CUSCO ALWAYS A FASHIONABLE FAVOURITE

Posted on 2009-11-02

As South American cities go, Cusco has always been one of our favourites. Its small-town charm and big-city persona sit perfectly side by side and its location makes it the perfect place to start your exploration of Peru and the Andes.
Another thing that Cusco is renowned for is mixing old with new. Great colonnaded plazas in the Spanish settlement sit alongside ancient Incan fortifications. The city oozes contemporary chic but its auspicious history is never far away.
And the cosmopolitan Cusco successfully mixes up its history with modern-day culture as well.

At the end of the month, the city will host the Cusco Always in Fashion event which will thrust it centre stage in the global fashion stakes.
Young designers will descend on the city to mix pre-Columbian designs with cutting-edge fashion in the city’s marvellous Mercado Central de San Pedro.
So if you’re heading to Cusco before embarking on a tour of the Peruvian Andes and you want something sharp to wear before you hit the Inca Trail then now could be the time to book your ticket.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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BHUTAN TO BOOST NATIONAL PARK PROTECTION

Posted on 2009-10-26

The government in Bhutan has decided to step up efforts to conserve the Manas National Park – which spans the Bhutan-Assam border.
At the foothills of the Himalayas, the Manas National Park is a unique gem. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to both elephant and tiger reserves – the latter covers a whopping 3,000 square kilometres.
Meanwhile, in the Brahmaputra Valley, which is part of the amazing reserve, you’ll find some of the most exotic species on the continent of Asia, including a huge number of rare and endangered creatures such as the Assam roofed turtle, the hispid hare, the golden langur and the pygmy hog.

Like the rest of Bhutan, the national park is stunning and the government hopes that the expanded conservation programme will help knock the area off UNESCO’s ‘in danger’ list.
But the Mana National Park is just one side of this mysterious Asian country – which truly is a trekker’s paradise.
Bhutan is also a great place to do a spot of archery – which is the country’s national sport. So if you want to hit the Himalayan adventure holiday bull’s eye, forget the Tibetan plateau and take aim at Bhutan.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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CUBA TO GET MORE LUXURIOUS POST-EMBARGO

Posted on 2009-10-19

Cuba is already a hip, fashionable and luxurious hangout. But if the US embargo is dropped, the country, and particularly Havana, could be given a huge upmarket makeover. Or that’s what some investors are saying at least.
For us this could be a double-edged sword which could see Cuba losing some of the charm and character that make it such a hit with global travellers. But if you’re a discerning holidaymaker in search of the best, the Cuban revamp could make life a whole lot easier (or at least a whole lot more comfortable).
It’s The Hemingway Hotel that has stirred up the speculation, a huge Chinese-Cuban joint venture which could become the focal point of luxurious living in Havana.
But you don’t have to wait for US approval to enjoy the salubrious trappings of Cuba. And with the embargo almost five decades old, there’s no point in hanging around.

More to the point, we’ve been taking holidays to Cuba for as long as we can remember and lack of luxury is a problem we’ve never encountered.
Whether you’re staying at the colonial Hotel Saratogo in central Havana or a luxurious villa on the Pinar del Rio, Cuba can be all about opulence if you want it to

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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OAXACA STANDS PROUD ON THE DAY OF THE DEAD

Posted on 2009-10-12

The Day of the Dead in Mexico is an interesting proposition. But the Dia de los Muertos as it is known to the locals is not a macabre affair, and if you’re taking a holiday in Mexico this November you don’t have to feel like you’re treading on egg shells.
Quite the opposite in fact, it’s a joyous occasion that is celebrated in lavish style.
The festivities kick off on November 1st, and the place to be when it all begins is Oaxacana City.

Dia de los Muertos is celebrated all over Mexico, but Oaxacana is renowned for its incredibly ornate decorations and street parades.
The Plaza de los Muertos, an unusual initiation ceremony which takes place in the city’s market, starts proceedings, and the revelry goes on for two solid days afterwards.

Now, we’d never thought we’d say this to someone looking for a luxury holiday in South America, but if you’re in Mexico for the Day of the Dead you should add a visit to a Mexican cemetery to your itinerary. You won’t be disappointed.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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FINE WINE MAKES ARGENTINA THE PERFECT HONEYMOON

Posted on 2009-10-05

When you’re looking for somewhere to honeymoon there are a few things that you must have. Good weather, somewhere luxurious to spend your evenings, top notch cuisine and a half decent bottle of plonk (all things that you can’t guarantee if you spend your first days as a married couple on the Sceptered Isle).
One place that can guarantee all of the above (except maybe the weather – but that depends when you go) is Argentina.

In the wine department (vitally important on any honeymoon), Argentina is the king of the New World, and has a huge variety of grapes (our favourite being Torrontes). And it just so happens that our Argentinean favourite has picked up a trophy at this year’s Decanter World Wine Awards (as good a recommendation as we can muster).

Good, honest wines are what has made the country the fifth biggest producer in the world. And where’s the best place in Argentina to get to grips with these fine wines? The same place that the luxury boutique hotels and sophisticated night life is. Buenos Aires.
So if you’re looking for the perfect honeymoon destination that brings all the finer things in life together in one place, look no further than a holiday to Argentina.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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CHINESE KUNG FU TEMPLE GETS AN UPGRADE

Posted on 2009-09-28

A holiday to China is all about old meets new, tradition and transition, and… Kung Fu.
As the country finishes celebrating its 60th year as a People’s Republic, its citizens are obviously looking forward to an exciting future. We’ll be doing the same, and we’re hoping to be part of the huge cultural change that is taking place at the moment (albeit while on holiday).
But despite the huge changes afoot, China is clinging on to its auspicious history and heritage. A perfect example of China’s attitude is the restoration plans for the remote North Shaolin Temple in Tianjin (which may as well be dubbed the spiritual home of Kung Fu).
It’s the most important temple in the region and shows that China will never consign the most famous of martial arts to the history books. The temple, which is the oldest recorded physical offshoot of the Shaolin belief system, was destroyed during World War II, but will soon be rebuilt.
Our only concern is that the solar panels used on the new roof of the traditional Tang and Song dynasties-era building may not withstand a Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon-esque assault.

For more information and to book, have a look at www.blacktomato.co.uk or call on 020 7426 9888.

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