Viaggio Dubai Jamaica - with Thomas Cook Travel

Travel
SUMMER 2014
Galactic
Dubai
Star Wars comes
to the Emirates
Drink in
Jamaica
The ultimate rum
and reggae tour
of the Caribbean
Discover Tenerife
A marine odyssey around the island
plus...
ANTALYABARBADOSMOROCCONEWYORKTHAILANDZANTE

YOU CAN FLY DIRECT
FROM MANCHESTER TO JAMAICA,
ANTIGUA, SAINT LUCIA AND BARBADOS
WITH THOMAS COOK AIRLINES

JAMAICA SAINT LUCIA ANTIGUA BAHAMAS GRENADA BARBADOS
MORE QUALITY INCLUSIONS
THAN ANY OTHER RESORTS ON THE PLANET
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• The Caribbean’s Family-Owned Resorts • Tips & Taxes included • FREE Wi-Fi and Calls included**
TO BOOK THE WORLD’S LEADING ALL-INCLUSIVE RESORTS
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BOOK EARLY, STAY LONGER,
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Come and make yourself at home with us whether you are visiting London
for a vacation or a stop-over before heading off elsewhere.
The Great Northern Hotel is an award-winning boutique hotel that evokes
the halcyon days of travel with an abundance of elegance and grace.
It has an extraordinary location and is home to
the celebrated restaurant of Mark Sargeant.
Condé Nast Traveller lists the GNH in its Top 100 Hotels in the World.
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to save up to 30% off yourLondon stay.
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contents
A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 4
40
Features
Kingdom of heaven
From the luxurious riads of
Marrakesh to the noble desert
kasbahs of the Sahara, the
magic of Morocco stretches
far beyond the medina
The rum & reggae diary
Get into the Jamaican spirit
on a journey inspired by the
Caribbean island’s best-known
and best-loved exports
The Emirates strike back
Chewbacca hits the beach
and Princess Leia trawls
the mall: the Star Wars
behemoth lands in the UAE
Consider the sea
With scuba diving, deep-sea
fishing and whale watching on
offer, Tenerife has more than its
fair share of aqua adventures –
if you’re up for the challenge
10 things to do in Antalya
Known as the pearl of the
Mediterranean, Turkey’s
favourite seaside resort has
everything you could possibly
need for a sunny escape
40
52
64
74
86
52
Photography: Rama Knight
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 005

SUMMER 2014
Star Wars comes
to the Emirates
The ultimate rum
and reggae tour
of the Caribbean
A N T A L Y A B A R B A D O S M O R O C C O N E W Y O R K T H A I L A N D Z A N T E
Travel
Galactic
Dubai
Drink in
Jamaica
Discover Tenerife
A marine odyssey around the island
plus .
Senior Editor
Mike MacEacheran
Editor
Imogen Rowland
Art Director
Daniel Di Paolo
Picture Editor
Julia Holmes
Sub Editor
Matt Glasby
Production Manager
Ana Lopez
Publisher
Chris Davies
chris.davies@ink-global.com
+44 (0)207 749 6285
Advertising
Sales Executives
German Marin
George Hughes
Sales Recruitment
joinus@ink-global.com
11
109
18
Departures
What’s taking off in the world of
travel, from pirate talk to circus tricks
Thomas Cook
109 News
115 Wellbeing in the air
119 Our fleet
120 Route map
122 The last word
74
Who helped make the issue?
Terry Richardson/Antalya
Co-author of The Rough Guide To Turkey
and a Telegraph regular, Terry reveals
Antalya’s best bits for our insider guide.
turkeythroughatravellerseyes.com
Julia Murray/UAE
Illustrator and New Zealander Julia
allowed her imagination to travel to an
even more distant galaxy for our Star
Wars in the UAE feature. jumurray.com
Stanley Stewart/Morocco
Stanley is the award-winning author we
sent to discover Morocco’s desert. He
regularly writes for the Sunday Times and
The Independent. stanleystewart.com
Executive Creative Director
Michael Keating
Publishing Director
Simon Leslie
Chief Executive
Jeffrey O’Rourke
Chief Operating Officer
Hugh Godsal
For Thomas Cook
Jenny Peters
Alison Sams
Louise Dixon
Charlotte Aldridge
Reprographics
KFR Pre-Press Ltd
Ink, 141-143 Shoreditch
High Street, London E1 6JE
Editorial +44 (0)20 7749 6265,
thomascook.ed@ink-global.com
Sales +44 (0)20 7613 8779
Editorial opinions expressed in the
magazine are not necessarily those
of Thomas Cook. Though we strive
for accuracy, Ink and Thomas Cook
cannot accept responsibility for
information, such as prices and
product availability, that may
be subject to change.
With thanks to the
following picture agencies:
Action Images, Alamy,
Getty Images, Photo and Rex
006 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Photography: Getty Illustration: Muti

welcome
from Thomas Cook
T
hank you for entrusting Thomas Cook with your
summer holiday – I hope every moment has
lived up to your expectations and you return
home refreshed, with wonderful memories,
ready to plan your next personal journey.
Thomas Cook has been inspiring journeys and encouraging
people to explore the world
We're working hard as a
team to give back to the
communities we visit
since 1841 – making it the
oldest and best loved name
in travel. Your feedback
has been invaluable to us
in shaping our products as
we add new concept hotels,
destinations and resorts –
such as our new holidays to Morocco (read more on page 40),
and our extended year-round holiday programme to Jamaica.
You can read about the Caribbean island on page 52.
From the next issue, we're adding two new features to our
magazine – a letters page and a photo competition. Send us your
thoughts, ideas, and photos to thomascook.ed@ink-global.com.
We're working hard as a team at Thomas Cook to give back to
the communities we visit and also to help children throughout
the UK. Our most recent project saw us help refurbish the
Radiology Unit at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
You can read more about that, too, on page 109.
Technology innovation is key to improving your holiday, and
to ensuring that we offer you the best range of destinations and
accommodation – something to meet everyone’s needs, in line
with our “high tech, high touch”
approach. We’re improving our
website and our online service to
enhance your experience from
the moment you start planning
– more information on your
selected destinations, including
360° video to help you make
your selection, whether in store or online. You might also want
to check out our latest industry first, Holidays to go! Simply tweet
your favourite destination to @TCOffers, and we’ll return our
latest offers to you in seconds.
Thank you for trusting us with your holiday – we know how
important it is. You are at the heart of all we do and we commit
to do our best to make this time special for you and your travel
companions. We hope to welcome you on board again soon.
Harriet Green
Group Chief Executive Officer
Thomas Cook Group plc
008 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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W I S H Y O U W E R E H E R E | D E P A R T U R E S
DEPARTURES
What’s taking off in the world of travel
Can you distil a country into a cookbook? Margarita Carrillo
Arronte, Mexico’s very own Delia Smith, has certainly tried.
She’s retraced the country’s culinary history back 9,000
years in her new 668-page shelf-buster, drawing on recipes
from the Aztecs and Mayan Indians, right up to those from
the new stars of Mexican cuisine such as Thomasina Miers
of London’s Wahaca. Pictured is tikin-xik fish, the ultimate
Taco bel le
Mayan-Caribbean dish, marinated with achiote, lime and
chilli – and that’s just the tip of the enchilada. There are
699 other recipes, some of which are ideal for sharing during
Mexico’s annual Day of the Dead (1-2 November). Our faves?
Divorced enchiladas and vampire juice, of course.
TRY IT… Mexico: The Cookbook, from £30, phaidon.com.
Feeling inspired? Fly to Cancun with thomascook.com
Photography: Fiamma Piacentini-Huff
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 011

D E P A R T U R E S | T H E B I G F I V E
Come to the dark side
(They have cookies)
With a rich history of haunted houses and abandoned plantations,
Barbados has ghost stories aplenty for a holiday Halloween
1 2 3 4 5
Fisherpond
Great House
Clifton
Hall
Halton
Plantation
Chase
Family Vault
Colleton
House
Built back in 1635, this
weathered mansion in the
island’s interior is not only
famous for its elaborate
weekend brunches and
desserts (sugar cakes,
rum trifles and coconut
sweets), it’s also home
to a handful of ghosts.
An elegant woman has
been seen counting the
silver cutlery, while a man
dressed in riding gear
makes the odd appearance
on the lawn. A little girl
has also been spotted
dancing with bridesmaids
at weddings held on the
front lawn. Or maybe that’s
just the fault of guests having
too much champagne.
Hopeland, St Philip,
+1 246 433 1754
Glaswegian couple Karen
and Massimo Franchi got
more than they bargained
for when they restored this
lovely 350-year-old house.
They inherited an invalid’s
quarters, where sick
or mad relatives were once
confined, and believe it’s
the source of a shrill female
voice that calls out to the
gardener when the house
is – apparently – empty.
If that weren’t enough
of a household headache,
the Franchis swear they
hear piercing, ghoulish
noises from the room,
and their cat, Mussy,
gets spooked whenever
she runs into the attic.
St John, cliftonhall
greathouse.com
The Honourable Samuel
Rouse, who was buried in
the family vault in 1784,
haunts this plantation, one
of the oldest on the island.
According to local ghosthunters,
Rouse appears as
an old man, but considerately
confines his haunting
to the grounds, rather than
the lavish, antique-strewn
home, and rarely bothers
guests. It’s private property,
but sometimes welcomes
visitors on the annual Open
House weekends, when the
Barbados National Trust
throws open the doors
of the island’s finest
planter’s mansions and
British colonial relics.
Halton, St Philip,
+ 1 246 426 2421
This tomb contains the
bodies of Colonel Thomas
Chase and his two daughters,
Mary-Anne and Dorcas,
whose coffins were found
to have inexplicably moved
around, flipped over and
propped up on end after
the crypt was sealed shut.
The restless occupants
of the three marble tombs
performed their party trick
so many times that the
vault has not been opened
since 1819. The culprit is
thought to be the original
deceased occupant of the
vault, Thomasina Goddard,
whose coffin was the sole
tomb in the crypt when the
Chase family bought it.
Christ Church Parish
Church, Oistins
The spooks at this hillside
hideaway have travelled
all the way from Papua
New Guinea and Micronesia
– they came with a rich
Australian oil baron who
bought the 17th-century
former plantation house
several years ago and
installed his world-class
collection of tribal art in
the riding stables.
When the two-storey
house is open, visitors can
see items such as Oceanic
masks and Pacific totems,
while the resident spirits
look on. They remain
mostly unseen, of course,
but a variety of witnesses
claim they’re definitely
present. Scared yet?
Speightstown, St Peter
BE THERE… Travel to Barbados with thomascook.com. For more information, visit barbados.org
012 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Anthea Gerrie. Illustrations: Muti

Exhilarate your senses in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Discover this land, like never before.

D E P A R T U R E S | S T A R G U I D E
Go Gaga in New York
As the eccentric Lady G (aka Stefani Germanotta) embarks on a world tour,
we give you the lowdown on how to be a little monster on her home turf
W
here does a global superstar hang up her meat
dress at the end of a hard day? Just a few dance
moves away from Central Park, that’s where.
Gaga rents a penthouse apartment at 40 Central
Park South in a residential complex that’s also housed Liza
Minnelli and Lance Armstrong. Start your trip by joining the
paparazzi outside, though you may soon find yourself part of
a surreal Gaga moment, such as when she came out dressed
in a bridal catsuit and threw a bouquet to a throng of fans.
If you want some creative inspiration of your own, head
five blocks south to the Museum of Modern Art (moma.org).
Gaga is a regular visitor and memorably supported an exhibition
by like-minded performance artist Marina Abramović,
who she collaborated with on her third album, Artpop.
After that culture fix, try Gaga’s family-owned restaurant,
Joanne Trattoria (joannenyc.com), on the Upper West Side.
Run by her parents, its a spaghetti-and-meatballs kind of
joint patronised by celebrity diners such as Katie Holmes
and Tony Bennett. The chance of asking Mr and Mrs Gaga
about their darling daughter shouldn’t be passed up, and if
you’re lucky she might be there herself – she’s been known
to hold court with her friends during the holidays.
DJ, journalist and long-time best pal Brendan Jay Sullivan
has written a book called Rivington Was Ours: Lady Gaga,
The Lower East Side, And The Prime Of Our Lives, chronicling
the good times the pair spent in the area around Stanton
Street, where Gaga once lived before her rise to fame. Check
out The Stanton Social (stantonsocial.com), their very own
clubhouse, and order Gaga’s favourite cocktail: lemon,
lime, sugar, Triple Sec and Sauza Hornitos tequila.
Fans of Gaga-esque art-pop should move on to the Rose
Bar at the nearby Gramercy ( gramercyparkhotel.com).
It’s home to a gigantic five-metre goldleaf Andy Warhol
Rorschach print, as well as a museum’s worth of art. Last
year Gaga gave patrons a surprise gig when she took to
the stage to sing Someone To Watch Over Me. The decor
is a mash-up between Alice In Wonderland and rock’n’roll
aristo grandeur, so dress like you belong at New York Fashion
Week (4-11 September, mbfashionweek.com).
Finally, Gaga has called her Artpop tour “a cabaret rave”
(she’s on tour in the UK throughout October), so head to
The Box (theboxnyc.com) on the Lower East Side to finish
your trip hanging out with fabulously freakish performers.
Jude Law and Rachel Weisz acted as advisors on the project,
and both Kanye West and, yes, Gaga, have performed there.
Gaga’s pal Lindsay Lohan once twirled on a stripper’s pole, so
remember it’s the Big Apple and anything goes.
BE THERE… From May 2015, Thomas Cook becomes
the first British airline to fly to New York, JFK, direct
from Manchester Airport. Book at thomascook.com
014 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Lucille Howe. Illustration: Adam Howling

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How to fly
underwater
Subwing promises to let you do the impossible
and is the newest sport to hit the Mediterranean.
Better still, we’re one of the first to try it out
A
m I a Bond villain? Or
am I more like that
guy from Mission
Impossible? It’s easy
to escape into fantasy when clinging
to a Batwing-shaped piece of
carbon fibre and being dragged
through the azure waters of the
Ionian Sea behind a speeding boat.
Maybe I’m more like Don Johnson
in Miami Vice?
The object is a Subwing and I’m
one of the first to try it at Europe’s
premier Subwing centre, on Zante.
The idea was born four years ago
when Norwegian Simon Sivertsen
attached a piece of wood from a
banana crate by string to the back
of his father’s boat while out on
a cruise. Holding tight, he then
jumped overboard.
“The sensation was amazing,” he
says. “It was like flying, but underwater.”
Three years later, and after
several technical improvements,
Sivertsen was able to swim like a
dolphin. All the while, his father’s
boat sped at four knots above him
on the surface. “It made me feel like
I was half man, half fish,” he says.
Crazy? A little, but it’s an insanely
simple yet exhilarating experience.
Here’s what you need to know
before taking the plunge:
THE EQUIPMENT
Sivertsen replaced the driftwood
with a curved piece of carbon fibre
and added two separate “wings”
connected together with a twistable
joint – meaning that, with
one move of the fin, the rider can
plunge and travel underwater with
a snorkel mask on, coming up for
air when needed.
THE TRICKS
The controls are simple: tilt the
wings downwards to head underwater
and upwards to come back
to the surface. Once you’ve got the
knack, there’s a handgrip mounted
between the wings. The idea is to
use this to equalise once you’re
further underwater and still have
one hand free to keep hold of the
Subwing. If you want to attempt
an underwater roll, tilt the wings in
opposite directions.
THE LOOK
Subwings are fitted with GoPro
cameras so you can watch your
sub-aqua acrobatics once you’re
back on dry land. A strap-on lighting
rig is also available should you
dare to Subwing at night.
THE MARINE LIFE
Zante’s waters are alive with
seahorses, octopus, conger eels,
groupers and shoals of tuna. The
bathwater temperatures and calm
waters also mean that it’s more
relaxing than it sounds.
Trips from £20, subwing.com
BE THERE… Book your trip to
Zante with thomascook.com
Test the equipment:
The Subwing Carbon
Glossy, from £525, is
the top-of-the-range
model made of highstrength
carbon fibre with
a super-gloss finish. The
Subwing Honeycomb Black
Hammerhead Shark is
a cheaper option at £175.
016 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Rob Crossan

A C T I O N | D E P A R T U R E S
Hold on tight (but not
that tight): The string
holding the Subwing to
the boat on the surface
has zero chance of
snapping. It’s made of
ultra-high-molecularweight
polyethylene, also
known as Dyneema, the
world’s strongest rope.
Don’t forget to breathe:
Expect to spend no more
than 10 to 15 seconds
underwater at first, as
you’ll need to come up
for air regularly. The time
will increase as you gain
confidence. The record
for holding your breath
underwater is 22 minutes.
It was like flying
underwater. It made
me feel like I was
half man, half fish
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 017

018 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

E S S E N T I A L S | D E P A R T U R E S
Inside Davy Jones’ Locker
Shiver me timbers! To prepare for International Talk Like A Pirate Day on 19 September
we’ve got the perfect plunder to turn you from landlubber to scurvy sea dog. Savvy?
“Arr! Ye rapscallion!”
Captain Jack Sparrow, aka Johnny
Depp, will return for Pirates Of The
Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales
(due in 2016). Before then, tune up
your pirate lore with help from the
original swashbuckler, Long John
Silver, from Robert Louis Stevenson’s
Treasure Island, or meet The Pirates!
– that motley crew from Gideon Defoe.
£5, waterstones.com
“Cleave him to the brisket!”
Long before facial foliage was the sole
preserve of London hipsters, Blackbeard
created serious beard envy with his thick
all-over face-monster. Beards have gone
commercial, so to prevent any stubble
trouble, keep yours tame and trim
by adding a shaving brush from Kent
Brushes to your bathroom armoury.
Avast ye stubborn stubble!
£39, kentbrushes.com
“Skull and crossbones”
Blow the man down, but German
jewellery buccaneer Thomas Sabo’s
Rebel at Heart collection is based
around the pirate-flag insignia. There
are sterling silver pendants, rings,
chains, bracelets and ear studs, all
embossed with a hardy skull motif.
With these on your fingers you’ll be
outfitted for battle like a man o’war.
£275, thomassabo.com
“Three sheets to the wind”
The Kraken is the most fearsome of
all sea monsters. Just ask Captain Jack
who was swallowed whole in his second
Pirates Of The Caribbean outing. There
are few first-hand encounters, so make
do instead with a bottle of Kraken rum,
a Caribbean black-spiced beauty distilled
on the Virgin Islands. It’s as dark and
strong as the ink of the beast itself.
£19, krakenrum.com
“Hoist the Jolly Roger”
Nail your colours to the mast by tacking
a hammock to the nearest coconut
palm. Amazonas sells handsome,
Brazilian-made sleeping nets named
after the Caribbean islands of Aruba,
Barbados (above, for two) and Tobago:
the perfect way to dream of languorous
days on the Spanish (or American) Main.
Also available in papaya or grenadine.
From £50, amazonas.eu
“Thar she blows!”
It’s unlikely that you’ll ever need to haul
wind and give chase to a Spanish galleon
or Moby Dick-sized whale, but a spyglass
remains a nifty tool nonetheless. Use it
for star-gazing, bird-watching, or wowing
imaginative children. This harbour
master brass and wood telescope from
OutdoorGB is a great piece of booty
to add to your navigation kit.
£119, outdoorgb.com
Words: Mike MacEacheran. Illustration: Muti
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 019

D E P A R T U R E S | E S S E N T I A L S
“Walk the plank”
Get your sea legs in a pair of the finest
Vivienne Westwood pirate boots. The
punk pirate first produced her iconic,
strapped jackboots back in 1981, but
they’re still a must-buy today, and
perfect for parading around in, from
the poop deck to the Parisian catwalk.
£370, viviennewestwood.com
“Son of a biscuit eater!”
Long John Silver and Captain Hook may
have lived off sea biscuits, but the life
of a modern castaway is a non-stop
feast of jerk chicken, coconut curry
and saltfish. For the best spoils from
the Caribbean, try Babette de Rozières’s
Creole, a celebration of West Indian fare.
£25, phaidon.com
PIRACY IN
OUR WORLD
Clearwater Beach
& Fort Myers, Florida
Walt Disney World may have
the animatronic Pirates Of The
Caribbean log-flume ride, but it’s
housed in a gigantic warehouse:
hardly in the spirit of sailing the
high seas. Head to the resorts of
Fort Myers and Clearwater Beach
instead for pirate cruises on fully
functioning Spanish galleons.
visitflorida.com
“Pieces of eight”
Pirates and parrots go together like the
words “ahoy ” and “me hearties”. Unless
you own a bird of paradise – or a zoo –
you’ll have to make do with watching
Rio 2, the animated sequel starring
a Brazilian macaw (out to buy on DVD
on 4 August), or cuddling a plush toy.
From £10, amazon.co.uk
“Earn your stripes”
Do it the Jim Hawkins way with a blueand-white
sailor T-shirt. After pillaging
the clothes racks at H&M – its new range
of Popeye-style tees are only the price of
a King’s shilling (well, a tenner a pop) –
you’ll have plenty of doubloons to spare
for more grog. Or a spare eye-patch.
£10, hm.com/gb
Catalina Island,
Dominican Republic
In 2007, the Quedagh Merchant
was discovered off the coast of
Punta Cana (above). Abandoned
in the 17th century by Captain
William Kidd as he fled to New
York (he was eventually hanged
for piracy), the un-looted wreck is
now a living undersea museum.
godominicanrepublic.com
“Measured fer yer chains”
No pirate outfit would be complete
without an Alexander McQueen skull
scarf – a must-have since 2003 (Kate
Moss, Sienna Miller and Lindsay Lohan
all have one). Modern-day piracy has
seen fake versions pop up at markets
on all four points of the compass.
£110, alexandermcqueen.com
“Weigh anchor”
Piracy’s golden age lasted from the
1650s to the 1730s when the increase
of valuable goods trafficked from the
Caribbean to Europe lead to a boom
in peg-legged mariners seeking a quick
buck. Chart their movements on a
replica 16th-century Mercator globe.
£120, stanfords.co.uk
St Ann’s Fort,
St Michael, Barbados
Built in 1705 to defend the island
from unwanted interlopers, this
historic garrison (above) houses
a huge collection of vintage
cannons unearthed from all over
the island. +1 246 427 1436
BE THERE... Book with
thomascook.com
028 020 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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COMING SOON TO: Wiltshire July 2014

D E P A R T U R E S | C H E A P T H R I L L S
Christmas wrapping
It’s around this time of year that shops start playing Now That’s What I Call Christmas!
But what does your favourite seasonal song say about where you should hang your stocking?
In Dulci Jubilo
Mike Oldfield
THE DESTINATION Cologne
Fairytale Of New York
The Pogues
THE DESTINATION Isn’t it obvious?
Mistletoe And Wine
Cliff Richard
THE DESTINATION Vienna
THE BACKSTORY This recorder-heavy
version of Good Christian Men Rejoice took
Oldfield to number four nearly three decades
ago – yet it still reverberates around the aisles
of ASDA every year. An appropriation of the
German-Latin original from the Middle Ages,
and played to death over the centuries on the
organ inside Cologne’s titanic Gothic cathedral,
it’s become the unavoidable Xmas “earworm”.
THE MUST-DO The city’s gargantuan
Christmas markets, all seven of them. Among
these are the big four: at the cathedral, on the
Alter Markt, the Neumarkt and Rudolfplatz. The
first is the most impressive, as you can browse
through more than 160 festive pavilions.
THE BACKSTORY This bittersweet
Irish folk gem sung by Shane MacGowan
and Kirsty MacColl rarely fails to get people
in tears, swaying arm in arm at the office
Christmas party. It’s a lament that nods to
MacGowan’s chequered history, following an
Irish immigrant’s Christmas Eve reverie while
sleeping off a binge in a New York City jail.
THE MUST-DO Take the song’s lead by
hitting up Broadway – where the cars are
genuinely as big as bars. Detour via Fifth and
Madison Avenue for a department store blowout
at Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Barneys or
JC Penney, where they all try to outdo each
other with the flashiest evergreen possible.
THE BACKSTORY Sir Cliff’s 99th single
became the British Elvis’s 12th UK number one
in 1988. The song’s life began 12 years earlier,
as it was first penned for Scraps, a musical
adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s
The Little Match Girl set in Victorian London.
Last year, it was banned in Costa because
it was irritating customers. Poor Cliff.
THE MUST-DO Opened in 1294, Vienna’s
market is the precursor to all the rest. It’s got
the Christmas cheer, the mistletoe and wine
– even the children singing Christian rhyme.
Nowadays, shoppers insist on glühwein
(mulled wine) to ward off the cold. Teetotaller
Cliff would shudder at the thought.
THE SONG TIE-IN A hand-carved wooden
recorder or flute from a local artisan.
From 24 November – 23 December
THE SONG TIE-IN A rather fitting
NYPD T-Shirt from The Original Firestore
(17 Greenwich Avenue, nyfirestore.com).
THE SONG TIE-IN After the glühwein,
load up on candied fruits and chestnuts.
From 16 November – 24 December
Wait, here’s more
Xmas markets…
BE THERE… Travel to these Christmas
destinations with thomascook.com
and crestaholidays.com
BERLIN... in a chestnut shell
Sixty Xmas markets, plus Europe’s
largest mobile toboggan run.
BUDAPEST... in a chestnut shell
A hundred wooden pavilions, with
piles of sweet Hungarian pastries.
BRUGES... in a chestnut shell
A gorgeous medieval gem on Market
Square, minus a sweary Colin Farrell.
022 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL
Words: Mike MacEacheran

The Ryder Cup rundown
Paul McGinley has always been on the winning team at the World Cup of golf. But in the
upcoming head-to-head between Europe and the USA, can he make history as captain?
S
cotland, the home of golf, is staging the 40th
Ryder Cup. Will that help Team Europe?
“Gleneagles used to be an opulent early 20thcentury
Perthshire hideaway, but nowadays it’s
a large American-style resort. The Ryder Cup will be played
on Jack Nicklaus’s PGA course so there’s no great benefit there,
what I’m relying on is huge support from the crowds. That’s
the most important element in having the home advantage,
and no one knows golf better than the Scots.”
What do you find most impressive about the course?
“The start will be amazing, with the players walking through
the tunnel under the road into a wall of sound. At the Ryder
Cup at Celtic Manor in Wales 2010, 2,500 fans watched
from the stands, but Gleneagles has space for 3,500.
I’m praying for blue-sky days to encourage people to
get up early and join the queue.”
You’re up against a legend in Tom Watson,
the American captain. Will you feel overawed?
“He was my boyhood hero back in Ireland, but I’ve got
to know him well on tour. We often play practice rounds,
so there’ll be respect on both sides.”
The home captain has the right to set up
the course. How will that work for you?
“When Sam Torrance was captain, the Americans were
generally longer off the tee, so he narrowed the rough at
300 yards in the hope of tempting them into errant shots.
Nowadays, it’s less cut and dried. On a par-4 hole, Graeme
McDowell might need a driver and a 7-iron to reach the
green, but Rory McIlroy would be there with a driver and
a wedge. There’s always more than one way to skin a cat.”
Your team will be the top nine qualifiers,
plus three captain’s picks. Any ideas for those?
“Lee Westwood put it very succinctly when he said there
are nine qualifiers, two picks and then Ian Poulter. Big hitters
are great, but big hearts win Ryder Cups, and Ian Poulter’s
is the biggest of them all.”
Back in 2012, you were one of Olazábal’s vice captains
in America as the most dramatic turnaround in Ryder Cup
history unfolded. What did you learn?
“To hold my nerve. In my dreams, Europe has a 10-point lead
on the final Sunday as I watch the singles matches unfold. By
noon, I’m celebrating a one-sided victory with a glass of wine
– but that’s not very realistic.”
What impressed you most about Olazábal?
“When we were 6-10 down after two days of competition,
he was under serious stress, but he remained totally calm.
At 22.30pm on Saturday night, he called an emergency
meeting. It only lasted ten minutes, no hairdryer stuff, just
real quiet determination. The rookies in the room must have
been scared by the situation, but it was great to see how they
reacted. Now the rest is history.”
And your strategy for those crucial Sunday singles
matches against Team USA?
“It depends on the position we’re in when we decide the order
of play. With that scoreline, Olazábal’s only hope was early
momentum, so he sent his five in-form players out first and
hoped they’d deliver. Their successes inspired the top-class
pros, such as Justin Rose, Lee Westwood and Martin Kaymer,
to rise to the occasion later in the day.”
23-28 September, rydercup2014.com
024 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Minty Clinch. Illustration: Julia Murray

S P O R T
| D E P A R T U R E S
“Big hitters
are great, but
big hearts win
Ryder Cups. And
Ian Poulter’s is
the biggest”
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 025

D E P A R T U R E S | S P O R T
Above par: Gleneagles
was voted the best
course in the world 2013
NOW GO
GOLFING
HERE
La Manga Club,
Alicante, Spain
The prototype multipurpose
complex celebrated its 30th
birthday recently, and its
combination of golf, clay
court tennis and team training
facilities is still hard to beat.
Eléa Estate Golf Club,
Paphos, Cyprus
A state-of-the-art facility,
with a rocky, rugged course
designed by Sir Nick Faldo, a
luxurious club house and views
from the fairways to the sea.
Why a putt matters so much
Letoonia Golf Resort,
Antalya, Turkey
Golfers can use the resort’s
range then take their pick from
22 local courses, including
ones designed by Sir Nick
Faldo and Colin Montgomerie.
The concession:
Royal Birkdale,
Southport, 1969
After three acrimonious
days of competition, Jack
Nicklaus, playing in his
first Ryder Cup, conceded
a 2ft putt on the 18th
green to England’s Tony
Jacklin. As a result, the
final match was squared,
with America retaining
the cup. The two men
formed the Concession
Golf Club in Florida, which
still stages tournaments
45 years later.
Seve and Sam:
The Belfry,
Warwickshire, 1985
In a move to counteract
US domination, the Great
Britain team morphed
into Europe in 1979. The
change coincided with
the rise of Spain, led by
the incomparable Seve
Ballesteros. After scoring
near maximum points in
his matches, Scotland’s
Sam Torrance’s 18ft
birdie putt secured the
first European victory
since 1957.
Battle of Brookline:
Brookline,
Massachusetts, 1999
Going into the final
Sunday 6-10 down,
Team USA got back into
contention by winning
the six opening singles.
With seven holes to play
in the decider, Justin
Leonard was four down
to Olazábal, a deficit
he’d wiped out by the
17th, where he holed
a 40-footer, triggering an
invasion before Olazábal
could take his putt.
Let strong men weep:
The K Club, County
Kildare, 2006
Within months of his
wife, Heather, losing her
long battle with cancer,
Darren Clarke won all
three of his matches in
the first Ryder Cup held
in his native Ireland. In an
emotional encounter, it
was only right and proper
that his victory over Zach
Johnson, who sportingly
conceded a short putt on
the 18th, should clinch
the cup at the very last.
Quinta do Lago,
Algarve, Portugal
A comprehensive resort with
three 18-holers, including
the Laranjal, North and
South courses, plus the Paul
McGinley Academy and
a TaylorMade Fitting Center.
FORE! Go on your next
golfing holiday with
thomascook.com
028 026 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

Knowledge and Experience
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At Bilyana Golf Holidays we specialise in 5 star, All Inclusive Hotel and Golf packages
to the Belek Golf Resort near Antalya in Turkey. We have a 15 year foundation as
both a UK based Tour Operator and a Local Handling agent in Belek. For UK clients
we are ABTA & ATOL bonded providing flight inclusive packages using mainly
Thomas Cook Airlines who have an exceptional choice of flights from many UK
airports with low prices and great flight times all year round. We are Belek experts
providing the best package prices & pre-booked tee times and pride ourselves on
our friendly & professional sales and resort staff. Quite different from other golf
holiday providers, Bilyana support is from start to finish with no other company
involved in the organisation of your Holiday. Proud of our luxury vehicles and
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golfers and look forward to providing you with a Golf Holiday to remember.
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CALL OUR EXPERIENCED GOLF SALES TEAM ON: 01625 800 110

MYANMAR
Cuisine from Myanmar (formerly known as
Burma) takes notes from India, China and
Thailand, as well as the many indigenous tribes,
creating a patchwork culinary identity rich with
spices, noodles, coconut and soy. Not as fragrant
as Thai or as complex as Indian, the curries are
pared back in flavour, but a typical Burmese
feast is still a sight to behold. While it’s centred
around a main curry, there are many dishes to
try. Here’s what to order:
Food fight!
Burmese is the great Asian cuisine that you’ve never tasted.
But how does it square up to its bigger, spicier brother, Thai?
Starter: chicken kaukswe
This noodle soup hails from eastern Shan State
near the border with China and Laos. A coconut
soup base with shredded chicken is simply
spiced with turmeric, giving it a distinctive
yellow colour. It’s finished with spring
onions and chilli, but the dominant flavour
comes from the abundance of fried onions.
Main course: duck egg curry
These eggs are used liberally in Burmese
cooking. Larger and richer than their chicken
cousins, they make an excellent addition to this
Indian-inspired curry. They’re fried, giving them
a crisp coating, and the curry has a seafood hint
from the addition of shrimp paste.
The condiments
No Burmese banquet would be complete without
a tray or plate of these. Served alongside
every meal, vegetables such as water spinach,
aubergines and cucumbers are laid out around
bowls of fiery chilli oil, sweet tamarind dip and
shrimp paste.
Dessert: sanwin makin
Usually found in teahouses in former capital
Yangon, sanwin makin is a sticky cake made
from semolina grain. The semolina is boiled in
coconut milk and then baked into cake form in
an oven. It has a grainy texture yet is sweet and
exceptionally moist, topped with a crunchy layer
of poppy seeds.
028 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Hannah Thompson. Illustration: Muti

F O O D
| D E P A R T U R E S
THAILAND
Thai food is the indisputable star of Southeast
Asian cuisine. From the pad Thai stir-fried in
tiny roadside carts in Bangkok to the fragrant
curries of the hillside villages around Chiang Rai
and Chiang Mai, Thai food always packs a punch
and is layered with delicate flavours. Galangal,
red and green chillies and lemongrass form the
cornerstone of many meals, often pounded by
hand in enormous granite pestle and mortars.
Here’s what to order:
Starter: tom yung goong
A clear broth usually served as a starter, tom
yung is one of Thailand’s most famous dishes.
It’s characterised by hot and sour elements that
come from red chillies and lime juice. The dominant
ingredients here are prawns and Thai fish
sauce, which lend a depth of seafood flavour.
The soup is then accented with lemongrass,
kaffir lime leaves and galangal.
Main course: massaman curry
Hailing from the south, massaman is a truly
hearty dish. Less delicate than the green and
red curries of the north, massaman is rich with
ground peanuts and coconut milk. It’s usually
made with beef and potatoes, and spiked with
heavier spices, such as cardamom and cumin.
The condiments
Although wonderful as a dipping sauce, sweet
chilli is used in all elements of Thai cooking.
Made with red chillies, rice wine vinegar and
plenty of sugar – it gives off that perfect hot,
sour and sweet combination.
Dessert: sticky rice and mango
This summer dessert is found everywhere when
mangoes are in season in spring. The glutinous
rice is boiled with coconut milk, sugar and
pandan leaves to create its familiar sticky texture
and then served with mango slices.
BE THERE… Travel to Myanmar and Thailand
with thomascook.com
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 029

Beauty queens of the castle
Your holiday essentials just got travel-sized. Here’s what’s on our bucket (and spade) list
1 2 3
Hot dog legs not included
Containing everything you need for a
perfect beach-tone base – including Prime
Time primer, Original SPF15 foundation in
medium beige, Mineral Veil finishing powder
and Warmth All-Over face colour, plus three
brushes for easy application – this kit is a
one-stop shop for gorgeous holiday skin.
bareMinerals Get Started Kit, £38
Upgrade that sun cream smell
Can’t decide which perfume to take to the
beach? Take five instead. Use the fresh
burst of Pure White Linen for mornings and
swap to the contrasting jasmine and amber
wood notes of Modern Muse for sunset on
the sands. Also includes Sensuous Nude,
Beautiful and Pleasures.
Estée Lauder Purse Spray Collection, £35
Instagram the perfect selfie
Downsize your beach bag with this
collection of miniature staples from the
Benefit beauty gurus, including Stay
Don’t Stray primer, the Porefessional pore
minimiser, Girl Meets Pearl luminiser,
They’re Real! mascara, Benetint lip stain and
Some Kind-a Gorgeous foundation faker.
Benefit Primping With The Stars, £22
1
3
2
GET YOURS...
All beauty products
are available onboard.
See Emporium
magazine for
further details
030 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Imogen Rowland. Photography: Liz McBurney

B E A U T Y
| D E P A R T U R E S
SANDCASTLE
SUPREMO?
YOU’VE GOT
COMPETITION
From the Turks
Antalya has ancient sites and
gorgeous beaches, so it was
only a matter of time before
the two combined. Sandland
(until 30 November) is
Turkey’s annual sculpture
festival – this year with the
theme of “empires”. Expect
surly Vikings and Roman
chariots carved from the stuff.
larasandland.com
From Walt Disney
Brought to you by Disneyland
Paris, the Strand in Belgium’s
Ostend transforms into Sand
Magic (until 31 August) –
8,000 sq m of characters and
sights (think Sleeping Beauty’s
castle and the new Ratatouille
ride) made out of sand.
sandsculpture.be
From the maestros
Madonna, Freddie Mercury
and Mozart all headline the
same gig this year – but in
sand form. See them “rock on”
at Fiesa (until 25 October), the
Algarve’s sand sulpture party.
fiesa.org
BE THERE... Book with
thomascook.com
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 031

Skill #1: Tightrope
The gymnastic art
of maintaining balance
while walking
along a wire strung
between two points.
Harder than it looks.
How to run
away with
the circus
Ever dreamed of escaping your
day job for life in the big top?
Skill #2: Diabolo
A juggling prop
evolved from the
Chinese yo-yo and
made of discs and an
axle. Complex tricks
are called “suicides”.
032 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Imogen Rowland. Photography: Tim E White

H O W T O . . . | D E P A R T U R E S
Skill #4: Juggling
The manipulation of
objects, dating back
to ancient Egypt.
Props used include
chainsaws, knives
and flaming torches.
Skill #3: Trapeze
An aerial apparatus
performance on a
horizontal bar hung
from ropes. Invented
by Jules Léotard in
1856. For experts only.
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 033

“J
ust grip the trapeze firmly with
both hands, shuffle your toes over
the edge, and then when I say go,
take a big step off. Easy as that.”
I beg to differ. When I signed up for circus
school I imagined light-hearted clowning
antics in a red-and-white striped big top, or
perhaps bending at the base of a human
pyramid. Instead, I’m frozen four metres up
on a precariously slim suspended platform,
and my palms are clammy and wet. My knees
quiver, my heart races. With a nudge and some
coaxing from Kate Evans, the nimble instructor
next to me (“The show must go on!” she says),
I take a last breath and jump off into space.
As I career forward in a wonky arc, a line from
an old song comes to mind: “He’d fly through
the air with the greatest of ease, the daring
young man on the flying trapeze.” Only this
doesn’t feel easy at all. My arms burn, my
shoulders knot, and my fingers lock frozen on
the bar. But after a couple of lopsided swings
I find a gentle rhythm, and in my head I’m suddenly
planning the costume for my debut with
Cirque du Soleil. Feathers! Sequins! Glitter!
Inspired by the world-leading circus troupe,
I’ve come to the National Centre for Circus
Arts for one of its new experience days, which
involves – drum roll, please – a three-hour
session of flinging, flying and flopping in
a renovated power station in the East End of
London. I had expected multicoloured bunting,
a grandstand or at least a scattering of sawdust,
but instead it’s all open brickwork, skylights and
high ceilings – where’s the spectacle?
“We’re a contemporary circus centre,” says
Kate, whose career started in street theatre, “and
while we do teach more traditional elements, we
focus on acrobatics rather than traditional trickery
and showmanship.” Her colleague Marcella
Circus of horrors:
Our team hard at work at
the National Centre for
Circus Arts. Note the poise
of art director-turnedjuggler
Daniel Di Paolo
(far left) and editor-turnedtrapeze
artist Imogen
Rowland (far right)
034 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

H O W T O . . . | D E P A R T U R E S
ROLL UP!
ROLL UP!
Where to join the
Cirque du Soleil
Reus
Kooza at PortAventura,
Until 30 August
Ever tried riding a bike
across a tightrope?
With someone riding
piggyback? Thought
not. The performers of
this genre-redefining
show eat death-defying
stunts for breakfast and
make it all look so easy.
Manzilli, formerly of NoFit
State – one of the UK’s
most successful touring
circuses – agrees.
“The space is used
by professionals to
rehearse and by our
degree students, but
we’re also open so the
public can try circus arts
for themselves.”
Still, performing is taken
deadly seriously. The school is now a
training ground for Cirque du Soleil artists, and
around me there are jugglers, tightrope pros,
strong-armed diabolo spinners, and gymnasts
pivoting on an aerial hoop, a Chinese pole and
a cloud swing. My limp trapeze posturing seems
laughable, but Kate reassures me. “We tailor the
experience to different abilities,” she says. “Plus,
trainees who are fantastic at
In my head
one circus skill are often less
so on others.”
I’m planning
All too soon, our session
the costume for
ends and it’s clear that I’m
no Jules Léotard. My hula
my Cirque du
hoop attempt lasts mere
seconds and my tightrope
Soleil debut
walk isn’t suitable for public
viewing. What I have learnt,
though, is that proficiency is less
important than fun, and while my
transformation into a circus diva isn’t quite complete,
Marcella assures me there could still be
a place in the big top for someone like me.
“After all,” she smirks, patting my aching
shoulder, “audiences love a clown.” All I need
now is the face paint and red nose.
DO IT… At the National Centre for Circus
Arts, from £50. nationalcircus.org.uk
Majorca
Dralion, 28 August
– 6 September
This production
blends 3,000-year-old
Chinese acrobatics
with high-tech tricks. If
you can’t make it, then
don’t despair – they’re
also putting up the big
top in Gran Canaria
(2-10 August).
Orlando
La Nouba, Walt Disney
World Resort,
Until 31 December
Making its home in
a custom-built theatre
in Downtown Disney,
Nouba is about as
traditional as the Cirque
du Soleil gang gets.
Expect clown-faced
entertainers, dazzling
costumes and René
Magritte-inspired circus
scenery. It’s surreal.
BE THERE... Book with
thomascook.com
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 035

036 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Words: Maresa Manara Ilustrations: Julia Murray

C E L E B R I T Y
| D E P A R T U R E S
Paul Hollywood
The George Clooney of baking talks up The Great British Bake Off, his
love of Portuguese tarts and – naturally – his in-demand soggy bottom
W
ith the new series of The Great
British Bake Off I want more of
the same. I want innovation and
skills – I’m looking for something
creative, different and new. That’s quite difficult
to do after four series, but there’s always room
for making things better and that’s where I’d like
to be. It’ll be great stepping up to BBC1 after
four years on BBC2 but, honestly, it’s the same
thing for me. It’s only the push of a button.
If Bake Off came down to Mary Berry and
me, I’d win, obviously. No – I’m joking – how
can I do that? Mary is a home baker, I work in
a professional environment. We do the same
thing, but there are much bigger numbers on
my side, that’s all. The quality would be exactly
the same. Working with her is such a laugh, I get
the giggles a lot. I see her outside work, too, and
I’m very fond of her and her family.
My family has been my inspiration
throughout my whole career. Mum looked
after the pastry side, the apple pies,
the biscuits, and my Dad looked
after the yeast side. So with
the two of them helping,
I became a hybrid. One
of my problems was
that when I moved into
the big flash restaurants
to go to work I was top
of the tree. I was the
head baker and there was
no one higher than me who
I could ask for advice.
Even though fans shout it at
me, I’ve been saying ‘soggy bottom’
for about 20 years – it’s not new to me.
Now it’s almost like a Carry On film. The double
entendres we do on Bake Off are a little bit
ridiculous, but sometimes there’s no other way
“The double
entendres we do
on Bake Off are
ridiculous. It’s
almost like a
Carry On film”
to describe some of the things we do. It just
goes with the territory really.
I love the Mediterranean and have
travelled in Italy more than anywhere else.
It has amazing food, from the pasta and pizza
to the truffles to every type of bread imaginable.
Likewise, Cyprus is a special place – I lived there
for six years. The locals do basic, rustic cuisine,
but the flavours they add are stunning and the
array of fruit and veg is fantastic: it’s all so fresh
and organic. Until I went, I’d never seen ripe
tomatoes the size of melons before.
One of my best-ever cooking tips is for
Portuguese custard tarts. The key thing is the
lamination in the puff pastry itself. You’ve got to
make sure the dough is chilled before you bake
it, because if you bring it back to room temperature
it doesn’t get that sting – that hit – when it
meets a hot oven. It needs to have a spring.
I read the old bakery books and found
out what was going on in baking 100 or
200 years ago. That’s where I got
my inspiration from. I couldn’t
get it from other bakers
because they were doing
almost exactly the same
thing. Nowadays, when
it comes to bakers I rate
the French because
they’ve kept it as pure as
you can get. We’re catching
up at a rate of knots,
and the standard is getting
higher thanks to shows like
Bake Off. So in a year or two we’re
going to be blitzing past them.
WATCH IT… The Great British Bake Off
returns to the BBC this August. For tickets
to Paul Hollywood’s Get Your Bake On! live
tour this autumn, visit paulhollywood.com
AND
ANOTHER
THING
The ultimate
comfort food
when I arrive
home…
“It has to be savoury.
You just can’t beat
a pork pie.”
When I need
to relax…
“I enjoy walking the
dog. He’s a Labrador
called Rufus –
I named him after
the comedian
Rufus Hound, who’s
a friend of mine. Or I
go out for a ride on my
motorbike – it’s
a sports bike though,
I hate Harleys.”
My number one
baking tip…
“Follow the recipe.
And get a good set of
digital scales.”
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 037

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ORIGINAL
• VITAMINS
GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLE
Chicken & Brown Rice
MINS • GOODNESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC
Made using highly digestible premium ingredients
• GOODNESS Naturally helps maintain • healthy HYPO-ALLERGENIC skin, coat & digestion • NA
Contains everything needed for health & wellbeing and nothing else!
NESS • HYPO-ALLERGENIC • NATURAL
• H
-A
L Healthy
Healthy Recommended by Naturally Hypo-Allergenic
Skin & Coat
Digestion
Behaviourists
Delicious
NI
IC • NATURAL • VITAMINS • GOODNE
A15kg
& Complete
150
meals *

P R O M O T I O N | H I L T O N
Turkey’s Unspoiled Gem
The Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa has all the stunning
views, fabulous dining and energetic entertainment for a perfect break
Built where the Mediterranean Sea meets
the Aegean, the Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme
Resort & Spa is the second hotel in Europe to
be nominated a 'Hilton Worldwide Resort'. A
10-minute drive from Dalaman airport and a
mere 10-minute walk from Sarigerme Village,
the Hilton Dalaman is set in an ideal location
that blends seamlessly and respectfully
with nature.
At Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme, the dining
options are designed with you in mind. Start
the day with a hearty breakfast or nutritious
light bite, savour innovative dishes prepared
with only the freshest ingredients or simply
relax with a cup of coffee in the hotel lounge.
From business brunches to pre-dinner drinks
and everything in between, the options
are catered especially for you.
When it comes to downtime, you can
relax on the pristine, private beach or choose
from seven outdoor and three indoor pools.
Admire the spectacular mountain and
Mediterranean Sea views from the comfort of
your guest room or upgrade to a deluxe room
to enjoy direct access to the pool.
Revitalise your body and mind with a
treatment at the sumptuous spa, which
features a relaxing sauna, steam room and
whirlpool. If you're feeling active, why not reenergise
with a range of water sports or try a
game of tennis, squash or beach volleyball?
You can also experience a culinary
adventure at one of the hotel's 23 fantastic
restaurants and bars. Sample a taste of the
Far East in Tao, savour authentic Turkish food
in A La Turca and choose from the finest
Italian cuisine in Alize. For fresh seafood and
Champagne, head to Glitter, or sip cocktails
and take in stunning sea views from the
rooftop bar Rouge.
Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa is
proud to be a family hotel and offers fun for
all ages, like Kidz Paradise, a club that boasts
plenty of activities that give children and
teens the opportunity to meet people their
own age – and parents a carefree night on
the town.
Finding the perfect hotel
isn’t about luck. It’s simply about
knowing the right place to look.
Welcome to a real holiday!

KINGDOM
of heaven
There’s more to Morocco than the divine pleasures of Marrakesh.
Head out of town to find the real heart and soul of the Saharan oases
Words: Stanley Stewart
Photography: Rama Knight
028 040 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

D E PM A O R R T O U C R C E O
S
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 041

It was on the roof terrace of the Riad Si
Said, reclining on cushioned divans,
sipping something cool and watching
the swallows dive over Marrakesh, that
my friend suggested the Sahara. I knew
I should make more of an effort on the sightseeing
front, but the world’s largest desert seemed
a little extreme. In the distance we could see
the Atlas Mountains. Just beyond the Atlas, my
friend said, the desert begins. I wondered what
there was to see beyond a lot of emptiness. The
oases, she said. That is the beauty of the place.
The oases are the riads of the desert, the retreat
from everything around them. It was clever of
her to work in the idea of riads.
I booked a car and headed south. Traffic was
light – a few donkey carts, a couple of wheezing
trucks, a shepherd herding his flock. Eucalyptus
trees and bushes of pink oleander lined the
road. In the Atlas foothills, stone and adobe
villages sat above orchards and terraced fields
of corn and sorghum. Men trotted past on braying,
quick-footed donkeys and women stood
knee deep in rivers beating the living daylights
out of the morning’s washing.
The Tizi n’Tichka pass crosses the High Atlas at
almost 2,500 metres. The road twists upwards
to barren, mineral-streaked heights. On all sides,
summits march away into the haze, a vast
Marrakesh express
From top: the city’s
Jemaa el-Fnaa square;
a secret riad entrance;
Riad Si Said (book at
crestaholidays.co.uk);
and a lamb tagine
042 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

M O R O C C O
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 043

044 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

M O R O C C O
THE DADES IS
KNOWN AS THE
VALLEY OF ONE
THOUSAND
KASBAHS
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 045

tumble of mountain ranges, empty and spectacular.
And then, just as suddenly, the road begins
to drop, spiralling downward through red gorges,
pausing here and there to cross small valleys
of grass and stone. Ahead now, the desert was
opening up. Unfathomable distances ran away
into vast reaches of nothing. Sixteen hundred
kilometres away, straight as the camel gallops,
lay the legendary city of Timbuktu.
A bustling desert town at the southern foot of
the Atlas, Ouarzazate is the film capital of Africa.
Since the 1950s, directors who’ve wanted their
landscapes to be big characters have come here,
and a collection of film studios have grown up to
cater for them. Lawrence Of Arabia was shot in
this remote place, as were Gladiator, The Jewel
Of The Nile, The Mummy, Kingdom Of Heaven,
TV’s Jesus Of Nazareth and scores of other
epics. The Game Of Thrones bandwagon has
also recently rolled into town.
The village of Ait-Benhaddou, not far away,
has appeared in more films than Kevin Bacon.
A confusion of towers and crenellations climb
a hill on the far side of a wide riverbed. Narrow
lanes thread between the blank walls, and you
begin to think anyone might pop round the
Kevin Bacon out of shot
From top: spices for sale in
Skoura; the fortified mud brick
city of Ait-Benhaddou, home
to Hollywood epics; and a tour
guide at the Amerdihl Kasbah
046 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

M O R O C C O
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 047

M O R O C C O
next corner – Jesus, Sinbad or even Kevin Bacon
attired in a robe and turban. If Ait-Benhaddou
feels like a film set, it’s because it so often is.
But tourism may be more to blame for the
slightly artificial feel of Ait-Benhaddou. It’s
fascinating to visit, but you’ll probably be
fascinated alongside coachloads of fellow
travellers. In search of the real oasis towns,
I headed farther east down the Dades Valley.
The Dades runs for around 160km along
the northern hinterlands of the Sahara. The
landscapes are harsh and elemental – stone
and sand, stunted brush and dry water courses,
rocky ridges and wide acres of sky. It was starkly
beautiful, the sense of space thrilling, the night
skies barely credible. The Dades is known as the
Valley of One Thousand Kasbahs. If riads are the
classic houses of urban Morocco, kasbahs are
the symbol of the south and the Sahara.
Unlike a riad, a kasbah presents an impressive
face to the outside world. They are Morocco’s
equivalent of the feudal castle: fortresses
heavy on turrets, towers, battlements and
arched gateways. For centuries, the Dades
was one of the chief destinations of the great
trans-Saharan caravans, a stepping stone for
the onward routes across the Atlas to Marrakesh
and the rest of Morocco. The kasbahs were
built with the profits of this trade as local
sheikhs exacted tolls on the merchants
pausing in their oases to rest.
Desert travellers tend to get all emotional
when it comes to oases. Many liken them to
the arrival in paradise, others to a maternal
embrace after the harsh battering of the desert.
The wonder is that you enter an oasis as you
would a house – or a riad, perhaps – stepping
across the threshold in a single stride, from the
desert and the barren wastelands to blossom
scent and bird song. In the dry of the Sahara,
this sweetness verges on the miraculous.
I was heading to Skoura, the largest and
most beautiful of the Dades oases, fed by
seasonal rivers and underground springs. Its
groves of date and coconut palms, laid out in
the 12th century by the Almohad Sultan Yacoub
el-Mansour, have been passed down through
generations like family heirlooms. Caravans
Westeros or Western
Sahara?
From top: the Game
of Thrones set at CLA
Studios, Ouarzazate;
and inside the Old
Medina, Marrakesh
048 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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than just a ticket.
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hotel stays, stadium tours and match day programmes.
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M O R O C C O
set off from the kasbahs of Skoura laden with
dates and almonds, figs and olives, grapes and
pomegranates, bound for Marrakesh, a week’s
journey over the mountains.
Skoura is a green labyrinth. Follow the dusty
lanes that meander through the palmeraie and
in a moment you are lost among the orchards
and the blank walls hiding unseen houses.
Donkeys and bicycles sometimes flicker through
the shadows, children chase deflated footballs,
women carry bundles of cut alfalfa home for
their animals, and august gentlemen came out
to stroll in the late afternoon, greeting passersby
with a slight bow and elaborate salutations.
At night, beneath a vast sky of stars, a heavy
silence falls, broken only by frogs croaking and
the occasional voice drifting through the palm
groves. This is desert living.
There are up to a hundred kasbahs in Skoura,
sailing like galleons above the waves of greenery
– huge, rambling and fantastical. Some are
restored, many are in ruins, and a few are still
occupied by various branches of old families
too disputatious or too poor to allow for sale or
renovations. The most extravagant of Skoura’s
kasbahs is Amerhidl, a sprawling 17th-century
castle, which features on Morocco’s 50-dirham
note. It’s a delight to explore.
I went to visit Muhammed, the owner of Ait
Ben Abou, a rambling kasbah on the edge of the
oasis. “Kasbahs are fortifications,” Muhammed
said. Then he laughed. “But they were also
a defence against the enemy within – the wives.”
Inside we climbed narrow stairways, flitted
along a labyrinth of winding passageways,
fumbled at the latches of heavy doors, ducked
beneath low arches, eventually emerging on to
the flat roof. The view stretched over the tousled
heads of hundreds of palms trees to the empty
desert beyond. “I was brought up here,” he said.
“This was my grandfather’s kasbah. But even
I am not really sure how many wives there were.’
Moroccan sheikhs tended to overdo it on
the wife front. If the kasbahs sprawled, it was
because the harem did. If they contained secret
passages and hidden chambers, it was because
the complex family arrangements required
a great deal of discretion. “They all had to be
treated equally,” Muhammed said. “That was
the challenge.”
Later, we sat on cushions in his garden where
water bubbled through the irrigation channels.
Oasis of calm
A glass of sweet
mint tea served up
in a riad dispels
the desert heat by
producing a welcome
cooling sensation
Tweet your favourite
destination to
@TCOffers and we’ll
return our latest
offers to you!
The great walls of Ait Ben Abou rose above us
like a giant sandcastle. All around, green shadows
stretched deep into orchards where birds
sang. Glasses of sweet tea arrived. Stillness
had descended on the afternoon.
“And how you are enjoying my village of
Skoura?” Muhammed asked. “Wonderful,”
I replied. “As secluded as a Marrakeshi riad.”
Stanley Stewart is the only author to win
the prestigious Thomas Cook Travel Book
Award twice
BE THERE… Fly to Agadir from Manchester
with Thomas Cook from Novermber 2014.
Thomas Cook now offers pre-bookable
excursions to the Atlas Mountains and Ouarzazate
with Thomas Cook and Thomas Cook
Signature. Book online at thomascook.com
050 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

An Underwater
World Awaits...
Learning to swim is an important life skill
for everyone. The sooner your child begins
swimming, the more confident they will be in
and around the water. That is why Speedo has
teamed up with Thomas Cook to be their official
swim partner. As part of the partnership we
are providing Speedo Sea Squad Learn to Swim
equipment within Thomas Cook FamilyWORLD
and Airtours Sunstar swimming lessons.
Water confidence lessons are available for children aged
6 months to 4 years and encourage children to build
up confidence in the water with you by their side. With
interactive play and nursery rhymes, your little one won’t
want to leave the pool!
Swimming lessons are available for ages 4+ and are a great
place to both have fun and learn to swim. Lessons are on
offer for beginners to advanced swimmers.
Lessons are with ASA qualified UK swimming instructors in
a safe swimming environment. Single and adult lessons are
available on request.
Water confidence - €5 per child for 1 x 30 minute session
Swimming lessons - €30 per child for 5 x 30 minute
lessons
Available in Thomas Cook FamilyWORLD and selected
Airtours Sunstar* hotels between 1st July – 1st September
2014. For more information please see your Thomas Cook
representative or the Splash instructor.
* Featured in the following Sunstar properties: Sun Tropical,
Oasis Village

THE RUM & REGGAE
028 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

J A M A I C A
DIARY
It took us four days and four
stop-offs to feel the rhythm of
modern Jamaica. Between the
rum shots and bombastic reggae
bars, here’s what happened
Jamaica doesn’t wait to get you
settled. Or give you time to slip into
holiday mode. The trim driftwood and
clapboard bars and jerk chicken huts
that encroach upon every strip of sand
don’t help. Neither do the rum shacks
blaring Sean Paul and Shaggy records that
wait for visitors outside Montego Bay Sangster
International Airport. The locals call it Mo Bay,
and it couldn’t be more appropriate. They’re
so laidback, they can’t even get to the end of
their own sentences. “Wagwan...” says the first
man we meet, all waxed Rasta dreads, dazed
eyes and toothy smile. What he means to say is:
“Good afternoon young man, how are you and
what’s going on?”
Words:
Mike MacEacheran
Photography:
Daniel Di Paolo
Day one
We’ve come to enjoy Jamaican culture through
arguably its two greatest gifts to the world
– sugar-sweet rum and pounding reggae, our
direction dictated by taste more than by beach
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 053

time. The setting is pure Lilt advert: palm-fringed
sands, wayward rude boys rhyming and rapping,
swaying hammocks in the breeze, an entire
paint chart’s worth of blue waters, and laidback
coconut and mango sellers that purr, “Yeh
mon...” or, “Wagwan...” at you more times
that you could shake a hairy tropical fruit.
The first rum cask we unplug is along the coast
past Ocho Rios at the wonderful, hidden Golden-
Eye resort (goldeneye.com), former residence of
James Bond author Ian Fleming, and now a hotel,
restaurant and beach bar. It’s also the home of
Blackwell Rum, created by owner Chris Blackwell,
the man who signed Bob Marley to his Londonbased
record label Island, funding the production
of classic records such as I Shot The Sheriff,
Buffalo Soldier and No Woman, No Cry.
His vintage rum comes out of the very best
pot stills from the Appleton Estate (appletonestate.com),
the oldest and most famous of
all Jamaica’s sugarcane plantations. The house
cocktail – what else but a GoldenEye? – is made
with a dizzying splash of rum and pineapple
juice served in a margarita glass. After sinking
a few, we get an inkling of what Christopher
Colombus and the first British naval officers
felt like when they arrived in this tropical Eden.
All wobbly sea legs and Jolly Roger smiles.
Beyond the bar a gigantic tropical orchard
of mango, lime, orange and ackee looms. This
is where every celebrity worth their rum punch
has paid to plant a tree to help support the
No ordinary
Jamaica Inn
The Ian Fleming
villa at GoldenEye
(right) where the
author wrote all
the James Bond
novels, including
the Jamaican-set
Dr No and Live
And Let Die
054 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

J A M A I C A
THE FIRST RUM
CASK WE UNPLUG IS
ALONG THE COAST
PAST OCHO RIOS
AT GOLDENEYE
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 055

local community of Orcabessa. Elizabeth Taylor,
Kate Moss, Pierce Brosnan, Jude Law, Mr and Mrs
Jay-Z, Caine, Campbell, Ford, Branson, Depp –
you name them, they’ve put down roots. The
week before we drop in, One Direction sunned
themselves in hammocks on the beach; years
ago this is where Gordon Sumner (aka Sting)
wrote Every Breath You Take. Dang.
On a hill 10km east sits Firefly (fireflyjamaica.com),
another must-see mansion with
a colossal reputation for rum-stoked fun. It was
here, overlooking the manicured lawns, that
former owner Noël Coward had afternoon tea
with Laurence Olivier, Winston Churchill, Errol
Flynn and Sophia Loren. The Queen and Queen
Mother also dropped by for cream scones and
cucumber sandwiches. Inside, the museum is
surprisingly spartan – yet the glorious, milliondollar
views stretch all the way across to the
Caribbean’s other famous rum haven, Cuba.
Day two
Once upon a time Jamaica was a stronghold of
rum-swilling pirates – or so we’re told the following
morning at Port Royal, a hook of land that
curves around Kingston Bay and once dubbed
the wickedest city on Earth. It was so bad
famous Dutch explorer Jan van Riebeeck was
mortified by the place. “The parrots of Port Royal
gather to drink from the large stocks of ale with
just as much alacrity as the drunks that frequent
the taverns that serve it,” he wrote. Cripes.
The place also once thrived under the rule
of Captain Henry Morgan, the notorious Welsh
privateer who became the face of the global
rum brand. Magnificent ships were anchored
in the harbour outside Fort George, too, but it’s
now a preserved ruin to wander through and
learn about Jamaica’s colonial past.
Our next stop is Downtown Kingston, a place
that’s had a hell of a makeover in the last 15
years. What used to be sketchy, sometimes
dangerous, is now the realm of chicken and
burger bars, art galleries, craft coffee roasters
and Usain Bolt’s very own Tracks & Records
(tracksandrecords.com), a sports bar opened as
a pilgrimage spot for fans. No matter where you
go, reggae music blasts from wound-down car
windows and dancehall keeps people moving
along the streets with rhythm.
The mark of this is that you can bump into
one of the original percussionists from Bob
Marley’s band The Wailers playing bongos in the
leafy courtyard of the unmissable Bob Marley
056 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

J A M A I C A
Museum (bobmarleymuseum.com). This is
where we find “Bongo” Herman, dressed in a
tricolour woven tam to cover his dreads. “Yeh
mon, we got riddim,” he sings. “Straight up,
we’re keeping Bob’s spirit alive.” Judging by the
crowds of autograph hunters, it’s a sentiment
that clearly pays off.
Rastas like Bongo may be in the minority,
but they remain the lifeblood of the island.
They are muscular and assertive in your presence
– unshaven and dreadlocked, squinting
and sun-bleached. The next we meet is Ricky
Chaplin at Tuff Gong Studios (tuffgong.com),
the place that birthed such classics as Redemption
Song and Could You Be Loved? and now
used by the likes of Shaggy, Snoop Dogg and
Lauryn Hill. A bear of a man with snake-like
dreads that would terrify Medusa, he’s an
infectious character who loves nothing more
than to spread the reggae vibe.
Following a nose around the recording booths
(still home to the original Marley microphones
and recording equipment), he breaks into an
impromptu, frenzied performance of one of his
own records. “Burn, Fire Rastaman!” he wails at
us like a man possessed by a ghost. It leaves us
in no doubt: that’s some strong reggae spirit.
Day three
The main reason people take the winding road
from Kingston into the Blue Mountains is to visit
St Andrew for a starlit dinner at Strawberry Hill
(strawberryhillhotel.com), a gable-ended coffee
planter’s guesthouse with the most sought-after
jerk chicken on the island. When we take our
seats, with all of Kingston burning in neon below,
we’re told Usain Bolt sat at the table next to us
the night before. The fastest man on Earth was
with his mum eating rice and peas. Double dang.
What we also hadn’t expected to find is
that the place is one of the modern faces of
Jamaica’s rum and reggae story. Its owner is that
man again, Chris Blackwell, and the downstairs
lobby is given over to his gold disc collection of
Bob Marley’s greatest triumphs, along with some
others also worth a rock history footnote (U2,
Robert Palmer, Sly & Robbie, Grace Jones). The
restaurant and bar, too, are framed by classic
sepia portraits of Mick and Keith from the
Stones, Grace, and Bono and his boys jamming
with Bob and a whole variety of liggers on the
veranda. That’s a real slice of reggae history.
The other main reason that people take the
road into the mountains isn’t to drink rum, but
Jamaica’s greatest hits
From left: Ricky Chaplin at Tuff
Gong; Fort George’s cannons;
Noël Coward’s view of the
Caribbean from Firefly; Usain
Bolt’s Tracks & Records; the
stunning GoldenEye lagoon
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 057

058 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

J A M A I C A
recommends it to me. “There’s nowhere like it,”
he says. “Nothing keeps that place down.”
He’s right. It’s a makeshift drinking saloon
built by now-retired boat captain Floyd Forbes
from scrap timber, driftwood and boatyard
junk, propped on stilts in the middle of the sea.
It’s around half a kilometre from the shore,
but even that doesn’t detract day-trippers. The
boys behind the bar will tell you about the time
the island was hit by a tropical hurricane strong
enough to shake every coconut off every tree
(upturning cars, blowing down houses and
claiming 45 lives) – but still the Pelican Bar
to sample the fine coffee grown on the humid,
tropical hillsides that topple down into Kingston
Bay. There’s an overpowering aroma coming
from the nearby Craighton Estate Great House
and Coffee Plantation in Irish Town (+1 876 929
8490), one of the best-preserved Georgian-style
houses here – but that’s another story in itself.
Good enough for Usain Bolt
Strawberry Hills (far left)
and its views over Kingston
and the Blue Mountains
(above); local artist Jah
Calo (left) in Bluefields,
on the road to Black River
Day four
On the south coast of Jamaica there’s a string
of coastal towns that are one highway removed
from modern Jamaican reality and the hustle
and bustle of Montego Bay. The most laidback
of these is Black River, which locals have taken to
calling Treasure Beach. We get off the highway,
speak to one of the skippers lingering on the
dock and take a $40 speedboat ride out across
Parottee Bay to the Pelican Bar. A good friend
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 059

J A M A I C A
stood it’s ground. “Yeah mon,” says Walter, one
of the gold-toothed cooks. “We can come back
from anything.”
Resurrection or not, this is definitely our new
favourite rum shack. Inside is a rickety, box-sized
kitchen where cooks serve delicious catfish, an
icebox for beer, and a coconut treetrunk table
where boatmen play dominoes. Outside, the
planked gangway doubles as a sundeck. Sitting
there, our legs dangling, all but two sounds disappear:
the swirl of water over the sandbank below
punctuated by the pop of beer bottle tops.
The real beauty of Jamaica is that there are
good times to be had everywhere. We wash
ashore later, maybe like the late great Henry
Morgan once did, with rum in our bellies, cawing
parrots in the palms and the setting sun at our
backs, a golden moment worthy of that Lilt
commercial. Time doesn’t exactly stand still
in Jamaica, but it sure does slow down some.
Wagwan. It says all you need to know.
For more on Bob Marley and the history
of Jamaican reggae and dancehall, turn
to the next page
Tweet your favourite
destination to
@TCOffers and we’ll
return our latest
offers to you!
What? No pelicans?
The Pelican Bar, the funkiest,
funnest rum and reggae joint
in all of the Caribbean (top
and right). Getting there by
boat (above) is half the fun
060 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

COME AND SEE
US ON STAND
D63
NEC Birmingham
3rd-5th October 2014
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J A M A I C A
J-J-J-Jammin’
The complete potted history of reggae from the 1960s to yesterday
Kerchunk-kerchunk-kerchunk. It’s the instantly recognisable twang that
conjures up coconut palms, rum cocktails, sunsets and an easygoing holiday
vibe. First coined around the mid 1960s, as a label to identify the special
ragged style of dancehall music that started to appear in the clubs of Kingston,
reggae was Jamaica’s gift to the world. From Bob Marley and Jimmy Cliff to
Shaggy and Sean Paul, the island revolutionised the sound of the Caribbean.
1930s
The Rastafari movement,
a spiritual ideology
based on Ethiopia’s
ancient Christian culture,
emerges in Jamaica.
1945
Robert Nesta Marley,
who the world will go on
to know as Bob Marley,
is born on 6 February in
Nine Mile, Saint Ann.
1957
Jamaica starts to embrace
rhythm ’n’ blues records
imported from New
Orleans by local DJs and
mobile sound systems.
1963
The Wailers, featuring Bob
Marley, Peter Tosh and
Bunny Livingston, slow
down the ska beat in their
first hit Simmer Down.
1966
Vocal groups are now all
the rage. The Paragons
release The Tide Is High
and The Melodians record
Rivers Of Babylon.
1976
New acts diversify reggae
into roots and dub. Cue
The Abyssinians and The
Congos, produced by
Lee “Scratch” Perry.
1974
Bob Marley becomes the
pin-up for the reggae
movement, underlined by
his run of solid gold hits
through the early 1970s.
1972
Reggae goes international
with the film The Harder
They Come and Jimmy
Cliff’s smash hit You Can
Get It If You Really Want.
1968
The word reggae
first appears on the
Rocksteady hit Do the
Reggay by The Maytals
on Beverly’s Records.
1967
The Dictionary of
Jamaican English first lists
reggae as a word, either
as “rags, ragged clothing”
or “a quarrel, a row”.
1981
Bob Marley passes away
because of a malignant
melanoma at Cedars
of Lebanon Hospital in
Miami at the age of 36.
1995
Orville Richard Burrell,
aka Shaggy, becomes the
biggest-selling artist of
the year with Bombastic,
a rap-reggae crossover.
2006
Eldest son of Bob, Ziggy
Marley carries the torch
by releasing Love is My
Religion. It wins a Grammy
for Best Reggae Album.
2014
Reggae Sumfest, a recordbreaking
music festival, is
held in Montego Bay, with
Jason Derulo, Wiz Khalifa
and Future.
BE THERE…
Travel to Jamaica with
thomascook.com.
For more information,
go to visitjamaica.com
028 062 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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Words: Jamie Lafferty
Illustrations: Julia Murray
THE EMIRATES
STRIKE BACK
Stormtroopers on the beach, Han Solo by the
pool, Darth Vader on the tennis court. Here’s
what happens when Star Wars comes to the UAE
A
galaxy far, far away has come to the United Arab
Emirates. It was announced earlier this year that
part of the next installment of the Star Wars
franchise was filmed in the deserts of Abu Dhabi.
Producers claimed that only a little “second-unit
work” took place for a few weeks in May, but it seems certain
that the Emirati capital will double for Tatooine in at least some
of the next movie, due out in 2015. But what if it didn’t stop
there? What if the entire saga had been shot in the UAE?
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U A E
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 065

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HOLGUÍN

U A E
THE BURJ AL ARAB IS THE ULTIMATE SPACEPORT
There have been many iconic moments on the Burj Al Arab’s
helipad. Tiger Woods famously hit golf balls from it into the
Arabian Gulf 200 metres below. A few years later Roger Federer
had a casual knockaround, leading hordes of tourists to demand
the option to do the same. What, then, would Han Solo landing
the Millennium Falcon there do for its reputation?
The huge circular helipad hanging from this Dubai icon would
surely be the dock of choice for the fastest ship in the galaxy. Not
only does it provide a splendid vantage point from the so-called
seven-star hotel, but it would offer a quick getaway should Han
and Chewy run up a huge bar tab at the expensive Skyview Bar
(around £15 for a not-so-out-of-this-world beer). For people
arriving by land, room, restaurant and even bar reservations are
necessary – there’s no milling around the lobby here. If you do get
inside, take a look at the atrium, one of the most striking elements
of the hotel. Its huge futuristic architecture bears an uncanny
resemblance to the floating pods of the Galactic Senate.
THE HUGE FUTURISTIC
ARCHITECTURE OF
THE BURJ AL ARAB
BEARS AN UNCANNY
RESEMBLANCE TO THE
GALACTIC SENATE
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068 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL
THE EMPTY QUARTER
WAS TATOOINE-LIKE
ENOUGH TO DOUBLE AS
THE SKYWALKERS’ HOME

U A E
ABU DHABI IS TATOOINE
Despite being low on “scum and villainy”, the rolling dunes of
the Empty Quarter (left) were deemed Tatooine-like enough
to double as the sandy home of the Skywalkers, replacing the
original sets in Tunisia when director JJ Abrams brought the Star
Wars shoot here in April. Aside from date production and the Liwa
Oasis, there are endless opportunities to jump in your X-34 Landspeeder
(reconfigured as a 4x4 Land Cruiser) to hurtle around
the sand, including driving up the 120-metre-high Moreeb Dune.
No one has ever found a Jawa, Dewback or Bantha in Abu Dhabi’s
desert, but given its near-infinite dimensions, perhaps they just
weren’t looking hard enough.
For respite from the harsh conditions, head to Qasr Al Sarab,
(below) a sprawling desert sanctuary with numerous restaurants
and bars, that seems to appear like a mirage from the dunes. It
could easily stand in for Jabba’s Palace – and some of the cast and
crew were rumoured to have stayed here during the recent movie
shoot – but at least paying guests needn’t worry about being fed
to the Sarlacc pit monster.
THE EMIRATES PALACE IS NABOO
Palatial by name and nature, the Emirates Palace isn’t so much a
hotel as it is a national statement of affluence in the heart of Abu
Dhabi. As well as doubling as a royal home in several other films
(notably The Kingdom), this cavernous property was rumoured
to have been the world’s most expensive hotel to build.
It really is fit for royalty – Princess Amidala (Natalie
Portman) would surely be at home here.
The Naboo theme continues with a
marina and access to the Arabian Gulf
and for those who don’t think the UAE
gets much wildlife, a whale shark was
recently spotted. There’s wreck-diving
in the warm waters beyond, too, but if
you find Jar Jar Binks or any of the other
characters who ruined The Phantom
Menace down there, feel free to leave
them beneath the waves.
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 069

U A E
THE BURJ KHALIFA IS CLOUD CITY
The Burj Khalifa and surrounding Downtown area have long
offered a picture of tomorrow and, despite Dubai’s scarcity of
actual clouds, at times the area has the look and feel of Lando
Calrissian’s Cloud City. The world’s tallest building (with the
world’s fastest elevators), the 830-metre Burj Khalifa stands
almost twice as high as New York’s Empire State Building and
looks every bit as though it has come from the mind of a sci-fi
writer. However, the 124th floor viewing platform (burjkhalifa.
ae) is only the third highest in the world (the other two are in
China). It’s hard to imagine Lando being so timid with his design.
Perhaps, then, the area is more reminiscent of the capital of
the Republic, Coruscant, or an entire planet evolved into one
city. Certainly there are a number of the world’s most extreme
sights. There are the tallest two hotels, the largest mall and a
fountain, which shoots water 150m high. All of these are found
off Sheikh Zayed Road, a grand avenue of skyscrapers seemingly
designed by architects from other galaxies altogether.
YAS ISLAND HAS THE LIGHTSPEED (next page)
Ferrari World (ferrariworldabudhabi.com), the world’s largest
indoor theme park, lies right next to the Yas Marina Circuit
(yasmarinacircuit.com), home of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
(21-23 November). The area has a distinct need for speed,
with no greater demonstration than the Formula Rossa, the
world’s fastest coaster. To sit on this ride is to sit in an X-Wing
with the roof down – the acceleration is breakneck and beyond,
top speeds reach up to 240kmph, and it’s designed for people
who believe their lives are improved with doses of raw terror.
If you plan to make a run at the Death Star or fly through the
forests of Endor, this is the place for you.
If you prefer to have a human scaring you half to death, then
the Formula 1 track at the Yas Marina Circuit offers passenger
experiences, including rides in Aston Martins, Chevy Camaros
and a podracer-esque drag car. Just don’t expect to be able to
book when Darth Vader and his stormtroopers (also known as
Bernie Ecclestone and the F1 drivers) sweep into town.
THE BURJ KHALIFA
AT TIMES HAS THE
LOOK AND FEEL OF
LANDO CALRISSIAN’S
CLOUD CITY
070 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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U A E
THE MADINAT JUMEIRAH IS MOS EISLEY
It’s hard not to like the Madinat Jumeirah (below), which feels
like several destinations at once. From the faux souk to its
elaborate waterways, it does a neat job of appearing to be much
more ancient than it really is. The bartering isn’t as aggressive
as it would be up at Dubai Creek (most things here have a set
price), but close your eyes and make believe enough and you
can just about convince yourself this is a benign Mos Eisley, with
merchants hawking wares that stretch from floor to ceiling.
Beyond, in the labyrinthine complex of restaurants and bars,
some rooms are only accessible via gondolas – at night, there
are few more atmospheric and romantic locations in the city. Is
this the kind of place Han and Leia would go on honeymoon?
Or Yoda would make a retirement home for himself? It’s likely.
Perhaps it’s better to enjoy the gondola rides into the dark
for what they are. Just don’t be afraid, because fear leads
to anger – and we all know what happens from there.
BE THERE… Holiday in the UAE with thomascook.com
072 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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Words: Imogen Rowland
Photography: Tim E White
074 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

T E N E R I F E
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 075

Challenge one
Take a scuba selfie
“Ready to meet our green girls?” asks David
Novillo, the marine expert behind the FlyOver
diving experience on Tenerife’s Costa Adeje.
We’re bobbing by the bay of Armeñime, pulling
on wetsuits and strapping weights to our waists
ahead of my first ever scuba experience where
– with luck – I hope to meet the island’s resident
Atlantic green turtles. The challenge is to not
only find one, I want to get a scuba selfie with it.
But this isn’t just about the dive, or my subaqua
challenge. Once teeming with underwater
flora and fauna, Tenerife’s coastline is under
threat from a plague of sea urchins, which strip
it of microalgae essential to maintaining marine
life. “FlyOver is our way of telling people about
the conservation project,” says David. “We’re
trying to build awareness of the Canary Islands’
subtidal ecosystem.” By taking novices like me
for trial dives, David and his team, including
instructor Guillermo Carrizo, hope to raise funds
to better control the rampant urchin population
and reintroduce more species. Something, if the
number of turtles that FlyOver has spotted is
anything to go by, that’s already well under way.
After learning the basics – a few simple hand
signals, buoyancy, equalisation and the most
important rule of all: I must not forget to
Underwater love
Fish fanatic David
Novillo (above)
prepares for our trial
dive at the FlyOver
dock, Puerto Colón
076 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

TMEONREORCI CF OE
We descend bit by bit,
breath by breath, slowly
reaching the bay’s
deepest point. It’s a
mesmerising introduction
to the underwater nineto-five
of the Canaries
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 077

eathe – it’s time to jump into the Atlantic.
We descend bit by bit, breath by breath, slowly
reaching the bay’s deepest point at 10 metres,
where small tropical fish dart in and out of the
sea grass. It’s a mesmerising introduction to the
underwater nine-to-five of the Canaries: we spot
bluefin damsels, seahorses, even a couple of
those malignant sea urchins.
After 15 minutes, Guillermo suddenly veers
left, pulling me in tow, and there, before my
eyes, popping out of its green-and-gold half
shell, is what I’ve come to see. The turtle skims
past by centimetres, beating its flippers in slow
motion, but in my excitement I fumble and my
camera sinks to the seabed. Not to be defeated,
Guillermo snatches it up and passes it to David
to take the shot, and we return to the surface
buoyed by our fleeting meet and greet. The dive
went by in a flash, but we’ve got the selfie (right)
– and whether I had a helping hand or not, all
that counts is the camera doesn’t lie, surely?
How did we do? Success!
Have a go yourself: oceanosostenible.org
Challenge two
Catch the Atlantic’s best game
“There’s a reason it’s called fishing and not
catching, you know.” Obvious, yes, but this
cautionary warning is delivered by my newest
deep-sea fishing friend, Steve, as our chartered
speedboat manoeuvres its way out of Los
Cristianos on Tenerife’s southwestern coast.
Seven of us are onboard, joined by captain Rafa,
for a three-hour deep-sea expedition. I’ve never
been sport fishing and I’m slightly worried: my
next challenge is to reel in a game fish, and they
don’t come bigger or better than those caught
(and released again, Rafa assures me) in the
deep waters of the Atlantic. Only the sea isn’t
the restful mill pond it’s been for the past few
days. The sky is thick and overcast and the
waves roll weightily, pitching Pez de Fogo, our
little boat, up and down like a tin yo-yo. The
name translates as “fish of fire”, but so far
there’s not a flicker of life below, and even
seasoned pro Steve is green around the gills.
“The swells are because of the Calima,” says
Rafa, pointing to the sky. “The southeasterly
wind brings a cloud of Saharan sand and dust
in the air and that makes the sea boil.” As we
roll back and forth I see what he means – the air
feels heavy and the water surges, all the while
078 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

T E N E R I F E
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 079

T E N E R I F E
stirring up the surf. The ocean is angry. Will there
even be any fish around in these conditions?
“There are plenty out there,” says Rafa. “Tuna,
dorada, marlin. It just depends on our luck, and
this weather makes it a great training ground.”
With our lines cast off the back, we motor
on, trailing dummy baits and rubber lures that
glint below the surface. Time passes, the sea
grumbles and, two hours in, we still wait. A few
kilometres out we turn and continue along
the coast, passing Playa de las Americas and
Costa Adeje. In these waters, says Rafa, there
are greater shoals of tuna. Occasionally, we
imagine a quivering line and jump to reel it in,
but ultimately nothing bites, and we sail back
to the harbour windswept but defeated. “At
least we’re still on the boat!” laughs Steve. “On
today’s sea, even that’s a good day’s fishing!”
How did we do? Fail
Have a go yourself: mardeons-tenerife.com
Challenge three
Capture the largest sea creature
On paper my final challenge sounds like the
most relaxing affair – to capture a whale on
camera on a four-hour boat trip – but after my
deep-sea fishing disappointment I’m not feeling
too confident. Luckily, we’re only an hour into
our voyage from Puerto Colón when a voice
crackles over the loudspeaker on the Royal
Delfín, breaking the calm: “Ballena! Whale!”
We’re sailing beneath Los Gigantes, Tenerife’s
famous towering brown cliffs on the western
coast and an area rich with sea life. The 34km
strait between Tenerife and nearby La Gomera
is a permanent home to colonies of short-finned
pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins, and a
through passage for dozens of other migratory
species, from sperm and fin whales to spotted,
striped and rough-toothed dolphins. And our
target is already in sight.
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T E N E R I F E
Together with the catamaran’s other excited
passengers, we rush to the bow to see the fin
of a young pilot whale cut through the water,
its mass a dark shadow that rolls beneath the
surface. Then its mother is there, swimming
alongside her calf, their glossy backs oily and
black, puffs of air spurting from their blowholes.
I spin around and there’s another dorsal fin,
and another – a whole pod – all bobbing up
and down as if they’d been expecting us.
We follow our pilot whale companions as
they dip and dive for more than half an hour,
taking easily a hundred or more photographs,
and when they eventually slip away they’re
replaced by a pair of camera-friendly bottlenose
dolphins, just as eager to show off. Hallelujah!
My whale-watching challenge has been
infinitely easier than our failed fishing trip, but
that’s the thing about the sea – once life dips
beneath the ocean waves, we’re entirely at the
will of tempestuous Mother Nature. Luckily for
us, she’s been a pretty generous host.
How did we do? Success!
Have a go yourself: tenerifedolphin.com
Whale of a time
Though shy by nature,
and often elusive,
Tenerife’s resident
short-finned pilots
(above) were eager
to say hello to us
Tweet your favourite
destination to
@TCOffers and we’ll
return our latest
offers to you!
BE THERE… Have a winter sunshine break in
the Canary Islands with thomascook.com.
For more information about Tenerife, visit
webtenerife.com
082 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

Centro Comercial Puerto Colon
Local 129-C 38660 Adeje
(+34) 922 712 993
(+34) 653 880 401
www.edencatamaran.com
info@edencatamaran.com
Sail from Puerto Colon in south
western Tenerife in search of
pilot whales and dolphins.
Choose our classic whale watching
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086 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL
Photography: Getty

A N T A L Y A
10
things
to do in
Antalya
Spectacular Lycian ruins, shimmering waters and pristine sands:
Antalya is an outdoor wonderland that’s studded with look-at-me
marvels. Here are our must-dos in Turkey’s must-do region
Words: Terry Richardson
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 087

01
Check out the beaches
Take the Man vs Beach challenge and see as many of Antalya’s sunny
playgrounds as you can squeeze into a week. Turkey has some 383 Blue
Flag strips of sand – 10 per cent of the world’s total – with the biggest and
most beautiful about an hour’s drive southwest along the coast.
Bookended by mountain spurs and backed by a narrow plain thick with
citrus orchards, Çıralı’s unspoiled 3km-long shingle beach is a major draw.
It has a nesting site for endangered loggerhead turtles and, for a geological
thrill, the eternal flames of Chimaera erupt from holes in the mountainside
above, an intriguing natural phenomenon. To the south, and cloaked in
verdant foliage, ancient Olympos sits behind the far end of the beach and
awaits exploration from Indiana Jones and Lara Croft wannabes.
In the next valley, low-key Adrasan has a well-regarded dive school on
the beach (diving-adrasan.com), otherwise there’s little to do except swim,
sunbathe and admire towering Mount Moses. Quite different is Mermerli, a
pay-to-play beach attached to a restaurant of the same name, tucked under
the cliffs beside the harbour in Antalya’s old quarter.
02
Put down the doughnut
Gözleme is Anatolia’s fast-food favourite. It’s often called a Turkish
pancake, but this is just a nickname – it’s actually a flatbread, stuffed
with goat’s cheese and herbs, spinach, minced meat or spicy potato, and
cooked on an open fire. Pull in to one of the many roadside stalls around
Antalya and, if you can stop at just one, you’ve more self-control than us.
088 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

A N T A L Y A
03
THIS WAY TO THE
MOUNTAINS
Escape the sizzling heat of the seaside
with a day trip to a cool ancient
mountaintop site or two. Around
30km northwest of Antalya, the
crumbling city of Termessos is surrounded
by jagged limestone peaks
that were so difficult to approach
even Alexander the Great failed
to capture it in 333BC. Its tombs,
temples and theatre have never
been excavated, so explorations of
the vegetation-wrapped
ruins regularly throw up lost
treasures, such as amphorae
and broken vases.
Live at the Apollo
Sunrise over the
ancient Temple
of Apollo at Side
Less seldom visited is Arykanda,
a beautiful half-hour drive north of
seaside town Finike. It’s less rugged
than Termessos, but there’s more to
see, much of it beautifully restored,
including a monumental Roman
bathhouse, a dramatic theatre,
a stadium and temples.
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 089

A N T A L Y A
04
Get high the easy way
The imposing backdrop to any drive along the Lycian Peninsula southwest
of Antalya, Mount Olympos rises to an impressive 2,366 metres. Until
recently the mountain was only for serious walkers, but now anyone can
enjoy the superb panoramic views of sea and sky by taking the cable
car (olymposteleferik.com) to the summit. Once there, enjoy a spot
of Turkish hospitality at the mountaintop restaurant.
05
A fishy interlude
With all that sea at your disposal, who’d want to eat fresh-water fish? The
Turks, that’s who. The foothills of the Taurus Mountains are scattered with
little trout farms set beside babbling brooks and shaded by spreading
plane trees. Fished straight from the tank and lovingly roasted in clay pots
placed in wood-fired ovens, the trout are simply delicious, especially when
served with roast potatoes, peppers, tomatoes and onions.
06
NOW SOME MORE
BEACHES (BUT WITH
ADDED RUINS)
Torn between a day exploring
ancient ruins or lazing on
a beach? Around Antalya you
can do both at the same time.
The eastern beach of the charming
resort of Side, an hour out
of Antalya, is backed by a splendid
array of dune-engulfed Julius
Caesar-era remains, from the
paving slabs of ancient streets
to the columns of long-gone
Roman temples.
Meanwhile, Phaselis, an hour
southwest of Antalya, has three
pine-fringed beaches to choose
from. The northern beach is
adorned with Roman sarcophagi,
while the central one curves
around what was once an ancient
harbour, now a shallow lagoon
that’s perfect for kids. Cut through
the remains of a market place,
bathhouse and theatre to reach
the last – the longest and sandiest
of the trio. With the sun shining,
you could easily stay for a week.
07
Get tough
with the kids
Fire up your teens’ imaginations
with sea kayaking over the
ruins of a sunken Lycian city on
Kekova Bay at Üçağız near Kaş,
or test their bravado leaping and
abseiling into mountain pools on
a canyoning expedition behind
the same resort (sometimes too
scary for mums and dads). If
that’s not enough, sign up for an
11km white-water rafting trip
down the turbulent Köprülü river
northeast of Belek.
08
A night at
the opera
Even if you’re not a classical
music buff, a starlit performance
in a 2,000-year-old Roman theatre
on a sultry summer evening is
not to be missed. The Aspendos
International Opera and Ballet
Festival (30 August – 24 September,
aspendosfestival.gov.tr),
held outside Serik to the east
of Antalya, is the place to be,
and with Aida, Tosca and La
Traviata among the highlights
of this year’s programme, it’s
probably the greatest night
out you’ve never had.
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A N T A L Y A
09
GO TO BED LATE
The nighttime is the right time to
wander through Antalya’s walled old
quarter of Kaleiçi (left). An afternoon
shopping expedition can be trying in
the late summer, when even bornto-sell
shopkeepers lose the will to
pester in the searing heat. After dark,
the alleys, lined with pretty Ottomanera
houses, offer more palatable
alternatives. Watch the moon shine
on the sea from the romantic Castle
Cafe and Bistro (kaleicicastle.com),
built on the cliff edge beneath
a Roman watchtower, or get into
the groove at open-air Club Ally
(ally.com.tr). For traditional Turkish
music and raki don’t miss Akdeniz
Çiçek Pasajı (+90 242 243 4303).
Our tip? Follow the crowds and give
yourself the morning off.
10 Plan a winter escape
ROYAL WINGS HOTEL
Lara Beach
Considered the Las Vegas of the
Turkish coastline, there’s plenty to
keep you amused on Lara Beach
– although with five restaurants, a
luxurious spa, bowling, games area
and its own Turkish baths, the Royal
Wings hotel itself has draws galore.
SENTIDO PERISSIA
Side
Following a major refurbishment
this all-inclusive resort (bottom
right) is the go-to place for a sunny
winter break, with a spa, an activities
programme and heated indoor
pool. Foodies are equally well
catered for, with ingredients
sourced from the hotel’s garden
and wine from its own vineyard.
SENTIDO ZEYNEP GOLF
Belek
This luxurious hotel (top right)
on the coast has no shortage of
sights. Avid golfers can hit the
greens at the Carya golf course,
while explorers can discover the
Roman town of Perge and the
amphitheatre at Aspendos.
ROYAL DRAGON HOTEL
Side
Bringing a touch of the Orient to
the Turkish coastline, the Royal
Dragon is styled to evoke all of the
glamour and decadence of the Far
East. There are activities galore,
but our advice is to pamper and
primp yourself at the spa, where
they combine expert Thai massage
with traditional Turkish baths.
OUR INSIDER TIPS
Antalya’s an incredible summer
destination, but it’s got just as
much going for it during winter:
• Fantastic value for money
All our 4- and 5-star hotels have
full winter activity programmes
and indoor heated pools.
• Golf galore! Belek is a great
spot for golf, and now you can
book tee times on 14 of the best
courses through Thomas Cook at
tx247.co.uk/thomascook. Other
courses can also be booked with
Bilyana Golf, bilyanagolf.co.uk
• Inspiring excursions and trips!
Visit some of Turkey’s most iconic
cities and sights, including Istanbul,
Alanya, the UNESCO-listed
hot springs at Pamukkale and the
beautiful Manavgat waterfalls.
BE THERE… Holiday in Antalya
with thomascook.com. For
more information on Turkey,
visit gototurkey.co.uk
092 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL
Photography: Tim E White

Carya Golf Club, in Antalya’s Belek Region, is the first classic, heathland style golf
course to be built on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast. Set on undulating sand hills,
Carya is a championship golf course at the heart of Turkey’s golf coast.
“We combined the green of the Golf and the blue of
the Mediterranean and created a haven”
Regnum Carya & Golf Spa Resort
Cosy, spacious, and exceptionally equipped rooms
With a total of 1200 beds, Regnum Carya & Golf Spa Resort
is the most prominent hotel in the region. Because all the
rooms at Regnum Carya & Golf Spa Resort have a view of
the sea and the golf, the hotel offers its guests a unique
accommodation experience. The golf residence right next
to the 5-storey main building consists of single-storey
rooms with their own pools. 8 different types of room in the
hotel range from a standard size of 50m 2 to 250m 2 , offering
quite cosy and spacious accommodation options.
Not only spacious, rooms are also exceptionally well
equipped as standard. It’s possible to receive most of the
privileges other hotels offer in suites, in Regnum Carya Golf
& Spa Resorts standard rooms.
In these rooms, there are King-size beds, mirror LED TVs,
tea and coffee facilities, double basins in the bathrooms,
separate dressing rooms and also balconies and terraces
(with seating) finished to a much higher than average
standard. Thanks to effective sound insulation of the
rooms, designed with every detail in mind for the peace
and comfort of the guests, it is possible to have a quiet
vacation away from all unwanted noises.
A different landscape
Located at the heart of a unique nature site, Regnum Carya
Golf & Spa Resort is attracting interest with its diversity of
product and landscape as well as its physical features. The
landscape was designed by globally renowned American
landscape architect Gregg Sutton (EDSA Inc.) Having many
world-brand hotels and entertainment parks ranging
from the USA to Dubai in its portfolio, this project is the
companys first project in Turkey. Carya Aquaworld turns
this meeting into a carnival pushing up the limits of fun.
2500 m 2 wave pool, swimming pools, water games park,
surfing pool, family pool, speed slide, tube slide, crazy river
ride, twisting body slide and baby pool. The hotel offers all
this in a setting of matchless natural beauty.
Carya Golf Course - Golfing Day & Night
Having one of the most important golf clubs in Turkey,
Carya Golf Club, in its grounds, the hotel is providing its
golf guests with an unforgettable vacation opportunity.
With the Peter Thomson designed golf course, established
within grounds of 178,000m 2 , the hotel offers the harmony
of green and blue with a magical spruceness. With a total
of 18 holes, Carya Golf Club is blazing a trail. With a lighting
system which is not to be found in any other golf course in
Turkey and even in Europe, guests will be able to play golf
for longer hours at any time of the day at Carya Golf Club.
Carya boasts a Player’s Course, a world class Golf Academy
and spectacular new Club House.
The National Golf Course
Open since 1994, the Club house has become a popular
tourist destination attracting golfers of all abilities from
all corners of the world. Internationally recognised, the 18
hole Championship Course, designed by Ryder Cup Player
David Feherty and Seniors Tour Player David Jones, is open
to members and day visitors. The unique 9 hole Executive
Course suits any standard of golfer, with its wide tree lined
holes and water coming into play on several of the tee
shots. The Executive Course gives you an excellent “warmup”
opportunity in which to practice your short game skills.
Both courses compliment extensive practice facilities and a
fully serviced Clubhouse. This, coupled with an international
management team and PGA golf professionals, ensure that
the National rightly takes its place as the leader in Turkish
golf, and can put many traditional European competitors
to shame.
Regnum Carya Golf & Spa Resort | Tel: +90 (242) 710 34 34 | info@regnumhotels.com | www.regnumhotels.com

P R O M O T I O N | D - R E S O R T G R A N D A Z U R
Discover life at its best
The D-Resort Grand Azur Marmaris reopens after
a stunning transformation
D-RESORT GRAND AZUR
marmaris
Magnificent beaches, crystal-clear waters and
picturesque hilly landscapes make Marmaris
one of Europe's finest holiday destinations.
So, when visiting, make sure you also stay
in one of Europe's finest hotels: the five-star
D-Resort Grand Azur, renowned for its first-class
hospitality and extensive range of unforgettable
sporting and leisure activities, and recipient of
the Thomas Cook Marque of Excellence from
2009 to 2012.
The hotel is brilliantly located in an enviable
spot right on the beach and is only a short
distance from the centre of town, which is easily
accessed by minibus, taxi or simply by walking.
Inside, it houses 324 stylish and spacious rooms
and suites, all of which are newly renovated and
come with a good-sized balcony. Contemporary
touches such as air-conditioning, satellite TV, a
safety box and a minibar come as standard.
Outside of the rooms, the resort offers
plenty to do, boasting a well-equipped gym,
indoor and outdoor swimming pools, floodlit
tennis courts and watersports facilities on
the beach. A dedicated children's pool and
daily entertainment activities ensure there's
something for the whole family. Meanwhile,
the fabulous Azur Spa contains a sauna,
steam room, Turkish bath and solarium, and
also offers a range of massage and health
treatments to leave you feeling like
a new person.
When it comes to food, guests can enjoy the
generous buffets and live music of the Palmiye
Restaurant, or sit down to a romantic, à la carte
meal in the elegant Steak & Bar Restaurant,
which looks out across the sea. Lunch and
delicious international cocktails are also
available at the resort’s beachside
bar – perfect after a busy morning soaking
up the sun!
For those mixing pleasure with business, the
hotel's meeting and conference facilities are
second-to-none, featuring two large meeting
rooms and a 390m2 grand
hall. And where could be better for aftermeeting
cocktails and relaxed social events
than the hotel's elegant outdoor terraces?
Cumhuriyet Bul. No:17, Marmaris, Turkey
+90 252 417 40 50
www.dresortgrandazur.com.tr
info@dresortgrandazur.com.tr
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

SunRay Property is your one-stop shop for
purchasing, running and letting a home in and
around the Turkish resort of Dalyan, an unspoilt
gem suited to family holidays and expat living.
We’re a fully registered independent estate
agency run by Anglo-Turkish couple Debbie
and Ali, from premises in the heart of the resort.
With a multi-lingual team, we are specialists in
helping Britons and Europeans buy property and
settle in Turkey.
SunRay’s knowledge of the Dalyan area,
local regulations and need-to-know contacts
is second to none, thanks to our experience
and local family connections. The firm was
created as a natural extension of our other long
established businesses in Dalyan – proof of our
long-term commitment to the property market
here and reassuring to buyers that we are here
to stay!
Our customer service stretches far beyond
just selling you a property. We will guide you
through the whole buying process, get you up
and running – whether it’s connecting you to
cable TV, electricity or a phone line, or buying
furniture - and put you in touch with other
reliable service providers.
Once you own your property, we will happily
manage it in your absence too, as well as let it
to holidaymakers on your behalf, earning you
extra income to put towards the property’s
running costs.
For buyers looking for something special, we
also offer a design and build service and will
project manage the construction of your home.
If you’d prefer to add your own touches to a
tired, older property, we’ll happily manage a
renovation project for you.
If you have any type of property requirement
in Dalyan and its environs, we’re ready to assist!
CONTACT SUNRAY PROPERTY
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 009 0252 284 3895
E: info@sunrayproperty.com
www.sunrayproperty.com

A 5 star stay in barefoot glamour
The Azia Resort & Spa, the 5-star hotel in Paphos that has been voted and chosen as one of the best hotels in the World in the categories
of Spa, Design, Families and Luxury in publications such as:
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER, ELLE, GRAZIA, WORLD LUXURY SPA AWARDS, TRIPADVISOR, ZOOVER etc.
THE TIMES with a raving article that says 'It is like entering a capsule of tranquility. Azia manages to do luxury without snootiness or
class ostentation, a rarity these days.'
ELLE magazine in the UK included the Azia in “the best for stylish holidays” at the category short-haul destinations.
THE INDEPENDENT “…The Azia is five-star but not formal. So take the baby and relax…”
The travel bible CONDE NAST TRAVELLER in the UK honoured the Azia with a 10-page article exclusively on the resort:
“The place that ticks all the boxes is the Azia Resort & Spa”
“luxury category …. is just the right combination of glossy and unpretentious … no glitz but lots of chic … the gardens are extraordinary…”
“…spa would be a perfect place for one of those recuperative holidays”
HOUSE & GARDEN listed the Azia as one of the “most exciting hotels in the world” in its worldwide Hotels by Design edition
THE SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL magazine included the Azia in its “Readers Reveal the Best in the World”
THE MAIL adored the Spa and gave it top rating for: Celebrities at the resort, Staff Attentiveness, Pamper rating and Luxury for Money.
TRIPADVISOR awarded the Azia with 2 awards in 2014
Information| Reservations: Tel: 00357-26845100 | e-mail: info@aziaresort.com
Pafos - Cyprus
www.aziaresort.com

Checklist
T H E
The best places to sleep, eat and play around the network
01
Gran
Sleep
Hotel Bahía
del Duque Resort
Tenerife, Spain
Resembling a fairytale village by the sea – without
the poisoned apples or forest of thorns (although
its gigantic tropical garden is home to dragon and
flame trees) – the five-star, 351-room Gran Hotel in
Costa Adeje is one of the most luxurious residences
in the Canary Islands. Wayne or Coleen wannabe?
Take a trip on the hotel’s resident yacht, Pá mpano.
Highlights: Six – count them – swimming pools,
including three fresh-water pools (two that are
heated), two saltwater pools and one for children.
If you only have one night: Not every hotel has
its own astronomical observatory – but then not
every island is a hotspot for stargazing like Tenerife.
Use the hotel’s telescope to count shooting stars late
into the evening. Or go on an out of this world tapas
crawl, ticking off the eight restaurants and 13 bars.
Location, location, location: The resort's
huge 63,000 sq m of tropical and subtropical
vegetation means that, believe it or not, it has its
very own bioclimate. Take a botanical walk through
the grounds to enjoy all manner of exotic flora
including cacti, jacarandas and Indian laurels.
It also sits to the north of the Playa de las Americas
party centre – close enough to visit but far enough
away to stay blissfully quiet. Now that’s a happy
ever after ending.
BE THERE… Book a stay with hotels4u.com
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 099

02
Sleep
Kinloch Lodge,
Isle of Skye, Scotland
Claire Macdonald has a lot to answer for.
The self-taught Scottish chef has been
responsible for bringing a whole load of
wide-eyed visitors to this remote, windswept
part of the UK thanks, in part, to her
culinary imagination, but also because of
the second-to-none hospitality at Kinloch
Lodge, her boutique hotel that couldn’t be
further from the tartan biscuit-tin appeal
of many of its Highland competitors.
Highlights: Overlooking the mainland, the
property has a shingle beach, pine forests
to explore and the abandoned ruins of
Leitir Fura village above the Sound of Sleat.
If you only have one night: Raise a glass.
The log fires crackle, resident Michelinstar
chef Marcelo Tully (from Brazil, not
Braemar) serves up local shellfish, and the
bar bulges with the largest whisky selection
this side of Speyside. Slange var!
Location, location, location: It’s remote,
but not that remote. Michael Fassbender’s
Macbeth has started shooting on Skye and
Keanu Reeves was in town last year.
BE THERE... Travel to Edinburgh or
Glasgow with hotels4u.com;
kinloch-lodge.co.uk
Sol Katmandu
Park and Resort
Majorca, Spain
Rollercoaster before breakfast, a Wild West shoot-out mid-lunch, then hanging out with rabid zombies
in your pyjamas? Well, not quite, but if your troupe wants thrills and spills morning, noon and night,
it’s possible to play while you stay at this resort hotel neatly situated inside Magaluf’s favourite park.
Worried about expensive park entrance fees? With all-inclusive packages available, worry no more.
Highlights: Brand new this year, the Katlantis Splash Park is a heady mix of slides and waves based
on the long-lost mythical Greek island of Atlantis – which, even though the lifeguards may try and
con you, isn’t located off the coast of Majorca. Smaller adventurers are also well catered for at the
new Katlantis Soft Play Adventure.
If you only have one night: Those with nerves of steel should visit The Asylum – a 5D haunted house
adventure that’s sure to scare you long after you escape. That is, if you escape…
Location, location, location: At only 250 metres from Calvia beach, the summer holiday checklist
of sun, sea and sand are all within easy reach. It’s also a 20-minute drive from the airport, so you can
practically fly and flop straight from the runway.
BE THERE… Book a stay with thomascook.com
03
Sleep
100 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

LANZAROTE (CANARY ISLANDS)
D
LUX
UXUR
UR
Y 5 STAR
RES
ESOR
ORT

Eat
04
Le Gavroche
London
With former MasterChef judge Michel Roux Jr (above) and his sidekick, sous chef Monica Galetti, in the kitchen at
this two-Michelin-star culinary institution in Mayfair, it’s hard not to be bowled over. He eagerly prowls the floor like
Fantastic Mr Fox, checking that everything is just right (he jokingly asked if we could see his fingerprints in the sauce
as proof that he had made it – we couldn’t), while she plates up classic French dishes such as roast saddle of rabbit,
saute lobster and suckling pig. The food and wine are a complete joy, as is the service from the penguin-like waiters,
but with prices that would make your bank manager reach for the shotgun, you’d expect them to be. Take a first
date, or your boss – or even your boss on a first date. It’s that good, so you may as well tear up the rulebook.
BE THERE… 43 Upper Brook St, London, le-gavroche.co.uk
05
Eat
Xalet de Montjuïc
Barcelona
Other than Gaudí's Sagrada Família,
the other sight dominating the
Barcelona skyline is Montjuïc, the
city’s hilltop forest playground. This
is where you’ll find Xalet de Montjuïc,
a rooftop eatery specialising in
Mediterranean fusion (gnocchi
with marinated salmon and duck
confit with mango are standouts),
but it’s the views that will knock your
socks off, including – of course – La
Sagrada Família lit up in the distance.
BE THERE… Avinguda de Miramar,
gruptravi.com/en/xalet-2/
06
Eat
Flesh and Buns
London
Hidden basement restaurants in Covent Garden are
ten a penny. So are Asian food trends (Korean kimchi,
Japanese robata, Beijing dumplings). But Flesh and Buns
is different. Cold starters draw inspiration from Japanese
cuisine – there’s sushi (the marinated yellowtail sashimi is
an outright finger-popper) – while the hot dishes are fired
from the kitchens of Korea. The crispy chicken wings we
shared came dripping in fruity chilli sauce, and the grilled
corn with lime-spice butter could burn a hole in the floor.
But that’s all just a diversion. The main courses start with
plates of “flesh” (pork belly, flat iron steak or sea bass),
then they throw in steamed buns, salads and sauces to
build yourself. It’s kind of like a Mongolian BBQ wrestling
a Chinese hutong stand. Who eats here? Hipsters and
those with attitude: the music's as loud as the flavours.
BE THERE… 41 Earlham St, London, fleshandbuns.com
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 103

Torremolinos anew
Ayuntamiento de
TORREMOLINOS
www.torremolinos.es

Play
07
Jet ski safari
Tenerife
Forget sedate bike rides and gentle boat trips. To see the western side of the island at its wildest (and its wettest),
hop aboard a jet ski – putting enough power between your legs to rocket you 60km from the town of Los Gigantes
to what feels like the ends of the Earth at the island’s tip, Punta de Teno. Along the way, you’ll steer into water grottos
and cruise through the bay of Masca. Want company? Dolphins often tag along for part of the journey – but there’s
no point racing. Unless you're a pro, they’ll be faster than you.
BOOK IT… A two-hour trips costs £95. Call +34 922 090 015 or visit jetskisafaritenerife.com
08
Once
London
And off to the Phoenix Theatre to
see the musical stage adaptation of
the 2006 film of the same name –
a Romeo And Juliet-style love story
about a broken-hearted Irish busker
and a Czech single mother. Set in
Dublin against the backdrop of a pub
(where else?), it wowed the critics on
Broadway (Sir Terry Wogan loved it,
too), scooped eight Tony Awards (the
stage equivalent of the Oscars), and
is a riotous mix of bawdy Mrs Brown’s
Boys humour and soppy soft-rock
ballads. Our advice is to get there
early to see the performers tune up
on stage with a floor-shaking folk
session, then grab a Murphy’s from
the pre-show onstage bar. And if
that’s not enough to make you green
behind the ears, Ronan Keating will
be taking time out from Boyzone
to croon with the cast from 17
November onwards.
BOOK IT… Buy theatre tickets at
oncemusical.co.uk
Play
Jet lag recovery
package
Thai Square Spa, London
While most holidays leave you feeling
primped, preened and pampered,
the dreaded post-holiday blues – not
to mention a stressful journey home
– can leave your body and brain in
limbo. That’s where a place like Thai
Square Spa steps in with its jet lag
recovery package. After an energising
ginger and tamarind scrub (to help
reduce water retention), masseurs
follow up with a spice oil rubdown to
simultaneously enhance circulation
and relax every muscle, lulling you
back into a state of mid-holiday bliss
in just two hours.
BOOK IT… From £170,
thaisquarespa.com
Play
09
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 105

P R O M O T I O N | R E S T A U R A N T S
1
3
2
4
Bon appétit
Treat your tastebuds at one of these fab restaurants from across Europe
1. Sirocco
LANZAROTE, SPAIN
This quaint restaurant is
located in Puerto del Carmen's
Matagorda shopping centre,
from where patrons can enjoy a
large terrace just 20m from the
beach. The broad international
menu includes pasta, fish and
grilled or flambéed meat, while
children's, vegetarian and glutenfree
options are available. The
multilingual staff do all they can
to make your meal as pleasant
as possible, while live music is
played twice per week.
Matagorda, Puerto del Carmen
+34 928 511 270
2. Bombay Grill
SUNNY BEACH, BULGARIA
Situated right in the heart
of Sunny Beach, next to the
Diamond Hotel, Bombay
Grill offers a mouthwatering
range of authentic Indian
dishes plus a menu featuring
the best of European and Bulgarian
cuisine, all at reasonable prices.
The restaurant also offers kids
meals and set menus, while it has
just added a children's play area.
Winner of the TripAdvisor 2013
Certificate of Excellence.
Sunny Beach main road
+359 554 233 88
bombaygrill.bg
3. Wonder Restaurant
RHODES, GREECE
Operating since 2001 in the
New Town of Rhodes, Wonder
Restaurant has received numerous
awards for its creative international
cuisine and has been subject to
a series of glowing reviews in the
Alpha Guide and beyond. Located
in a beautiful neoclassical building,
surrounded by bright flowers,
it offers a variety of delicious
dishes and an impressive wine
list – a must-visit on any holiday to
Rhodes.
16-18 El. Venizelou, Rhodes
Town +30 2241 039805
restaurantwonder.gr
4. Safran Restaurant
MUGLA, TURKEY
A warm Turkish welcome is
guaranteed at Safran, set among
beautiful riverside gardens in Ortaca.
All of the tables are arranged to
give the guests the best possible
views across the Dalyan Canal to the
regions's spectacular rock tombs.
The restaurant specialises in fresh
fish and seafood, and also offers
a variety of traditional Turkish fare
plus international wines and beers. It
also runs the Eser Apartments Hotel,
providing en-suite rooms and one or
two-bed apartments.
72 Maraş Mar, Ortaca, Mugla
+90 252 284 53 42

R E S T A U R A N T S | P R O M O T I O N
5
6
7
5. Taj Mahal
MARMARIS, TURKEY
The Taj Mahal is the only authentic
Indian restaurant in town, but this
does not mean that it rests on its
laurels. Importing all of its spices
direct from Asia, it has thrilled
its guests with its array of freshly
prepared dishes, including all of
your favourite curries from back
home, since it opened in 1997.
Located on the main road between
Marmaris and Icmeler, opposite
the Point Centre shopping mall,
the restaurant is open from 5pm
to 1am.
+90 0252 417 44 12
tajmahalmarmaris.com
6. PARADOSIAKO
ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE
'Paradosiako' is the Greek
word for 'traditional', so it
is unsurprising that this
restaurant, located in an area
of incrediblenatural beauty,
specialises inpure and traditional
Zakynthian dishes made using
recipes handed down from
generation to generation. The
essential ingredient in these
recipes remains the finest virgin
olive oil, produced from their
ownhome-grown olive trees,
alongwith other fresh herbs.
+30 26950 83412
Alykes Riverside, Zakynthos
7. 1901 Restaurant
SKIATHOS, GREECE
This is a restaurant with some history. Situated among the narrow
streets of the Old Town, it's housed in a renovated stone building dating
from the beginning of the last century. At that time, it was known as Psomini's
Grocery Shop, and was the first building in town to be constructed for business
purposes, while it is also said that author Alexandros Papadiamantis used to
enjoy his coffee here.
Over the past eight years, chef Petros Pikoylas has turned the place into an
art restaurant known for its unique ambiance and a creative touch with Greek
flavours, herbs and magnificent sauces. Fresh fish, meat and vegetables are
transformed by his hands into wonderful platefuls – with shrimps à la chef,
lamb chops with pesto and stuffed artichokes and spinach salad among some
of the menu's most delectable offerings. These are paired with friendly service
and a fabulous wine list (including great house wines) and accompanied by jazz
and easy listening music to make this Skiathos's ultimate dinner experience.
Grigoriu E, Skiathos
+30 69485 26701 skiathos1901.gr

Exclusive new project - 2 & 3 bedroom detached luxury villas
in the desirable town of Dalyan on Turkeys Mediterranean coast
Prices from £130,000
This new build project features unique architectural
design and is being built using some of Turkeys’
fi nest natural materials. A combination of modern
architecture and traditional stone structure combining
style and character.
Artists Villas
Three bungalows will be built. Two bungalows will be
built on their own 500m 2 plots each having their own
private 32m 2 swimming pool and private gardens.
The third bungalow will be built on 750m 2 with a 40m 2
private pool.
Due for completion 2014
CONTACT CT SUNRAY PROPERTY PER
FOR MORE INFORMATION
T: 0090 252 284 3895 // E: info@sunrayproperty.com // www.sunrayproperty.com
The place where the
stars are within your reach
IBEROSTAR Bouganville Playa****. Tenerife, Spain.
IBEROSTAR Bouganville Playa**** Tenerife, Spain.
From spectacular views over the sparkling Atlantic Ocean, to an array of gastronomic
delights from morning until night, every aspect of the IBEROSTAR Bouganville Playa**** on
the beautiful Costa Adeje, Tenerife is designed to make you feel like a star. For the ultimate
stay, indulge in our Star Prestige concept for superior hotel rooms in a privileged location
and access to our private Star Comfort areas.
It’s the luxury you deserve.
SPAIN • GREECE • TURKEY • BULGARIA • CROATIA HUNGARY • MONTENEGRO • TUNISIA
MOROCCO • CAPE VERDE • JAMAICA • DOMINICAN REPUBLIC • CUBA • MEXICO • BRAZIL

Thomas Cook
N E W S
Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital
W
e mentioned in our last edition
of Thomas Cook Travel that we
were working on a project with
the Royal Manchester Children’s
Hospital. In May, we reopened the refurbished
Radiology Unit at the hospital alongside our
patron, Coronation Street star Antony Cotton.
A team of artists and engineers, along with
help and input from the patients and staff at
the hospital, came up with ideas to make the
unit a more engaging, colourful and uplifting
environment. The newly refurbished Radiology
Unit is now space-themed and draws on the solar
system. The nine rooms each represent one of
the nine planets. Even entering the reception area
you feel as if you’re in a mission control centre as
there is an array of control panels, light boxes, play
tables, interactive technology and furniture.
THANK YOU: The work of the Thomas Cook
Children’s Charity would not be possible without our
generous Thomas Cook customers and employees.
Thank you to each and every one of you. Whether
you chose to give the £2 donation when booking
your holiday, either online or instore, or you have
donated unwanted currency onboard or instore
– we simply could not do what we do without you.
To find out more about who we are supporting
and how to nominate a local cause or project,
please visit thomascookchildrenscharity.com
Coronation Street star
Antony Cotton helped
open the refurbished
Radiology Unit
Brian Chapman, director
of LIME Art, and TCCC
chairperson Joanna Wild with
Coronation Street star and
TCCC patron Antony Cotton
Harriet Green’s RideLondon-Surrey 100
Harriet Green, Thomas Cook Group CEO, is heading a team of eight riders competing at this year’s
RideLondon-Surrey 100 event on behalf of the Thomas Cook Children’s Charity and Whizz-Kidz
O
n 10 August 2014, Harriet’s team,
“The Sunny Hearters”, takes part in
the Prudential RideLondon-Surrey
100 race, cycling the course used in
the Olympics by Sir Bradley Wiggins on his journey
to win gold. Harriet says that her team won't be
trying to beat his time, but are eager to beat their
own personal £100K fundraising target. Thomas
Cook actively encourages its employees in their
fundraising activities for the Children’s Charity and,
as CEO, Harriet is very proud to be doing her bit.
“I am regularly humbled by the challenges our
employees undertake to raise money for charity, and
now it's my turn to contribute,” said Harriet. “I have
set a target of £100K, which equates to £1,000 per
mile, to raise funds for the Thomas Cook Children’s
Charity (TCCC) and Whizz-Kidz. People can follow us
on Twitter, just look out for #teamsunnyhearters.”
“It’s fantastic to have this support for our vital
work,” said Joanna Wild, chair of TCCC. “Thomas
Cook employees and customers already play such
a valuable role in supporting the work that the
charity carries out with our partner organisations.
We’ll be opening our stores along the route to cheer
Harriet and her team on.”
Ruth Owen OBE, CEO of Whizz-Kidz, added her
support: “Without the determination and dedication
of Harriet and her team to achieve this incredible
challenge, Whizz-Kidz would not be able to provide
essential wheelchairs and lifeskills training for young
disabled children who are currently unable to receive
the right mobility equipment to meet their needs.
Seventy thousand disabled children and young
people in the UK are still waiting for a wheelchair to
give them the independence they deserve and the
opportunity for a brighter future.”
Back row: George Clarkson, Graham Clarkson, Harriet
Green, Phil McDougall, Liz Williams, James Green. Front
row: Duncan Marlow, Whizz-Kidz Ambassadors George
Fielding and Nathan Mattick, and Gemma Clarkson
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 109

GET AWAY FROM THE EVERYDAY.
Relax at the multi-award winning Hilton Vilamoura As Cascatas Golf Resort & Spa in Algarve - Portugal, situated within five acres of
landscaped gardens. Enjoy a round of golf at one of Vilamoura golf courses nearby, or take a dip in the pools with cascading waterfalls.
Indulge yourself in a luxurious spa or beauty treatment in the 7Seven Spa while the kids play at seasonal Paradise Island Kids Club.
For room reservations please visit hilton.com or call +351289-304000
Rua da Torre d Agua Lote 4.11.1B | Vilamoura | 8125615 | PORTUGAL

Thomas Cook
N E W S
Hidden City Tours –
a world of new experiences
T
homas Cook’s “Local Label”
excursions have been created
to give holidaymakers the best
possible experience of authentic
local culture, bringing destinations to life through
heritage, dance, food and drink. With more than
40 “Local Label” excursions to enjoy, you are
likely to find one in most of the destinations we
travel to. Occasionally, however, a gem such as
Hidden City Tours in Barcelona captures the values
of “Local Label” in a truly unique way.
Many thousands of visitors are attracted to
Barcelona every year, but besides well-known
attractions such as Gaudí’s still-unfinished cathedral
and the colourful street life of Las Ramblas, the city
has a mesmerising heritage dating back to the third
century. Legend has it that Hercules discovered it
when searching for the Golden Fleece.
Hidden City Tours lets you contemplate the
past in your own time, snaking silently through
the Gothic quarter, where you’ll see remnants of
bullet holes from Franco’s years of terror, not to
mention streams of tourists keen to tick off the
next place on the list.
There’s a story of survival on every corner,
brought uniquely to life by the once-homeless
guides who used to live on Barcelona’s streets.
Hard times and hard luck saw these people lose
their homes, their families and their self-respect.
Many were well-educated, spoke foreign languages
and had anticipated great futures, yet their
circumstances took them down a very different
path, the same path they proudly walk today with
small groups of visitors who want to experience an
insight into Barcelona.
Deep in the heart of the city uncover treasure
troves of artisan shops where craftspeople
demonstrate skills passed down the generations
Stories of survival
are brought uniquely
to life by the oncehomeless
guides
and trade their wares with locals and tourists alike.
Intoxicate your senses with the smells, tastes,
textures and colours of the markets, and the historic
red-light district where poverty is still in evidence
despite the students and artists building their own
sense of community here. The past is dark but the
present dares to suggest a glimmer of hope.
Hidden City Tours invite you to open your mind
perhaps more than you might have thought was
possible, absorbing the spirit and heartbeat of the
city as it is felt by the people who really live there
and have called the streets their home.
Safari switch off!
I
n parts of the world, and
especially in Asia, there are
many stories relating to the
mythical properties of the
rhino horn: some say it can cure cancer, others
use it as a remedy for strokes. Sadly these
claims are unproven and only serve to fuel the
distasteful demand for rhino horn, making it
more valuable than diamonds or gold.
The net effect is that the number of rhinos
in the wild is reducing drastically. At the
beginning of the 20th century there were
500,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia. This fell
to 70,000 by 1970. It’s just 29,000 today.
To help protect rhinos and other wild
animals with tusks or horns, please ensure
that, when on safari, all personal GPS tracking
features are turned off before you upload
photos to social-media sites such as Facebook,
Instagram or Twitter. The reason for this is
that social media sites use geo-tags, which
contain location information, so if these
features are not deactivated, then they
can be exploited by poachers.
So if you’re lucky enough to see a rhino in
the wild, please help keep it that way!
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 111

Thomas Cook
N E W S
Cleaner skies
T
homas Cook was the first UK-based
charter airline to offer a national
onboard recycling scheme to
short-haul passengers flying into
all UK airports. The cabin crew collect any plastics,
aluminium, paper and card in a separate rubbish
bag which is then sent for recycling on landing.
In the UK we produce more than 100 million
tonnes of waste per year, equivalent to the weight
of 1.7 million aircraft. By recycling waste, the UK is
also reducing its carbon footprint, saving 18 million
tonnes of CO 2
every year, the same as removing
five million cars from the roads. At Thomas Cook
we continue to play our part to help reduce this
impact by recycling your in-flight waste. Look at the
onboard Café Cloud menu to find out what can be
recycled on your flight and have it ready to give to
a Thomas Cook crew member. Thank you for your
invaluable support.
UK waste at a glance
UK w
100 million
tonnes each year
Equivalent to
1.7million aircraft
By recycling waste
The CO 2 saving is
5
million cars
equivalent to taking off the road
An estimated
18,000,000 tonnes of CO 2 is
saved every year
Call for child protection
T
here are millions of children living or working on the streets
worldwide. All these children are at risk of being abused, and often
travellers unwittingly and unknowingly increase their vulnerability.
Certain “tourist attractions” such as orphanage or slum tours exploit
children’s vulnerabilities for profit. Giving money to begging children or buying
from them may be helping to keep them on the streets and at risk. And taking
children back to your hotel room for any reason is not a good idea. Worldwide, the
charges for sex offenders are severe and you might be suspected of being one if
you take a child back to your room. Here are the ChildSafe Traveler 7 Tips to follow:
As you travel you will encounter children at risk:
selling goods, begging, in orphanages, working,
involved in sex slavery...
Of course you want to help, but what is the best way?
The ChildSafe Traveler 7 Tips provides you with
information on how you can protect children
as you go.
1. Support ChildSafe network members.
2. Think! Before buying or giving to begging children.
3. Think! How to protect children from exploitative behaviour.
4. Think! Children are not tourist attractions.
5. Think! Before taking a child back to your hotel room for any reason.
6. Think! When faced with a situation of potential sexual exploitation of children.
7. Think! Keep your eyes wide open.
If you suspect a child has been trafficked or exploited, please call
Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact the police. Find out more about
how to be a prudent ChildSafe Traveler and help raise awareness to protect
children worldwide by visiting THINKChildSafe.org
112 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

Thomas Cook Tips for keeping healthy on your travels
W E L L B E I N G
Wellbeing in the air
Thomas Cook aims to make your flight comfortable and relaxing. Simply follow
these tips and exercises to ensure that you arrive at your destination feeling great
Special requirements
Hopefully, we already know about your
special requirements such as dietary requests
or if you need a wheelchair. If not, and this
is an outbound flight, please advise a member
of the cabin crew so that they can make
arrangements for your return journey.
Sleep and seatbelts
If you’re planning to sleep during the flight,
we recommend you fasten your seatbelt so the
cabin crew don’t have to wake you should the
Captain need to turn on the “fasten seatbelt”
sign. We recommend that you keep your
seatbelt fastened at all times while seated.
No smoking
In line with international policy, all our flights are
non-smoking. It is an offence to smoke onboard,
and the use of electronic cigarettes is forbidden.
Please refrain from smoking for the comfort and
safety of passengers and crew.
Appropriate attire
Customers with inappropriate attire (including
anything with offensive slogans, text or images)
will not be permitted to travel at check-in or
at the point of boarding the aircraft unless
a change of clothes is possible. Footwear
must be worn on the aircraft.
Young children
The cabin crew will do their utmost to make
everyone feel as comfortable and welcome as
possible during the flight. If you are travelling
with young children, just ask if you need any milk
or infant meals heating. Baby-changing facilities
are available on all our aircraft – again, just ask
your crew for the location nearest to your seat.
Lost property
We ask all customers to take a few moments at
the end of the flight to ensure that they have all
their personal possessions with them, carefully
checking the seat pocket, floor area and overhead
lockers before leaving the aircraft. In the unlikely
event that you believe you have left an item
onboard the aircraft, please note that any items
found are handed over to the Lost Property office
at the destination airport. For security reasons,
items found are not returned to the UK.
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumed onboard an aircraft has
a greater and faster effect than on the ground.
Passengers are therefore not permitted to
consume alcohol they have brought with
them or from the onboard duty-free service.
Only drinks purchased from our onboard
bars can be consumed. Thomas Cook Airlines
reserves the right to refuse to carry passengers
who do not comply with this rule. No alcohol will
be served to anyone under the age of 18 or to
intoxicated passengers.
How to beat
jet lag
Jet lag occurs when our biological
clocks are disrupted by flying across
time zones. This can affect sleep,
appetite and bodily functions, but by
making a few adjustments you can
reduce the symptoms.
Inflight
Avoid drinking too much alcohol or
caffeine, drink plenty of water and
try to eat light meals.
On arrival
When you arrive, go out in the
daylight as soon as possible.
Try to adapt to the local bedtime
on your first night. Relax as much
as possible for the first few days –
a catnap between 3pm and 5pm
will help give you an energy boost.
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 115

Thomas Cook Tips for keeping healthy on your travels
Electronic
equipment
Technology moves at such a fast pace that
you may be confused about what electronic
equipment you can and can’t use onboard.
To help you, we have the following guidelines.
Inflight exercises
Humans aren’t designed to sit in one position for long, so to promote blood
circulation we recommend the following exercises. Try them while seated and
remember that even the smallest movements help with blood circulation.
The use of radios is strictly prohibited.
Mobile telephones, with the exception of
those with a “flight safe” mode, should be
switched off at all times onboard the aircraft.
Phones with a “flight safe” mode should have
this activated before they are switched off
for take-off.
Personal CD, DVD, MP3 and MiniDisc players
may be used, but only when the seatbelt sign
is switched off.
Wireless devices such as PDAs, laptop
computers, electronic games and E-readers
may only be used onboard if the wireless
function is disabled and, again, only when
the seatbelt sign is off.
Upper body
Take a large breath in through the nose. Slowly
1 exhale through the mouth. Repeat a maximum
of four times.
Sitting upright, turn your head slowly to look
2 over one shoulder. Now slowly turn to the other
side. Repeat five times.
Slowly rotate your shoulders backwards.
3 Repeat this exercise five times.
Raise one arm above your head and stretch
4 upwards. Repeat with the other arm.
Transfer your weight evenly between
5 each buttock.
Simple as ABC
To feel your best in the air, remember...
Alcohol
Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation.
For each glass of alcohol, drink two glasses of
water. Try to drink at least a pint of water every
three hours.
Baggy clothes
Baggy is best. Try not to wear any tight-fitting
clothing, loosen top buttons, belts and shoelaces,
and remove tight socks. We do ask that your dress
remains respectable throughout the flight.
Circulation
To aid blood circulation, try not to cross your
legs or ankles for long periods of time. Elastic
support socks or stockings may help, but they
must be measured by your doctor or pharmacist.
Our recommended exercises will also help blood
circulation, but if you feel any discomfort when
performing them, please stop.
Lower body
Loosen or remove your footwear. Arch the
1 soles of both feet and curl your toes 10 times.
Straighten your legs, slightly lift your feet off
2 the floor and pump both ankles forwards and
backwards about 20 times.
Tense and relax your thigh muscles
3 about 10 times.
March your feet on the spot 10 times, alternating
4 between the heel and the ball of your foot.
Clench your buttock muscles together
5 10 times.
If queuing for the toilet, try rocking backwards
6 and forwards from heel to toe, then back.
Upon landing, gently stretch your body
7 to get ready for movement.
If you are travelling on a long-haul flight, try to
8 move around the cabin every couple of hours.
116 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

W E L L B E I N G
Health & safety while abroad
Your holiday accommodation
Never leave your key where someone can note
your room number
Do not leave your window open, especially if your
room is on the ground floor or has a balcony
Remember to lock your room door, even when you
are inside the room
Balcony
Children should NEVER be left unsupervised on balconies
Do not climb or stand on balcony furniture
Keep all furniture away from the balcony wall/railings
Never lean over, sit or climb on the balcony or railings
Bathroom
Take care in bathrooms as condensation and water spray
can make surfaces slippery and bath or floor mats may not
be provided
Do not use mains electrical appliances near to water
Cooking
Never leave cookers unattended while they are in use
Ensure all cooking appliances are switched off
when leaving your apartment or when retiring at night
Never leave shopping or other items on the cooker
On arrival at your accommodation
Familiarise yourself with all escape routes and locate
the nearest fire exit to your room
Do a practice walk of the nearest escape route
from your room
Study the fire instruction notice displayed in your room
Identify the method of raising the alarm on discovering a fire
Ensure that all smoking materials are safely extinguished, and
do not smoke in bed
If a fire occurs
Evacuate the room/area immediately. Do not stop
to collect personal belongings
Close any doors behind you
Raise the alarm
Proceed to an assembly point outside and well clear
of the building
If you cannot leave your room, close all doors, put
wet towels or clothes around the door seals and shout
for help from the window or telephone reception
Glass windows and doors
Be aware that glass doors and windows may not necessarily
be equipped with toughened glass. Caution should be taken at
all times
Take extra care in bright sunlight as it may not be obvious
whether the window/door is open or closed
Lifts
Children should not use any lift unaccompanied
Not all lifts have internal doors. When using this type of lift,
stand well back from the exposed wall as there is no protection
from the lift shaft when the car is in motion
In the event of a fire, use the staircase, not the lift
Poolside safety/out and about
Every pool is different, but most hotels and apartments do
not employ lifeguards, so please supervise any young members
of your party
Familiarise yourself with the layout of the pool to identify the
deep and shallow areas before use
Ensure that children use the toilet BEFORE entering the pool
and take regular toilet breaks throughout the day. In the event
of a faecal accident in or around the pool, please report it
immediately, as this will assist the hotel management in
ensuring the highest level of pool hygiene
Shower before entering the pool
Do not swim (or allow children to swim) if suffering from an
upset stomach
Do not change nappies at the poolside
Young children and babies must wear appropriate swimwear
such as rubber-lined swimming trunks. Swimming in nappies
and nude bathing are unacceptable
Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and
changing nappies
Have fun, but avoid unruly behaviour. Observe pool rules
and information signs at all times
Pool surrounds can be very slippery – do not run
around them
Do not swim immediately after a meal, and never swim when
you have been drinking alcohol
When jumping or diving into the pool, check the water depth
first and never dive from the deck side into water less than
1.5m deep
Do not jump or dive from any raised features or from
poolside furniture
Do not use the pool after dark or when closed, even if it has
underwater lights
In the event of an emergency, know how to call for help
Beach
Spot the dangers
Check out the beach when you arrive
Take care when bathing and swimming
Be aware of dangerous rip currents and strong tides
Do not swim near or dive from rocks, piers,
breakwaters and coral
Take safety advice
Swim where there are lifeguards on patrol and take
their advice
Look out for information – warning flags and signs –
and adhere to them at all times
Never swim where a sign says not to, for example zoned
areas for high-speed vehicles such as jet boats or jet skis
Don’t go alone
Never swim alone – make sure there are other
people around
Children must be supervised by an adult at all times
Never swim at night, after drinking alcohol or on
a full stomach
Learn how to help
If you see someone in difficulty, tell somebody, preferably
a lifeguard if there is one nearby
Find out what to do in an emergency, such as calling
the local coastguard or equivalent
Sun safety
Avoid sunbathing during the hottest time of day
Apply high-factor sunscreen, and re-apply frequently
Never expose babies to the sun and always take extra
care with children
Remember it is possible to burn in the shade,
when it is cloudy and while swimming
At the first sign of burning get out of the sun immediately
Always drink plenty of water
Driving on holiday
Check the vehicle is roadworthy and familiarise yourself
with all controls before use, as they may differ from cars in
the UK and Ireland
Check that the car-hire insurance cover you take out provides
adequate cover for the driver and all of the passengers
Always wear a seatbelt
Familiarise yourself with local traffic laws
Pay particular attention when at junctions and roundabouts
Always carry emergency breakdown telephone numbers
Always carry a spare set of spectacles (required
by law in Spain)
NEVER drink and drive
Stick to well-travelled and well-lit roads
We advise against the independent hiring of mopeds,
motorbikes, quad bikes and jet skis
Pedestrians
Be vigilant at all times. Familiarise yourself with the direction
of traffic
Be aware that in some countries traffic is not required
to stop at pedestrian crossings
Services of local vendors
In many holiday resorts you may find that services
such as henna tattoos are available from places like street
vendors. Although not recommended by Thomas Cook,
if you choose to have a tattoo done or use the services of
a local vendor, we would advise you to do so with caution.
In the case of tattoos, ensure you ask for a test application
before any larger-scale tattoos are applied. If you have any
pre-existing skin conditions, check with the vendor before
agreeing to any application
General
If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to complete the
emergency contact details in the back of your passport
Keep important documents in your hotel safe
Be aware of who is around you. Pickpockets and opportunists
will target anyone
Don’t leave your common sense at the hotel. Don’t lose sight
of your drink, don’t walk around by yourself, avoid dark places
and don’t take unnecessary risks
Look after yourself and your friends
If hiring a car/scooter/quad bike, ask yourself whether you
have adequate insurance
Do not leave belongings unattended (in cars, restaurants,
hotel lobbies etc)
Don’t sign anything until you seek advice from experts. The
chances of winning a luxury holiday anywhere in the world just
by scratching a card in the middle of the street, for example, are
very remote
Find contact details for your local embassy, in case of
emergency, at fco.gov.uk
Be aware that the laws and customs of the country you’re
visiting may be different from home. Read up on countryspecific
advice at fco.gov.uk/travel
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 117

Thomas Cook Immigration and customs
Flying in and out of the United States
Before you leave the plane
White form: arrival and departure record
Please refer to the section on the right and below to check
whether or not you need to complete the white form (if you
are a UK or EU citizen and have filled in an ESTA form online
which was approved, you are not required to complete this
form). All other passengers must fill in the Immigration Visa
and Customs forms, which will be handed out by the cabin
crew during the flight. You are legally obliged to fill them in
– please make sure they’re correctly completed or you may
face delays at Immigration. If you do make any mistakes,
please ask for a new form.
Depending on your circumstances, you may need a white
Immigration form. A Customs Declaration form will need
to be filled out in addition to any Immigration/ESTA forms.
We’ve put together some tips (below) to help you avoid the
most common mistakes.
specimen
specimen
Complete this form if:
» You are NOT a US citizen
AND
» You hold a valid US Visa
AND
» Your final destination is the United States OR
you are passing through the US to your final
destination. Please complete items 1-13 on
the Arrival record and items 14-17 on the
Departure record. Keep the Departure record
until you leave the US.
Exceptions
You DO NOT need to complete an
Immigration form if you are:
A US citizen
A Canadian citizen
A UK or EU citizen holding a valid ESTA
A new immigrant
specimen
Blue form: customs declaration form
Filling in your forms
DO:
Take your time
Write in capital letters, using a pen
Write in the space below the questions and fill in every line.
When asked for your address, if you are a visitor to the US,
then print the name of your hotel. If on a fly-drive holiday and
unsure where you will be staying on your first night, then give
one of the following addresses:
Sanford – Thomas Cook, 1650 Sand Lake Road,
Suite 300, Orlando FL32809
OR
Las Vegas – Thomas Cook, 5030 Paradise Road,
Suite C214, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Sign and date the back of your Customs Declaration form
Double-check your forms
Ask the cabin crew if you have any queries
DO NOT:
Cross anything out. If you make a mistake,
ask for a new form and start again
specimen
specimen
You must fill in the Customs Declaration
form before you arrive in the US. One form
per household is required.
118 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

O U R F L E E T
Thomas Cook operates
more than 30 aircraft to
Europe and the rest of
the world from the UK
Airbus A330-200
Total passengers: 321/325
Wingspan: 60.3m
Length: 58.38m
Number in fleet: 5
Maximum take-off weight: 230,000kg
Maximum cruising speed: 520mph
Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce Trent 772B Series
Airbus A321-200
Boeing 767-300
Total passengers: 215/220
Wingspan: 34.1m
Length: 43.69m
Number in fleet: 11
Maximum take-off weight: 89,000kg
Maximum cruising speed: 500mph
Engines: 2 CFM 56-5B3
Total passengers: 326
Wingspan: 47.57m
Length: 54.94m
Number in fleet: 3
Maximum take-off weight: 184,612kg
Maximum cruising speed: 530mph
Engines: 2 General Electric CF6-80C2
Airbus A320-200
Boeing 757-300 & 757-200
Total passengers: 180
Wingspan: 34.1m
Length: 37.57m
Number in fleet: 1
Maximum take-off weight: 77,000kg
Maximum cruising speed: 500mph
Engines: CFM International CFM 56-5B4
Total passengers: 280
Wingspan: 38.05m
Length: 54.43m
Number in fleet: 2 (757-300) and 13 (757-200)
Maximum take-off weight: 117,934kg
Maximum cruising speed: 500mph
Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 119

Thomas Cook
Thomas Cook flies from
the following airports
UK DEPARTURE AIRPORTS
1 Glasgow
2 Newcastle
3 Belfast
4 Manchester
5 East Midlands
6 Birmingham
7 Cardiff
8 Bristol
9 London Stansted
10 London Gatwick
11 Aberdeen
12 Norwich
13 Doncaster
14 Edinburgh
15 Exeter
CANADA
NEW YORK
USA
LAS VEGAS
ATLANTIC
OCEAN
ORLANDO
KEY
MIAMI
SUMMER ONLY
WINTER ONLY
YEAR-ROUND
MEXICO
CANCUN
VARADERO
CUBA
CAYO COCO
HOLGUIN
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
MONTEGO BAY
PUNTA CANA
JAMAICA
ANTIGUA
PACIFIC OCEAN
ST LUCIA
BRIDGETOWN
BARBADOS
120 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

W H E R E W E F L Y
KITTILA
ROVANIEMI
FINLAND
S E A
3
1
14
11
2
NORTH
SEA
B A LT I C
4 13
5
6
12
9
7 8
10
GERMANY
15
SWITZERLAND
GENEVA
FRANCE
GRENOBLE
TURIN
INNSBRUCK
VENICE
SALZBURG
PORTUGAL
MADEIRA
FUNCHAL
SPAIN
IBIZA
ALICANTE
ALMERIA
LLEIDA-ALGUAIRE
REUS
MAHON
PALMA
GENOVA
ENFIDHA
MONASTIR
DJERBA
TUNISIA
ITALY
NAPLES
SOFIA
LIMNOS
BURGAS
CYPRUS
TURKEY
CORFU
IZMIR
KEFALONIA
PREVEZA
BODRUM
ZANTE
SKIATHOS
DALAMAN
KALAMATA
SANTORINI
ANTALYA
MALTA
HERAKLION
RHODES
LARNACA
PAPHOS
MEDITERRANEAN SEA
TENERIFE
CANARY
ISLANDS
ARRECIFE
FUERTEVENTURA
LAS PALMAS
EGYPT
HURGHADA
SHARM EL SHEIKH
INDIA
CAPE VERDE
BANJUL
THE
GAMBIA
GOA
THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 121

T H E L A S T W O R D
Malta
Thomas Cook resort representative Julie Shaw gives us the inside scoop on Malta
BE THERE… Travel to Malta with thomascook.com
122 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL Illustration: Muti

Gloria Verde Resort, Select Villas
FRESHEN UP at GLORIA VERDE RESORT
Innovation and development are deep-seated in the company´s philosophy of
Gloria Hotels & Resorts. After the renovation of the golf courses last year, the worldwide
favoured Five-Star Gloria Verde Resort has been modernized and extended with a new centre
for physiotherapy and rehabilitation..
gloria.com.tr
GLORIA GOLF RESORT • GLORIA VERDE RESORT • GLORIA SERENITY RESORT
GLORIA VILLAS • GLORIA GOLF CLUB • GLORIA SPORTS ARENA