Learn a new skill – Arabic cooking lessons

Banish Friday-night takeaways and boring beans on toast with a masterclass in authentic Arabic cuisine now available at the beautiful open-air Al Mar Restaurant. Guests will discover exciting new culinary flavours and delicacies from Egypt, Lebanon and bordering Mediterranean regions. Young and old will return home with a plethora of delicious new recipes added to their culinary repertoire, including Kofta, Mousaka and Taboula. Every guest at the Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay will receive a one hour complimentary cooking class, plus a full chef’s uniform and printed recipes to take home so all meals can be enjoyed again and again!

Improve health & wellbeing – sensational spa experiences

We’re all often guilty of working long hours and not spending enough time on ourselves to totally relax and rejuvenate. Make 2012 the year of self-indulgence and enjoy some quality time at the renowned Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay Spa. There are a variety of exotic massages to choose from including Swedish, Deep Tissue and Balinese plus Shirodhara, Elakkizbi, Ayurvedic and Facial Purification treatments. For an ultimate healing experience, visit Les Thermes Marins des Cascades Spa & Thalasso Centre for a seaweed wrap and underwater massage rich in mineral salts, vitamins and amino acids to truly discover the new you.

Experience new cultures – historical Egypt

This year after a day or two by the pool, why not take an excursion to discover the fascinating history and stories surrounding this captivating country. The Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay is in the ideal location to reach the Ottoman Fortress of El-Quseir dating back to the 16th century and the ancient sites of the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the Karnak and Luxor Temples. The monasteries of St. Paul and St. Anthony are another intriguing insight into the history of the Red Sea Mountains that both still observe rituals that have hardly changed in 16 centuries. Take a walk around the charming self-contained village with gardens, a mill, bakery and churches plus a library that boasts over 1,700 ancient manuscripts.

Try a new activity – beginners kite-surfing & diving lessons

Thanks to its flat water conditions, fantastic sandy beaches and side shore winds, Soma Bay is the ideal location to try your hand at kite-surfing or scuba diving amongst some of the world’s most beautiful reefs. Professionals and beginners alike are fully catered for with video and headset training aids that make learning and improving their wind-surfer skills easier and safer. The Soma Bay Dive Centre also has a 420 metre jetty that extends directly to the reef with electric cars available to carry equipment and divers for effortless access to Soma Bay’s underwater world, perfect for beginners just finding their ocean feet!

A host of new experiences this year at The Kempinski Hotel Soma Bay is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Readers of A Luxury Travel Blog can sign up for a free membership AND receive a $100 credit towards any future excursions simply by clicking on the link.

Sign up now and travel your passions!

Travel your passions with Excursionist! is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The weather doesn’t seem to be able to make up its mind what to do, we’ve had a combination of 29 degree temperatures swiftly followed by howling gales, pouring rain and hail storms in the last five days here in the North West of the UK. Normally by October the central heating has been on for a few weeks so I suppose we should be thankful!

If, like many people, you are looking for a late season escape, you are probably weighing up where you’ll be able to find more reliable weather for travel in October and November.

It kind of goes without saying that the Middle East is always a safe bet to catch some rays. Many of our customers like to travel at this time of year, as you’ll be looking at 30 degrees rather than 35 or 40, and in December the average temperature is closer to 26 degrees in Dubai and the surrounding emirates. The perfect weather for sun bathing.

Tropical countries like Thailand and Indonesia always represent good choices for warmth, their temperatures rarely if ever drop below 30 degrees, although the very nature of their climate is that you will have rainfall at this time of year. You’ll often find that rainfall there is intense but arrives in short bursts and quickly makes way for clear skies soon after. Don’t make the mistake I did and presume initial cloud cover means you won’t need sun cream!

December is a great month to visit the islands of the Caribbean, with the hurricane season officially ending on 30th November. Temperatures remain around the 30 degrees mark all year round, but if you are to visit between the months of December and May then your chances of better weather will be increased.

Closer to home yet away from the Euro zone, Egypt offers a haven for holidaymakers to get value for money and reliable winter sun ranging from an average of 29 degrees in Sharm el Sheikh to an imposing 38 degrees in Aswan in October. The average temperature in Sharm drops by about 5 degrees in November and then again in December to around 21 degrees. Still nice!

One of my colleagues has today returned from two weeks in Mauritius, and there’s little need to check my weather charts – one look at her will tell you that the weather was great!

Carole Booth is Commercial Director at Destinology.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Disappear to a warmer climate is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

With Sharm’s rise in popularity we have collected the top 3 luxury hotels that you could visit in the area:

Grand Rotana Hotel

The Grand Rotana hotel in Sharm is located on a private 450m beach front. The hotel is built in a luscious tropical landscape with over 2000 palm trees. It offers something for everybody with tennis courts, a ZEN Spa, a fitness centre, Olympic sized swimming pools and even its own Shopping arcade. For guests that love trying new food the hotel offers a wide range of different cuisines. The Palms Bar & Grill serves grilled fish, the Messaluna is a luxury Italian restaurant and the Silk Road serves food that is a fusion of Eastern and Western cuisine. There is also an all day buffet if you miss a meal or want an afternoon snack.

Ritz Carlton Hotel

The luxurious Ritz Carlton hotel in Sharm gives customers exactly what they would expect from the brand; amazing surroundings, beautifully prepared cuisines and a wide range of available activities. The hotel offers sparkling pools, cascading waterfalls and a dive centre to safely teach you how to dive. There is also a spa and snorkelling available for guests that want to experience something extra. The hotel offers a wide range of different foreign cuisine including sushi in the Blue Ginger Japanese restaurant, Arabian dishes in the Fayrouz restaurant and lavish western cuisine at the Cafe restaurant.

Hyatt Regency Hotel

The Hyatt hotel in Sharm offers guests laid back stylish accommodation and the best house reefs in the area. The hotel is located on the edge of an aqua oasis and is surrounded by seascapes of the Sinai Peninsula. The Hyatt has its own private beach, a fitness and spa centre, water sports centre, scuba diving, indoor squash courts and an indoor gym. The hotel has a wide range of different restaurants including the Sala Thai Restaurant that serves global cuisines, The Cascades which serves grilled dishes and the Beach House which provides guests with fresh sea food from the Red Sea. There is also a range of restaurants and shops in the hotels Souk gallery. For refreshments guests can visit the Catz Bar or the Azure Lounge to get stylish cocktails.

Sabina Shaida is Managing Director at Mosaic Holidays.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

The top 3 luxury hotels in Sharm el Sheikh is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The Nile cruises can explore Luxor, Aswan, Kom Ombo and many other great Egyptian areas. Luxor is a must see destination for historians as the area is home to the Valley of the Kings, which contains tombs of pharaohs. The Temple of Karnak in the area is one of the biggest temple complexes still in existence.

Aswan offers a quieter location but has great beaches and all year round sun. The area also has historic sites such as the Nubian Temples and the unfinished Obelisk. We would recommend watching the feluccas meander down the Nile, a sight you aren’t likely to forget.

Kom Ombo is a farming based town that is situated between the Nubia and the Nile Valley. The area is famous for its “Temple of Kom Ombo”, a double temple that has two symmetrical sides. One of the sides of the temple is dedicated to the Crocodile god Sobek, while the other side is dedicated to the falcon god Horus.

We would recommend Nile cruise holidays to people that love to explore historic sites. They offer luxurious accommodation and guide guests through the many great locations the country has to offer.

Sabina Shaida is Managing Director at Mosaic Holidays.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Egyptian luxury cruise holidays is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Thank you to Michael Shelford Photography for permission to re-produce the image.

If you have a really special photograph you would like to share with  A Luxury Travel Blog’s readers, please contact us.

Photograph of the week: Bath at dawn is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The hotel has three large outdoor freshwater swimming pools including an infinity pool with spectacular views of theRed Sea. The private beach looking out onto crystal clear waters provides the perfect place to sit back and relax, whilst also offering easy snorkeling with the reef beginning at waist depth. For those who still require some form of activity on their relaxing break yoga, aerobics, water aerobics and a fitness club are available for guests. There is also a free daily shuttle bus that runs betweenMakadiBayand the Grand Mall in Hurghada where guests can purchase the ever important gifts and souvenirs!

For the spa connoisseurs the hotel will not disappoint. All of the treatments are provided by CINQ MODES, the French pioneer and specialist in professional spa treatments and cosmetics. The spa is a haven for those seeking relaxation and regeneration for the body, mind and soul, and treatments range from massages to aromatherapy. Guests will receive complimentary use of the Jacuzzi, sauna and hammam (Arabian steam room).

Guests will be spoilt for choice with the hotel’s four lavish restaurants that include international, Asian, Spanish and seafood cuisine. There are also two bars and several poolside bars.

The hotel is low rise with 280 spacious modern suites located across three floors. The low structure of the hotel, something that is new to the area means the hotel has an attractive exterior and doesn’t obstruct views of the stunning scenery, and the beautifully decorated interior of the hotel is the epitome of style and luxury.

The new five star Makadi Spa Hotel in Egypt is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

1. Cancun, Mexico
2. St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
3. Playa del Carmen, Mexico
4. Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
5. Miami Beach, Florida, USA
6. San Juan, Puerto Rico
7. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
8. Orlando, Florida, USA
9. Isla de Vieques, Puerto Rico
10. Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Top 10 warm weather escapes is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Did you know that there are now more than 900 UNESCO World Heritage Sites? According to Tripadvisor, the top 10 – as rated by their users, I assume - are:

1. Taj Mahal, India
2. Petra / Wasi Muda, Jordan
3. Palmyra, Syria
4. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
5. Abu Simbel, Egypt
6. Prambanan Temples, Indonesia
7. City of Venice, Italy
8. Siena, Italy
9. Easter Island, Chile
10. Trentino Dolomites, Italy

Once again, Italy have fared well as they did in Tripadvisor’s top 10 destinations in Europe.  But are there any UNESCO World Heritage Sites that you would have expected to make the top 10 but didn’t? Please share your thoughts with us by posting a comment.

Top 10 UNESCO World Heritage Sites is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Expansion of The Rocco Forte Collection is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Guests will enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodation, sumptuous gourmet cuisine served in six dining venues, the personalised service of a butler assigned to every suite, and Silversea’s generous selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, 24-hour room service and stocked in-suite beverage cabinet.

Learn more about the ship and her sea trials from this video:

Silver Spirit’s inaugural world cruise 2011 is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Action-packed Egypt is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Sunshine guarantee from Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel in Egypt is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Jaz Hotels & Resorts

Jaz Hotels & Resorts to expand in 2009 is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Families catered for at Hyatt Regency Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Dusit International’s first foray into Africa is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa reopens after US$ 45 million makeover is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

What is it that  you do exactly?

I am responsible for all editorial content on Travolution, including our magazine, website and blog. I also produce our fortnightly podcast, The Purple Pod, and organise our conferences and other events as well as oversee the Travolution Awards. It’s a busy job!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The most rewarding aspect of editing Travolution is being able to track and analyse such a wonderfully diverse and innovative industry as travel and its use of the web. Equally, as a journalist at heart, when we set the record straight or uncover a scoop still gives me an incredible buzz. I’m very lucky to work with some fantastic writers and reporters.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

Hanoi: easily the most fascinating city I have ever visited. My wife and I stayed there during a seven-month jaunt around Asia in 2000. We were mesmerised by the colour and smells, the French and traditional Vietnamese quarters, and – whether it exists in reality or not is another question – a sense of proud nationhood. A remarkable capital in a remarkable country.

Varanasi (Benares): This central Indian city is an assault on the senses and consciousness. Despite it being a place where many people come to die (simply because of its proximity to the holy Ganges river), life abounds everywhere. The customs associated with death, while perhaps alien and odd to some westerners, are seen as life affirming to Hindus, giving it the feeling of being a place where people actually come to celebrate life. My wife was also taken very ill here so I have the utmost respect for Indian medical staff forced to work in, er, challenging conditions.

Lake Toba, Sumatra: The most beautiful place I have had the pleasure of visiting. Once a sunken caldera (super-volcano), currently a giant lake, Toba has incredible feature, plant life and a real feeling of isolation. There are few places on earth that have had such a dramatic physical history and the laid-back attitude of the people is in absolute tune with the environment around them. An almost perfect location on many levels.

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

I spent four days practically marooned on a slow boat travelling across the Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. I ate rice every meal as – being a strict vegetarian – the boiled ’something’ didn’t appeal and there was absolutely nothing else to eat. After finally arriving in Siem Reap, I ate almost everything I could on the menu at the guesthouse – mounds of vegetables, a huge omelette, slice after slice of bread, any fruit I could get my hands on, cereal, yoghurt… everything. It might not sound like a feast for a king, but it tasted so good.

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful and talented people through work or when travelling, although I have a tendency to steer away from so-called celebrities, even when given the opportunity. In fact, most of the “richest” people I’ve met are probably those that have created a fantastic business and subsequently reaped the rewards for their innovation and passion for travel and the Web.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I am currently at that stage, with a young family, where I am yearning to return to places I have visited previously, primarily – though not guaranteed at all (!!) – in the vain hope of sharing the experiences I had. I hope to return to Angkor Wat in Cambodia one day and also trek the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (a three-week hike). Egypt, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand would also make my current wishlist.

Unfortunately the overseas trips of a business magazine editor these days consist primarily of enjoying the inside of some very nice hotel conference suites. A shame really…

Thank you, Kevin. And keep up the good work at Travolution!

Interview with Kevin May of Travolution is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The highest restaurant in the Middle East… and it revolves! is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog