Different strokes

Had enough of Europe and South-east Asia? A trip to the islands is what you need!

What is it?
You've already taken a holiday to the South-east and Europe. And now, you're looking to do something different this summer.

Well, how about chilling out with your spouse and kids on the Fiji Islands or visit Morocco? Yes, Thomas Cook, SOTC and the likes now offer "" apart from their regular offers to Europe, south-east Asia and Australia "" tours to destinations like these.

Why are we writing about it?
Well, you're looking for a nice holiday with your family. But you also want to do something different.

So how about having all the comforts that come with a package tour (visa, air tickets, accommodation and meals taken care of by the tour agencies) as well as the pleasure of bragging about an exotic holiday to your friends and colleagues?

Where can I go?
If you're looking to get off for little over a week from work, then we suggest that you try Thomas Cook's Bora Bora package. For one, it's exotic enough to send you flipping through the pages of an Atlas.

And then, the things that you can do include windsurfing, jetskiing, scuba diving and sun bathing. Good enough? And if you have money matters to take care of, this package won't exactly burn up your savings.

Cost: Rs 48,963 per person for seven days. The price includes air travel from Papeete to Moorea to Bora Bora and back and accommodation.

And if you've been there already (lucky you!) then you could try Thomas Cook's Fiji package. It'll cost you 37,414 Fijian Dollars (that's roughly Rs 9 lakh per person). The price includes breakfast and accommodation.

Book your place soon as the offer is valid only till the end of this month, though we think it's priced a tad too high. They also offer a seven-day tour to Morocco priced at Rs 39,398.

SOTC offers similar duration packages to Sri Lanka (Rs 47,737 per person), Kenya (Rs 62,464) and Jordan (Rs 49,966). If shopping tops your priority list, SOTC's offering an interesting combo package of Mauritius plus Dubai (Rs 48,766 per person).

Here you get five days to visit Port Louis (capital city), the famous Casela Bird Park (it houses 140 bird species), and take an undersea walk in Mauritius and three days in Dubai (Rs 48,766 per person).

Looking for a short break?
If it's a short break that you're looking to recharge your grey cells, we recommend Thomas Cook's Lima package (Rs 5,928 per person for three days).

The deal's perfect if you're also a history buff "" you'll get to visit the historic centre of Lima (was declared a world heritage site in 1988) and see the Lima city walls, a fine example of fortification in medieval Spain "" along with cooling your heels on the beaches.

Meanwhile, SOTC has a five-day package to Mauritius that costs Rs 32,468 per person. But with what Lima has to offer, wouldn't you rather leave Mauritius for some other time?

Take it or leave it?
Take it. If you want the best of both worlds "" a planned holiday and exotic locales "" this is the best you can get.

SNIPPETS

Cruise control
Looking to holiday on a cruise? Not before you read this. Experts recommend that before you hop on board you should first get an update on available immunisation that will keep you guarded from communicable diseases.

Also, you should check the coverage of your current health plan. Does it cover for medical expenses throughout the trip, including travel outside their country? Does it pay for medical evacuation? If not, you should find a short-term travel health insurance that will provide proper coverage.

Sometimes passengers can disembark for treatment at a scheduled port or by the ship returning to a port, but other times a specially equipped medical helicopter or air ambulance is needed.

That medical evacuation expense can range from $5,000-$50,000 or more, and may not be covered in a passenger's stateside health insurance plan. So to be on the safe side, before planning a cruise, you must take a few simple steps ahead of time to prepare for the possibility of getting sick or hurt.

If you don't know where to look for "" check out Travel Insurance Services (TIS) who have developed affordable cruise travel insurance plans to meet these needs. TIS is a USI Affinity Company (www.usiaffinity.com) a division of USI Holdings Corporation (USI).

Plans like InterMedical Insurance and Travel Insurance Select include benefits for medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation.

Each plan also includes 24-hour, multilingual worldwide emergency assistance, that helps to organise emergency medical transportation, provides medical care location service, monitors medical cases, communicates treatments to physicians back home and delivers emergency messages to family and friends.

Seas less travelled
So let's say hello to the Blue Lagoon Cruises, who bring you genuine Fijian hospitality and the exoticism of the South Pacific. Just in time for spring, small boutique cruise ship market leader Blue Lagoon Cruises are offering their unmatched Gold 6-night cruise for the price of a Gold 3-night cruise.

With just 72 passengers and access to secluded, unspoiled Fijian waters and deserted islands, this extraordinary offer is limited to bookings made by May 30, 2007 for departures to June 11, 2007 inclusive and from September 17.

With prices starting from just $1,136.00 per person based on double occupancy, you can cruise the seas less travelled for seven days and six starry South Pacific nights.

For reservations or more information on an extraordinary Fiji cruising adventure, contact: reservations@blc.com.fj or visit www.bluelagooncruises.com.