Book Early for Europe 2010 with THAI and Take a Thailand Side-trip for Free*

Plan an escape in 2010 to Europe and Thailand. THAI’s 2010 Early Bird fares offer a smorgasbord of choices to meet the needs of today’s most discerning travellers… only THAI give travellers the option to include free* side trip within Thailand – choose from Phuket, Chiang Mai or Koh Samui – and stopover in Thailand on the way to and/or* from Europe.

Fares start at $1049 return plus taxes from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane; from $1,009 return plus taxes ex Perth.

Book by 06 Dec ’09, travel between 01 Apr ’10 and 31 Oct ’10.

THAI’s Early Bird Europe smorgasbord of choices includes:
• A free* side trip within Thailand to and/or from Europe – Phuket, Koh Samui or Chiang Mai
• A choice of 13 major cities in Europe and the UK – London, Paris, Rome, Milan, Zurich, Athens, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Moscow, Frankfurt, Munich or Madrid.
• A choice of fare depending on the level of flexibility required
• Booking classes ‘W’ and ‘V’ class are combinable and subject to availability – seats are limited

Children and infants are also included in the Early Bird sale with child fare discounts 75% of adult fares and infants (not occupying a seat) paying 20% of the adult fares.

Stopovers are permitted once in Bangkok without charge on all fares.
For more information and bookings, contact travel agents or log on to thaiairways.com.au

*Conditions apply. Taxes must be added to all fares quoted. For example, the taxes on a return journey to Rome start from $621 for travel ex Sydney. Tax amounts are subject to change with the bank rate and the final confirmed itinerary.

The free* side trip offer includes free flights from Bangkok to a choice of THAI domestic destinations and additional taxes of approximately $58 per person return will apply. The number of stopovers allowed on the itinerary is subject to the booking class. Check with travel agents for full terms and conditions.


About THAI :
Thai Airways International flies 47 times a week from Australia to Bangkok with non-stop connections from Bangkok to a choice of 13 major cities in Europe and the UK; and to over 70 destinations worldwide.

THAI flies 3 times a day from Sydney; twice daily from Melbourne; daily from Perth and 5 times a week from Brisbane.

THAI’s modern fleet on the Australian routes include the Airbus A330-300 (Perth) and Boeing 777-300 and Boeing 777-200ER, both with a 2-class Royal Silk Business and Economy Class (Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney); the A340-600 aircraft with 3-class Royal First, Royal Silk Business and Economy Class (Sydney). All aircraft types feature the latest in seat facilities and amenities with personal entertainment systems for all passengers.

THAI’s unique style of service and hospitality is world-renowned and an integral part of the airline’s reputation as one of the world’s leading full service carriers.

Fares are now available for travel across THAI’s network in Economy, Royal Silk and Royal First Class for travel until 31 March 2011. Fares allowing combinations of Economy and Royal Silk or Royal Silk and Royal First Class are also available and on application through travel agents.

Special ‘flight specific’ weekday fares are available ex Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth for a limited time only.

Christmas in Santa's Land

Christmas is the most celebrated holiday in Finland and the festivities culminate on Christmas Eve when Finns traditionally take a sauna, enjoy Christmas delicacies, relax with family and friends and, if they’re lucky, get a visit from Santa. However, the Christmas season starts as early as November with an abundance of activities.


St Thomas markets set the scene for Christmas

St Thomas market is a great way to start Christmas preparations and get on the Christmas mood. According to the Finnish tradition, Christmas is brought to the homes by St. Thomas on December 21 and taken away by the St. Knut on 13th January. By St Thomas day on December 21 all Christmas preparations should be ready.

The markets are known for their handmade Christmas decorations, ornaments, handicrafts, gifts and baked goods, such as hard ginger bread. For many visitors one of the highlights of the markets is the hot mulled wine, Glögi that helps to ward off the crispy winter air.

Turku Christmas Fair at the Old Great Square creates a Christmassy atmosphere for the townspeople. The stalls sell premium quality products as all of the handicrafts and baked goods are chosen by a specific jury. This year, the fair takes place on four weekends before Christmas starting on November 28.

St Thomas Market in Helsinki Esplanade Park is the biggest Christmas market in Finland with close to 150 vendors in red wooden stalls. On weekends Santa Claus visits the markets and a Finnish Christmas pageant Star Boys is played. The market is open daily from December 7 to 20.

Lucia with crown of candles brings light into darkness
On St. Lucia’s Day on December 13 thousands of people gather at the Helsinki Cathedral to watch a young woman to be crowned as St. Lucy, or simply Lucia. The crowning is followed by a procession through the city where Lucia greets the public wearing a white gown and a crown of lingonberry twigs and candles.

Lucia tradition is based on the legend of virgin-martyr St. Lucia, who was killed during the persecutions of the Christians in 304 AD. The commemoration day of St. Lucia is December 13 which used to be the shortest day, the winter solstice, under the old Julian calendar.

Lucia is a symbol of charity, compassion and light and the festivities entail a collection of money for a good cause. Lucia is elected from a group of young female candidates. The tradition came to Finland from Sweden and has been celebrated in its current form since 1949.


Santa Claus, Father Christmas and the original Joulupukki
Santa Claus, or Joulupukki in Finnish, is known to reside in the North East of Lapland, on the Korvatunturi Fell. The legend tells that the Korvatunturi Fell has a unique shape of an ear that allows Santa to hear the wishes of the children from around the world.

Luckily Santa doesn’t spend all his time at Korvatunturi, but visits for example the capital of Lapland, Rovaniemi, situated on the Arctic Circle.

Santa Claus Village open throughout the year hosts the Santa Claus’ Office where you can meet the Santa himself and Santa Claus’ Main Post Office where you can observe the flurry of the festive season. Cards, letters and parcels sent from Santa Claus’ Main Post Office are franked with a special Arctic Circle postmark, which you can’t get anywhere else.

Through the years Santa Claus of Finland has received over eight million letters. He gets over 600 000 letters every year from over 150 countries. The address to Santa is: Santa Claus, Santa Claus Village, FIN-96930 Arctic Circle, Finland.
Entrance to the Village is free. For more information on Santa Claus Village visit www.santaclausvillage.info

SantaPark is a Christmas fantasy world build inside an underground cave cavern where bustle of the elves continues all year round. The guests can bake and decorate gingerbreads in the
Gingerbread Kitchen, learn elf skills in the Elf School or make Christmas decorations in the Elf Workshop. SantaPark’s Sleigh Ride takes the guests through the four seasons of Finland and plunges straight into the elves’ toy factory, where the presents for upcoming Christmas are already being made.
Entrance is 20€ for children, 25€ for adults. Winter season, November 28 – January 10, open daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. For exceptions in the opening times and further information visit www.santapark.com


The City of Turku declares Christmas Peace
The Declaration of Christmas Peace on December 24 at noon marks the official beginning of Christmas. Thousands of people gather to listen to the declaration that has taken place at the Old Square in Turku since the 1320's almost uninterruptedly, with only a few exceptions.

The declaration is addressed to "all the townspeople" and is nowadays completed with a humanitarian and ecumenical message. The present-day Christmas Declaration was written down from memory by the Town Clerk after the Great Fire of Turku in the early 1800’s. The Declaration has been aired on radio since 1935 and televised since 1983.


For more information please see
Visit Finland at www.visitfinland.com
Visit Finland image bank at www.imagebank.visitfinland.com

New Adventures on the Oldest Continent: Africa

Peregrine Adventures has launched its 2010-2011 Africa programme, with a series of short trips that can be linked together to form a ‘made-to-measure’ itinerary that goes beyond the game parks to experience the energy and diversity of the world’s oldest inhabited continent.

Working with local community groups, fair-trade local operators and venturing beyond the usual touring routes, the range of adventures combines visits to some of Africa’s best game parks; high quality accommodation and amenities with insights – through the eyes of local leaders - to the history and cultures of the continent.

The eight-day Mozambique Explorer adventure begins with two days in the Parque National do Limpopo which, together with Kruger National Park, forms one of the world’s largest wilderness conservation areas, totalling 3.3 million hectares. The base for guided walks and game drives is Machampane Wilderness Camp, with its luxury tents overlooking the river. It’s a drive through lush hills to the sleepy village of Chidenguele, where the restaurants on the lakeshore prepare some of Mozambique’s freshest seafood.

Dhows have plied their trade from Inhambane since the 11th century, but today the rustic coastal town is emerging as a world-class diving destination – one of a few places on the planet where it’s possible to swim with whale sharks and manta rays. Here, the lodge accommodation is a series of over-water chalets, perfectly positioned to view the resident flocks of flamingos and the spectacular African sunsets. The final stop is the vibrant capital of Maputo – regaining its reputation as the night-life capital of Southern Africa.

The Mozambique Explorer departs from Maputo monthly between May and November and costs $4350 per person, twin share. It has been designed to easily combine with other Peregrine trips through Botswana, Zambia and South Africa.

The 12-day South African Footprints adventure begins with three days at the private Timbavati Game Reserve in the Greater Kruger National Park, where walks and game drives offer a good chance of spotting the Big Five. Accommodation is in comfortable chalets at the fair trade-certified Umlani Camp. A visit to Blyde River Canyon includes time in a nearby Shangaan tribal village for a breathtaking dance display. The tour continues to Swaziland and the Mkhaya Game Reserve – a local success story in animal protection through breeding programs.

Contrasting the natural attractions, the tour visits the ‘Battlefields’ – the sites of historic battles between the Boers, British and Zulus that shaped modern-day South Africa. The dramatic Drakensberg Mountains are the setting for two days of optional hiking, horse-riding and fishing before the trip ends in Durban.

The South African Footprints adventure has monthly departures from Johannesburg, year-round, costing $4375 per person, twin share, and can be combined with the nine-day Classic Garden Route tour to travel the length of the South Africa.

The cost of all Peregrine trips includes carbon off-setting the land and domestic air portion of the trip. For further information call your travel agent or Peregrine Travel Centre on 1300 854 500. Download a .pdf of the new Africa brochure or watch a video of Peregrine’s African adventures at www.peregrineadventures.com

Ski Under The Stars At Alyeska - Alaska's Premier Ski Resort

1. Alyeska Resort to open bigger than ever
Alyeska Resort opens to skiers and snowboarders in late November, and with the addition of brand new terrain, extended night skiing, special packages and Alaska’s first superpipe, the 2009-2010 season offers something for everyone. Located just 40 miles south of Anchorage, Alyeska Resort features 2,500 vertical feet of skiable terrain, and, after this summer’s trail work, boasts an additional five ski runs. The new Alyeska Pipeline Superpipe — used by advanced skiers and snowboarders for stunts — measures 300 feet long, 55 feet wide and with walls 18 feet tall. This winter, Alyeska will extend night skiing operations for an additional two weeks (through March 27) allowing spring breakers more hours to ski under the stars. Special packages at Alyeska highlighting the resort spa and other amenities are available online. Alyeska Resort sees an average annual snowfall of 750 inches and boasts the longest continuous double black diamond ski run in North America. For more information, visit www.alyeskaresort.com.

2. Talkeetna offers quirky alternatives to climbing Mount McKinley
Each year over 1,000 hopeful mountaineers travel to Talkeetna to attempt to scale North America’s great one: Mount McKinley. But Talkeetna is also renowned for its fun and quirky festivals that draw Alaskans and visitors alike to the small town located 113 miles north of Anchorage. Talkeetna Winterfest takes place each December and includes a full month of events, kicking off with the Bachelor Auction and Ball and the Wilderness Woman Contest. During the Wilderness Woman Contest, single Alaskan women demonstrate their proficiency at a variety of tasks necessary for life on the Last Frontier — all in good fun, of course. Competitions include firewood gathering, driving a snow machine, salmon catching, sandwich making and more. After the crowning of the Wilderness Woman, the bidding begins at the annual Bachelor Society Benefit Auction and Bachelor Ball. Talkeetna bachelors spruce up and entertain the crowd to raise money for local charities. The 2009 festivities kick off Dec. 5. For more information, visit www.alaskavisit.com. Travelers stopping by Talkeetna to take part in the hubbub can explore the surrounding wilderness on a snowshoe tour with Alaska Nature Guides. Visit www.alaskanatureguides.com to learn more.

3. Hammer enthusiasts create unlikely brotherhood
The world’s first museum devoted to the humble hammer, in Haines, Alaska, now has company in Linkmenys, Lithuania. Located in Alaska’s Inside Passage, the Haines museum has over 1,500 hammers on display that date from Roman times to the present. Open since 2001 and until recently the only museum of its kind, the quirky Haines Hammer Museum is a tribute to man’s first tool and provides a unique view of the past through the use of the hammer’s lineage. Founder Dave Pahl began communicating with Lithuanian hammer enthusiasts a few years ago. Finally, the unlikely allies met this summer in Haines, both glad to have company in their passion for hammers. The two forces have plans to publish a reference book together about the history of hammers. For more information, contact the Haines Hammer Museum at www.hammermuseum.org. To learn more about visiting Haines, visit www.haines.ak.us.

4. Pike’s Waterfront Lodge earns Green Star Award
Pike’s Waterfront Lodge in Fairbanks is clean and green. Last month, the hotel was presented a Green Star award for its commitment to running operations in an efficient and environmentally responsible way. Green Star is an Alaska-based non-profit organization that encourages businesses to practice waste reduction, energy conservation and pollution prevention. Since opening in 2000, Pike’s has been committed to lowering its carbon footprint by reducing reliance on diesel, using environmentally friendly substances, installing solar energy and reducing waste. The hotel has also teamed with the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Future Farmers of America to develop its own hydroponics program to grow food locally. In the reuse and recycle arena, Pike’s goes a step beyond simply asking guests to keep their towels more than a day – the hotel recycles oil, antifreeze and batteries in addition to normal plastics and paper. Located on the banks of the Chena River, Pike’s Waterfront Lodge offers rooms with a view and all the amenities for a comfortable, relaxed stay. For more information, visit www.pikeslodge.com.

5. Spotlight on 50th: Sitka’s Alaska Day festival
This October, the Inside Passage town of Sitka will pay special tribute to Alaska’s 50th anniversary during the Alaska Day festival, Oct. 9-18. The actual transfer ceremony occurred in Sitka on Oct. 18 when the United States purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867. The annual Alaska Day festival includes a reenactment of the transfer, a period costume ball, dances, dinners, contests and a parade. For information, visit www.alaskadayfestival.org.

Travelzoo Surpasses 300,000 Subscribers in Australia

Travelzoo (NASDAQ: TZOO), a global Internet media company, today announced it has surpassed 300,000 subscribers for its Australian publication of the Top 20™ newsletter since launching only 18 months ago.

Travelzoo is fast becoming Australia's leading travel media website. In just 12 months, Travelzoo moved 23 places to rank 5th in its category1, with an increase in market share of over 500% comparing August 2009 and August 2008, according to Experian Hitwise. This makes Travelzoo the fastest growing website in its category.

Travelzoo General Manager for Australia and Singapore, Brad Gurrie said, "With deals such as 5-Star accommodation for $49, flights across Australia for $10, $1 campervan relocations and $177 return flights to Bali, it's easy to see why Australians are embracing Travelzoo as their preferred source of the best travel deals".

"In the current economic environment, deals continue to flood the market. This has reinforced to consumers that sales are never far away. But with more than 18,0002websites offering travel related products, services and information to the Australian population, it's not feasible for individual consumers to evaluate all the options thoroughly. It's increasingly difficult for them to tell a wow deal from an everyday offer".

Gurrie said "Our subscribers know they can rely on us to do the hard work of scouring the market to find the hottest deals and rigourously testing every one to ensure they offer extraordinary value and are easy to book. This trust coupled with the natural tendency of Australians to tell their friends about great deals, has fuelled the rapid growth of our subscriber database".

Travelzoo operates independently with the mission to provide its users the highest quality information on the very best deals available in the market. Travelzoo is not associated with an online travel agency or a business conglomerate.

1Experian Hitwise data is based on market share of visits to the 'Travel – Agencies' category by Australian Internet users. There were 2,296 websites measured in this category in August 2009.

2Experian Hitwise collects data on 18,152 websites in the 'Travel' category visited by Australian Internet users.

About Travelzoo

Travelzoo is a global Internet media company. Travelzoo's media properties, which reach more than 18 million travel enthusiasts in the U.S., Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Spain, Taiwan and the U.K., include the Travelzoo® Web site (www.travelzoo.com), the Top 20® list, the Newsflash™ e-mail alert service, the Travelzoo Network™, the SuperSearch™ search tool, and the Fly.com™ search engine (www.fly.com). Travelzoo publishes offers from more than 1,000 advertisers from around the world. Travelzoo's deal experts review offers to find the best travel deals and confirm their true value. Travelzoo's global headquarters is in New York City.
 
About the Australian Travelzoo Top 20™

The Top 20www.travelzoo.com.au to subscribe. ™ is a definitive list of the very best travel deals on the web. It is published in Australia at 11am every Wednesday and sent in an email newsletter to over 300,000 Australian Travelzoo subscribers. Travelzoo publishes only the best offers available in the marketplace. Subscription is free. Visit www.travelzoo.com.au to subscribe.

Join Peppers as we celebrate 25 years

October is a month of celebration at Peppers, join us as we celebrate our 25th anniversary.

This month the gifts are on us as we offer you, our valued guests some fabulous anniversary specials, surprise a few lucky guests with beautiful jewellery and take you back to where it all began at Peppers Guest House in the Hunter Valley. Direct from the Peppers kitchen is a tantalising celebratory dish for you to try at home and to top it all off we are giving you the chance to win the ultimate Peppers prize.

Peppers 25 years Anniversary Celebrations

Come celebrate with us during our 25th anniversary. We have put together a selection of special celebration packages offering you up to 25% off on your stay at Peppers Retreats, Resorts and Hotels.

Indulge and spoil yourself during selected dates between 19 October - 23 December 2009. FIND OUT MORE

A silver gift beneath your pillow?

Silver anniversaries are best celebrated with fine wine, gourmet food, excellent company and, of course, beautiful jewellery. To celebrate 25 years of Peppers, in November we are surprising one lucky guest each week at each Peppers Retreat or Resort in Australia by slipping something special under their pillow.

Acclaimed jewellery designer Carney McCarthy has created a very special 25th anniversary necklace for Peppers, which features 25 handcrafted pebbles scattered in a contemporary, cascading design. Book your November stay and it could be you. FIND OUT MORE

In celebration of our 25th anniversary we are offering one special past Peppers guest the ultimate Peppers prize - a 4 night family holiday at Peppers Salt Resort & Spa plus a 2 night couple's escape at a Peppers Retreat.

Destination of the Month
Come back to where it all began, to Peppers Guest House in the Hunter Valley. Nestled in the heart of the Hunter Valley wine country and surrounded by beautiful gardens and vineyards, Peppers Guest House is one of the Hunter's best loved retreats.

MORE INFO>

Tiger launches Sydney-Gold Coast route

Tiger Airways has just announced it will commence operating daily services between Sydney and the Gold Coast from the 15th of December.

Fares are now on sale from $39 one way, with md Shelley Roberts saying the announcement was "another significant milestone" for the carrier.

The new service will add 131,000 seats annually into and out of the Gold Coast, with GC Tourism ceo Martin Winter saying the move "demonstrates the popularity and sustainability of the Gold Coast as an ever evolving destination."

More details in today's Travel Daily.