Cox & Kings Predicts Top Ten For 2010

As another year draws to a close, Cox & Kings reveals its predictions for the travel hotspots of 2010.

BEIRUT
Following Foreign Office advice against travel to Lebanon issued in 2006, the country was off limits for nearly three years. Since the advice was lifted in January 2009, there has been a surge in demand for trips to Lebanon, which only looks set to increase. A year on, with the recent opening of Le Gray hotel and imminent launch of the Four Seasons brand, Beirut is really marketing itself as a chic city break destination.

Cox & Kings offers four night breaks at Le Gray from £1,095 per person including flights with bmi, accommodation with breakfast, and private transfers.

INDIA ON RAILS
Tipped to be the most luxurious train in the world, the Maharajas’ Express will be launched on 16th January 2010 in Mumbai. The super-luxurious train will accommodate up to 84 passengers in four categories of suite and will operate four pan-Indian itineraries: from Mumbai to Delhi, from Delhi to Calcutta and both journeys in reverse.

An 11-night itinerary combining six nights onboard the Maharajas’ Express, travelling from Delhi to Calcutta, plus three nights’ B&B in Delhi and two in Calcutta, costs from £4,795 per person. All meals on board the train, flights, transfers and excursions are included.

*** Limited Offer: Buy One BA Club World Upgrade, Get One Half Price***
Cox & Kings is offering anyone that travels on the Maharajas’ Express before the end of April an exclusive Buy One Get One Half Price offer on Club World upgrades, saving £672.50 per couple. Subject to availability.

ABU DHABI
As the glitter of Dubai appears to fade before our eyes, Abu Dhabi is stepping out from its shadows as the city to watch in the United Arab Emirates. With a sparkling new Formula One track and Ferrari World set to open in 2010, plus plans in motion for a Guggenheim, Louvre and a new National Museum, set to on Saadiyat Island in 2012, it’s all happening in Abu Dhabi.

Cox & Kings offers five nights at the iconic Kempinski Emirates Palace from £1,395 per person, including flights with Etihad, transfers and accommodation with breakfast. Five night breaks at the 5 star Beach Rotana cost from £925.

CHOBE CRUISE
This luxurious new river cruiser on the Chobe River has introduced a whole new safari experience to Botswana and Zambia. Billed as a ‘luxury houseboat safari’, the Zambezi Queen cruises along the Chobe River through the Chobe National Park, which is home to 120,000 elephants and 400 species of bird. The 45-metre boat features just 14 suites and master suites, all with private balconies and full-length sliding shutters. There’s an open-plan lounge with a fireplace, an astronomical telescope and a stylish bar area. The top deck features a swimming pool, sunbathing area and shaded seating area, where guests can also have manicures, pedicures and massages.

Cox & Kings offers two and three night cruises on the Zambezi Queen. A five night tailor-made trip that combines a three night cruise on the Zambezi Queen (fully inclusive of meals and all activities) with two nights’ B&B at the Royal Livingstone, on edge of the Victoria Falls in Zambia, costs from £3,295 per person including flights with British Airways and private transfers.

SOUTH AFRICA
With the World Cup looming, all eyes are on South Africa for 2010. New hotels, spas and sports venues are springing up country-wide, and the country’s palpable energy and excitement make it a great time to visit. Combine the sights of Cape Town and the Garden Route with a safari and a visit to some of the impressive new stadiums and event venues in a comprehensive tailor-made trip.

Cox & Kings organises group tours, private journeys and tailor-made holidays in South Africa. A seven-night self-drive Taste of South Africa costs from £1,745 per person.

ISTANBUL
Istanbul is gearing up for January, when the city will take its place as European Capital of Culture 2010. Opening with a party on 16th January, the celebrations have been designed to draw attention to the city’s visual arts, museums and galleries; music, ballet and opera; and theatre and literature. The reign comes at a good time – Turkey has declared a 22% increase in tourist numbers in the last year.

Cox & Kings offers short breaks in Istanbul and holidays throughout Turkey. A three-night break at the Avicenna Hotel, in the heart of the Sultanahmet area of Istanbul, costs from £375 per person including flights and transfers.

NARA, JAPAN
Japan’s ancient capital, Nara, will be celebrating its 1300th anniversary in 2010. 12 – 15 million people are expected to attend the series of events that will be held throughout the prefecture. There will be special exhibitions displaying national treasures and rarely-seen objects; organised walks that will explore famous sites of Nara; special lectures at some of Nara’s temples, and regional events in towns and villages in the area. The ambition is that the entire prefecture will be turned into a giant historical gallery for the celebrations.

The eight-night Essential Japan private journey takes in the main sites of Japan using the country’s superb public transport network. See Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone National Park, Kyoto, Nara and Hiroshima. From £2,995 per person.

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
2010 will see the return of the Great Australian Cattle Drive to South Australia. In 2002, a series of events and festivities was organised to mark Australia’s ‘Year of the Outback’, including a recreation of the legendary cattle drives.

The 2010 programme is set to be the biggest yet, comprising six 4 night / 5 day droving itineraries that have been especially developed to recreate the romance and history of cattle droving. During the five-day experience, visitors will travel on horseback through diverse landscapes, droving herds of cattle around 15 kilometres each day. Get to know the drover and farrier teams and learn about this fascinating part of Australian culture.

The cost of the five-day Cattle Drive experience is £1,595 per person, including superior tented accommodation, horse riding, equipment and meals. Flights are not included.

CUBA
Cox & Kings predicts a surge in Cuba bookings over the next few months in anticipation of the relaxation of current US immigration laws, following promises by President Obama. Cox & Kings’ Latin America Product Manager, Vessela Baleva, says: “Cuba has such a unique and distinctive culture and vibe, and now is a great time to go and experience the country while this remains. President Obama sees improving relations with Cuba as a big priority, and Cuba is bound to make changes to better suit the mass American tourist market once it arrives.”

The ten-night Cuban Discovery private journey takes in the colonial cities of Havana and Trinidad, the rolling countryside of tobacco and coffee plantations, and the historical sites of the Revolution, and costs from £1,795 per person. It is also possible to extend your visit with a few nights on the sandy beach of Cayo Santa Maria.

BRASILIA
Brasilia, Brazil’s little known capital, turns 50 in 2010. This purpose-built city is famous for its strikingly modern layout and architecture and was awarded UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987 – just 27 years after its creation – in appreciation of its creative cityscape. The capital, which now has renowned restaurant and arts scenes, has a number of celebrations planned for 2010. Combine a visit to Brasilia with a stay in Rio which, having gained the Olympic Games for 2012, is buzzing even more than usual.