Kenya Holidays on Hold

Those due to embark on or looking to plan a beach and safari holiday in Kenya should do so with caution as violence escalates in the East African country after trouble broke out following a recent government election.

Protest in the capital and surrounding cities have led to more than 300 deaths in the area, with reports of women and children being burnt alive, and countless other shot dead by armed riot police patrolling the country in armoured vehicles.

Kenya is a popular tourism destination in Africa, offering tourists the opportunity to see the big five on safari, white sandy beaches with turquoise waters as well as deep sea fishing and diving.
Concerns have arisen as to the effects the current violence will have long term on tourism in the country as the stability of the country comes into question.

Would a recount of the election slips quell the protest and subsequent violence that has arisen as a result of the supposed fixed results?

Christmas Dinner in the Sun

Christmas can be stressful times, having the in-laws over, having to cook a lavish Christmas dinner, provide drinks for everyone, the stress of the shopping queues and that’s even before you have fought around the shelves to find what you are looking for.

We have a solution: an all-inclusive Caribbean Christmas holiday, away from the moaning relatives, the screaming kids and the late night shopping hell.

Almond Resorts offer fantastic luxury all-inclusive holidays in Barbados and St. Lucia at some fantastic locations, offering you escapism this Christmas at resorts such as the Almond Morgan Bay in St. Lucia and the Almond Beach Club & Spa in Barbados.

Christmas dinner could be fried plantain and barbecued shrimp, enjoyed on the beach with the waves lapping the shore, avoiding the repeat films and tiresome Christmas speech, settling down with some fine local rum enjoyed with the locals.

Going Skiing? Go Prepared

Statistics for ski holidays shows that one in seven holiday makers will face some kind of injury. These injuries can vary greatly, and can be very nasty from a sprained wrist and twisted knee to an open fracture of you lower limbs.

Those embarking on a skiing holiday for the first time should really make sure they are prepared for what is in store for them as these holidays can be very demanding physically. It is estimated that last year, through injuries, winter sports holiday makers lost out on £4.5 in unused ski passes.

It is important to make sure you are in shape ready for the holiday, so your body can keep up with the demands of the slopes.
It is worthwhile to take some lessons on a dry ski slope on home soil first, so you can get to grips with the technique and will have more time drifting down the slopes at break neck speeds.

Those venturing out to the mountains should also always ensure they have appropriate ski insurance. Be warned that a regular travel insurance policy will be unlikely to cover you for skiing accidents; you will instead need to seek winter sports cover.

Those looking to be even more adventurous and head off piste or try their hand at something like heli skiing will need to check whether this is covered in their policy by checking the terms.

Pilot Your Own African Safari

Hanks Aero Adventures are a flight operator with a difference – they provide light aircraft to those with a pilots license for you to then plan your own safari holiday in Africa, and then fly the plane across the African bush yourselves!

This allows complete freedom to fly across the African savannah, taking the route you want to and incorporating all of the sights you specifically want to see, and with the choices seemingly endless, this ability could produce an adventurous safari holiday that you will never forget.

Kenyan Travel on the Rise

Those planning a holiday to Kenya this year are far from alone. A report on Business Daily Africa describes how Kenya is on course to achieve it’s goal of becoming one of the top 10 long haul destinations.

A report from Last Minute dot com shows bookings on holidays to Kenya have increased dramatically in the past months. Kenya is now said to be on a par with popular long haul destinations such as Thailand and the Maldives.

It’s sudden popularity growth has been attributed to the introduction of high quality holiday packages which have recently been introduced. A report in 2006 by Kuoni showed that Kenya had moved up to the fourth position, overtaking Dubai. The Maldives and Thailand held first and second, with Egypt taking third position.

Tanzania is also growing rapidly in popularity as a long haul destination, with Egypt expected to drop right down in 2007.

Kenya is also an incredibly popular place for weddings abroad. It is said to be the fifth most popular destination for couples to tie the knot, and is expected to rise to fourth next year.

Safe Travel In South Africa

Like any big city, South Africa has its share of scammers. To remain safe, it is just a case of awareness. Preparing yourself for what to expect will arm you with the knowledge you need to firstly recognise a scam, and secondly to fend off these scammers.

In South Africa, porters at the airports try to swamp new visitors by offering to carry their luggage and guide them through the airport, expecting money at the end of it. They can be difficult to fend off, and will often just walk with a hand on your luggage, expecting to be paid at the end of it.

The best way to avoid this is to carry your luggage on your back, and to not wheel it around the airport by trolley. If you do end up tipping a porter, it is said that around 7 Rand will be sufficient.

Mini-bus taxi’s are considered as unsafe methods of transport. There have been reports of numerous assaults and stabbings by the taxi drivers for very trivial things, such as asking for the taxi’s music to be turned down.

A holiday to South Africa can also bring about amazing experiences, and it would be very misleading to just comment on the bad. Noordhoek Beach was recently voted as one of the best three beaches in the Western Cape, and is relatively un-crowded. It features brilliant white sand, be warned however that the water is freezing and can be incredibly rough – great if you are a surfer.

Don’t forget the beautiful array of wildlife and the fine wines South Africa has to offer – it really is a fantastic place to visit. Like any place, it is important to read up on the dangers of any area, so that you can make informed decisions on how to remain safe once you arrive at your destination.

All Inclusive Resorts – From Tacky to Tasteful

There was a time when the all-inclusive resort was considered tacky, evening entertainment comprising of sing-a-longs and limbo dancing coupled with poor quality food and local booze are all characteristics that were once associated with this popular holiday type.

This has now changed as hotels are offering a higher level of luxury, with plasma screens, wireless internet and iPods in-room. Even the rich are now pushing aside the preconceptions of what an all-inclusive resort is really all about.

Now that opinions of these types of holidays of changing, it is going to be hard for people to ignore the lure of menus with no prices and endless amounts of beer and wine.