Pioneers of the online travel experience, Travelocity remains the most popular travel site on the world
wide web today and is now the sixth largest travel agency in the US. Wherever your destination, whatever your requirements Travelocity provides the solution
by incorporating what is probably the best flight search engine available. Like all leading travel sites, it doesn't stop there with a wealth of information
and other travel facilities including hotel reservations, car hire, vacation packages, insurance... Without doubt the best travel site bar none.
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A highly polished travel site which has established itself as a leading internet travel company. Expedia
offers an extensive list of flight options and searches making it easy to find the right flight at a budget to suit.Of course, like all good travel sites
they don't just provide flights but also offer a whole host of travel amenities including car hire, hotels, holidays, insurance... Quite simply one of the
best.
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Lunn Poly is a leading travel retailer, offering holidays from the UK’s major tour operators. They offer
a huge range of UK and overseas holidays including cruises, flights, ski holidays, city breaks and sun holidays. Their website has special offers which are
exclusively available online, and plenty of late deals to choose from. The website also offers online auctions where you can bid on Thomson late deal
package holidays from £1. They have a high level of customer service and excellent value for money. Booking online is easy, and can be done in 5 simple
steps.
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Virgin Atlantic
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Rating:
10
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Founded in 1984, Virgin Atlantic is now one of the UK’s largest long-haul airlines. Flights depart daily from Heathrow and Gatwick to over 20 worldwide destinations including the USA, Caribbean, Africa, India and the Far East. Their Flying Club enables you to earn air miles on almost all flights including full fare Economy class. Virgin Atlantic regularly wins awards for business and leisure travel, including those for Best Long Haul Airline, and Best Transatlantic Airline, and has received numerous awards for their innovative in-flight entertainment, which includes individual seatback TVs with a choice of at least 8 channels. Flying Upper Class enables you to experience their award-winning Upper Class suite, which boasts an on-board bar area, and the largest fully flat bed offered in business class by any airline. Virgin Atlantic provide a great in-flight experience and excellent customer service.
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Last Minute.com are the definitive internet travel and lifestyle company. With so much more than just
booking flights online, you really could organise your whole life with Last Minute.com!! They offer a multitude of special deals and as the name suggests
last minute options. Add to this a highly sophisticated search and booking system, Last Minute.com have created a site that truly is a delight to use.
Without doubt one of the best travel sites online and it would appear they keep getting better and better...
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Established in 1998, ebookers.com specialise in discount airfares for mid and long haul flights.
They have an extensive range of special offers always available from the homepage with a fast, efficient flight search engine. Of course, they offer much
more than simply air travel with sections for car hire, hotel bookings, travel insurance and holiday packages.
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With Eurostar you can travel from London or Ashford in Kent to over 100 destinations across Europe. Direct services run to Brussels, Lille, Disneyland Paris and Calais. They also offer a seasonal ski service direct to the French Alps. There is a loyalty programme available for frequent travellers, offering benefits such as reduced check-in time and earning points when you travel, which can be redeemed for Eurostar travel or other rewards. The website includes special offers on train journeys and hotel city breaks.
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Volunteer Travel
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Rating:
9
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i-to-i provides well researched, supported volunteer placements to those who wish to do something different and rewarding with their time off. They offer teaching, conservation, community development, and professional placements available in 24 countries around the world. All prices include full travel insurance, food and accommodation arrangements, emergency cover, a worldwide support network, and training provided for all volunteers.
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Hoseasons Holidays
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Rating:
9
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Hoseasons are the UK's leading self-catering holiday specialists. They offer over 12 000 places to stay throughout Britain and Ireland. Whether you are looking for a secluded lodge at the edge of a forest, a seaside holiday park, a cottage in the countryside or by the coast, or a relaxing river or canal holiday, Hoseasons has something for everyone. They now offer holiday apartments and villas throughout mainland Europe, at over 120 locations.
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James Villas are specialists in providing holiday villas. They offer quality villas in 22 popular destinations including Spain, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus and Florida. All James Villas have their own private pool, from simple farmhouses to luxury villas by the sea. Simple online availability and booking with a shortlist facility to make it easier to keep track of your favourite properties before making a decision. James Villas can also take care of flights, car hire and insurance at competitive prices.
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Cottages4you offer a choice of over 30 000 quality properties across 16 European countries and the USA. You can search by region, price and/or date of travel, specify any preferences you may have, and check availability and book online. Each property is packed with information and photos and some have virtual tours.
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Cottages4you offer a huge range of properties throughout the UK. Choose to search by price, date of travel and/or region, and select any preferences you may have to find the perfect holiday cottage. Each property has a detailed description and lots of photos to help you make the right choice, some even have virtual tours. You can check availability and book online.
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Rohan are the original travel clothing company. They have a weatherguard rating system for their clothing specifically designed to help you choose the right clothing for your travel needs. Clothes are designed for all types of climate from hot to cold weather, or to protect against wind or rain. Their clothing has been used all over the world from the Antartic to the Amazon. The clothing is well designed for travel therefore it is is lightweight, packable, crease resistant, quick drying, and easycare. You can search on the website by type of activity e.g. hill walking, touring, trekking, or by climate. They also have an excellent range of travel accessories such as backpacks, travel packs and products designed to be easy to pack and carry when travelling. All products are well designed with the needs of the traveller in mind.
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Golfing Elite membership enables you to have easy access to over 100 of the world's most prestigious courses, including Open Championship and international PGA courses. For the price of a new putter you can enjoy a golfing service that is the equivalent to overseas membership at top clubs. Family and friends are able to enjoy the same benefits and savings making it perfect for holidays, although corporate membership is also available.
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Pure Vacations Surfing
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Rating:
9
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Pure Vacations have been the world's leading surfing holiday operator since the 90's. They offer a huge range of surfing holidays including tours, boat trips, weekend breaks, and family surfing holidays. Pure vacations are passionate about surfing and research the waves, resorts and facilities of all destinations. They have selected 30 of the best destinations throughout the world including the USA, Hawaii, Europe and Australia. The website is packed with information about the areas and surfing conditions, and there are graphs to show the monthly water temperatures and swell size. There are holidays to suit everyone from the beginner to the experienced professional.
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Sherpa Expeditions
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Rating:
9
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Sherpa Expeditions provide walking and cycling holidays. With over 30 years experience they offer self-guided tours for those who prefer the freedom to go at their own pace, or escorted tours for those who want to travel with like-minded people. Tours are available to suit all levels of fitness, from a gentle ramble to a Himalayan expedition. A huge range of tours are available at destinations throughout the world all offering stunning scenery and a sense of achievement. Arrangements are made for baggage to be transferred to the next location wherever possible. Itineries and locations are constantly researched and updated to ensure you are getting the best tour available, and with 75% of their customers coming from repeat business or recommendations it would seem that they are getting it right!
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Opodo have conducted extensive research into what the traveller wants and aim to provide a service which offers this. They have great deals on their website for both tailor-made and package holidays. The website is designed to be informative and easy to use.
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Thomson Flights
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Rating:
8
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Specialising in low cost charter flights, they offer a number of great deals especially for the holiday maker. Formerly known as BrittanniaDirect.com, they are of course operated by the Britannia Airways fleet. The site offers a straightforward flight search for a large number of charter destinations. Bargain flights can certainly be found so for a low cost charter option to many popular holiday resorts, Thomson Flights could be just the ticket.
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Helpful Holidays
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Rating:
8
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Helpful Holidays are based in the heart of the West Country. They have a choice of over 500 holiday cottages and houses throughout the area, all of which are regularly inspected. Interior and exterior photos of all properties are available online to help you select the right one for you. The website allows you to search by area and add properties to a shortlist. You can check availability, pricing and book online. Helpful holidays started as a family-run business over 20 years ago and their knowledge of the local area and level of customer service means that the majority of their business comes from repeat customers.
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FindRooms offer you the chance to search for discounted hotels and apartments. They search through over 20 000 properties to find the best deals for you. They will only show you properties which are available for your travel dates as they use real time availability.
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QuickRooms specialise in providing low cost hotels, villas and apartments. Search from over 42 000 properties worldwide and in the UK. QuickRooms offer a huge range of beach, city and worldwide locations. The website is easy to use with just 3 clicks to book. They are an independent, impartial travel service, and therefore are able to offer you the best deals available.
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Maps.com is a leading online map store. They sell folded maps, atlases, wall maps, digital maps and map software. They currently only ship to the USA and Canada, but overseas customers are able to buy digital maps for web use.
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London Theatre Direct
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Rating:
8
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London Theatre Direct offer tickets for plays, musicals and comedy shows which can be booked online in advance or at the last minute. You can also buy packages for theatre and restaurant deals or accommodation. London Theatre direct sell tickets for great seats in all major London shows, with special offers available online. They also have a great range of coach tours, river cruises and tickets for London attractions.
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As part of the World of TUI group, SkyDeals.co.uk have access to a large number of carriers, flights
and discount airfare deals. This is a no frills site which offers a simple interface and flight search facility. SkyDeals.co.uk are perhaps not the first
choice for online travel but they are well worth a look especially if you fail to come up trumps elsewhere.
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Despite the best efforts of the power to its north, the
sun still shines on Cuba. It's the Caribbean's largest and
least commercialized island and one of the world's last
bastions of communism. The island's relative political isolation
has prevented it from being overrun by tourists, and locals
are sincerely friendly to those who do venture in - even
blockade runners from the US get a warm welcome! The Helms-Burton
Act has allowed Cuba to find its place in the post-Soviet
world gradually, without the sudden destabilizing shock
of mass consumer tourism from the United States. It's only
a matter of time before American-imposed travel and trade
barriers fall. No doubt millions will come when flights
from Miami resume. Clearly, the time to go is now.
Although you can't quite hear the colonial architecture
peeling in the streets, even Cuba's larger towns are pretty
relaxed. The most frenetic it gets is in the middle of an
enthusiastic chachachá, and the loudest it gets is
behind one of the huge finned American cars chugging the
streets. If you want it even quieter, Cuba's backcountry
and beaches are perfect chillout destinations for hikers,
swimmers, cyclers, spelunkers or those who just want to
smoke a fine cigar under a palm tree.
Cuba has undergone a transformation since it first opened
its doors to global tourism after almost three decades of
isolation. Most noteworthy has been the rapid growth in
private accommodation, the extensive network of casas particulares
allowing the independent traveller the opportunity, not
only to experience life more as it is lived by the average
Cubano, but also to explore corners of the country that
had previously been inaccessible or off-limits. Good news
for the tourist is the growing choice of resorts and the
number of new or refurbished hotels that are opening in
towns across the country. While eco-tourism is still in
its infancy and much of the island’s extraordinary
natural beauty remains to be discovered, the government
is already making strides in the right direction
Cuba really can offer something for all types of travellers
and holiday makers. Whether you are looking for a picture
perfect paradise with palm trees shading the pure white
sand beaches and blue lagoons, or for an interesting baptism
into a culture moulded by its unique history and political
climate, next time you draft up your short list of vacations...
make sure Cuba is on it.
VITAL STATISTICS:
• Full country name: Republic
of Cuba
• Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean
Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, south of Florida
• Geographic coordinates: 21 30 N, 80 00 W
• Map references: Central America and the Caribbean
• Area: total: 110,860 sq km
• Land: 110,860 sq km
• Land boundaries: 29 km
• Water: 0 sq km
• Population: 11 million
• Capital city: Havana (pop 2,200,000)
• People: 60% Spanish descent, 22% mixed-race, 11%
African descent, 1% Chinese
• Language: Spanish
• Religion: 47% Catholic, 4% Protestant, 2% Santería
(many Catholics also practice Santería
• Government: Communist republic
• Head of State: Fidel Castro
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