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Travel Magazine 2013 - The Travel House

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong><br />

Issue Four<br />

<strong>Travel</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> <strong>2013</strong><br />

Great destinations and offers from the world’s leading tour operators<br />

Escape<br />

<strong>The</strong> Great<br />

We show you what’s hot in <strong>2013</strong><br />

Las Vegas<br />

<strong>The</strong> city that never sleeps!<br />

SPAIN<br />

One holiday, three destinations<br />

TRAVEL<br />

HOUSE<br />

.CO.UK<br />

Perfect Paradise!<br />

St Lucia & Antigua<br />

plus Worldwide Cruises • USA • All Inclusive Holidays • Deals Galore!<br />

Your Local, Independent <strong>Travel</strong> Specialists


Welcome<br />

A Happy New Year from all at <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong>!<br />

TRAVEL<br />

HOUSE<br />

.CO.UK<br />

A happy new year from all at <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong><br />

<strong>House</strong>! Thank you for your valued<br />

custom and support in 2012.<br />

We have been working closely with the UK’s<br />

leading tour operators to once again bring you<br />

bigger and better deals departing from Cardiff<br />

and Bristol Airport. We are also offering low<br />

deposits and free kids meaning it’s an excellent<br />

time to book your Summer <strong>2013</strong> holiday!<br />

What’s hot in <strong>2013</strong>.<br />

Far away destinations such as Dubai continue to<br />

dazzle. While value for money will be the key for<br />

many so Spain, Turkey and Portugal will once<br />

again be popular with families and couples alike.<br />

New to this edition is a selection of destinations<br />

visited by our own specialist <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong> agents.<br />

Read in their own words their experiences of<br />

some great destinations including Kelly Hill’s<br />

visit to Costa Dorada which included trips to<br />

Salou, Valencia and Barcelona.<br />

Rachel Griffiths from our Bridgend branch<br />

takes us on a journey to the Paradise Islands<br />

of St Lucia and Antigua. While Anne Murphy<br />

from Merthyr visits Las Vegas, the city that<br />

never sleeps.<br />

Discover Dubai with Cerensa Williams from<br />

Abedare who visited the glittering city of<br />

traditional souks and soaring modern buildings.<br />

Out With <strong>The</strong> Old And In With <strong>The</strong> New<br />

We are celebrating 20 years of ‘We Will Beat Any Price’ providing<br />

independent choice to the best holiday destinations, at the best prices!<br />

As the door firmly closes on 2012 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong><br />

<strong>House</strong> continues to progress and remain Wales’<br />

largest independent travel agency,<br />

a title we are very proud of.<br />

Celebrating 20 years of business, <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong> is<br />

currently undergoing refurbishment within the branches.<br />

Cool greys with a splash of hot pink offer a contemporary<br />

and modern place for you to relax and book your holiday.<br />

At <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong> we strive to offer our clients nothing<br />

but exceptional value and outstanding customer service.<br />

During 2012, over half of our staff have attended overseas<br />

familiarisation trips to many countries all over the globe<br />

including Antigua, St Lucia, Dubai and Jamaica.<br />

Our dedicated holiday specialists will be happy to provide<br />

first hand advice and recommendations on hundreds of<br />

destinations. Visit www.travelhouseholidays.co.uk and<br />

select ‘Holiday Specialist’ to locate your personal advisor.<br />

Don’t miss <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong> Sale<br />

Now on at your local branch<br />

Huge Savings with<br />

Free Child Places<br />

& Low Deposits<br />

Win a luxury stay at a boutique hotel<br />

Every booking made from this magazine will be entered into a prize draw to win a night’s stay at Morgans Hotel,<br />

Swansea or <strong>The</strong> Cawdor, Llandeilo. Simply quote ‘MAG04’ at the time of booking to be entered.<br />

This applies to bookings made up to the end of March <strong>2013</strong>.<br />

Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Excludes Bank Holidays. <strong>The</strong> winner will be drawn at random. Decisions are final and<br />

winners are notified by email.Free stay at Morgans or <strong>The</strong> Cawdor is for two people and includes breakfast. Prize must be used by end of September <strong>2013</strong>.


All Inclusive.<br />

Two little words.<br />

One great feeling.<br />

You can get it on every single holiday<br />

from Cardiff airport. Your flights,<br />

three meals a day and local drinks will be<br />

covered from the moment you arrive at<br />

your hotel, until the time you check out.<br />

Every single First Choice holiday<br />

from your local airport is now<br />

All Inclusive<br />

We’ve got a great range of All<br />

Inclusive holiday packages that<br />

are ideal for friends and families<br />

who want a break from their<br />

wallets. Your flights, three<br />

meals a day and local drinks<br />

are all part of the deal.<br />

For the ultimate family getaway First<br />

Choice Holiday Villages have<br />

everything you need. That’s the great<br />

thing about Holiday Villages – they<br />

provide the whole holiday experience.<br />

We’ve hired UK experts in all things<br />

outdoors to bring you the ultimate<br />

adrenaline rush. <strong>The</strong>re’s every type of<br />

sport going from football, stage and<br />

swim academies, to circus workshops,<br />

treasure hunts and raft-building<br />

challenges.<br />

But make sure you check the hotel<br />

description before you book as every<br />

Holiday Village is individual. <strong>The</strong>re’s<br />

plenty for the adults too – like great<br />

food and entertainment, adult sports<br />

and activities, and even health and<br />

fitness facilities.<br />

First Choice understand it’s the little<br />

things that make a big difference<br />

when you’re on holiday – things like<br />

ocean views from your balcony,<br />

first-class service and top-quality<br />

food night after night.<br />

So whether you go for a no-frills<br />

apartment or a five star hotel, you can<br />

relax, knowing every last detail has<br />

been thought of. It’s All Inclusive, the<br />

First Choice way.


Spanish<br />

Escape<br />

Kelly Hill tells us in her own words about her recent family<br />

getaway to Costa Dorada where she experienced three<br />

destinations in one holiday<br />

Words:<br />

Kelly Hill<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong><br />

Head Office<br />

Costa Dorada is the perfect<br />

destination for a family holiday,<br />

golden beaches, endless<br />

entertainment and an array<br />

of theme and water parks not<br />

to mention a short flight from<br />

the UK.<br />

I am quite new to family holidays<br />

but as with many holidaymakers,<br />

once you have a family your holiday<br />

requirements change. Gone are the<br />

days of young and lively holidays<br />

with 24 hour bars and night flights<br />

to Ibiza or Malia. You now require<br />

day flights from local airports, short<br />

transfers and good entertainment<br />

close to the beach. Costa Dorada can<br />

provide all of this and more.<br />

I travelled to Salou with my partner<br />

and one year old son for a two week<br />

holiday in September. We booked a<br />

late deal with Thomson holidays to<br />

stay at the Salauris Palace a 4* hotel<br />

in central Salou. Salou is suitable for<br />

families with children of all ages.<br />

You are able to walk to all points of<br />

interest including Port Aventura, a<br />

huge complex with 2 parks, allowing<br />

you to discover new and wonderful<br />

experiences.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are 6 worlds to explore in the<br />

theme park which boast a large<br />

range of rides, shows, restaurants<br />

and shops. A fun alternative for<br />

sightseeing is the tourist train which<br />

will take you around the resort and<br />

promenade.<br />

<strong>The</strong> beaches stretch for miles with a<br />

wealth of water sports on offer and<br />

you will always be guaranteed a spot<br />

to sunbathe and relax.<br />

Cambrills is based around 5 miles<br />

from Salou. Here you will find a<br />

lovely marina with boutique shops<br />

and roadside seafood and Italian<br />

restaurants, the perfect place to sit<br />

and relax with a drink and watch the<br />

world go by. <strong>The</strong> beaches are quieter<br />

here and there is plenty of free<br />

parking if you have a hire car.<br />

During our holiday we also wanted<br />

to incorporate a city break. Salou<br />

offers you easy access to Barcelona<br />

and Valencia.<br />

<strong>The</strong> journey to Barcelona will take<br />

around 90 minutes from Salou by<br />

car. <strong>The</strong>re is also an option to take<br />

the coach, this is a great alternative<br />

as all roads leading into Spanish<br />

cities are subject to toll booths which<br />

can be quite expensive.<br />

Barcelona is a beautiful city with<br />

amazing sights such as the famous<br />

Las Ramblas, which is a hive of<br />

activity. Las Ramblas leads from the<br />

cruise port terminal to the Placa de<br />

Catalunya. Here you will find human<br />

statues, street artists and many bars<br />

and restaurants to experience.<br />

Barcelona Zoo is also a major<br />

attraction. <strong>The</strong> zoo is located in the<br />

heart of the city in Ciutadella Park<br />

and is a fantastic attraction for<br />

families. Here you will see lions,<br />

tigers and bears….oh my! Plus many<br />

more fun activities such as pony<br />

rides and an interactive farmyard for<br />

smaller children. A great way to<br />

discover the zoo is to hire a safari<br />

buggy and to drive around in style.<br />

Dolphin and sea lion shows can<br />

also be attended at select times<br />

throughout the day.<br />

Gone are the days of young and lively<br />

holidays with 24 hour bars and night<br />

flights to Ibiza or Malia.


One holiday, Three destinations!<br />

Salou - Valencia - Barcelona<br />

Valencia is a wonderful city just two<br />

and a half hours from Salou. <strong>The</strong><br />

city is an excellent place to ‘shop til<br />

you drop’ and it has a number of<br />

outstanding tourist attractions to<br />

visit. It is a good idea to stay<br />

overnight to really make the most of<br />

the city. Valencia is lined with side<br />

streets filled with tapas bars<br />

bursting with atmosphere. As with<br />

Barcelona, these are great places to<br />

sit and relax while enjoying a range<br />

of tapas and indulging in Spanish<br />

culture with a nice bottle of Rioja.<br />

While in Valencia, you must visit the<br />

City of Arts and Science as it offers<br />

a wealth of art and culture. A large<br />

oceanographic park with an amazing<br />

selection of modern architecture.<br />

For families there is only one place<br />

to visit, <strong>The</strong> Bioparc. Bioparc is<br />

located in Parque de Cabecra and is<br />

a recreation of the Savannah,<br />

Madagascar and Equatorial Africa.<br />

Costa Dorada is a truly great place<br />

for a family holiday with fantastic<br />

hotels, great bars and plenty of<br />

family entertainment.<br />

If you like to explore, it is extremely<br />

easy to visit Barcelona, Valencia and<br />

Sitges as all are within close<br />

proximity and are easily accessible<br />

by car, rail and coach at a reasonable<br />

cost. I would highly<br />

recommend this family<br />

holiday destination<br />

and will definitely<br />

be returning.<br />

To find more about Costa Dorada<br />

and to book your holiday please<br />

call 01792 472221<br />

<strong>The</strong> inhabitants include giraffes,<br />

rhinoceroses, gorillas and elephants.<br />

Bioparc is a little different from<br />

other zoos with spectacular<br />

landscapes and the aim of being<br />

environmentally friendly. <strong>The</strong>y are<br />

also heavily involved in many<br />

conservation programmes.


EXPERIENCE THE<br />

BEST OF THE USA<br />

<strong>The</strong> wealth of ideas and opportunities<br />

for holiday choices and experiences in<br />

the United States of America is all<br />

encompassing. From city breaks and<br />

family fun to journeys along Route 66,<br />

a tailor-made holiday to the USA booked<br />

with Gold Medal is guaranteed to be a<br />

holiday that dreams are made of.<br />

Always evolving, Orlando has<br />

something for everyone and is<br />

guaranteed to be different every<br />

time you go. From theme parks to<br />

spas, as well as great shopping,<br />

golf and world-class cuisine.<br />

Orlando has it all!<br />

New York, New York - so<br />

good, they named it twice and so<br />

good you'll want to visit it more<br />

than once. Boasting one of the<br />

world's most famous skylines, the<br />

heaving metropolis of New York<br />

has a whole host of experiences<br />

to offer.<br />

A city like no other, Las Vegas<br />

is the ultimate in exuberance,<br />

excitement, extremes and<br />

entertainment. Everywhere you<br />

look you will see something<br />

magical, surreal or just downright<br />

jaw-dropping.<br />

3 STAR DELUXE | PRIVATE<br />

SELECT HOMES WITH POOL<br />

ORLANDO<br />

7 nights room only from<br />

£519pp<br />

SAVE £100!<br />

Includes one FREE night<br />

Valid for departures 05 Jan - 08 Mar 13<br />

Flights with Delta Air Lines from<br />

London Heathrow<br />

3 STAR | WELLINGTON<br />

HOTEL<br />

3 nights room only from<br />

£589pp<br />

SAVE £90!<br />

Reduced rates<br />

Valid for departures 02 Feb - 03 Mar 13<br />

Flights with Delta Air Lines from<br />

London Heathrow<br />

5 STAR DELUXE | ARIA<br />

RESORT & CASINO<br />

4 nights room only from<br />

£699pp<br />

SAVE £280!<br />

Includes one FREE night<br />

Valid for departures 21 - 28 Feb 13<br />

Flights with Delta Air Lines from<br />

London Heathrow<br />

Terms & Conditions: Prices are per person based on twin share and includes flights with Delta Air Lines from London Heathrow<br />

and all pre-payable airport tax and supplements. Regional departures also available. Valid for various travel dates as specified.<br />

Restrictions apply, please ask your travel agent for more details. Subject to change and availability. Book by 23 Feb 13.


EXPERIENCE THE<br />

BEST OF THE USA<br />

<strong>The</strong> wealth of ideas and opportunities<br />

for holiday choices and experiences in<br />

the United States of America is all<br />

encompassing. From city breaks and<br />

family fun to journeys along Route 66,<br />

a tailor-made holiday to the USA booked<br />

with Gold Medal is guaranteed to be a<br />

holiday that dreams are made of.<br />

Always evolving, Orlando has<br />

something for everyone and is<br />

guaranteed to be different every<br />

time you go. From theme parks to<br />

spas, as well as great shopping,<br />

golf and world-class cuisine.<br />

Orlando has it all!<br />

New York, New York - so<br />

good, they named it twice and so<br />

good you'll want to visit it more<br />

than once. Boasting one of the<br />

world's most famous skylines, the<br />

heaving metropolis of New York<br />

has a whole host of experiences<br />

to offer.<br />

A city like no other, Las Vegas<br />

is the ultimate in exuberance,<br />

excitement, extremes and<br />

entertainment. Everywhere you<br />

look you will see something<br />

magical, surreal or just downright<br />

jaw-dropping.<br />

3 STAR DELUXE | PRIVATE<br />

SELECT HOMES WITH POOL<br />

ORLANDO<br />

7 nights room only from<br />

£519pp<br />

SAVE £100!<br />

Includes one FREE night<br />

Valid for departures 05 Jan - 08 Mar 13<br />

Flights with Delta Air Lines from<br />

London Heathrow<br />

3 STAR | WELLINGTON<br />

HOTEL<br />

3 nights room only from<br />

£589pp<br />

SAVE £90!<br />

Reduced rates<br />

Valid for departures 02 Feb - 03 Mar 13<br />

Flights with Delta Air Lines from<br />

London Heathrow<br />

5 STAR DELUXE | ARIA<br />

RESORT & CASINO<br />

4 nights room only from<br />

£699pp<br />

SAVE £280!<br />

Includes one FREE night<br />

Valid for departures 21 - 28 Feb 13<br />

Flights with Delta Air Lines from<br />

London Heathrow<br />

Terms & Conditions: Prices are per person based on twin share and includes flights with Delta Air Lines from London Heathrow<br />

and all pre-payable airport tax and supplements. Regional departures also available. Valid for various travel dates as specified.<br />

Restrictions apply, please ask your travel agent for more details. Subject to change and availability. Book by 23 Feb 13.


Perfect<br />

Paradise<br />

St Lucia - Antigua<br />

Rachel Griffiths from our Bridgend branch<br />

of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong> tells us in her own words<br />

about her stunning dual familiarisation holiday<br />

to the Paradise Islands of St Lucia and Antigua.<br />

My journey ahead, however<br />

exciting, was going to be a long<br />

one. With an early morning<br />

check in I started my travels<br />

in the early hours on the<br />

National Express.<br />

Upon arrival at Gatwick Airport<br />

I made my way to the Virgin check in<br />

desk and was greeted by my Sandals<br />

Representive. <strong>The</strong> direct service to St<br />

Lucia was scheduled to take around<br />

8½ hrs and with the time difference<br />

would see us land at Hewanorra<br />

International Airport for mid<br />

afternoon.<br />

<strong>The</strong> descent of the flight gave me my<br />

first insight to the island which I can<br />

only describe as incredible, lush and<br />

mountainous.<br />

Upon collecting our luggage we were<br />

escorted to Sandals exclusive<br />

concierge room for a welcoming<br />

cocktail before embarking on our<br />

road transfer to the fantastic Sandals<br />

La Toc Golf Resort & Spa where I<br />

would spend the next two nights.<br />

Words:<br />

Rachel Griffiths<br />

Bridgend <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong>


St Lucia<br />

St Lucia is an Island of breathtaking<br />

beauty within the Eastern Caribbean.<br />

It has a distinct French colonial<br />

influence, rich cultural heritage<br />

and a very intriguing historical<br />

background which makes it a very<br />

romantic getaway especially for<br />

Honeymooners.<br />

<strong>The</strong> La Toc like all other Sandals<br />

hotels is a Couples only Ultra All<br />

Inclusive and is positioned<br />

overlooking the Caribbean sea. It<br />

features an onsite 9 hole golf course<br />

set on a 210 acre estate. <strong>The</strong> dining<br />

options here are endless offering<br />

eight restaurants in total including<br />

Kimono's Japanese Teppanyaki.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are a further two Sandals<br />

hotels on the island. <strong>The</strong> Halcyon<br />

Cove is the smallest and most<br />

intimate and offers tranquillity<br />

and relaxation, cabanas are dotted<br />

around the lush gardens and<br />

when evening falls dining on the<br />

Pier restaurant offers the most<br />

romantic setting .<br />

<strong>The</strong> Grande St Lucian however is a<br />

much larger complex positioned on a<br />

peninsula offering the best beach in<br />

Saint Lucia. Choose this resort if you<br />

want a typical St Lucian holiday.<br />

Antigua<br />

I then head onto Antigua with a short<br />

internal flight and check in to the<br />

Sandals Grande Antigua Resort &<br />

Spa. This is the only Sandals hotel on<br />

the island. For holiday makers<br />

looking for a more affordable option<br />

<strong>The</strong> Grand Pineapple hotel also<br />

owned by Sandals, is ideal.<br />

Arriving at the hotel we were greeted<br />

with a warm and friendly welcome<br />

along with a glass of champagne,<br />

My first impressions of the hotel<br />

were truly magnificent, the grand<br />

interior of the hotel, the extensive<br />

lush gardens and of course the<br />

turquoise blue sea with its powdery<br />

sand. This for me was paradise.<br />

Antigua is renowned for its beaches<br />

and has a total of 365 "one for each<br />

day of the year". Although this<br />

former British colony is now an<br />

independent nation, it still retains<br />

many English traditions.<br />

<strong>The</strong> dining options at the hotel are<br />

superb, from freshly made take<br />

away pizzas to the elegant Mario's<br />

Italian restaraunt you are well and<br />

truly spoilt.<br />

To find more about St Lucia & Antiqua<br />

please call Rachel on 01656 662438


P&O Cruises<br />

Book a Vantage Fare today and choose<br />

one of the following benefits*:<br />

On board spending money, or<br />

Car parking at Southampton, or<br />

Coach transfers, or<br />

Airport car parking (Caribbean fly cruises)<br />

Our promise to you...<br />

If the Vantage Fare for your cruise reduces after you've booked,<br />

we'll give you on board spending money or an upgrade<br />

to the value of the reduction.<br />

Cruises from<br />

£599pp<br />

10th May <strong>2013</strong> - 7 nights Onboard Oceana<br />

Southampton - Stavanger - Falm (Norway) -<br />

Eidfjord (Norway) - Kristiansand (Norway) - Southampton<br />

Inside from £599pp - Outside from £769pp - Balcony from £949pp<br />

Visit your local branch of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong><br />

or call 01792 478852<br />

All offers are subject to availability which may be limited. Prices are based on 2 adults sharing a cabin. We reserve the right to withdraw offer(s) without notice.<br />

*Apply to cruises of 7 nights or more. Benefits dependent upon cruise type and duration. Terms and conditions apply


Cunard Voyages<br />

Book a Vantage Fare today and choose<br />

one of the following benefits*:<br />

On board spending money, or<br />

Car parking at Southampton, or<br />

Coach transfers, or<br />

Airport car parking (Caribbean fly cruises)<br />

Our promise to you...<br />

If the Vantage Fare for your cruise reduces after you've booked,<br />

we'll give you on board spending money or an upgrade<br />

to the value of the reduction.<br />

Cruises from<br />

£799pp<br />

11th December <strong>2013</strong> - 10 nights Onboard Queen Victoria<br />

Southampton La Coruna - Cassablanca (Morrocco) -<br />

Seville - Lisbon (Portugal) - Southampton<br />

Inside from £799pp - Outside from £989pp - Balcony from £1049pp<br />

Visit your local branch of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong><br />

or call 01792 478852<br />

All offers are subject to availability which may be limited. Prices are based on 2 adults sharing a cabin. We reserve the right to withdraw offer(s) without notice.<br />

*Apply to cruises of 7 nights or more. Benefits dependent upon cruise type and duration. Terms and conditions apply


Anne Murphy from our Merthyr<br />

branch of the <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong> tells us<br />

about her recent holiday to Las Vegas.<br />

Words:<br />

Anne Murphy<br />

Merthyr <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong>


the city that<br />

never sleeps<br />

<strong>The</strong> fabulous Las Vegas<br />

Our holiday starts at Gatwick<br />

with an overnight stay at the<br />

Hilton. As many airlines<br />

travelling to the States have<br />

early departures, this is a much<br />

more pleasing option than<br />

travelling for a number of hours<br />

at the break of dawn.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Hilton is a fantastic choice and<br />

is linked via a walkway to the South<br />

Terminal. When flying with Virgin<br />

Atlantic you must take advantage<br />

of the twilight check in, this is a<br />

hassle free way to check luggage<br />

in the night prior to departure<br />

and bypass lengthy queues in<br />

the morning.<br />

<strong>The</strong> flight from London to Las Vegas<br />

is approximately 10 hours. After<br />

a few drinks and with an abundant<br />

choice of movies and television<br />

programmes to choose from with<br />

Virgin Entertainment, it was time to<br />

land in the city that never sleeps.<br />

We had pre booked our transfers<br />

prior to leaving the UK, a great<br />

hassle free option. On leaving the<br />

arrivals lounge a driver was waiting<br />

with a sign displaying our names.<br />

Our driver/tour guide was a wealth<br />

of information as we set off into the<br />

bright city lights. As we turned a<br />

corner we were at the entrance to<br />

Las Vegas Boulevard with the iconic<br />

‘Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas’<br />

sign. As we drove down <strong>The</strong> Strip we<br />

were confronted by all the sights you<br />

see in the movies.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Stratosphere Hotel soaring 109<br />

floors high into the desert sky.<br />

Treasure Island hotel, with live<br />

action pirate shows, complete with a<br />

huge ship that actually sinks. <strong>The</strong><br />

Venetian with its Grand Canal, opera<br />

singing gondoliers and St Marks<br />

Square replica. For a special treat the<br />

Colosseum is home to world class<br />

acts such as Celine Dion and Elton<br />

John, a great opportunity to see<br />

these mega stars in a spectacular<br />

surroundings.<br />

<strong>The</strong> luxurious Bellagio has a<br />

conservatory and botanical gardens,<br />

fine art gallery and of course the<br />

famous fountains of Bellagio,<br />

which is one of the most watched<br />

attractions in Las Vegas and is set<br />

on an 8 acre lake.<br />

<strong>The</strong> huge 6582 roomed shimmering<br />

green glass building that is the MGM<br />

Grand, where you can watch lions<br />

roam around the hotel, visit<br />

legendary night club Studio 54<br />

or maybe bump into a celebrity<br />

or two at the Tabu bar.<br />

After catching a glimpse of a<br />

rollercoaster whizzing past the<br />

Statue of Liberty and weaving<br />

through the skyscrapers of the<br />

Manhattan skyline it could only<br />

be the New York New York Hotel,<br />

we drive past a medieval castle<br />

where knights are fighting a fire<br />

breathing dragon.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n finally in the distance a huge<br />

shining pyramid guarded by the<br />

great Sphinx of Giza. <strong>The</strong> Luxor, was<br />

our home for the next 7 nights. After<br />

all how many times in your life will<br />

you be able to say you stayed in a<br />

pyramid<br />

We checked in and took the<br />

inclinator (sideways elevator) to our<br />

room on the 26th floor, dropped our<br />

bags and with no time to unpack, hit<br />

the city!<br />

For sheer spectacle and fantastic<br />

entertainment Las Vegas is hard to<br />

beat, it’s the one place where you<br />

travel the world in one day. One<br />

minute you can be walking through a<br />

Pyramid in ancient Egypt the next<br />

you’re having a banquet at King<br />

Arthur’s Court or maybe a coffee in a<br />

Parisian Street café or be serenaded<br />

to whilst floating down a Venetian<br />

canal in your very own gondola. In<br />

Las Vegas anything is possible.<br />

Las Vegas has been described as the<br />

place where casinos have no clocks<br />

and the nightlife has no limits.<br />

Sin City stays wide-awake until dawn<br />

and if you’re really lucky you may<br />

even walk away a millionaire.<br />

To find more about Las Vegas<br />

or to book your holiday please<br />

call Anne on 01685 386333


Worldwide Voyages<br />

Exceptional Luxury.<br />

Irresistible Fares from £2,250pp<br />

CRUISE & STAY OPTIONS AVAILABLE<br />

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all-inclusive ships, Silversea is a luxury cruise line that offers<br />

unparalleled service and superlative comfort. Discover the art of<br />

luxury travel as perfected by Silversea Cruises.<br />

Your butler helps you unpack, and in the open bars and lounges,<br />

worldly people from around the globe mingle in an atmosphere<br />

that is casual and relaxed. Discover the pleasures of exploring the<br />

world aboard the intimate ships of Silversea.<br />

Recognised as an innovator in the luxury segment, Silversea offers<br />

guests large-ship amenities aboard its six intimate, all-suite<br />

vessels. Enjoy the travel experience of a lifetime as Silversea offer<br />

a diverse range of exotic itineraries in <strong>2013</strong>.<br />

Western Mediterranean<br />

2nd August <strong>2013</strong> or 10th September <strong>2013</strong><br />

7 Nights Full Board on Silver Wind<br />

Barcelona - Sete, France - Ajaccio, Corsica - Alghero, Sardinia<br />

Mahon, Menorca - Palma, Majorca - Valencia, Spain - Barcelona<br />

Vista Suites from<br />

£2,250per person<br />

With a range of amazing itineries complemented with such<br />

enticing offers, there has never been a better time to escape with<br />

Silversea. But hurry to book, opportunities such as these don’t last<br />

long! To book, or for more information please call 01792 478852.


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Dubai<br />

Discover this glittering city of traditional<br />

souks and soaring modern buildings<br />

Words:<br />

Cerensa Williams<br />

Aberdare <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong><br />

Dubai has so much to offer. It’s a<br />

truly unique place from sharks in<br />

the shopping mall to skiing in the<br />

42°C heat, Dubai does it bigger and<br />

better.<br />

I travelled to Dubai in June 2012<br />

on a familiarisation trip, I flew out<br />

with Emirates business class, a great<br />

way to start any trip. After enjoying<br />

some cocktails and watching a<br />

movie I managed to get a few hours<br />

sleep in my lie-flat seat during the 7<br />

hour flight. '42°C' the captain<br />

announced and sunny, what more<br />

could you ask for !<br />

We arrived at the one and only<br />

Royal Mirage in no time at all and<br />

were greeted by the manager with a<br />

complimentary ice cold fruit<br />

smoothie, we were then shown to<br />

our beautiful room. This hotel only<br />

had a few floors which was unusual<br />

for such a high rise city oasis.<br />

<strong>The</strong> hotel was very spacious, calm<br />

and relaxing. I spent the rest of my<br />

day by the side of the elegant pool<br />

under the shade of the palm trees.<br />

On the second day we took a 10<br />

minute bus ride to Dubai’s Marina<br />

and had a luxury yacht cruise which<br />

sailed past the Burj Al Arab and<br />

sauntered past a selection of hotels<br />

on Jumeirah beach. <strong>The</strong> yacht<br />

stopped for a short while so we<br />

could all have a swim and enjoy the<br />

warm waters. <strong>The</strong> views you get of<br />

the Dubai skyline while on the water<br />

are amazing.<br />

After the cruise we had a charming<br />

city tour which took us along part of<br />

the 558.4km long Sheikh Zayed<br />

Road. <strong>The</strong> city is buzzing with life, it<br />

really is a multicultural melting pot.<br />

We stopped along the way to explore<br />

different parts of the city. One of the<br />

best experiences in the city was<br />

when we visited the gold and spice<br />

souks the smell and sounds of the<br />

market place were electric.<br />

On day three we transferred to our<br />

second hotel which was situated on<br />

the tip of the artificial Palm Island.<br />

'<strong>The</strong> Atlantis <strong>The</strong> Palm Hotel'<br />

has a 1.4km beautiful white sand<br />

beach with great water sports and<br />

facilities. Before you get to the grand<br />

lobby you must walk past well<br />

manicured flower beds and water<br />

features. <strong>The</strong>n just inside the<br />

entrance, you are met by a Dale<br />

Chihuly 3,000 piece hand crafted<br />

colourful glass sculpture. <strong>The</strong><br />

fantasy decor runs throughout the<br />

hotel with mythical designs and<br />

huge floor to ceiling aquaria.<br />

After we settled down in our<br />

spectacular Deluxe room with views<br />

of the Arabian Sea we felt a bit<br />

peckish. With over 20 restaurants to<br />

choose from in the hotel you are<br />

spoilt for choice. For our first meal<br />

we decided on Ronda Locatelli, an<br />

Italian Restaurant where the pizzas<br />

start from just £10.00.<br />

Also located on the Iconic Palm<br />

Island a short golf cart ride away is<br />

Dolphin Bay. I was lucky enough to<br />

have a dolphin encounter. Its great<br />

for all ages and the cost starts from<br />

£113 for hotel guests. For day<br />

visitors it starts from £150. My<br />

personal favourite experience of the<br />

trip was feeding the cownose<br />

stingray in the shallow waters of<br />

Shark Lagoon situated in Aquaventure.<br />

You wade in waist high to feed<br />

them with the instructor. What an<br />

experience.<br />

<strong>The</strong> 5* Aquaventure water park,<br />

which gives free entrance to hotel<br />

guests, has 2km of interconnected<br />

water ways. <strong>The</strong> main attraction is<br />

called '<strong>The</strong> Leap of Faith'. It is a<br />

27.5m tall plunge slide which travels<br />

through a transparent tunnel which<br />

takes you through Shark Lagoon.<br />

Its great fun!<br />

Once we had our fill of rides we<br />

made our way over to the Palm<br />

Monorail which would give you a<br />

great vantage point of the island as<br />

the monorail runs along the trunk of<br />

this grand construction and for just<br />

£4 return it’s worth the money. We<br />

ended the night with a few drinks<br />

and a dance at Nasimi Beach bar.<br />

Our last day arrived and we had<br />

packed in as much as we could. We<br />

started off shopping at the 'Avenue'<br />

a large shopping area in the hotel<br />

Dubai does it bigger & better


Dubai<br />

which is loaded with designer shops<br />

and boutique stores then we had a<br />

few treatments in the ShuiQi Spa<br />

(You must make your reservation<br />

early as appointments get booked<br />

up very quickly.)<br />

That afternoon on our way to <strong>The</strong><br />

'SeaFire' Steak restaurant we called<br />

into the 'Lost Chambers of Atlantis'<br />

which has free complimentary<br />

access for hotel guests. It holds up<br />

to 65,000 marine animals, you<br />

meander through 10 chambers and<br />

get views inside beautiful aquarium<br />

exhibits.<br />

Dubai is a major destination and<br />

really has established itself over the<br />

last few years. It hosts a range of<br />

popular sporting events throughout<br />

the year and attracts big name<br />

celebrities. As I only spent 3 nights<br />

there it wasn't long enough to see<br />

and do everything that Dubai has to<br />

offer so I would definitely consider<br />

returning.<br />

If I had to say one thing about<br />

Dubai it would be 'Experience it for<br />

yourself' you won’t be disappointed!<br />

Have you visited Dubia<br />

Now try Abu Dhabi – <strong>The</strong> new<br />

star of Arabia<br />

Once best known for conventions and<br />

exhibitions, Abu Dhabi, Dubai’s sister city<br />

is fast making its mark as the new top<br />

destination in the UAE. Abu Dhabi<br />

provides the traveller with a mix of its<br />

traditional heritage while its tourism<br />

industry develops at a significant rate<br />

offering bigger and better attractions.<br />

Top Attractions<br />

Ferrari World boasts the world’s fastest<br />

roller coaster within the world’s largest<br />

indoor theme park.<br />

Yas Waterworld – New for <strong>2013</strong>, this state<br />

of the art waterpark is the size of 15 football<br />

pitches with an amazing 43 rides, slides<br />

and attractions.<br />

An abundance of shopping opportunities<br />

with large modern shopping malls to small<br />

souk outlets selling spices, handicrafts and<br />

carpets.<br />

Quick Facts<br />

Flight time from the UK – 7hrs 30 min<br />

Currency – UAE Dirham<br />

“If I had to say one thing about Dubai it<br />

would be 'Experience it for yourself' you<br />

wont be disappointed”<br />

Climate – Nov – Apr is the most pleasant<br />

time to visit with temperatures reaching<br />

75F. Summer months can reach as high<br />

as 118F.<br />

To find more about Dubai or Abu Dhabi please call Cerensa<br />

on 01685 874558 or visit your local branch of <strong>The</strong> <strong>Travel</strong> <strong>House</strong>


Flying was exciting.<br />

Now it’s excitingly spacious.<br />

It’s time for a new<br />

way to travel from<br />

East Midlands Airport.<br />

Space and comfort are in abundance on the<br />

new Thomson 787 Dreamliner. In Premium<br />

Club you’ll get 38” of legroom, so you can<br />

really stretch out. And in Economy Club<br />

you’ll get 34”, which is more than all<br />

other major UK airlines * .<br />

What’s more, we’ve got the UK first on this<br />

new jet. So be the first to fly to Mexico or<br />

Florida onboard the 787 Dreamliner<br />

from East Midlands Airport.<br />

Long-haul holidays. Designed for you. Only from<br />

*Source BATA website September 2012.<br />

Be the first to fly<br />

on the plane everyone’s<br />

talking about.<br />

Only with Thomson.<br />

It’s the state-of-the-art plane set<br />

to revolutionise air travel – and<br />

we’re the first airline in the UK<br />

to get it.<br />

In May <strong>2013</strong>, we’ll be flying the<br />

Thomson 787 Dreamliner to Florida<br />

and Mexico from East Midlands<br />

Airport – setting a new standard on<br />

long haul flying along the way.<br />

Even at its lowest point, the<br />

Dreamliner cabin space is over six<br />

feet high, so there’s a real sense of<br />

space. Plus, the Dreamliner’s<br />

windows are about three times the<br />

size of those on your average<br />

aeroplane.<br />

And the seats have been carefully<br />

positioned, so wherever you’re sitting<br />

you’ll get a view of the horizon. When<br />

you’re ready to sleep, simply dim the<br />

windows at the touch of a button. It’s<br />

kitted out with state-of-the-art<br />

seatback TVs. You will even be able to<br />

plug your iPod into them.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Dreamliner will generate sixty<br />

per cent less noise than standard<br />

planes during take-off and landing.<br />

It’ll be quieter in the air, too.<br />

Not only that, we’re raising the<br />

bar when it comes to all of our<br />

long-distance flights. We’ve looked<br />

at every aspect of the in-flight<br />

experience – from comfort to diningand<br />

are making changes we think<br />

you’ll love. It means our flights are<br />

now just like our holidays – designed<br />

especially for you.


THG Holidays<br />

Worldwide <strong>Travel</strong> Specialists<br />

Wales’ leading worldwide tour operator<br />

THG Holidays is a Swansea based business which<br />

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We are here to offer you the best service and advice<br />

possible and ensure we provide you with the best<br />

holiday arrangements to meet your requirements<br />

and budget.<br />

Why book with us<br />

· ATOL protected - flight inclusive holiday bonding<br />

· Customer service is paramount<br />

· IATA member - airline ticketing bonding<br />

· We are open 7 days a week<br />

· We have first-hand experience of the destinations we sell<br />

· We are passionate about travel<br />

· We have a 24 hour emergency number<br />

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Book before 28 February <strong>2013</strong><br />

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Book before 31 March <strong>2013</strong><br />

We offer a wide range of holidays including:<br />

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Tel: 01792 472221<br />

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Tel: 01792 475144<br />

Morriston<br />

Tel: 01792 518518<br />

Cardigan<br />

Tel: 01239 615060<br />

<strong>Travel</strong> house ad.indd 1 05/12/2<br />

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Tel: 01792 885566<br />

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Carmarthen<br />

Tel: 01267 221700<br />

Haverfordwest<br />

Tel: 01437 768860<br />

Neath<br />

Tel: 01639 636858<br />

Llandeilo<br />

Tel: 01558 823923<br />

Bridgend<br />

Tel: 01656 662438<br />

Aberdare<br />

Tel: 01685 874558<br />

Pontardawe<br />

Tel: 01792 830030<br />

Gorseinon<br />

Tel: 01792 899944<br />

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Tel: 01269 591591<br />

<strong>Travel</strong> house ad.indd 1 05/12/2012 10:45<br />

Merthyr<br />

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www.travelhouse.co.uk<br />

Your Local, Independent <strong>Travel</strong> Specialists<br />

All Offers are subject to availability which may be limited. Images are for illustration purposes only.<br />

We reserve the right to withdraw the offer(s) without notice. Terms and conditions apply. E&OE.<br />

TRAVEL<br />

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.CO.UK

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