Zimbabwe travel FCO update

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office updated its travel advice for Zimbabwe.

We advise against all but essential travel to Zimbabwe at this time. The situation remains unpredictable and incidents of violence across the country continue: it could deteriorate further, without warning. See the Political Situation and Local Travel sections of this advice for more details.

Full travel advice from FCO on travel to Zimbabwe is available here.

Hotel Missoni opens in 2009

Iconic Italian fashion house Missoni teamed up with the Rezidor Hotel Group on Hotel Missoni projects. The first two hotels should be open in early 2009 in Edinburgh and Kuwait City.

Hotel Missoni Edinburgh – will offer 136 bedrooms and suites, the signature Cucina Missoni restaurant, Bar Missoni, a fitness suite and several meeting spaces. The supposed colour scheme is blacks, whites and silver to match Hotel Missoni Edinburgh business nature.

Hotel Missoni Kuwait - will offer 200 bedrooms, all with views of the Arabian Gulf, Cucina Missoni restaurant; a Six Senses Spa, conference rooms and a ballroom. Hotel Missoni Kuwait is going to be leisure orientated, therefore its colour scheme allegedly will feature saturated colours.

Hotel Missoni is planning to open in another 8 locations across the world in the next five years

Attention, attention possible Czech beer shortages...

in Russia that is.

In response to Czech plans to host a United States radar station, Russia, amongst the other commercial and political moves, is considering banning Czech beer.

So far, Czech Republic did not replied whether it is planning to ban Russian vodka.

Acupuncture Added To Crystal's Wellness Options

Enriching its portfolio of wellness opportunities, Crystal Cruises is introducing onboard acupuncture, along with a menu of Chinese herbs revered for restoring and enhancing health, beauty and longevity. A menu of optional acupuncture treatments, launching this month on Crystal Serenity, focuses on weight loss, pain management, stress reduction, detoxification, smoking cessation, facial rejuvenation and even sea sickness.

"For many, a vacation offers the freedom to try something new," says Thomas Mazloum, senior vice president, hotel operations. "Whether one is just curious or one wants to pursue new treatments, acupuncture complements Crystal's myriad of onboard wellness activities, which have transformed guests into devotees of disciplines like yoga or reflexology or Spinning®."

Crystal also offers complimentary yoga, Pilates and newly introduced "Tour de Spin" cycling classes, and an exclusive Walk on Water® program utilizing weighted vests to increase resistance.

In December 2008, and in 2009 both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity host Mind, Body & Spirit theme cruises, focusing on general wellness through classes and discussions with guest instructors in Tai Chi, yoga, Pilates and general fitness.

Edinburgh Dungeons "bans" English visitors or much ado about nothing

In revenge for slaughter of Scots in the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, the Edinburgh Dungeons yesterday “banned” English tourists from visiting their popular attraction. The English visitors were supposed to be allowed entry only after signing a scroll swearing allegiance to Scotland.

And then came uproar of ‘national discrimination’ over ‘something that happened 700 years ago and people nowadays cannot be responsible for’.

As it turned out, the Edinburgh Dungeons did not ban anyone, instead they asked people to swear their allegiance to William Wallace, whoever refused was then threatened by Wallace-a-like into doing so. Some signed, many refused.

Honestly, why so little people see the positive side of it? It was a laugh, a history lesson made easy, a PR stunt. Cheer up people :D

picture: kbolino

Ciao Chow on Spanish Steps

Italian cities are cracking down on ‘misbehaving’ tourists. After Venice banning picnics and bare torsos from St Mark’s Square, now Rome bans … snacking near the tourist attractions in historic centre during the tourist season (the ban was put in place last weekend and stays in effect until the end of October). The fine can set you back €50.

Check-in business

Did you notice that airplanes are pretty much ads-free little bits of heaven? Buses and tubes are full of ads, but not airplanes… (trains are pretty OK, but you can glimpse cheeky ad here and there). I must say, I do wonder why? What keeps advertisers from filling the planes with ads from top to bottom…

All these thoughts were spun on me by the announcement that Delta airlines are testing advertising on their online check-in site. So now, you will have the privilege of printing ads at your own expense. Oh yes, there is a button for printing 'the' full page, or a text link to print just your boarding pass. But if one is big and orange button, and the other looks like a red text link, which would you click?

online check-in demo

Simpsons Ride - the best new theme park attraction

And the title of the “Best New Theme Park Attraction” goes to… the new Simpsons Ride, at least as voted by visitors to Theme Park Insider.com.

“The Simpsons Ride represents what Universal does best – which is to take pop culture’s blockbuster entertainment concepts and bring them to life in wildly entertaining theme park experiences,” said Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, designers of The Simpsons Ride. “We appreciate the recognition and share it with our partners at Fox Licensing and Gracie Films, who helped us create a truly authentic Simpsons experience.”

Eight new sights added to Heritage List

Eight new sites deemed "of outstanding value to humanity" were added to the world Heritage List. The World Heritage List names 878 vistas; 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed in 145 countries.
The new listings include:

• Joggins Fossil Cliffs (Canada)
• Mount Sanqingshan National Park (China)
• Lagoons of New Caledonia: Reef Diversity and Associated Ecosystems (France)
• Surtsey (Iceland)
• Saryarka - Steppe and Lakes of Northern Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)
• Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve (Mexico)
• Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona (Switzerland)
• Socotra Archipelago (Yemen)

Crystal Cruises has been voted the "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line"

Crystal Cruises has been voted the "World's Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine for a 13th consecutive year. Subscribers, who were allowed only one vote each, were asked to rate cruise lines on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value.

"We are extremely honored and gratified that the authentic warmth of Crystal's extraordinary staff, our seamless luxury and unparalleled attention to detail make for such a treasured experience for so many discerning Travel + Leisure readers," says Crystal Cruises' President Gregg Michel. "This is a tremendous validation of the continual investments we make in our ships, the meaningful personalized programs we've introduced, and Crystal's winning formula of superior service, choices, space and quality."

Celebrity ' yummy' cruises

Celebrity Cruises carried out a series of enhancements to its award-winning dining experience; making changes to menu offerings, a significantly upgrading casual dining area, and an entirely new brunch offering.

Celebrity’s new evening menus are so widely varied that guests on even 14-night itineraries will never be presented with the same menu twice. Each menu contains expanded selections in all categories, from appetizers to desserts.

Celebrity Cruises has made significant enhancements to its lido café/casual dining area on every ship, expanding its culinary selections, modernizing the ambience, and upgrading signage and equipment, which includes replacement of ice with chilled river rocks throughout the buffet area.

Celebrity Cruises also has upgraded its complimentary coffee to the European brand, "Seventh," a blend of Arabica and Robusta beans, which guests can sip from new, full-sized coffee mugs.

Celebrity Cruises has replaced its former once-per-cruise midnight gala buffet with a sumptuous brunch – complete with the line's lauded ice, fruit and vegetable carvings - in the main dining room.

For guests interested in late-night desserts, sandwiches, specialty coffees or other libations, Celebrity Cruises has introduced an “after-theater" menu in its Cova Café venues, to replace the former "Gourmet Bites". The new options in Cova Café allow guests who are interested in late-night dining a light, varied menu, featuring sandwiches, savories, tartlets, hot brochettes, canapés, artisan cheeses, fresh fruit, crackers, petit fours and napoleons. Celebrity's Cova Café presents the new late-night menu from 11 pm to closing.

Peking University to be closed during Olympics

Tourists visiting Beijing during Olympics will be disappointed by the latest decision of Beijing authorities to close to visitors the famous Peking University from July 20 to September 18. Local authorities due to security concerns have also started to carry out checks in the subway, and airport security has been beefed up substantially.

Fancy unspoiled wedding location?

For 30,000 – 40,000 Israeli shekels (£4,500 - £6,000) you can now rent the grottoes at Rosh Hanikra or the Antipatris Fortress in Tel Afek, along with other 20 sites located in Israel national parks. All proceeds go to protection of those sites.

Great for the parks, great for the couples, but on the other hand, I am not sure if I would like to be a tourist refused to enter due to ongoing ceremony.

Siam Park opens soon in Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Siam Park, supposedly Europe’s greatest water theme park is rumored to be open this August in Costa Adeje, Tenerife.

Siam Park, as name suggests, has Thai theme running through out all its rides, park buildings and restaurants. The attractions include, lazy river, numerous slides, wave pool with up to 3 metres waves and surfing school, rafting ride, children play area.

pictures: siampark.net

Passenger leaves a plane by emergency exit

One of the first class passengers on Delta flight from New York to Guyana got so angry that the economy passengers were leaving the aircraft before him, that he… opened emergency doors and slid down the slide.

Delta Airlines plans to file charges against the man.

For once, I am speechless.

Refunds from BA and Virgin

This week British Airways and Virgin Atlantic start the ‘refund advertising campaign’. Both airlines were ordered to do so by US court who found them guilty of fix surcharges.

Passengers who travelled long-haul flights with BA or Virgin Atlantic between August 11, 2004, and March 23, 2006, might be able to claim between £4 and £20 for a return trip for a ticket purchased in the UK and between $7 and $34 for the US.

A black cab to conquer the world?

Manganese Bronze, the manufacturer of iconic London’s cabs is developing a new ‘zero emission urban taxi’ model which is hoped to appeal to worldwide audience.

There supposed to be around 3,000 international orders placed for the black cab, with first 500 to be supplied in early 2009.

So do not be too shocked if you usual New York’s yellow taxi is a black one indeed.

British Airways plane turned around back to Belgrade

Panic set on a British Airways flight Belgrade and London when passengers smelled foul odour. Fearing a terrorist attack, the captain turned plane around back to Belgrade, where aircraft was evacuated.

After last of the screaming passengers left the plane, the investigators started their examination expecting a leakage of some sort of acidic chemicals. Thankfully, upon further investigation, the source of suspicious odour was narrowed down to a package of curry.

What a curry on!

Hotels in USA in statistics

With pound standing strong against the dollar more people consider taking their holidays in US. So what can you expect from an average hotel in USA? According to American Hotel & Lodging Association :

• 91% offer Internet (15% hotels charge for it, and of those, 75% to 91% of them fit into the luxury to up upscale category)
• 82% have refrigerator in the room
• 75% have a computer in the lobby for guest use
• 70% offer a free newspaper
• 67% have weekend specials
• 66% offer healthy meals
• 58% have outdoor swimming pools
• 56% allow pets, and of those, 67% charge extra for your four-legged family member.
• 48% offer vegan meals
• 47% have indoor swimming pools
• 43% have flat-screen TVs
• 40% have only non-smoking rooms
• 25% have allergy-free rooms

On the other hand, there was a 9% drop in hotels offering free breakfast compered to last survey carried out two years ago and more hotels are charging for late cancellation.

Visas to China double the price

As Beijing Olympics are approaching, China has increased the cost of their tourist visa.

The standard single entry visa remains at £30 per person, but now there is an "application service fee" at £35.25 per person (£47 for express service).

The Chinese Embassy explains the risen fees by the necessity to outsource some of the administrative work associated with issuing visas. From now on, the new visa applications will have to be submitted to the "Chinese Visa Application Service Centre" (CVASC).

New York City Waterfalls

Tourists visiting New York this summer have an unique chance to admire four waterfalls by Danish artists Olafur Eliasson. 90 to 120 feet tall structures are located along the East River waterfronts of Brooklyn and Manhattan.

The New York City Waterfalls will be disabled in October. More information can be found on
The New York City Waterfalls website

Wizz Air to operate in Ukraine

Wizz Air finally received approval to operate in Ukraine.

The new service will run on domestic routes from July, linking Kiev with Odessa, Simferopol and Lviv. The cheapest one way ticket will cost around £18.

Wizz Air is planning to open an international link from Kiev later on this year.