Category: Resorts

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Austria is Ireland’s favourite ski destination, and Soll is one of our favourite destinations within Austria. Every year, Irish skiers return to Soll, in the Ski Weltwilder kaiser-Brixental ski region, with its unique combination of 288 kms of interconnected skiing, and a big gastronomic experience with over 70 family-run restaurants on the mountain alone!

 

The views of over 70 mountains of 3000 metres are tempting too as well as the ALPENIGLU® Igloo Village, 3 fun parks, exhilarating ski runs, 3 floodlit toboggan runs as well as Austria’s largest night time ski resort. 80family-run huts with sun terraces and table service are a great place to call in for refreshments. 

 

Soll is well served also from Munich, Salzburg and Innsbruck airports, with short transfers to resort – between 1 hour and 1.75 hours, depending on traffic. Said Gabriel Eder, Manager of the Soll Tourist Board. “Even if the year 2022 is still quite young, it remains challenging. Aren’t we really desperate for some good to great news? Especially when they relate to topics such as vacation, skiing and enjoying life! As a matter of fact, the additional bank holiday in Ireland on Friday, March 18th, which people deserve so much, is good news. So why not plan a spontaneous skiing holiday to Söll? Because one thing is certain: A few days of skiing, with lots of relaxation and culinary delights all around to switch off, will recharge your batteries. Therefore, Söll has two unbeatable options for the perfect holiday for all last-minute holiday-seekers, that’s the great news”.

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Travelbiz Road Trip to the Sunshine State! Let’s Huddle in Florida.

 

“There was a real feeling of retuning back to normality as you can sense this is coming to an end”.

 

Quick update for you all as I arrived on the direct Aer Lingus service from Dublin to Orlando this week. I also want to take the opportunity to dispel some myths, as it could not be easier right now to pick up a great sale fare with Aer Lingus, get your antigen test in Dublin Airport (V1 Medical on the Santry Road 5 mins from Airport), Use the Verifly App and Fly!

 

Make sure you are tested no more than 24 hours pre your departure time. The good news is that you don’t need to repeat the process now when flying back to Ireland from the USA, but you must complete your Passenger Locator forms in advance.

 

Ok, admittedly Dublin airport was quiet, but once again I found the entire process stress free and seamless from start to finish.

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Just Announced: Universal’s Mardi Gras is back, spicier and better than ever. The spectacular parade is back (select nights). The unforgettable concerts are back (select nights) with incredible performers including Khalid, Marshmello, Diana Ross, and other sensational artists.

 

Check out all the details HERE.

 

The parades and beads are back. The concerts are back with incredible performers including Khalid, Marshmello, Jason Derulo and more. And every day and night you can enjoy lip-smacking foods from New Orleans as well as mouth-watering dishes inspired by tastes from around the world. It’s the loudest, wildest, spiciest blowout this side of the Bayou.

 

All the Parade Excitement

It’s an authentic New Orleans Mardi Gras parade complete with dazzling floats, colourful costumes, and beads, beads and more beads. This year’s parade features six brand new floats along with six traditional favourite floats.

 

Float Riding

You haven’t experienced Mardi Gras until you’ve experienced it from atop one of our spectacular floats. Toss beads to the crowd while you make your way through the streets – it’s unforgettable.

 

Mardi Gras float riding details and restrictions to be announced soon.

Note that there is no Mardi Gras parade on April 1, 2 and 8.

 

During the event you’ll find amazing Mard Gras-themed menu items throughout Universal Orlando Resort. And don’t miss the Mardi Gras Tribute Store, a themed experience as well as a shop for all things Mardi Gras.

 

For more click HERE.

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Kenya has continued to cement itself as a global champion in wildlife tourism after being named World’s Leading Safari Destination 2021 by World Travel Awards (WTA).

 

This announcement was made on 16th December during the WTA grand final winners’ day 2021 to celebrate excellence across all sectors of the global travel and tourism industry.

 

This is the 8th time in the last 9 years and 7th time in a row that Kenya is being recognised for this prestigious award at the annual global awards. The destination won the award in 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 and now 2021.

 

Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Kenya’s tourism marketing agency – Dr Betty Radier (CEO Kenya Tourism Board (KTB), termed the win as a testament to Kenya’s superior offering of the Safari product and experience.

 

“This recognition is an endorsement of Magical Kenya, known as home of authentic African Safari. Without a doubt this is well-deserved, and I believe that we shall get even better. We shall continue with our commitment towards preserving and showcasing to the world the unique wildlife heritage bestowed to our country for the sake of generations to come”, she said.

 

Despite the challenges the destination has faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Radier underscored the resilience that has positioned Kenya as a preferred destination for tourists from across the world.

 

“Ours is to continue building on this product which has a lot of potential for growth. For example, now with the Magical Kenya Signature Experiences travellers have an opportunity to experience a foot safari or even track wildlife while on foot”, added Dr Radier.

 

Kenya has been steadfast in innovating ways of showcasing its tourism products and making sure that more travellers are able to experience the destination. In 2020, the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife launched a virtual live stream campaign to showcase game safaris in parks and reserves across the country. The campaign was broadcasted around the world as part of the Magic Awaits destination marketing campaign. The activity was key in keeping the destination alive at the time when tourism activities were minimal.

 

In August of 2021, Kenya partnered with video sharing platform TikTok to showcase the great wildebeest migration and the Masai Mara. This ensured that people who were not able to travel to Kenya during the time had an opportunity to experience this spectacle.

 

“Kenya is a rich and diverse country, with an incredible wildlife offering which we want to highlight as well as protect. Together with our partners we can now engage the world with content and experiences from any part of the country and drive more awareness of our country and wildlife, especially during this time when travel is limited with the aim of curbing the spread of the virus. Kenya Tourism Board is keen to ensure Magical Kenya remains top of mind among consumers”, commented Dr Radier.

 

Kenya prides itself in having the best wildlife viewing destinations such the world famous Maasai Mara National Reserve, Amboseli National Park, the Tsavo East and West National Parks, Lake Nakuru National Park, Meru National Park, Aberdare National Park as well as Nairobi National Park- the only national park in the world within a capital city.

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Home of the ITAA Conference in 2021, Travelbiz can personally recommend this amazing city and region for hiking. Take a look at the links below and some of our pictures and Visit Portugal in 2022.

 

Do you like hiking? Why not add more #walking #routes to your new year’s resolutions? We suggest you start by exploring the historic centre of #Évora, in #Alentejo.

 

The arcades at Praça do Giraldo can be the starting point of the tour, then make a stop at the Temple and the Roman baths, walk by the medieval walls, the Cathedral and the Church of Graça, and end the adventure at the peculiar Bones Chapel.

 

Évora, a book of Portuguese art history, click HERE.

The best way to see the city is on foot, walking through its narrow streets lined with white houses, discovering along the way the monuments and details that reveal the history of Évora and its rich heritage.

 

Judging by the calm, welcoming surroundings, one easily sees why this city, which dates from the Roman era, was chosen by the kings of Portugal in the 15th century to serve as their residence, a fact that contributed to its development and cultural importance in the following centuries. It was in fact due to Évora´s long history and its urban centre, typical of the 16th to 18th centuries that has been preserved to our days that lead UNESCO to classify the city as a World Heritage site.

 

#portugal #visitportugal

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The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) remains positive about the continued rebound of the tourism industry even in the face of the uncertainty caused by the ongoing pandemic.

 

Over the past eighteen months, Caribbean destinations, without exception, have shown their resilience in creating strategies for recovery, incorporating frequently updated travel protocols, and collaborations with regional and international partners in the areas of health and economic support and development. Recovery in each instance, has taken place while ensuring the health and safety of residents and visitors alike.

 

The year 2022 is being observed as the year of wellness in the Caribbean, with a focus on renewal. Given the Caribbean’s unique diversity, destination by destination, visitors to our shores will discover endless options to be rejuvenated in the region. Similarly, we encourage Caribbean nationals to explore and rediscover the diversity within their own destinations and those around them.

 

Even as we work on our short-term strategies for recovery of the sector, we urge longer term approaches to promote sectoral sustainability. Building on our 2021 World Tourism Day message, we encourage moving towards social inclusion and creating smart destinations based on smart businesses as key planks which will lead to sustainability. Our human resources, which are our key assets, are critical to the success of the sector. During 2022, the CTO hopes to build on a regional study of human resources to maintain the excellence of our hospitality.

 

Clearly there is a demand for the region’s tourism product, as shown by our ability to outpace the global growth average for arrivals. It is our responsibility to ensure that we continue to position the region to meet this demand in new and refreshed ways.

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Whether visitors choose thrilling activities or embrace the tranquillity of days spent on 23 miles of world-famous white-sand beaches, they’ve weighed in with outstanding reviews. The Daytona Beach area ranked #1 in Travel Channel’s ‘Top 10 Attractions in Florida’. Tripadvisor named Daytona Beach to its “10 Most Affordable Beach Vacations on Florida’s East Coast” and Tripadvisor travellers named Ormond Beach, the northernmost Daytona Beach area beach, one of the “Top 25 Beaches in the U.S”. Visitors can enjoy experiences beyond the beach by choosing from a surprising list of outdoor adventures, family-friendly attractions, arts and cultural venues and an eclectic culinary scene.

Stay tuned to Travelbiz.ie as there will be lots more to come!

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WHAT: SeaWorld Orlando Announces all-new Ice Breaker coaster opening date 

 

WHEN: SeaWorld’s Ice Breaker will open February 18, 2022

 

The moment that our guests have been waiting for is almost here. Get ready for uncharted chills on the all-new Ice Breaker coaster! Named after the icy Arctic summits, Ice Breaker will feature four airtime filled launches, both backwards and forwards, culminating in a reverse launch into the steepest beyond vertical drop in Florida – a 93 feet tall spike with 100-degree angle. The thrills continue as riders fly over a near vertical top hat manoeuvre into a series of exciting twists, turns, and airtime hills. The brand-new coaster will be located across from Wild Arctic and opens 18 February 2022.

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With almost 14 million tourists in 2021, Croatia experienced a successful year reaching 75% of figures of 2019, which was a record year for Croatian tourism. As ECTAA’s preferred destination for 2021, the travel agents and tour operator’s organisation is pleased to have contributed to this success.

 

There were 77 percent more arrivals in 2021 than in 2020, whilst overnights were up 55 percent, stated the Croatian National Tourism Board. The most popular destinations were Zagreb (638,000 arrivals), Rovinj (549,000), Dubrovnik (543,000), Split (529,000) and Poreč (431,000). Moreover, Croatia also generated more revenue from foreign tourists during the summer months of 2021 than it ever has in the past.

 

Obviously the dedicated and quality work of all travel companies in Croatia ensured that the country kept its status of a high-quality, safe and well-prepared destination. In parallel, with the agreement signed last year, ECTAA promoted Croatia among the 70.000 travel agents and tour operators across Europe, highlighting the diversity of travel and tourism products that the country offers, providing visitors with beautiful nature, impressive heritage and fine gastronomy.

 

Thanks to the preferred destination’s ECTAA supported in many ways the CNTB initiatives to position Croatia as an attractive and as a safe tourist destination. Moreover, ECTAA held a successful conference in Zagreb: an occasion for the national delegates of ECTAA to get acquainted with the measures aimed at making the tourist experience both safe and enjoyable at the destination and start prospecting for future activities of travel agents and tour operators in Croatia.

 

According to Eric Drésin (Secretary General ECTAA), “This success is not a surprise. We have seen a genuine commitment from all the stakeholders to provide the best services to the customers and it paid off. In addition people want today both to travel and to be reassured that they can enjoy a safe journey. Croatia completely understood this new need. The clarity and quality of the information provided lead the path to these exceptional results”.