RIVIERA NAYARIT, Mexico  – Quickly becoming one of the best fishing destinations in America, the Sport Fishing Club of Tepic is organizing two exhilarating events, the 52nd International Sports Fishing Tournament in San Blas (May 30th – June 3rd) and the inaugural International Sports Fishing Tournament (October 10th – 14th) in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle.

Competitors to both will have the chance to test their skills in trying to catch marlin and tuna, as well as top game fish such as sailfish, mahi mahi, grouper, red snapper and wahoo. The tuna season extends from May to October and the marlin season extends from July through February including blue marlin, black marlin and striped marlin.

Children, ages 5-11, that demonstrate a talent for the sport can also take part in several tournaments taking place throughout the year in various locations.

Sport fishing in Riviera Nayarit is easily accessible year round, serviced by reputable, top quality fishing charters Nuevo Vallarta, Bucerias, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Punta Mita, Sayulita, San Francisco, San Blas and Lo de Marcos. Boats range from beach rental pangas (Mexican version of a skiff) to large fishing cruisers that can be rented by the hour, half day to all day. Some charter services also offer overnight charters which include all meals and sleeping accommodations. Fishing parties of up to six to eight people lasting eight hours usually cost approximately US$500.

An extensive list of sport fishing charters from Banderas Bay are listed on: www.fishingnayarit.com . Fishing charters in other areas of Riviera Nayarit, include:
Isla Del Rey Sport Fishing, San Blas
Website: www.sanblasfishing.com
Rancho Mi Chaparrita, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle
Website: http://www.michaparrita.com/english/pesca.htm
Reel Hot Charters, Punta de Mita
Website: www.reelhotcharterspuntademita.com
Tunatime Sportfishing, Punta de Mita
Website: www.tunatimesportfishing.com

To complement a memorable fishing excursion, the destination also offers beautiful, sunny weather all year-round, a wide array of luxurious resorts and top attractions ranging from acclaimed golf courses to adventure activities. Riviera Nayarit is also a haven for fishing records – two world record catches of blue marlin and wahoo were captured in Nayarit! Who knows you might be next!

For more information on Riviera Nayarit’s fishing and other activities, please visit www.RivieraNayarit.com.

About Riviera Nayarit
Mexico’s newest destination, Riviera Nayarit, stretches along 192 miles of pristine Pacific coast framed by the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains just ten minutes north of accessible Puerto Vallarta International Airport. The region extends along the entire coast of the Pacific state of Nayarit including the resorts of Nuevo Vallarta, the historic colonial town of San Blas, exclusive Punta Mita, picturesque fishing villages, miles of serene beaches and spectacular Banderas Bay. Riviera Nayarit offers countless activities, all pleasantly affordable, such as: PGA golf courses, luxury spas, whale watching, turtle release, zip lining, surfing, record deep sea fishing, bird watching, international cuisine, and shopping for local artwork and traditional Huichol handicrafts. The region attracts and satisfies vacationers of all tastes and budgets with its wide range of accommodations including chic luxury resorts, eco-tourism boutique hotels and quaint B&B inns. For more information, visit www.RivieraNayarit.com  or find us on Facebook.

- Adult Catfish Tournament
- Children’s Catfish Rodeo
- Catfish Cooking and Grilling Contest
- Arts and Craft Show
- Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show
- Live Music Entertainment
- Food Vendors and Homemade Ice Cream
- Shriner’s Catfish Dinners

Admission is charged to attend the Catfish Festival.

“Offering affordable rates and topnotch accommodations, our Scottsboro Alabama hotel is an ideal choice for local lodging,” explains Nova Sisk, the Hampton Inn Scottsboro Hotel’s General Manager. “The annual Catfish Tournament is a popular event for both locals and visitors to enjoy,” explains Sisk.

The Hampton Inn & Suites Hotel in Scottsboro Alabama is the leading place to stay in Scottsboro. The property is conveniently located within minutes of Goose Pond Colony. The hotel’s features and amenities include free High-speed Internet access, complimentary hot breakfast, business center, fitness room, outdoor pool and boat parking slip. Guestrooms also include 37-inch flat panel HDTV with HBO, 250 thread count sheets and the Clean and Fresh Hampton Bed .

To book your stay at the Hampton Inn Hotel in Scottsboro, call 256-259-5200 or visit them online at www.ScottsboroAlabamaHotel.com.

About Hampton Inn & Suites Scottsboro Alabama Hotel

The Hampton Inn & Suites Scottsboro hotel in Alabama is located in the mountain/lakes region of northern Alabama surrounded by majestic mountains and rich valleys, located minutes from Lake Guntersville. Whether in town for business or pleasure, Hampton Inn & Suites Scottsboro has been designed with your comfort in mind. From boat parking slips to complimentary high-speed internet access, your comfort is their main goal. Each of the hotel’s spacious rooms and suites features the Hampton Clean and Fresh Bedding, mini refrigerator, microwave, work desk, basic cable plus HBO, and 37 inch flat panel TV.

For more information visit: http://www.ScottsboroAlabamaHotel.com

5 days in Singapore from £759 – book by 10 March
Singapore & Bintan, 8 nights from £1,159 – free transfers and free night
Singapore & Langkawi, 10 nights from £1,355 – free transfers, 3 free nights
5* Bangkok & Phuket, 9 nights from £1,395
Bangkok & Koh Samui, 10 nights from £1,229 – free upgrade
Pattaya Escape, 7 nights from £1,275
Hua Hin, 8 nights from £1,335 – free night
Koh Phangan, 8 nights from £1,659

5 days in Singapore from £759 – book by 10 March
Price includes:

- International return flights from London Heathrow in economy with Qantas
- 4 nights at Miramar Hotel, Singapore
- Afternoon city tour
- Return airport coach transfers

Book by 10 March 2012 (unless sold out prior) for travel 17 February – 15 June 2012. Extend the holiday with a 3-night stay at the Bintan Lagoon Resort from £399 per person including transfers.

Singapore & Bintan, 8 nights from £1,159 – free transfers and free night
Price includes:

- International return flights to Singapore in economy from London Heathrow with Qantas
- 3 nights Miramar Hotel, Singapore including free transfers to and from Orchard Road and Chinatown. Includes one free night (free night valid for stays 21 April – 17 June & 23 – 30 June 2012)
- 5 nights Bintan Lagoon Resort, Bintan including full breakfast

Singapore & Langkawi, 10 nights from £1,355 – free transfers, 3 free nights
Price includes:

- International and domestic return flights in economy from London Heathrow with Qantas and Malaysian
- 3 nights Miramar Hotel, Singapore including free transfers to and from Orchard Road and Chinatown. Includes one free night (valid for stays 21 April – 17 June & 23 – 30 June 2012)
- 7 nights Holiday Inn Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi (includes two free nights)

5* Bangkok & Phuket, 9 nights from £1,395
Price includes:

- Return international and domestic flights in economy from London Heathrow with British Airways and Bangkok Air

- 2 nights Sukhothai, Bangkok including full breakfast
- 7 nights Vijitt Resort, Phuket including full breakfast

Bangkok & Koh Samui, 10 nights from £1,229 – free upgrade
Price includes:

- Return international and domestic flights in economy from London Heathrow with British Airways and Bangkok Air

- 2 nights Bel Aire Princess, Bangkok. Includes complimentary upgrade from Superior to Deluxe and 10% discount on lunch or dinner at the Tiffin Restaurant
- 8 nights Chaba Samui Resort, Koh Samui including full breakfast
- Airport/hotel transfers in Thailand

Pattaya Escape, 7 nights from £1,275
Price includes:

- Return international economy flights from London Heathrow with Qantas and British Airways
- 2 nights Montien, Bangkok including morning Grand Palace Tour
- 5 nights Royal Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya including full breakfast
- All transfers in Thailand

Hua Hin, 8 nights from £1,335 – free night
Price includes:

- Return international economy flights from London Heathrow with Qantas and British Airways
- 3 nights Dusit Thani, Bangkok including breakfast. Includes one free night (valid for stays between 1 April – 30 June 2012) and morning City & Temples Tour
- 5 nights Dusit Thani, Hua Hin including breakfast
- All transfers in Thailand

Koh Phangan, 8 nights from £1,659
Price includes:

- Return international economy flights from London Heathrow with Qantas and British Airways
- 2 nights Pullman Bangkok King Power, Bangkok including full breakfast
- 6 nights Santhiya Resort & Spa, Koh Phangan including full breakfast
- All transfers in Thailand

Holidays available to book now for travel until 30 June 2012 unless sold out prior.

All prices quoted are inclusive of taxes, fees and other charges unless stated otherwise. Prices correct at 23 February 2012 but may fluctuate if surcharges, fees, taxes or currency change. Travel/book by dates are as specified unless sold out prior. Offers are subject to availability which may be limited. Please check all prices, availability and other information with your travel consultant before booking. All prices are ‘from’ prices, per person, based on two adults sharing. Qantas Holidays general booking conditions apply.

Waterhead, which is located on the shore of Windermere – England’s largest lake, wants to encourage a new generation of poets to write beautiful verse about the area.

The Lake District’s spectacular landscape has provided inspiration for a wealth of famous poets, such as William Wordsworth, Samuel Coleridge and Robert Southey as well as writers such as Beatrix Potter, Arthur Ransome, Thomas de Quincey and John Ruskin. Wordsworth lived just a few miles away from Waterhead at Dove Cottage and then Rydal Mount.

English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues, which owns Waterhead, has put together some of the ingredients they hope will help aspiring writers get their creative juices flowing.

The Poets’ Room contains a writers’ desk from which wordsmiths can enjoy spectacular vistas over the waters of Windermere and the fells beyond.

The views include Loughrigg Fell where Wordsworth often walked in search of inspiration. He described the tarn that can be found part way up the fell as ’round clear and bright as heaven’ and nicknamed it ‘Diana’s Looking-glass’.

An ink pen and paper is on hand to help people get into the writing mood, or they can make use of a traditional typewriter, as well as having the option to plug in a laptop to the high speed internet access.

An iPod docking station will be available so people can bring along their perfect mood music.

The room will also contain valuable reference material such as books of famous poetry, a dictionary and thesaurus as well as the guidebook to the area which Wordsworth himself wrote so the writer can visit some of the region’s many picturesque locations to provide food for thought. The books include the journals of William Wordsworth’s sister Dorothy, recounting many of the walks that inspired her brother’s famous poetry.

Mark Needham, manager of Waterhead, said: “The spectacular scenery of the Lake District has inspired some of our greatest writers and poets in the past. We would really like to see that tradition continue into the future and have created a room which we hope will help aspiring poets and writers’ creativity.

“We would love to see the kind of work people are able to produce in the room and it would be fantastic if someone was able to create a modern poem about the Lake District to rival Wordsworth’s ‘Daffodils’.”

Guests who stay in the Poetry Room will get free entry to Dove Cottage as well as getting access to the Jerwood Centre Reading Room which contains the Wordsworth Trust’s collection of manuscripts and first editions (TBC). The Reading Room is usually only open to researchers by prior appointment.

Anyone who stays in the Poetry Room can submit their best poem for Waterhead’s Lake District Poetry Competition. The winning poem will be framed and hung in the hotel and the winner will also get a free weekend’s stay at any of the hotels run by English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues.

The Poet’s Room will be available from 5th March 2012 and the competition will run until 31st October 2012.

The Waterhead Boutique Hotel and Dining is the Lake District’s only four-star town house hotel near Ambleside on the shores of Windermere.

For more information about Waterhead and English Lakes Hotels Resorts and Venues please visit www.englishlakes.co.uk

In Ethiopia the intriguing histories of Gondar, Lalibela and Bahir Dar provide a fascinating interlude. Descending into the Great Rift Valley in Kenya the journey continues to Lake Navaisha and Lake Nakuru for some wildlife viewing; both a great entree to the vast Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the next destination.

A serene break at Zanzibar to admire Stone Town and the picturesque island coastline paves the way for the onward journey to Zambia where the South Luangwa National Park parades scores of lion, leopard, giraffe and other big game. From Livingstone you will marvel at the Victoria Falls and enjoy a range of optional tours. Continuing to Botswana you can enjoy Chobe National Park and the famous waterways where huge herds of elephant, buffalo and hippo congregate. Crossing into Namibia watch wildlife in the famous Etosha National Park and climb the largest sand dune in the world at Sossusvlei. Finally, skirt south to South Africa, as this incredible adventure concludes at Cape Town.

CAIRO TO CAPE TOWN 112 days. Launches 1 November 2012. Joining in Cairo. From £13,990 per person.

For more information on World Expeditions’ trips please visit www.worldexpeditions.co.uk or call 0800 0744 135. World Expeditions’ all-inclusive policy ensures there are no local payments. Prices do not include international flights, however these can be arranged on request.

To celebrate 60 years in the business, Beachcomber Tours is delighted to extend its incredible offer of 60% off half-board accommodation for a second guest, now for all travel from 1st May – 31st July 2012 to its eight beautiful Mauritian hotels and the luxurious Sainte Anne Resort & Spa in the Seychelles.

Royal Palm
This stunning hotel is Beachcomber’s flagship property and offers some of the finest and most prestigious accommodation in Mauritius. Situated alongside the most beautiful stretch of ivory-sand beach on the northern coast of the island, guests can enjoy the ultimate in luxury and service.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £2,295 per person on a half-board basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £1,280 per couple

Trou aux Biches
Fresh from its £60 million makeover, Trou Aux Biches has been completely redesigned and rebuilt, placing great importance on preserving the resort’s unique atmosphere – further strengthening its reputation as the ultimate tropical getaway in the Indian Ocean.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,608 per person on a half-board basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £710 per couple

Shandrani Resort & Spa
For guests looking for an all-inclusive resort with plenty of sophistication and refinement, Shandrani is the perfect destination. This resort was the very first fully all-inclusive luxury resort in Mauritius, meaning guests can benefit from better value and more choice from the moment they arrive.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,565 per person on an all-inclusive basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £740 per couple

Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Hotel
An elegant luxury resort, Dinarobin Hotel Golf & Spa is a haven of peace and tranquility – the perfect sanctuary in an intimate village setting on the magnificent Le Morne Peninsula. Set in private bungalows, this resort is great for families and honeymooners alike – giving all guests as much privacy as they would like.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,742 per person on a half-board basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £865 per couple

Paradis Hotel & Golf Club
A sister resort to Dinarobin in both location and spirit, Paradis Hotel & Golf Club is great for both sporty-types and families alike. Being one of the best leisure hotels in Mauritius, this resort is truly a playground for pleasure seekers.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,608 per person on a half-board basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £710 per couple

Le Victoria Hotel
Le Victoria is nestled on the protected western coast of Mauritius, overlooking a bay sheltered from the trade winds halfway between Grand-Baie and Port-Louis, and was completely renovated in 2006, creating one of the most popular family resorts on the island.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,497 per person on an all-inclusive basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £520 per couple

Le Mauricia Hotel
Located in the heart of Grand-Baie on the Northern tip of the island, Le Mauricia provides authentic Mauritian hospitality and conviviality to all guests. A self-contained apartment village and a selection of land and watersports await families and visitors on the look-out for an out-and-about holiday at this resort, which was completely renovated in 2007.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,345 per person on an all-inclusive basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £420 per couple

Le Cannonier Hotel
This hotel is perfect for spa-lovers with kids, and with an inspiring massage centre designed amidst bicentennial banyan trees and a mini-club set in an 18th century lighthouse – there is no reason to ask why! Located on an exclusive peninsula with the Northern islets as a backdrop, Le Canonnier spreads out in a lush tropical park close to its sister hotel, Le Mauricia.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £1,360 per person on an all-inclusive basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £430 per couple

Sainte Anne Resort & Spa, Seychelles
The luxurious sea-facing villas of Sainte Anne Resort & Spa lie only 10 minutes by boat from the main island, Mahé, and can be seen spreading along the island’s beautiful, pristine beaches. Currently Beachcomber’s sole property in the Seychelles, Sainte Anne is one of the most refined resorts in the area, set on a 200-hectare private island.

Beachcomber Tours (www.beachcombertours.co.uk; 01483 445 621) offers 7 nights from £2,775 per person on an all-inclusive basis including Economy flights from Heathrow.
Saving £1,670 per couple

www.beachcomber-hotels.com

The Falklands App provides a user-friendly guide to the destination’s best experiences, with tools to research and plan trips. Visitors can browse itineraries, tag experiences and gain a snapshot of the practical travel information including details on getting there, when to visit and entry requirements.

Whether you’re attracted by its fabulous remoteness, stunning wilderness and wildlife or deeply drawn by history, the Falkland Islands is a natural paradise. It’s hugely popular with wildlife lovers and birdwatchers, home to over 750,000 penguins, elephant seals, whales, amazing birdlife, and much more.

As well as browsing a comprehensive wildlife calendar and birds checklist, visitors can now share their sightings direct from their smartphones via twitter. The new App allows visitors to identify birds, log and share wildlife top spots and images automatically through a dedicated twitter feed @FITBTourism.

“This new, easy to use App allows visitors to get the very best out of their trip to the Falklands, using one comprehensive, convenient, mobile source” commented Paul Trowell, General Manager of the Falkland Islands Tourist Board.

Other key App features include;
• Ability to share Falklands moments with friends and family via email, twitter or Facebook
• Inspiring images to visualise your own Falklands escape
• ‘Favourites’ tool to tag attractions, information and wildlife to help plan the perfect Falklands itinerary
• Sign up function to receive the latest news and information

The App includes rich content about this archipelago from the capital Stanley to East Falkland, West Falkland and the Outer Islands. So whether you are an intrepid independent traveller or a cruise passenger simply calling in for a day or two as part of a wider South America or Antarctica itinerary, this App is the perfect information and inspiration travel tool.

Best of all, once downloaded, you can search and explore the Falklands App offline.

The App was developed by Lynx Content (www.lynxcontent.com)

Take, for example, the beautiful island of Skyros where Skyros Holidays are based. Regardless of whatever may be happening in Athens or anywhere else, Skyros island remains as beautiful, tranquil and welcoming as ever. The sky is still blue, the sea azure, the landscape gorgeous, the nights full of the scent of jasmine and wild sage, the locals friendly, the food delicious and, as Seferis the poet says, the nymphs are still around to gather your cares and hang them on trees and the cupids and satyrs are still there singing and playing. They all care nothing about deficits, cuts, taxation or unemployment!

Although Athens might be, at present, experiencing difficulties, the current turmoil is unlikely to continue. And even if it does, the impact for tourism will be minimal. Frequent strikes, even a general strike, will leave the airports unaffected as the trade unions have a policy not to disrupt the tourist trade. There is no need to worry about public transport on a Skyros holiday as the company, just like many other tour operators, transport their guests by private coach.

Perhaps there are concerns about an overnight stay in Athens? Here Skyros Holidays have ensured full peace of mind with their transfer hotel, The Metropolitan, being located far from the city centre on the coastline. The ferry to Skyros island is privately owned and therefore not subject to strike action. All-in-all, Skyros Holidays has ensured that their guests continue to enjoy a well-deserved, relaxing and inspiring holiday this year in Greece.

So, dear travel writer, give Greece a chance and encourage your readers to visit the country fearlessly for their holidays, and let us provide Greece with some of the relative relief that its travel industry so desperately needs. Your doing so, acting in other words in solidarity with a country that goes through her most testing times, will, by the way, be very much appreciated by the Greeks.

‘We are all Greeks now’ is the banner under which thousands of people demonstrated recently in more than twenty European and American cities. Join this movement. Be a Greek for a while and help the Greeks get through one of the worst phases of their history.

To celebrate the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, London’s family-owned, five-star athenaeuminvites guests to enjoy the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee room promotion. From February, 2012 until June 6, 2012, guests who book two nights in a deluxe guest room for £299 receive a third night for only £60. As always at the athenaeum, guests also enjoy complimentary drinks, snacks and coffee from the mini-bar, free Wi-Fi, and kids under 12 eat for free when dining with an adult.

Located in the heart of Mayfair, the athenaeum is the perfect location for enjoying the special Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events going on throughout London in 2012, including a Shakespeare festival, street fairs, concerts, art exhibits and more.

The athenaeum’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee promotion is valid from January 2, 2012 until June 6, 2012, rooms subject to availability. For reservations, please call +44 (0) 20 7499 3464 or visit www.athenaeumhotel.com

Through this distinctive amenity, guests can borrow from a selection of the finest perfumes and colognes, eliminating the hassle of packing yet another liquid. From the moment they check in, guests can ring the Fragrance Butler at any time and the butler will appear at their door, carrying a silver tray with ten luxurious fragrances for guests’ use. After selecting the fragrance of their choice, guests will mist themselves and the Fragrance Butler will disappear with the tray until he or she is rung again.

Embracing the company’s A Sense of Place® philosophy, reflecting the sensibilities of the destinations, each of Rosewood’s city properties will feature a Fragrance Menu distinct to its location. From the timeless classic Hermes Eau des Mervailles at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York to the iconic Givenchy Dahlia Noir at Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas, to the effortlessly chic Tom Ford Black Orchid at Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, the Fragrance Menus at each property will suit the nature of the city in which the guest is travelling.

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts continues to lead the way in the luxury hospitality industry with exclusive amenities that provide guests with experiences and access that cannot be found anywhere else. From the brand’s acclaimed Hot Type programme offering guests the opportunity to read the season’s most anticipated books months before they are published, to Flip for Rosewood giving guests complimentary use of Flip UltraHD digital camcorders to capture their holiday memories, Rosewood guests can expect the most cutting edge amenities, authentic experiences and a level of personal attention and comfort that exceeds expectations.

Participating Hotels:
The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel – New York, New York
Rosewood Crescent Hotel – Dallas, Texas
Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek – Dallas, Texas
The Mansion on Peachtree, A Rosewood Hotel & Residence – Atlanta, GA
Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi – Santa Fe, New Mexico
Rosewood Sand Hill – Menlo Park, California
Rosewood Hotel Georgia – Vancouver, BC, Canada
CordeValle, A Rosewood Resort – San Martin, CA
Al Faisaliah Hotel, A Rosewood Hotel – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Rosewood Corniche – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

For further information on Rosewood Hotels & Resorts visit www.rosewoodhotels.com