Awed by its grandeur, don't overlook the details of Bangkok's Grand Palace

With the recent launch of hotel- and tour-booking websites for Bangkok (www.bangkok-hotels-link.com) and Pattaya (www.pattaya-hotel-link.com), whl.travel has taken another frog-leap forward toward becoming the leading travel-booking service in the Greater Mekong area.

Bringing to 25 the current total number of whl.travel destinations in the region, the website for Bangkok – a vital travel gateway – joins six other sites in Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Koh Samui, Pattaya, Phuket and Sukhothai), four in Laos (Champasak, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientiane), three in Cambodia (Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville) and a total of 11 across Vietnam (including Danang, Hoi An, Hue, Saigon and Sapa).

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Posted under Cambodia, General, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

The Palawan lagoons are known for visual treats both above and beneath the waters. Here, they are surrounded by magnificent limestone formations.

Under the name Go Discover Travel, the whl.travel presence in the Philippines has taken another significant step towards becoming the preferred hotel and tour booking company in the country. Already established in two destinations – Cebu and Boracay – whl.travel recently gave travellers another reason to visit the Philippines: Palawan.

These three destinations represent some of the most popular holiday choices in the country, combining the best of what the Philippines has to offer, including tropical beaches, rich culture, diverse landscapes and rich heritage.

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Posted under General, Philippines, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

LEIA LOGO ABAIXO ESTA NOTICIA EM PORTUGUÊS / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN PORTUGUESE

Ilha Grande is commonly thought of as the second wonder of Rio de Janeiro state (the first being the Christ Redeemer). This wonderful island, located off the coast south of Rio, is the newest addition to the family of whl.travel destinations in Brazil. Visit www.hotel-ilhagrande.com.

Paradise found - Lopes Mendes Beach

Ilha Grande, which means “Big Island” in English, has an area of 126 square kilometers – that’s 11 times larger than Fernando de Noronha island! – all of it  covered by Atlantic Rainforest and surrounded by more than 100 beaches (blue waters, turquoise waters, emerald waters, light-green waters…just pick a color). If you are looking for a calm and quiet spot, Ilha Grande is definitely the place to be.

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Posted under Brazil, General, new local connections, whl.travel news

LEIA LOGO ABAIXO ESTA NOTICIA EM PORTUGUÊS / SEE BELOW FOR THIS MESSAGE IN PORTUGUESE

The mesmerising St Barbara waterfall photo ©Guilherme Cabral

Do you believe in the mystical? Regardless of your answer, you must take a look at whl.travel’s new Chapada dos Veadeiros website. Just click on www.chapadaveadeiros.travel and be magically transported to central Brazil.

This amazing destination is a national park located in Goiás state, in the heart of Brazil. In Chapada dos Veadeiros you will see shiny little rocks on the ground: they’re quartz crystals. The mineral actually pushes up from out of the earth because the Chapada dos Veadeiros rests on a huge reserve of crystals. For this reason the area is a choice location for people with mystical inclinations. Many even swear to have seen flying saucers there!

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Posted under Brazil, General, countries, new local connections, whl.travel news

Labelled ‘the hippest year-round beach scene in South America’ in an article by The New York Times and famed for its legendary beauty, Brazil’s Florianópolis is dotted with lakes, pristine beaches, sand dunes, waterfalls and the Atlantic Forest. But there’s far more than sun worshippers and stunning natural scenery that draws travellers to the ‘Island of Magic’. Florianópolis offers the ideal balance of eco-activities and an easygoing atmosphere coupled with the well-known Brazilian zest for life! It’s the South American capital of water sports and also a sanctuary for adventure-sports enthusiasts, both beginners and professionals alike.

Moçambique or “the great beach”, colloquially known as Mocamba, is the longest and most tranquil beach in Floripa. Its crystal-clear waters are ideal for surfing.

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Posted under Brazil, General, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

Exploring Uzbekistan is like leafing through the pages of an Eastern fairytale. During your journey you come across ancient fortresses, emirs’ palaces, tall minarets, noisy bazaars, fragrant cuisine and myriads of legends. The ancient cities of Samarkand, Khiva and Bukhara are popular must-see destinations for travellers coming to Uzbekistan, however, beyond some of the more better-known highlights there are distinctive aspects of each place that should not be overlooked.

Legendary Samarkand Non
An inseparable part of Uzbek culture is non, the traditional bread made in special earthen ovens. There are over 20 kinds of non, yet the most famous comes from the village of Gala-Osiyo near Samarkand. The secret recipe has made Samarkand the home of the best non in the region.

According to legend, when a Bukharin emir tasted Samarkand non, he ordered the best baker to make the same non in Bukhara. The baker made the bread, but the taste was different. The angry emir demanded an explanation. The baker reported that the air in Samarkand makes the bread so delicious!

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Posted under General, Uzbekistan, countries, local tips, whl.travel newsletter

By Len Cordiner, CEO of whl.travel

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I was reading an article in the Historical Houses Trust magazine in Sydney this month about the fabulous network of trams which operated in Sydney until 1961. It is reported that the Sydney tram network was in its day the largest in the Commonwealth outside of London, and was much loved by Sydney commuters. However progress (represented by a strong lobby of the auto industry) took its toll and in the late 1950s the tram network was scrapped despite a large demonstration by the public at the time to save the trams.

Sound familiar? Around the same time some of Sydney’s most treasured buildings were up for demolition in The Rocks area, as well as the Queen Victoria Building. Fortunately strong union action at the time saved them (thank God).

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Posted under General, responsible organisations, responsible travel news, whl.travel newsletter

By Senda and Gerard Oude Hergelink

Shenda and Gerard own and operate Titcotour, the local whl.travel partner for Marmaris and the Datça Peninsula of Turkey.

Our approach to sustainability in tourism is a holistic one. We don’t believe that you can develop one thing and neglect others. For example, you can’t create a beach paradise with a two-month-long tourism season and forget the lives of the original year-round inhabitants. We think such projects destroy historic, human and natural resources. As ‘holistics’ we do not concentrate only on accommodation, restaurants or transportation services; we place first emphasis on socio-economic features, looking at the local economic activities of the past, present and future.
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Posted under General, Turkey, countries, responsible organisations, whl.travel newsletter

Somewhere along the line we have all heard of the Maldives, renowned for their turquoise waters and year-round idyllic weather. With over 1,000 islets and 26 atolls, the Republic of Maldives is located in the Indian Ocean about 700km southwest of Sri Lanka.

A classic and gentle snorkeller-whale shark encounter

Beauty through purity is one of the things that make the Maldives a premium romantic location targeted by honeymooners. However, unlike the typical visitor, why not jump at the occasion to see the country from a completely different perspective: supporting protection of its underwater world. Enhance your understanding of the atolls and reef islands that offer some of the world’s most exquisite diving by getting involved in a whale shark protection programme.
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Posted under General, Maldives, countries, local tips, responsible organisations, whl.travel newsletter