Long haul travellers will find it even easier to reach some of the most distant and exotic destinations in 2001 with the introduction of holidays to South America and the Philippines by British Airways Holidays.

The specialist long haul operator is also expanding the Middle East with a new weekly charter flight into Luxor - following a 400 per cent increase in bookings to Egypt - and three major new hotels are featured in Dubai as a result of soaring popularity in the destination.

Prices in the new Worldwide 2001 brochure start from £419 for seven nights at the Luxor Hilton in June 2001.

“The desire to seek out undiscovered beaches and remote hill top villages continues to grow. Experienced travellers want the comfort and confidence of an organised holiday but will no longer compromise and settle for a standard package - and we don’t expect them to. We have included new destinations and resorts and more opportunities to explore with hundreds of tailormade options,” said Roger Heape, managing director, British Airways Holidays.

What’s New
South America - the beaches of Rio de Janeiro and the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires have been introduced to tempt the first time visitor to South America. For the more adventurous traveller there is also a choice of tailormade options including the Rio Carnival, a visit to the spectacular Iguacu Falls or an eco lodge in the Amazon jungle. Prices start from £845 per person for five nights at the Oceano Copacabana in Rio in May 2001.

The Philippines - Beach holidays have been introduced on the relatively unknown Philippine islands of Cebu, Boracay and Palawan with prices from £955 for 6 nights at Fridays hotel in Boracay and flight with British Airways via Hong Kong. An independent Rice Terraces tour and three night catamaran cruise can also be arranged.
Dubai - the guaranteed sunshine, high quality accommodation and excellent shopping have proved irresistible for British holidaymakers. Four new properties have been introduced including one in the smaller Emirate of Ras al Khaimah.
Kenya - Mombasa is once again a growing beach destination after years of falling popularity and a weekly charter flight has been introduced to fulfil demand. Prices start from £615 per person for seven nights, half board at the Travellers Tiwi hotel.
Cuba - two new beach resort islands are included in Cuba - Cayo Coco and Cayo Guillermo - which can be combined with Havana, Varadero or Jibacoa. Also new is Caribbean Rhythm, a 7 day escorted tour visiting Havana, Sierra del Rosario, Vinales and Trinidad. Prices to Cuba start from £599 per person for seven nights at the Hotel Inglaterra in Havana.
Vietnam - More holidays are offered in Vietnam with hotels in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi and the lesser known beach resorts of Phan Thiet and Nhatrang on the South China Sea. Prices start from £938 for an eight night holiday to Ho Chi Minh and Phan Thiet in January and February 2001.

New Tailormade Options and Independent Tours
South Africa - fly-in tours from South Africa to Namibia and Zimbabwe include the desert and petrified forests of Namibia with game viewing and Victoria Falls, Hwange and Kariba in Zimbabwe.
Mexico - a new 5 day Yucatan Haciendas tour visits the major sites in Yucatan with accommodation in old-style haciendas.
Malaysia - the Rainforest Discovery is a new independent tour of the Taman Negara region of Malaysia which includes a jet boat ride up the Taman Negara river, a stay in the rain forest and the beach resort of Kuantan.
India - tailormade holidays have been introduced in India with a selection of hotels in Delhi, Jaipur, Agra, Cochin and Goa and tour ideas designed to meet the increasing demand for a taste of the Indian continent.

China - With second time visitors to China in mind, independent touring is the focus for 2001. The 10 night Essential China tour enables holidaymakers to visit places such as Beijing, Xian and Shanghai and to travel to Hong Kong by train without having to join a fully escorted tour.

New luxury cruising excursions include Phi Phi, Phang Nga and Krabi from Phuket in Thailand and the ‘dragons of Komodo’, Lombok and East and West Sumbaya from Bali.

The British Airways Holidays Worldwide 2001 brochure is on sale from 29 June 2000 for travel between 1 August 2000 to 30 November 2001. Savings of £50 per person are offered for early bookings on selected Caribbean holidays and over 120 holidays have other early booking offers such as room upgrades and free excursions. Free children’s holidays and free nights are also available at selected hotels.

For reservations call British Airways Holidays on 0870 24 24 245.

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