Up to 70% OFF!!

We’ve all read that Woolies are closing down and had a wonderful 50% Off sale which was much publicised. Woolies were great for CD’s and other small gifts so off I went into town to buy stocking fillers. Sadly very little was actually discounted by more than 15 -20% and there wasn’t even this off many of the CD’s. I left feeling disappointed and somewhat misled.

This week I fancied a new winter coat as it has been so cold and wandered into a High Street chain offering upto 70% off. Sure discounts on last summer's styles but on what I really needed it was full price. I left empty handed and feeling not only misled but a little cheated.

Sadly this habit is creeping into travel. As Amro Worldwide offers a price match guarantee, we regularly mystery shop amongst other holiday companies not only the gay specialists but all the big names. Whilst we all know to look for the little word “from” when we see an apparent holiday bargain, sadly, this week our mystery shoppers have been finding that headline prices are not just “from”, they are simply not available - not even on any date. Explanations have ranged from that must have sold out (even on the day the advert appeared!) to that must have been an error and it isn’t in our database.

To me, this isn’t just misleading or cheating, it’s plain dishonest trading!

So rest assured, the price you see on the www.amroworldwide.com is the price you pay. The only extra is if you pay be credit card rather than debit card. And if you book a flight, we know you want to take all your outfits with you so there is no extra to pay to take a suitcase with you – it’s all included in the price.

So shop around, you’ll find Amro Worldwide prices to be honest and fair plus you get the full ATOL Financial Protection for your holiday at no extra cost.

Gay Cruising

A Christmas Greetings arrived this week from Atlantis Events - it was a timely reminder of just how popular cruises have become for gay men and women. Atlantis now owns RSVP and between them have a dozen cruises for 2009. There's still space available on the Freedom Caribbean cruise on 25 January - the most popular gay cruise of them all (so they claim) with prices from £999 per person including all taxes and tips.


But it's not just about the huge mega cruise ships. There are plenty of groups which take over just a small number of cabins, special interest cruises for full moon lovers or try sailing the Greek Islands aboard a real sailing ship. That's right many cruises are now starting in Europe with a few even from our own shores plus there are all-women cruises from Olivia. And contrary to popular belief it's not all speedo-clad muscle hunks, the age range and diversity is wide with something for everyone.






It's easy to see why cruising is so popular - all the fun, accommodation, meals and entertainment are included in one price With our worldwide knowledge, we can get you to the departure port and return you home with minimal hassle and for the lowest possible cost.

Where are Prices Heading for 2009

Earlier this week, I was reading the Travel Trade Press and an article on prices written by Amanda Willis, the MD of Virgin Holidays, caught my eye. Of course, the bigger companies are always talking up the price of holidays but this was a lot more sanguine.

We're all aware that the pound has fallen in value over the past few months and as I write, has dropped another 2% against the Euro and 3% against the US dollar. What we often don't appreciate is that this means that the average apartment rental in Gran Canaria has gone up by over £50 for a week in the past year.

But she explained, property owners have largely fixed overheads, If they think they will sell less rooms, then the price per room has to rise to cover these costs.

Finally, she went on, there are also huge flight capacity reductions. Popular gay destinations, such as Mykonos and Gran Canaria were well served by XL and its capacity is not being replaced. On the long haul sectors across the Atlantic and to South Africa and Australia, we're already finding the number of flights reduced often to less than daily. With less competition and choice, prices are slowly but steadily creeping up.

Reflecting on this, the key to me is the flight capacity. If seats are sold out early there will be none that are available for late bookers whatever price they are prepared to pay. And with the economy in such a mess, that price is not very much.

I have just been updating our offers for our Newsletter and was quite horrified to see how much supplier prices have risen in the last month. A US week up over a £100 and even Gran Canaria up around £60.

So where does this leave us all ?

There is no doubt that those who book early are the winners. We have a lot of clients travelling long haul this Christmas. They paid at a USD rate of 1.85 to 1.95, today's rate is 1.40. They've saved literally £100's by booking early. Even our Christmas clients to Gran Canaria are saving over £70 on their week by booking as recently as October.

The moral is clear - don't leave it too late to book. My prediction for 2009 is that prices will continue to rise and reduced capacity will mean that late cheapies will be few and far between. Book early for the best deals in 2009.

Los Almendros is Back !

We're really delighted to announce that the gay resort of Los Almendros in Gran Canaria is now back and on sale for bookings made either online at http://www.amroworldwide.com/ or through our call-centre on 01462 434663.

This popular gay owned and managed resort, formerly known as Respect Los Almendros, went straight for the winter but is re-opening as an exclusively all-male resort on Wednesday 29 April - that's just in time for Maspalomas Pride week.

As a welcome back gift, just book Los Almendros online before 30 November 2008 and enter promotional code GRAN. We'll then knock £25 off any booking over £500 as you make payment.

And remember, no longer are you locked into 7 night stays. With our daily flights, you can now enjoy a long weekend or mid-week break at a great price too.

World Travel Market

Wow - a month since my last post on here but what a week this has been. World Travel Market is over 5000 travel stands from destinations all around the world crammed into ExCel with 45000 visitors. It's manic but great fun !


I normally go just on Wednesday which has become known as GayDay as there is a masterclass given by Ian Johnson of OutNow Consulting. This attracts all the boyz and girlz from the industry plus a lot of our friends from IGLTA and we all decamp to Profile afterwards.

But this year was special. Monday is reserved for invitees only and I got four invites ! So here I was, with the good and the great of World Travel, mingling with Ambassadors promoting their countries and me, talking up gay travel. It's amazing that less than two months after starting to sell Gran Canaria holidays, I am welcomed by the Head of the Local Tourist Board and a queue is formed from accommodation owners wanting to work with Amro Worldwide.

But it's sad that even in mass market Spain, places like Torremolinos and even Sitges fail to recognise the size and spending power of the gay consumers at these difficult times. Contrast this with Barcelona and Sevilla - both of whom publish gay guides packed with information and readily available in local tourist information booths or from us.

But it's in our niche destinations that we are especially warmly welcomed. Martha from Peru, Carlos from Costa Rica and Merina from Buenos Aires all have great track records of giving the gay traveller exactly what they want and their party at the In & Out was wonderful again.

I suppose it's a reflection on changing trends that I spent less time on the US stands than at any time since I started Amro back in 2002. But here there was a huge optimism that a new president would revive the travel industry fortunes. Our New Orleans partners were particularlty keen to point out that the largest number of British visitors to the US was in 2001 when the pound bought just 1.40 dollars - so don't despair yet and with £199 fares to New York don't hold back either !

So busy was the week, I actually spent three full days in ExCel and judging by our enquiries travel is very much on everyone's mind as the winter nights set in.





Andrew

Iceland and The Financial Crisis

One of the interesting side effects of the Icelandic Financial Crisis is that their currency, the Icelandic Krona has devalued dramatically losing over a third of its value in the past few weeks. This once fabulously expensive destination is now back in the ranks of affordability.

That £6 glass of beer is now around £4 and we have 3 star hotel rooms from under £40 per person per night including breakfast. Plus we have direct flights from London from around £200.

It's a great destination for a winter weekend away. Visit the waterfalls and gushing geyzers, the volcanoes and glaciers or go snow mobiling or whale watching by day, before exploring Reykjavik's exciting night life with it's gay clubs and bars. Then chill out to recover in the Blue Lagoon - the world's largest hot tub! - before heading back to the airport after an exciting few days away.

Sydney Mardi Gras - 7 March 2009

Amro Worldwide is delighted to launch its programme for Sydney Mardi Gras 2009 with its world famous gay extravangaza parade on Saturday 7 March.

Our lead-in package is just £1499 per person based on two sharing. Depart on Sat 27 Feb and with flights to Sydney via Hong Kong - why not stop off the buy your party outfits ? Then stay 9 nights at a 3 star hotel within walking distance of Oxford Street, Darling Harbour and Circular Quay for the Opera House and Ferries before returning overnight on 10 March.


This package also includes the Mardi Gras Party Pack of tickets for the Gay Harbour Cruise on Fri 6 March , a reserved Grandstand Seat overlooking the Parade and a ticket for the Closing Party - both on Sat 7 March. This pack of tickets is also available as an add-on to hotel bookings through our website or as a stand alone pack direct from us at £209.



Why not follow the crowd to Cairns for the Post-Mardi Gras Recovery week in one of our exclusively gay resorts ? Prices start at just £449 per person for a five night stay and really low-cost flights from Sydney can be added to your international fare.


Or travel more widely in Oz to see Ayers Rock or Melbourne - both readily accesible from Sydney and with Amro Worldwide's local knowledge, you'll have a great trip, created to do exactly what you want, at a bargain price.

A Reflection on the Last Two Weeks for Gay Travellers

Sadly, I haven't been able to keep this blog up to date over the last two momentous weeks for gay travellers as life has been very hectic indeed.

As I last wrote, we lost Aspire - a small upmarket brand and brought down in the overall demise of XL Airways and the whole XL group. What I did not know then was that Throb and Respect also had large parts of their flying programme with XL Airways and have now ceased trading. The future of Sensations a brand merged with Respect in January 2008 is currently in doubt.

From our perspective at Amro Worldwide, the old holiday company model of pre-buying and paying for flight seats and accommodation before selling it was well past its sell-by date. Online booking and demand for tailor-made holidays of variable duration had taken over from the once traditional 7 or 14 night holiday package with fixed departure dates. I'm surprised it took XL to push these brands over the cliff especially in the light of all the recent rumours and blogs on the subject. Amro has never followed this model and will not do so.

Gay Travellers are entitled to expect their travel arrangements to be financially sound and backed by the Civil Aviation Authority ATOL scheme, to provide knowledgeable advice, feature a wide range of flexible holiday options plus excellent service as well as great value either through online internet booking or a promptly answered call-centre. Over the past six years, Amro Worldwide has striven to meet these objectives and I believe we are well placed to serve the community of which we are members into the future.

Andrew

Gran Canaria

The last week has seen a flood of enquiries for Gran Canaria from people who two weeks ago had never heard of Amro Worldwide. This is terrific news for us so its perhaps worth explaining how we fit into the GC gay travel scene.

Until this year, Amro never had a GC programme - this was a very deliberate choice. Respect, Sensations, Throb etc had good product and Amro could offer very little that was different. But around a year ago, our established clients, suffering under the credit crunch, asked us about holidays in Europe. We appointed a local agent on the island and introduced a small programme of 3/4 star hotels. It far exceeded our sales expectations.

To cope with those whose holidays were cancelled, we have now expanded this programme to include many of the self-catering properties previously featured by those companies - apartments such as Valaparaiso, Carmen and Barbados are all now searchable and bookable online or through our call-centre. We also have a deal into Los Almendros over the next few weeks - the former exclusively Respect property - although don't expect the cute staff you fancied on your last visit to still be there! Phone our call-centre for more information.

In addition, we're off shortly to review and expand our range of places to stay, ensuring they fit within our brand values of Gay Travel: Tried and Trusted. So look out for a great new gay travel programme.

ATOL and all that !!

I make no apology for plugging time and time again, at this difficult time, that Amro Worldwide holds ATOL5826 issued by the UK Civil Aviation Authority for your holiday protection. Nearly seven years ago when I was planning the launch of Amro, I decided that we should aspire to provide the very highest standards and levels of financial protection for our holidaying travellers. It was simply nothing more than I expected when I travelled and I failed to see why the gay community should expect anything less.

Getting an ATOL isn't easy. All the Director's of Amro Holidays Ltd were personally vetted by the Civil Aviation Authority Consumer Protection Group. I was interviewed for over an hour about how I would run the business and my background. A financial bond was taken meaning if Amro failed, I would loose my home - not an easy thing to agree to! To cap it all, I had to find £50,000 in cash.

With those sort of financial penalties around, I don't take chances with Amro and that's why I believe we remain and prosper in the business of gay travel. Our holidays are no more expensive than any others and in a lot of cases far cheaper, so I often wonder why anyone takes a chance and books their precious holiday with any holiday company which does not hold an ATOL.

Andrew

Aspire Holidays in Administration

Further to my blog earlier today, I am delighted that the CAA have advised that Amro Worldwide is now able to re-book all disappointed Aspire Holidays customers without their having to go through claiming a refund from the CAA. In many cases, we can book these cutomers into exactly the same hotels on the same dates as before so really minimising the inconvenience to them.

Just give us a call, we'll just need a faxed copy of your Aspire Holiday invoice and payment and we'll then get you away.

Andrew

Another Airline Failure

Woke up to the news that XL Airlines had entered administration and all flights were grounded. Worse still, this had pushed their parent XL Group also into adminstration and to cease trading. This leaves over 250,000 passengers either stranded or without their expected holiday. XL Group was the third largest UK tour operator after ThomasCook/MyTravel/Airtours and Tui Travel (Thomsons/FirstChoice) and is a mega blow to the travel industry. It's on par with the Intasun/ILG failures of the early 90's and the Clarkson/CourtLine of the 70's.

One of XL group's brands was Aspire Holidays - a competitor of ours in the gay & lesbian market. We're sorry for all their customers, particularly those who are yet to travel and will have had their holidays cancelled. As all Aspire Holidays were ATOL Protected - as are Amro Worldwide's - those currently away will be able to continue their holidays and be brought home at no extra cost. Those still to travel will need to make a claim and will eventually get their money back.

We're happy to help any Aspire customers with this process and to re-book their holiday.

But as I said in my blog just a two weeks ago - why does anyone book any travel in the current climate without being absolutely sure they are financially protected.

Andrew

Searching for a Cheap Holiday Deal

If one thing has characterised the last week, it's that plenty of people are fed up with the terrible weather and are looking for spot of sunshine over the next few weeks before the dark winter nights set in. Sadly, though, those last minute cheap deals just aren't that cheap with the increase in aviation fuel and the fall in the pounds exchange rate. This is really starting to impact on the price of that essential holiday break plus overall supply and demand is in balance as a result of widespread capacity cuts. But that's not to say that searching through our website doesn't reveal some enticing bargains particularly if you are prepared to be a bit adventurous.

In the £350 - £400 pp price bracket we have good availability at our Queens Hotel in Dalyan, Turkey. Not the most obvious destination but the Queens is gay owned and run and the small town of Dalyan welcomes us boyz and girlz with open arms. There's a great beach, some interesting local culture and excellent restaurants. Best of all it's outside the Eurozone so your pound buys a lot once you are there.

Just a little more at £599 pp are our clutch of gay guest house properties in Ft Lauderdale on Florida's sunshine atlantic coast. You'll be guaranteed superb weather here in the low '80s over the next couple of months and the pound still buys excellent value here. This price has to be a bargain as it includes return flights on Virgin Atlantic to Miami and 7 nights room and breakfast.

Financially Protecting your Holiday

With the demise of Zoom Airlines and many passengers losing not only their holiday but their money also, I thought I'd post some guidelines on how to best Financially Protect your Holiday. So here are our tips.

1. Buy your flight and accommodation from an ATOL holder such as Amro Worldwide. Yes - we would say that wouldn't we but then you are fully protected from the minute you book. Any combination of flight and hotel can be put into your travel plans- not just our advertised package holidays. The ATOL holder will either re-book or refund any part your holiday where the supplier ceases trading. As the post below shows, Amro Worldwide has an established procedure for handling such events.



2. If you really must put your travel together yourself, don't buy your flight directly from the airline but through an ATOL holder. That way, at least, you will be protected against the Airline failing.



3. If you really, really positively must buy from the airline directly because it is such a fantastic deal, firstly check it really is as good as it looks. Most airline direct booking websites have hidden costs such as checking in luggage or getting something to eat/drink on the flight. If it really is a good deal - and we're happy to admit there are some out there - then book using Visa or Mastercard and avoid debit cards even though the surcharge is less. Provided the value exceeds £100, protection may be offered by the Credit Card company and you should, after a lot of form filling and arguing, eventually get your money back. But it won't be fast enough for you to re-book. It has taken me as long as four months to get a refund in the past.



4. Finally, don't kid yourself that travel insurance is the answer. None of the currently available travel policies offer you protection although some may try to sell you Airline Failure Insurance as an add-on. This is not necessary if you book through an ATOL holder.

Zoom Airlines cancels all flights

Yesterday, all Zoom Airlines flights were cancelled and the airline went into Administration to join the growing list of failures this year. Eos, Maxjet, Silverjet, Nationwide, Oasis Hong Kong and now Zoom have left passengers stranded overseas and many more disappointed at home. Many will have lost large sums of money and their holiday.

It's days like yesterday when I wonder why anyone books any travel other than through an ATOL holder such as Amro Worldwide. Both the clients' money and the holiday are fully protected and our well-oiled plan swung into action. By lunchtime all our Zoom passengers had been identified and re-booked onto other airlines - their holiday and money were safe. Many didn't even know Zoom had failed before we contacted them including one passenger in a Ft Lauderdale gay guest house. He woke up to find our fax under his door telling him he is flying back tonight on Virgin from Miami and his transfer pick-up time was now an hour later - more time in the sun was his reaction !!

Zoom was not a bad airline - far from it. It offered very high standards of service and had run a punctual and safe airline since it started flying four years ago. But when the price of jet fuel doubles in under year, only the most financially strong airlines can cope. Sadly, I don't believe it is the last.

Andrew

Terrific Torremolinos

After a few years decline, it seems that Torremolinos on Spain's southerly Costa del Sol is firmly back on the gay destinations' map. Last week, I spent a few days checking out Amro Worldwide's variety of places to stay on the Costa and was pleasantly surprised to see so many boyz and girlz about.

Playa Poseidon, Torre's gay beach, was postively heaving with boyz and there was a really friendly atmosphere in the bar as Stephen bustled around keeping everyone happy with San Miguel and local tapas. Up in the La Nogalera shopping centre, the clubs were newly decorated, many of the bars had received a facelift and several new ones with pleasant terraces had opened, many offering early evening happy hours. Even Cosmo - the trendy boyz wear shop - seemed to have smartened up with new stock. Could this be the new Yumbo Centre for those fed-up with the long, often red-eye, flight down to Gran Canaria.

The Cervantes hotel's renovation are now complete and this 4 star hotel, just two minutes from La Nogalera and 10 minutes from Playa Poseidon, is welcoming many of our clients to a great value holiday. If you're on a budget, check out our 3 star Jardines de Parasol down on the beach.

Elsewhere on the Costa, it was Feria week in Malaga so it was wall to wall partying in both the Old Town and Calle Larios shopping street as well as the fun fair and casitas out on the feria ground. The roof-top pool around our Malaga Centro hotel was busy as was the Malagueta Beach with parties running through until dawn.

With the the temperature a very pleasant 30 degs C and plenty of not too strong sunshine, under three hours flying time from the UK with plenty of regional departures, our Costa del Sol holidays offer plenty of variety at prices starting at £320 per person for September departures for 4 star accommodation.

Andrew

Amro joins IGLTA Peru Symposium

This years IGLTA symposium in Peru was in one word AMAZING!

When I thought about Peru the only thing that constantly kept coming to mind was Paddington Bear from darkest Peru and of course pictures of Machu Picchu. But there was so much more to this country and even though I was told on arrival that they'd never heard of Paddington Bear, this did not deter me from finding out more.

Lake Titicaca (the worlds highest navigable lake) sits at approx 12500 ft and I could only hope that altitude sickness didnt kick in, but of course I became another statistic. Although it wasn't as bad as I had thought it would be (just a hammering migraine for the afternoon) it does slow your pace down, which actually was a bonus because it made you stop and look at things in detail rather than rush around trying to see everything. A tip that's definitely the Real Peru is to drink the coca tea - an infusion of (legal!) coca leaves that many people find helps them adjust.

Of course the highlight to this trip was experiencing one of the New 7 wonders of the World, Machu Picchu. Trying to describe this place is so difficult because how many different ways can you use the word Breathtaking! My partner and I bravely took on Huayna Picchu for a different perspective and were greatly rewarded with magnificent views.

The weather was perfect, the people were gracious and the ruins were mind-blowing!

Amro Holidays has trips departing all year round to Peru . Click here for details.