Anfi Group, the company behind the much-anticipated Anfi Tauro Golf & Luxury Resorts development and the town council of Mogan have both been given the green light by the Supreme Administrative Court following an appeal to allow the development to go ahead.
The new resort will include two brand new man-made beaches and a 500-berth leisure harbour, plus a number of residential and leisure facilities, with a focus on golf. The 7,500 bed tourist complex will be targeted at European visitors and the luxury development already boasts a luxury hotel, a selection of freehold bungalows and villas, an 18-hole championship golf course, golf academy and 9-hole pitch-and-putt course, all to the tune of €400 million.
Britain’s tourist body www.VisitBritain.com has compiled a handy list of tips on how to extend an even warmer welcome to visitors coming to the UK for the 2012 Olympics.
The guidelines are tailored to various nationalities, whose customs and etiquette may vary, or even contrast with, the British way of doing things and the idea is to create an even more efficient and helpful customer service that takes account of cultural needs.
Britain rates quite highly on the “warm welcome” front compared to other countries. It ranks 14th out of 50 in the Nation Brands Index for the quality of the welcome would-be visitors believe they will get when they come here, although we’re not as good as Canada, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands apparently.
Tickets from London and Ashford to top ski destinations now on saleStarting December 19th 2010, Eurostar will offer a direct route from St. Pancras International in London, and Ashford International station in Kent, to the French Alps, calling at Moûtiers, Aime-La-Plagne and Bourg St Maurice.
Eurostar says the service will offer easy access to a variety of top ski destinations, including Courchevel, La Plagne, Tignes, Meribel and Les Arcs, making the trip convenient by arriving at stations located a short bus ride from main resorts, avoiding potentially lengthy transfers to and from the airport.
Presidents, CEOs and Marketing Directors from the world’s top cruise lines will be brainstorming in the south of France this winter to discuss the future of the cruise industry in the Mediterranean region.
Cruise holidays have held up very well in the last year for a number of reasons, including perceived value for money, the attraction of the cruise experience as something new and recommended by friends, effective marketing campaigns and a fleet of sleek new ships that seem to have been launching almost every other month, such as P&O’s magnificent new liner Azura.
Morocco as a tourist destination has been rising in popularity steadily as it attracts more and more Britons to its best-known regions including Marrakech and the golf and beach coast near Tetuan. Now Portugal’s leading hotel group, which also has a strong shared ownership division, is making its first foray into Morocco with the Pestana Casablanca, a development of tourist apartments.
Casablanca is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in this country considered the bridge between Africa and Europe which boasts 3,500 km of coastline, rich nature diversity, millennial history and traditions and hospitality.
Interval International has just announced the affiliation of Multiresidence de l’Elysee in Paris, France. The property occupies a six-storey building in the 8th arrondissement on the right bank of the River Seine, close to the Champs-Élysées and right between the world famous Parisian landmarks the Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde.
“The prime location of this resort, on the stylish Rue de Colisee in the heart of Paris, makes it an ideal base for exploring one of the world’s most beautiful cities,” said Darren Ettridge, Interval International’s vice president of resort sales and service for Europe, Middle East, and Africa. “Each residence is equipped with all the comforts of home, so guests will feel more like residents than tourists.”
With summer almost over, it’s this time of year when winter sun resorts come into their own. One place where sun is virtually guaranteed – even in winter while the rest of Europe freezes its woolly socks off - is Tenerife. Dry yet lush, warm but not sizzling, the island’s contrasting scenery makes it a visual paradise.
Technically located very close to the continent of Africa, the Canary Islands enjoy their own special climate which keeps them warmer and dryer than the Costa del Sol or the French Riviera in low season.
Traditionally one of the busiest destinations in the timeshare market, Tenerife’s resorts are well versed in catering for family holidays and Petchey Leisure has two main resorts on the island.
Aer Lingus has posted an operating loss of €19 million in the six months to the end of June, that’s a reduction of 80% on its operating losses during the first half of 2009.
The airline has resisted two takeover bids by Ryanair Holdings and according to chief executive Christoph Mueller, the improvements in performance are significant considering it’s been a tough year with unexpected losses due to the Icelandic volcanic ash crisis which hit Ireland and many of the regions the airline flies in and out of.
We have been made aware that timeshare owners are making complaints that they are receiving unsolicited phone calls from Equity Secure, a company that operates using a website but does not appear to have office in the UK.
This firm purports to secure ‘equity release from your timeshare commitments' and owners are informed that the law is to change in January next year, which will result in a doubling of their maintenance fees.
There is no truth whatsoever in this statement and owners should be on their guard about this claim, scare tactics to persuade people to pay a fee to sign up for their service.
So what changes will there be to timeshare laws next year? In February 2011, a new Directive comes in to force that provides timeshare buyers with additional levels of protection, namely a 14 day cooling off period and a ban on deposits. This law does not extend to maintenance fees and claims that these are to double are totally unfounded.
RDO is, further, extremely concerned that Equity Secure, which has links to Travel Connect Ltd and Connections 6, is offering to recover up to £12,000 on behalf of timeshare owners. RDO does not endorse this type of ‘cashback’ scheme and is doubtful that owners would receive their money.
Sunglasses and sun cream are summer essentials, but when holiday horrors Delhi Belly or Tunisian Tummy strike, you’ll be glad you packed sensibly. Here’s a quick checklist.
As the pound continues to strengthen against the euro, buying you more euros for your sterling, the argument for specifically holidaying in a non-euro zone is fading fast. These days it’s not so much a question of which currency you’ll be using to buy your holiday souvenirs and sunset cocktails, it’s more about the overall cost of living and the prices at the actual resort you’re going to be holidaying at.
Turkey and Egypt, both non-euro countries, are particularly popular this year, but classic eurozone favourites like Portugal, Cyprus and Greece are also great value this summer compared to parts of Spain, France and Italy.
Turkey has been one of the biggest success stories in the travel and resort development industry this year. Now travellers keen to sample Turkey’s wellbeing holidays can enjoy a taste of some Turkish spa delights at two resorts that joined RCI recently: Salutaris Thermal Resort, located inland from the Aegean coast of Turkey, and Kartas Thermal Spa & Resort in the Cavlak area of Bogazliyan, Yozgat.
Salutaris Thermal Resort in Omerli lies in the mountainous region of Afyon, inland from the Aegean coast and 250 kilometres south-west of Ankara. Afyon is rich in history, with many archeological sites and monuments, such as the ruins of a fortress, the Great Mosque, the 13th century Alti Göz Bridge and the statue of Hamm's symbolic white elephant.
The UK airport strike which would have grounded 2,500 flights a day and impacted over 200,000 passengers over the busy August bank holiday will not go ahead it has been confirmed.
Picture the scene: green fairways undulating across Scotland ’s legendary “golf country” . . . forests tinged copper, . . . in autumn colours a Cornish fishing village, lost in time . . .
Book a short break this winter and it’s the kind of scenery you could be waking up to. But what if the weather doesn’t co-operate? Then steal a few hours at the hotel spa or pool, or settle in with a glass of something good and finish the book you can’t put down while the rain pelts outside.
Long ago, the idea of a British holiday break might have conjured up images of chilly B&Bs with faulty heating, plastic tea-makers and fuzzy TVs, but thankfully most of those two star disasters have gone the way of the dinosaur.
Conciliation service Acas is stepping in to try and avert a strike at UK airports by meeting between BAA and Unite, the union threatening a walkout this month.
Unite union members have voted 3-1 in favour of a strike later this month. The walkout will mean six UK airports will be shut down during the strike over pay
Following the success of their fractional developments in some of the world’s most scenic locations – the Greek Island of Samos, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Cornwall and the Caribbean among them - fractional property agents Barrasford & Bird have just this week released 24 new apartments in a coastal setting in North Devon, now available to early birds.
This time the location is the beach community of Westward Ho! near Bideford, twenty minutes from Barnstaple. The two-, and three-bedroom executive apartments are 50m from Westward Ho! beach and some of the three-bedroom properties will be available as duplexes, on two floors with a mezzanine area above.
Robin Barrasford, managing director of Barrasford & Bird Worldwide, told GoFractional.org this week: "Westward Ho! is a bustling and vibrant coastal community that thrives on tourism. The area is receiving extensive investment aimed at boosting an already profitable tourism industry, creating a unique opportunity to purchase property at an affordable price whilst benefitting from increasing tourism over the coming years.”
UPDATE: The planned strike has been averted. See this article on GoTimeshare.org for more information:
easyJet is warning passengers to check their flight status given uncertainty over flying due to the Spanish air strike threat, before they leave for the airport and have said they will transfer passengers to an alternative flight to the same destination free of charge, all of which can be done at www.easyjet.com
Passengers who did not book their flights through the website, however, should request a flight rebooking by calling the call centre on 0871 244 23661.
Refunds may also be an option, although if flights were originally booked through travel agents, the flight cost must be claimed back through that agency.
EasyJet is expanding its route network with a new twice-a-week flight to Luxor in Egypt, starting this November.
The services will depart Gatwick on Mondays and Wednesdays, offering a competitive fare for passengers heading to the region and its attractions, including the Valley of the Kings and Nile cruises.
The fare, £127.81 return including tax, looks set to tempt the number of visitors to the region; EasyJet already flies to another Egyptian hotspot, Sharm el-Sheikh from Gatwick, Luton and Manchester, and the new flight to Luxor (five hours flying time) will offer travellers another winter sun destination to escape to this winter.
The planned strike has been averted. See this article on GoTimeshare.org for more information:
Ryanair has asked the Spanish government to help ease the effects of the Spanish air traffic controller strike which, if it goes ahead, will start August 18th and last three days.
The strikers are protesting at government plans to change their work hours and reduce overtime pay and more than 2,000 nationally have voted for the strike which could affect some two million passengers (many Spanish workers take their holidays in August and the strike couldn’t come at a busier time).
The dispute with the Spanish government has dragged on since February, when overtime hours and controllers’ pay were slashed. According to some reports, some controllers were earning as much as £290,000 a year, more than the Spanish prime minister Mr. Zapatero earns, and the government wants to increase their hours and shorten their rest breaks.
Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels will open a brand new resort in Kusadasi on Turkey’s Aegean coast next summer. Kusadasi Golf & Spa will be a first for both the resort developer, and Turkey, comprising a unique, mixed use residential development complete with its own 18-hole, par 72 golf course, spa, shops, sports and on-site restaurants.
The resort is set on a hilltop, close to one of the region’s most spectacular stretches of coast, “Long Beach”, and is just 11 km from Kusadasi, one of Turkey ’s top tourist spots earmarked to become a golf centre.
RDO is proud to welcome Royal Resorts as its most recent sponsor of GoTimeshare. Founded in Cancun in 1975, Royal Resorts is a pioneer in the Mexican tourism industry and one of the world’s first vacation ownership companies.
It has five properties in Cancun and one in the Riviera Maya, all in beautiful beachfront settings. Each resort has an impressive array of five-star amenities such as pools, tennis courts, restaurants and bars, and members and guests can also enjoy the facilities at sister resorts. Operated as private clubs with 24-hour security and daily maid service, the Royal Resorts are the perfect family getaway; in fact many members call them their home away from home.
The last thing on our minds as we stuff the bikinis and sun cream into our luggage is a visit to the doctor during our holidays, but it’s best to be prepared.
While flight searches to Spain’s holiday hotspot airports – Malaga, Alicante, Palma and Tenerife – continue to dominate the rankings, it seems a “new” region is quickly establishing itself as a rival to traditional Mediterranean destinations.
Nicknamed “the METT” (Morocco, Egypt, Tunisia and Turkey) it wasn’t that long ago that these destinations were considered exotic – destinations for the more adventurous keen to explore new sights, sounds and cultures.
All four are euro-free zones that offer great value for money, a very comfortable winter climate, and all four are easily accessible from northern European airports. All plus points, but it’s the rise of the big hotel brands in the region, including luxury hoteliers like Kempinski, and quality timeshare resorts like Club La Costa’s new Appollonium Beach and Spa Resort at Bozbuk Bay on Turkey’s Aegean coast, that have really pushed the “fab four” into the mainstream.
The long-awaited new shuttle link is now operating between Gatwick's North and South terminals. It’s part of a massive £1billion pound investment in the airport by the new owners Global Infrastructure Partners.
The £45m link opened in early July, two months ahead of schedule and includes the installation of new shuttle cars, fully accessible for passengers with reduced mobility, refurbishment of the track and an upgrade of the terminal stations. Passengers have been using buses to travel between the two terminals since work started last September.
If you have a cashback certificate, don't fall victim to scam that has recently come to our attention.
We've been told that members of the public who purchased a holiday club membership that included a cashback offer are now receiving calls from a separate company to inform them that their cashback certificate has not been correctly registered. As a result, they are invited overseas - usually Spain or the Canaries - to find ways around the problem and this is where, at their most vulnerable, people tend to be pressured into making decisions they later regret.
Twenty-five years ago, Tenerife-based resort management company WimPen was part of construction giant George Wimpey’s European empire; today, WimPen provides management services for 13 resorts and communities in Tenerife, Lanzarote, La Gomera and the Costa del Sol, servicing 15,000 property owners.
It has been brought to the attention of RDO [Resort Development Organisation] that a Singapore based company called United Wealth Management may be informing timeshare owners during presentations that the company is registered with RDO.
United Wealth Management is not associated with RDO in any way and is not authorised to act on its behalf. Members of the public should be on their guard if contacted by this company and are advised to take legal advice before parting with any money.
Timeshare owners who are asked to pay a sum of money to a company that promises to recuperate monies lost elsewhere - for example a deposit paid to a sales company that has closed down or a registration fee paid to a resale company - should be extremely wary as this frequently results in a further loss.
If you are told that the company is registered with RDO, check our website as it contains an up-to-date list of members, all of which sign up to a code of conduct. Go to www.rdo.org for further information.
Club La Costa Resorts & Hotels continues to expand its portfolio of resorts with the announcement of its purchase of Encantada, in Kissimmee, Orlando, just 8 km from Walt Disney World.
Set in lush grounds with its own natural lake, Encantada is close to the best Orlando has to offer - shopping, theme parks, golf and of course unlimited sunshine.
For families looking for a fun Florida break, it’s an ideal location. Encantada is within easy driving distance of Universal Orlando’s brand new attraction The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ (which opened last month) as well as two of the world’s most famous theme parks, SeaWorld and Walt Disney World, which are also close by.
New Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, the smiling young South African who made winning the St. Andrews championship in high winds look like a breeze, knows just how breathtaking playing Scotland’s links courses can be.
Scottish golf is as famous as its whisky and Hogmanay parties, and now there’s a new links course and luxury resort, situated next to the original Machrihanish Golf Club on the Mull of Kintyre, for golfers and fresh air lovers to enjoy.
First impressions? The sweeping driveways, manicured lawns and tantalising glimpses of swimming pools and water slides were a sharp contrast to the damp and grey London we left behind earlier that day. Not that we dislike London, but it can be a bit dreary at times and a holiday with guaranteed sunshine can give you that boost you desperately need.
At first I was disappointed we weren't in one of the resort's self-contained villas but the River Island apartment complex has panoramic views overlooking the pool area and I soon realised we'd certainly not been given the short straw. The free and surprisingly fast wi-fi access cemented this view as I can't go long without my internet fixes.
British Airways has become the first UK airline to take delivery of a brand spanking new twin-jet Boeing 777-300ER.
The airline plans to add two more by the end of the year, and three more by 2012.
The new wide-bodied planes are more fuel efficient and quieter than their predecessors and BA will fit its first acquisition with a new interior that features new World Traveller and World Traveller Plus cabins plus a new in-flight entertainment system.
Leading worldwide vacation exchange organisation Interval International will open one of the year’s most important timeshare and fractional ownership conferences, to be held at the Elangeni Southern Sun in Durban, South Africa from 29 to 31 August 2010.
David Clifton, Interval’s managing director for Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, will kick off the conference as keynote speaker and Darren Ettridge, Interval’s vice president of resort sales and service for Europe, Middle East and Africa, will participate on the “Fractional Ownership in Southern Africa” panel.
Timeshare owners who have been defrauded by Resale Firms*, Holiday Clubs, Cash Back Schemes, Class Actions, Fly Buys*, etc. should contact RDO’s Enforcement team on enforcement@rdo.org as soon as possible.
The Enforcement team requires a detailed written summary of the case (including dates, name of the company, an outline of what the offer included and details of payments made), and a copy of all the documents related to the case ie the contract - which should include details of the services included - and all other available documents such as faxes, e-mails, and proof of payments made (credit card slips or bank statements).
The police in Spain have arrested a person behind fraudulent timeshare resale company Benedetti & Asociados. This company, which operated from offices on the Costa Del Sol, targeted Spanish timeshare owners and RDO has received a number of complaints about its activities this year. The arrest follows a report that RDO’s enforcement team sent to the police in Marbella.
RDO has established that Benedetti and Asociados SA was in fact a company that was dissolved in 1989 and this company was using its name. Timeshare owners were told that a corporate buyer was lined up and that they had to pay an upfront fee of €499. The sales failed to take place and the timeshare owners lost their money.
Members of the public who believe they may have been defrauded by this company should contact RDO's enforcement team on enforcement@rdo.org
One of the most unique timeshare holiday experiences this summer is a week-long sail around the Greek islands of Kos, Pserimos, Kalymnos and Leros with the Club La Costa Yacht Club.
Jennie Thompson, MD of Malaga-based Leisure Solutions SL, and board member of the official timeshare owner-run Timeshare Association (TATOC) www.tatoc.org, is about to take up a new role as vice president of the British Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Committee of Andalucia.
Thompson, who is also an elected member of the BCCS Governing Council, has a wealth of experience within the timeshare industry and hopes her two-year post will help spread a positive message about timeshare.
Orange Lake Resorts in Orlando is one of the best timeshare opportunities in Florida and is just a stone’s throw from Disney World’s Magic Kingdom® theme park. In fact a 15 minute car ride will take you to its very gates, with Universal Studios being just a 30 minute ride away too!
The resort makes the best use of one of its greatest assets; the generally dependable supply of good Florida weather. The swimming pools are both generous and well laid out with enough variety to cater to most tastes; Boisterous slides for the most active, shallow entry pools for the less so and quiet nooks, poolside bars and private cabanas to suit the least gregarious holidaymaker among us. All pool areas are connected by a winding artificial river. This looping, gently flowing water course allows one to float away an afternoon with a wonderful sense of motion, without effort. Perfect for the workaholic among us who can only truly relax when doing almost nothing! The resort also offers an extensive and well-integrated golfing experience, very nearly from sunrise to sunset.
You've seen an advertisement or had a call out of the blue - something in itself to be wary of as your details have probably been obtained through a stolen database - and are now considering whether to join a class action against your resort developer or even exchange company.
So what's the reality behind these schemes; is this just another scam, a way of obtaining money from timeshare owners under false pretences?
From evidence collected by RDO's enforcement team, headed up by a former Spanish police inspector, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the majority of these schemes are bogus, their primary goal being to have people sign up to expensive Holiday Clubs, something that is never made clear in their initial contact with timeshare owners. This is a classic ' bait and switch ' tactic, something that is illegal under laws adopted in the UK in 2008.
”Dinner at the Savoy”…four words that perfectly capture the lashings of British style, romantic ambiance and elegant, old-fashioned service of a bygone era that the world-famous hotel is renowned for.
And when the Savoy reopens on October 10th after a three year closure for one of the most ambitious refurbishments in the hotel industry, it will be better than ever. The hotel is owned by the prestigious Fairmont Hotels group which also operates an exclusive high end private residence club, Fairmont Heritage Place, and the brand is renowned for its luxurious and historic character properties.
If golf and Sicily sound like heaven, there’s not too long to wait until Wyndham’s new Catania Golf Resort opens in Carlentini. Located between the town of Catania and Syracuse, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the 192-bedroom and suite hotel it to overlook an 18-hole golf course. There are 224 fully-serviced residential units planned on three floors and the hotel will be marketed to appeal to a mix of business and leisure clientele.
The port of Catania is Sicily’s second largest city after Palermo, once home to artists and writers, including the composer Vincenzo Bellini. Catania lies in the shadow of Mount Etna, the area’s world famous volcano. The baroque city architecture reflects its 18th century heritage.
One of the world’s best-known brands Google has announced a new deal with leading travel technology company ITS to help Google improve search results when users look for flights or want to book holidays.
ITA’s technology, which is behind major airlines’ reservation systems, will help consumers find the best flights and best holiday deals online; airlines and travel agencies will benefit as Google drives more traffic in their direction.
New to the shared ownership industry, Tau Resorts has joined the exchange network of Interval International. Both resorts enjoy stunning locations and will offer guests a chance to explore the rich history, culture and natural beauty both destinations have to offer.
Tau nahui is the first beachfront shared ownership project in the portfolio. It’s part of aa 2,100-acre mixed-use community located along a three mile stretch of coastline on Banderas Bay, north of one of Mexico’s best-known destinations, Puerto Vallarta.
RCI recently launched two new iPhone apps that let users share their holiday experiences with friends. The leading holiday exchange organisation designed the new applications as part of its innovative social media marketing strategy.
As Twitter, YouTube, blogs and Facebook are now part of everyday life, what better way to plan and share holiday experiences than via. social media and mobile marketing?
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