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.