Wren Elite Travel

Lecture series with Michael Wood for insights into India

Hosted by India tour specialist TransIndus, a free event tomorrow in London promises to be one of a kind for those interested in India's rich and fascinating history and art.

The highly acclaimed author, TV presenter, historian and India expert Michael Wood will embark on a dazzling and exciting expedition through today's India, looking to the present for clues to her past, and to the past for clues to her future, as part of a landmark series of lectures. The 'Art and Grandeur of the Chola Dynasty' lecture will take place on Wednesday 30 July at 6pm at The Nehru Centre, London.

Great holiday deals for the Far East with FREE nights at top hotels!

Travel2 are offering some great holiday deals to the Far East for summer to winter departures, with free nights being given away at top hotels in Bali, Penang and Phuket.

Click on this link or on the the image to the right to see current special offers, which include paying for only 5 nights but staying for 10 at the 5 star Sheraton Grande Laguna, Phuket, Thailand, staying 14 nights at the 3 star Bayview Beach Resort, Penang, Malaysia, from only £180 per person (with 4 FREE nights), and 4 FREE nights at the 4 star Melia Bali in Bali, Indonesia, from only £269 per person.

Places are very limited on these offers, so book early to avoid disappointment!

To enquire about holidays to any of these destinations, contact Andrea on 0845 475 0342.

Day of the Dead Festival Tour in Mexico

Looking for an escorted or private tour that is completely different from the norm? Then the Cox & Kings Day of the Dead Festival Tour in Mexico late October could be just the thing for you.

The 'Día de los Muertos' is a Catholic celebration of the memory of deceased ancestors that is celebrated on November 1 (All Saints) and November 2 (All Souls). This unique and very important holiday, which celebrates the continuity of life, takes place in Oaxaca with more ceremony, ritual and flair than in any other town in Mexico.

Emirates Palace launches a lavish Million Dollar Package!

The stunning grandeur of one of the most expensive hotels ever built demands ultra-luxury offerings for its guests, including unrivalled facilities and incredible tailor made designer packages. The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, exceeds all expectations with its latest - a fantastic once in a lifetime all-out package with a hefty value of $1,000,000!

Celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney this year!

Instead of watching the world's greatest party on television, you could experience it in person to see in 2009 with an unmissable New Year's Eve holiday to Sydney. What better way to see in 2009 than by being part of the action in Sydney? Despite high demand, there is still availability on fantastic New Year's Eve dinner options - book now before they're gone. Choose to eat at a Waterfront restaurant in The Rocks area, or be one of the lucky few to dine on a cruise of Sydney Harbour!

Summer holiday offers 2008, book a great deal!

It's not too late to book your summer escape and Travel2 are offering some great deals at the moment for last minute holidaymakers. Click on this link or on the the image to the right to see current special offers, which include a 7-day fly drive to California from £659, a 7-day Miami fly drive holiday from only £645, and a Thai beach holiday for 8-nights from only £695!

Or maybe it's Dubai, New York or Phuket and Bangkok you fancy?

Featured Destination: New York

The Big Apple is a most wonderful city, and having been there 'officially' on 3 trips, I should know (though I can barely remember the first time, I was only 13 and it was a flying visit!). I returned from my last trip to New York in April this year, after spending a week there with my teenage son.

It is a must-do destination for anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of exploring this fascinating place. From the big sights such as the Empire State Building, to the lesser-visited attractions such as Brooklyn Botanic Gardens and Coney Island amusement park, New York is full of adventure.

Smarter tips to be a smarter traveller

Over the next week, Darren Cronian's Travel Rants blog will be revealing ways to promote healthy and smarter travel for those of us who like to venture away from home, including 50 tips for travellers over a range of travel topics.

Travel Rants is a well-established blog which began in 2005 after Darren had a 'frustrating experience with a high street agent' and the site covers a wide range of issues and topics affecting travel consumers.

Back to school doing the BTEC Advanced Certificate in Travel and Tourism!

I've decided to do some more formal learning in my career and have signed up to do the BTEC Advanced Certificate in Travel and Tourism, which also gives me student membership of the Institute of Travel and Tourism.

The course is based around a few different topic areas within the industry, but I thought it wouldn't do any harm to get something more 'official' under my belt! I'm looking forward to working my way though the course, and have plenty of time, but with sixteen 1500-2000 word assignments to complete, I won't be finishing this course overnight!             

Register travel plans online to Locate you if emergencies arise

The Locate programme is a scheme that was launched by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) in May to persuade holidaymakers to list their details online so that they can be easily found in case of emergencies during foreign travel. According to travel industry news site Travolution, Locate is proving to be popular, with 54,000 registrations in the last six weeks.

The programme was created so that British citizens can be easily traced in the event of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, or during civil unrest overseas, and was develope after a survey found that two-thirds of people do not know where family members are staying when on holiday.