited beachfront developmentin the smaller towns, which has paved the way for thegrowth of small, characterful hotels and private villas withpools. All Exclusive Escapes’ properties are of this natureand family-owned. Most of our guests are looking for breaksthat combine boutique accommodation in off the beatentrack locations.

“Add-ons such as private cultural guides, days at sea onboard gulets, excursions to smaller historic sites away from

the crowds, plus a wide range of sporting activities are nowpart-and-parcel of our Lycian Coast offer.”

Exclusive Escapes features a wide range of propertiesincluding: large town houses in Kalkan with prices leading inat £900 per person for seven nights, based on two sharing,and £550 for each additional guest, including return flights;and a designer pad near in the historical Dalyan Delta, adesignated nature reserve. Seven nights lead in at £1,250per person based on two sharing and £550 for eachadditional guest, including return flights and car hire.

Specialist indepedent operator Ilios Travel also features arange of villas with private pools that are located in smallvillages, off the beaten track.

“The most popular destination is the Bodrum Peninsulawhere you are never very far from a beach,” says PatriciaWoodburn, product manager of Ilios Travel.

“However, Selimiye on the Bozburun Peninsula is our newfavourite place and until now has been kept secret by theyachting community. It is a great place for history andancient sites such as Hydas, Hygassos and Baybassos andthere are a number of authentic and unspoilt villages to stayin where the emphasis is on relaxation.” ■

Its stunning beaches make Olu Deniz a popular holiday destination with the UK market

Turkey

● Turkish tourism is on course foranother record-breaking year, withworldwide visitor numbers fromJanuary to July exceeding 17million: a 10.6% year-on-yearincrease. “While UK visitor numbersare slightly down compared with lastyear, the overall upwards trend isencouraging,” said Tolga Tuyluoglu,director of the Turkish Culture andTourism Office in London.

● The number of beaches and marinasin Turkey awarded the Blue Flagnow stands at 331, the country’shighest ever number.

● Istanbul is to serve as 2012European Capital of Spor. Event

highlights include the IAAF WorldIndoor Athletics Championships (9-11 March 2012), likely to be the finalopportunity to see athletes such asJessica Ennis and Dwain Chamberscompeting on an international levelprior to the London Olympics.Meanwhile Antalya, capital of theMediterranean region and Turkey’sgolfing capital, is preparing to hostthe World Amateur Team GolfChampionships in Autumn 2012.

● Archaeologists have uncovered thetomb of St Philip on the site ofancient Hierapolis, Denizli; theApostle is believed to have beenmartyred in the city in 80 AD. The

site, once opened to the public, isexpected to become an importantplace of Christian pilgrimage.

● An Istanbul Museum Pass for foreigntourists has been launched.Enabling single entrance to severalof the city’s top attractions includingHagia Sophia, the IstanbulArchaeological Museum and theTopkapi Palace, the Pass is valid for72 hours and costs £25.

● Belek in Antalya is hosting theInternational Golf Travel Market from14 to 17 November, while Izmir’sTravel Turkey Expo takes place from8 to 11 December. Website: gototurkey.co.uk

News from the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office



CYPRUSPrestige Holidays offer a range of beautiful hotels in Cyprus, smaller boutique hotels to larger resort hotels. Family friendly with children’s facilities & great child discounts or hotels with their own spa or golf course.

Don’t forget you will receive Marks & Spencers vouchers for each booking made.

Ask us about our offers, including children stay free, free nights, free half board and free Spa treatments. Prices start from £464 per person for a weeks stay in a 4 star hotel, in December on bed and breakfast.

More affordable luxury holidays from your local airport.

Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 or www.prestigeholidays.co.uk


the eastern mediterranean supplement 2011

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