New US Visa Rules

Are you planning a trip to the US? Do you know about the new online US visa waiver requirement? If not, then read on.

On Monday (12 January), a new system came into force that requires travellers to the US fill out a form online and receive authorisation to travel from US border officials before stepping onto a plane.

The Visa Waiver Program consists of 34 countries including the UK, and enables qualifying citizens with a machine readable passport to visit the US for up to 90 days without applying for a visa.

The US is replacing the paper forms (that you fill on the plane) with ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Please note that ESTA is a compulsory online travel permit and travellers must pre-register online at least 72 hours prior to travel to obtain an authorisation. Once obtained, visa waivers are valid for two years, or until your passport expires. Fail to do this, and you will not be allowed into the country. Period.

The official ESTA website is https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, and all visa waiver applicants should submit their information through this site alone.

Easyjet - New Summer Routes

Easyjet is launching nine new routes from UK regional airports for summer 2009.

There are new places to go cheaply as operations start from April this year. Where you can go this summer for a song:
Newcastle to Malta, from 2 April
Bristol to Corfu, from 22 May
Bristol to Bastia, from 24 May
Liverpool to Dubrovnik, from 2 June
Liverpool to Naples, from 1 June
Liverpool to Bordeaux, from 2 June
Manchester to Corfu, from 4 May
Manchester to Athens, from 1 Aug
Manchester to Bastia, from 9 Aug

Get ready to go.

Bristol: A Green City

Bristol has recently been chosen as the only city in the UK to be shortlisted for the European Green Capital Award.

The European Green Capital Award was conceived to recognise the important role played by the local authorities in improving the environment. The idea was originally conceived at a meeting in Tallinn, Estonia on the initiative of the former City Mayor, Jüri Ratas.
Starting in 2010, one European city will be selected each year as the European Green Capital of the year. Of the 35 applicants, the evaluation panel has shortlisted eight cities, including Bristol, for the title as European Green Capital 2010 and 2011. The city was recently appointed by the UK government as Britain’s first ‘cycling city’.
Shortlisted cities are:
• Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Bristol, United Kingdom
• Copenhagen, Denmark
• Freiburg, Germany
• Hamburg, Germany
• Münster, Germany
• Oslo, Norway
• Stockholm, Sweden

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Africa: Anglo-Zulu War 130th Anniversary

In commemoration of the 130th anniversary of the Anglo-Zulu War this month Endumeni Tourism in Dundee, KwaZulu-Natal, has put together a special programme. The line-up begins with a parade in Dundee on January 17 when the 153-year old KwaZulu-Natal regiment, the Natal Carbineers, exercises its right to Freedom of Entry of Dundee. This will be followed on January 19 by a conference on the Anglo-Zulu War, which will feature aminent local and international historians as well as the commanding officers of the Natal Corbineers and the Natal Mounted Rifles.

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Africa: Bushman’s Secrets Revealed

Bushman Kloof Reserve and Retreat will be presenting an archaeological event every month, starting March to June this year. Guests will discover the history of one of the world’s largest open air art galleries during the three-day ‘Art of Archaeology’ programme, with two of South Africa’s foremost archaeologists, Professor John Parkington of the University of Cape Town’s Archaeology Department and Bushmans Kloof resident curator, Siyakha Mguni, who will host excursions and lead informative talks about the San.

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China – Travel to Yunnan

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see there is enormous business interest in China, and that China is obviously trying very hard to redefine its place in the world market.

They say: “Yunnan is China’s It destination. Look forward to spirit-recharging sunsets along the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge trek; sunrises atop the Yuanyang rice terraces; back-alley meanders in the time-warp towns of Lijiang and Dali; and an ice-cold beer in Xishuangbanna after a jungle trek.”

The plan: the classic Yunnan triangular tour is out from the capital, Kunming, to explore Dali, Lijiang and Zhongdian - cobbled market towns connected by panoramic train and bus rides, and crowded with temples, t’ai chi and (in Zhongdian) Tibetan colour. If you’re feeling flush, Banyan Tree has opened hotels in both Lijiang (doubles from £264) and Zhongdian (from £242).

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Vietnam - Where to go in January

During the winter months of November to April, the temperatures in North Vietnam average around 16 degree centigrade. The rest of the year is considered summer time with heavy rainfalls and occasional storms. However, it only rarely rains the whole day long and gets dry after rainfall as quickly as it comes.

If you are travelling to the central and southern parts of Vietnam, then the months of November and December are considered the best. However, the best time for a long tour from North to South Vietnam would be from January till April. So book your holidays now and save on bargains!

There is a new possibility to travel inter-countries between Vietnam and Cambodia via water way. The Victoria Group operates a speed boat of 10 seats from Phnom Penh to Chau Doc or vice versa. Upon request, this boat can transfer passengers from Chau Doc to Ho Chi Minh City with a stopover in Can Tho or same routing in reversed way.

Our seat-in-coach tours are enriched by the 5-day Sapa tour and the 4-day Mekong Delta extension with weekly departure, conveniently fit as pre and post tour options of the 7-day Vietnam Classic tour starting every Wednesday, with minimum 2 passengers.

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Oman: New Adventure Destination

Did you know that 21 different species of whales and dolphins have been identified off the coast of Oman? And you can see 5 types of sea turtles of which Green Turtle and Loggerhead species are most common. It is a paradise for scuba divers and snorkelers but with over 400 species of birds even birdwatchers can have a field day. If you are still bored, well you can try finding an Arabian leopard.

This is a good time to see Oman, as it starts to pull the visitors in. Because of long- standing links with Britain, Oman has a conveniently Anglophile attitude: English is widely spoken, our plugs fit their sockets and the benign autocrat who rules the Sultanate of Oman - Sultan Qaboos - still thinks warmly of his days at Sandhurst. And our winter is the best time to see Oman, when the weather is pleasant.

The perfect way to see Oman: driving and camping. Make sure you are carrying the best of everything with you - especially water- and knowing exactly where you're going.

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