Travel Posh

Thinking about having a holiday that gives you an “once-in-a-lifetime” experience? Then, Egypt is a destination that you must visit. Abercrombie & Kent LLC is the largest luxury travel company in Egypt and according to their President Mr. Scott Wiseman, the buying strength of their local offices has allowed them to offer holiday packages in 2010 at the rates of 2009.

Here’s a look at the latest 2010 packages to Egypt and its neighboring countries which are being offered by the luxury tour operator.

• Mysteries of Morocco & Egypt
This package will take you through 10000 years of history of this region. You will be taken on a Nile Cruise in Egypt and will get a guided glimpse of the Imperial City of Marrakech in Morocco. Follow the path of ancient caravans through Berber villages. Sit down to have lunch at Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot and enjoy the bustling souk of Essaouira afterwards. This 13 day tour starts from $6,695 per person, on double occupancy basis.

• Ancient Wonders: Israel, Jordan & Egypt
Travel back to Biblical times and visit the majestic Jerusalem and Jerash which lie along the King’s Highway. Also, experience Wadi Rum “Valley of the Moon,” in Cairo. You will be taken to the Dead See to let you witness its mineral-rich waters and see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. The package also includes tours to Herod's palaces, the Tower of David, Mount of Olives, the Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall. Must do’s like a tour to the “lost city” of Petra and the Great Pyramids are also included.
This 13 day package is priced from $6995 per person, on double occupancy basis.

• Israel: Crossroads of History
Travel to the Promised Land in Jerusalem, a city with the most popular historic sites in the world. Guests can also sail on the Sea of Galilee and visit Herodion palace. The package costs $4995 per person, on double occupancy basis and includes VIP airport transfer.

To download the Abercrombie & Kent’s Egypt, Morocco & Beyond 2010 brochure, log on to www.abercrombiekent.com or call 800 554 7094.

St. Lucia is a popular holiday destination in the West Indies which attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. For this fall season, which is expected to attract 50,000 visitors, the island has spruced up its resorts and hotels and increased its connectivity with the introduction of JetBlue flights. The airline has launched direct flights from New York on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Also, the American Airlines is also offering tickets to the island at just $150 each way.

St. Lucia’s three main hotels are under renovation right now, while one resort is under the third phase of its construction and another one will be opening in February next year. Let’s have a look at the ongoing changes in the hotel scene on the island:

• Cap Maison: This hill resort lies above the Smuggler’s Cove beach in Cap Estate. It used to be a sugar plantation and has now been turned into a 1,500 acre hill resort. The resort has the Atlantic ocean on one side while the Caribbean Sea provides another breathtaking view on the other. The hotel is renovating it private Villas all through September and the renovations will be completed by October 10th, 2009.

• Discovery at Marigot Bay: The Discovery resort is another popular resort in St. Lucia. It is going under a complete remodelling to provide a more intimate environment. The resort is importing 800 tons of white sand from Barbuda to improve its beach. The resort also plans to start a beach club and add two more restaurants to its property. The renovations have started on September 1 and the resort will reopen on October 31st, 2009.

• Rendezvous: This is a romantic, couples-only resort with intimate and tranquil settings. Rendezvous is undergoing a $12 million dollar renovation to improve the property’s look, feel and experience. This resort started the Rendezvous closed August 9 and will re-open on October 18, 2009.

• The Landings, a Rock Resort: The Landings, a Rock Resort is under the third out of four phases of its apartments by 2010. Sixty-five new apartments will be completed in this new phase.

• Saint Lucia will have a new hotel named Hotel Chocolat. It is expected to bring new experiences and attractions to the island. Lying on Rabot Estate on West Coast of the island, this hotel will be offering guests a chocolate making experience. The hotel will be connected with a cocoa plantation and will also offer bird watching, hiking and guided Fruit Safari Tours. Hotel Chocolat will open for business in February 2010.

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1 800 456 3984, or visit www.saintlucianow.com.

Orient Express is a name that conjures images of opulent travel with a luxury train chugging along the track from Paris to Istanbul. The name has become synonymous with luxury travel all around the world. Orient Express Trains and Cruises now deliver the most lavish travel experiences.

Consider "The Great European Journeys of Orient-Express" which is a trip that takes you through the very heart of Europe. This is a train journey from London to Istanbul aboard Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, with original carriages from 1920s and 30s. Prices start from $7,550 per person and include stay in some of the best hotels in Europe. For those who pine for the true orient, there is "The Great Asian Journeys of Orient-Express". A journey aboard the finest train in Asia takes you across some of the most scenic areas in Asia. Multiple route option as are available and eight day itinerary is charged as low as $4285 per person.

If your taste agrees more with 'Ye Olde English', you should consider 'The Royal Scotsman, British Pullman and Northern Belle '. Relive the best of Scotland and England aboard The Royal Scotsman with its Edwardian furnishings and let the Scottish and English scenery spoil you. For just $3,610 per person, there is no better way to enjoy Scotland than this. Alternatively you may savor two majestic routes; 'Afloat in France' or 'The Road to Mandalay'. For more details call in at (800) 524 2420.

Are you planning to visit Chicago, the windy city anytime soon? If so, this time you could try out a new pod which has recently opened and offers some novelty. The Sheraton Chicago Northbrook Hotel is a new property that brings the renowned hospitality standards of Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. The hotel is located at mere 14 miles from Chicago O'Hare airport so you can be in your room in a jiffy. Downtown Chicago is just a short drive away too for business or shopping.

Plush and posh are the two words which truly describe the Sheraton Chicago. From lobby to the rooms, the comfort of guests has been the prime consideration during its design and construction. Using latest innovations in the hospitality and allied sectors, the hotel makes it sure that the guests have a very pleasant stay. From your sleep to your entertainment, every aspect of your stay in the hotel will include royal pampering.
The property is so located that you are never far from any of the major attractions of the windy city. The Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern University are located near the hotel. This property is also the best choice for you if you are a business traveler. Facilities available include an interactive lobby, a junior executive board room and 2,200 square feet meeting space et al.

For fun or for work, if you are coming to Chicago, Sheraton Chicago Northbrook should be the hotel to check in to. For more details or booking, you may contact Brad Minor at 914-640-3687 or brad.minor@starwoodhotels.com.

Aboard the Hurtigruten and you are set to experience the voyage of a lifetime. The voyage is perhaps the best ticket for anyone who wishes to explore the remote, beautiful and dramatic coastlines of Norway. Be it the spectacular scenery of fjords or the picture perfect towns of Norway, you are sure to be mesmerized.

Though nothing beats this wonderful journey in nature’s lap, a trip during winters is going to be an even more exhilarating experience. Winters are the perfect time if you want to acquaint yourself with the enchanting beauty of the northern reaches, the unexplainable polar light and an experience that is far beyond words. During winter sailing, guests have the option to go on exciting excursions including dog sledding in Tromso, the Lofotr Viking Feast, and snowmobiling over the frozen fjords of Lapland. The Aurora borealis is a truly rare phenomenon which can be witnessed only in the winter.

Whether it is the regular hustle bustle of the Norwegian villages or the mesmerizing aura of the aura of northern lights, everything about the voyage is simply spectacular. The eternal beauty of the northern lights is perhaps one of the most important highs of this voyage and is sure to leave you spellbound. The sight of natural light kissing the sky leaves you in a mystical world of nature’s beauty.

There is nothing less that you can expect when you are sailing in “The world’s most beautiful voyage”. For a limited time only there is a 2 for 1 special offer going on, wherein if you book selected 12, 7 and 6-day Norwegian Coastal voyages departing in October, November and December 2008, your companion travels free (not valid on suites).

For Booking: booking@hurtigruten.com / (+47) 810 30 000 or log on to: http://www.hurtigruten.com/en/default.aspx.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises have been rated best in the world from the point of view of guest accomodation, by readers of Conde Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. In the 2008 Conde Nast Traveler Gold List, RSSC is quoted as "Best by Rooms" and in the 2008 World's Best Awards recently published by Travel + Leisure magazine, RSSC ranks numero uno in the "Cabins" category. These ratings from two of the most widely read and respected luxury travel magazines is sure to do RSSC's brand a lot of good and more so because it is the verdict of the readers who are their clientele.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises operates the world's only all-suite, all-balcony cruise ships, the 700-guest sister ships Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager in addition to the all-suite 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator. RSSC offers the largest suites in the cruise industry with the largest measuring 356 sq.ft on Seven Seas Voyager. Standard suite accommodations on RSSC ships include a private balcony, walk-in closet and marble-appointed bathroom with full size tub and shower stall.

For more info and bookings log on to www.RSSC.com