TripAdvisor votes Queenstown and Milford Sound top two worldwide destinations
Queenstown has been named the second most popular world destination, closely following Milford Sound in first place, by TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel community.
The inaugural TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards recognise inspirational travel spots and honour the most beloved destinations from around the world.
TripAdvisor’s 2008 Destinations Awards represent the opinions of millions of travelers. The winners were determined by a combination of TripAdvisor’s travelers’ favourite places and overall popularity on the online travel community’s website.
Vice President of Global Communications for TripAdvisor Michele Perry said the Travelers’ Choice Destinations Awards are unique because they single out not just popular places but truly exceptional places that enthrall travelers and keep them coming back.
Destination Queenstown CEO, David Kennedy, said the award for Queenstown was testament to the quality of the town’s operators and the exceptional travel experience they delivered. The award was phenomenal recognition for Queenstown and the people who run businesses in town, showcasing Queenstown’s southern hospitality and delivering an inspirational experience.
Start planning your dream holiday to New Zealand now by visiting www.discover-the-world.co.uk where you will find one of the UK's most comprehensive guides to New Zealand together with a fantastic selection of travel options.
Posted on May 9, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
Iceland claims Europe's largest park
Next month Vatnajokull in Iceland will be designated the largest national park in Europe. It will cover more than three million acres (half the size of Wales), incorporating 13 per cent of the whole country.
Vatnajokull, in the south-east of the country, is a land of high plains, volcanoes, lava beds, sand flats, rivers, lakes and ravines. While some areas – such as the Detifoss waterfall, the most powerful in Europe – attract visitors, much of the park is a wilderness. Seven volcanoes, most of them active, are located under the Vatnajokull ice-cap, one of the largest glaciers in Europe.
A network of visitor centres, waymarked trails and rangers' stations is being built to improve accessibility. "National park status will protect the area against development, pollution and other human interference in order to preserve it for future generations," said Olof Yrr Atladottir, the director-general of the Icelandic Tourist Board.
Tourist officials estimate that the park could attract more than 40,000 new visitors each year.
Iceland is already anticipating an increase in tourist numbers as its currency, the krona, has fallen by more than 10 per cent against the pound in the past 12 months.
Travel with the World's number one tour operator to Iceland, Discover the World, and witness this amazing national park for yourself..!! For more information see www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Posted on May 8, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
Sweden ranks world's best place for mothers
Sweden has once again been rated as "the best place to be a mother in the world" by a U.S.-based charity in a report assessing the well-being for mothers around the world.
The report, released by the aid agency Save the Children Tuesday, illustrates where mothers fare best and where they face the greatest hardship.
Save the Children has done the assessments of such aspects as longevity, drinking water quality, matNorway ranks second on the list of 146 countries in the State of the World's Mothers' index, followed by Iceland which ranks third.
Among the top 10 countries on the list are also New Zealand, Denmark, Australia, Finland, Ireland, Germany and France.
The low-ranked countries include Niger, Chad, Yemen, Sierra Leone, Angola, Guinea Bissa, Eritrea, Djibouti, Mali and Ethiopia.
The organization releases its report annually since 2000 in a bid to arouse public concerns about life quality for mothers around the world.
Enjoy a holiday in Sweden, Iceland and New Zealand and find out for yourself just why these countries are unique. For more information visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Posted on May 8, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
World's most northerly kebab shop opened..!!
The Red Polar Bear, owned by Kazem Ariaiwand, is providing kebabs on the island of Spitsbergen, in the Svalbard archipelago 300 miles off the northern tip of Norway.
With temperatures averaging 14F (-10C), the time-honoured question of "chilli sauce?" could not seem more appropriate.
Mr Ariaiwand moved to Spitsbergen after a failed asylum attempt in Norway, and set up his business in an old military van last year in Longyearbyen. His venture has been such a success among the settlement's 2,000 population that it is challenging the more traditional fare of seal and minke whale meat.
Mr Ariaiwand fled Iran five years ago but while his wife and son were granted asylum in Norway, he was refused. Commenting on his new life Mr Ariaiwand says "I've made a fair amount of money but the problem is that I don't know how to spend it," said the 48-year-old. "I came here without knowing anyone. I had nothing. I came on a plane with my backpack. Now I have many friends, almost the whole town."
To find out more about holidays to Spitsbergen and the Polar regions visit the UK travel specialists, Discover the World, at www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Posted on April 3, 2008 | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
Headlining acts at the Reykjavik Blues Festival - 18th - 21st March
Among the performers featured at this year’s Reykjavík Blues Festival are The Yardbirds. This band produced the ultra-talented Blues playing guitarists Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page. The Yardbirds paved the way for the Blues in UK pop music and had a tremendous impact on the contemporary music of the times. Also performing is Magic Slim, a living legend who’s coming straight from Chicago with his band, The Teardrops. The Blues diva Deitra Farr is also one of this year’s guest performers at the Reykjavík Blues Festival, as well as Vinir Dóra and many others. The Norwegian Blues duo Jolly Jumper & Big Moe, whose style is inspired by the Blues traditions of the early 1900s, will be attending the festival for their second time. The 2008 festival will also feature the music of The Nordic All Stars Blues Band. This band is made up of an elite selection of some of Scandinavia’s finest Blues musicians.
There are many Icelandic Jazz and Blues performers attending the festival this year. Among those is the well-known Bláir skuggar whose members include the talented Sigurður Flosason, Jón Páll Bjarnason, Þórir Baldursson and Pétur Östlund.
This is the 5th Anniversary of the Reykjavík Blues Festival. In celebration, musicians who have been presented with the award of Honorary Member of the Reykjavík Blues Association will be performing at this year’s festival. These performers include Magnús Eiríksson, Björgvin Gíslason, Andrea Gylfadóttir and KK. In keeping with tradition, the Blues Festival will continue to spotlight new and upcoming Blues talent.
Vist the world's leading specialist tour operator to Iceland, Discover the World, for more information on holidays to Reykjavik and Iceland. Whether it's a city break, self-drive or escorted holiday, Discover the World have ideas for every preference and can tailor make a holiday to suit any requirment.
Posted on March 14, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
Imagine all the People.....
There is something about the beauty and tranquility of Iceland that makes it the rightful setting for a spectacular tribute to John Lennon.
John Lennon changed the world in so many ways with his music and outlook on life and so now at last the world has a permanent and very spiritual reminder of his legacy.
Yoko Ono unveiled The Imagine Peace Tower in Reykjavik, Iceland on October 9th, 2007. It will shine nightly every year from October 9th (John Lennon's birthday) through December 8th, the anniversary of Lennon's death in 1980.
The legend lives on……!!
To discover this and more for yourself visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Posted on March 4, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
Icelandic culture festival kicks off in Brussels
Brussels will play host to some innovative and intriguing Icelandic art and culture tomorrow when the ‘Iceland on the Edge’ festival opens at the Centre for Fine Arts.
The festival will bring Icelandic music and photography, multimedia installations and a sample of the vibrant cultural life that exists on the small Nordic island of just 300,000 inhabitants.
The 20 events which will take place over the course of the festival are organised into four themes: Pure Energy, Independent People, Bad Taste and Sagas.
While the slogan ‘Pure Energy’ is usually used to advertise the city of Reykjavik to tourists, this event will explore the relationship between culture and nature, showcasing some of the breathtaking scenery that is found in Iceland.
Those looking for modern Icelandic music and art should visit the ‘Bad Taste’ events. The name derives from a local record label and represents the more lively and experimental tastes in music and art.
While the ‘Independent People’ events are focused on the strong-willed people of Iceland today, the Sagas focus more on the rich literary history of the country.
Popular artists who performed at the Iceland Airwaves music festival last summer, Mum, Kira Kira, Skakkamanage and Parachutes, will travel to Brussels to perform at the festival on March 8th.
The festival will continue until the middle of June.
As the world’s leading tour operator to Iceland with over 30 years experience on the island, Discover the World have the most extensive collection of Iceland holidays on the planet featuring everything from cultural short-breaks to extensive self-drives and escorted holidays.
To uncover the secret of this fascinating island for yourself visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk or call 01737 218800 to talk to one of the company’s Iceland experts.
Posted on February 26, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
New Saab Move Your Mind Experience at the ICEHOTEL
The Swedish premium car brand, Saab, has created a truly all-encompassing brand experience that will open its doors to the public on the 11th February 2008.
Housed within the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi, Sweden, the Saab Move Your Mind room will allow the public to experience Saab – the brand, its spirit, tonality and core values through innovative design installations made wholly from ice.
Designed and created by Simon Padian, chief designer for Saab and Tjåsa Gusfors – a leading designer at the ICEHOTEL, specializing in ice and snow sculpture, the installation has been inspired by Saab’s core brand pillars - progressive design, responsible performance and sporty driver focus. By drawing inspiration from these core brand values and from the award-winning Saab Aero X concept car, the installation showcases Saab’s heritage in design innovation and independent thinking. 
Simon Padian: ”The Move Your Mind room is designed to be a journey, a flow, a pulse which aims to disrupt and challenge the visitors perceptions of what is normal or expected. The installation is designed to create an audiovisual experience that defies the visitor’s senses. We hope that the public will find it thought-provoking and leave feeling more engaged with the Saab brand.”
Visitors will be encouraged to walk through an ice suite featuring key Saab brand messages and showcasing Saab’s design heritage. Highlights include an ice sculpted Saab Aero X and impressive light and sound sequences.
Discover the World, the UK's leading specialist tour opeartor to Swedish Lapland, features a range of 3 and 4 night holidays to the ICEHOTEL with the option of booking a unique Saab Ice Driving excursion.
For more information and to book please call 01737 218800 or visit www.discover-the-world.co.uk
Posted on February 15, 2008 in Travel | Permalink | Tag this with Delicious? | E-mail this
