Newsletter Issue 4 - 12th July 2001

Hello and welcome to another newsletter from Karibuni.

Thanks for the positive feedback on the past issues, and I am glad that many of you find the information useful and inspiring - as well as having used it to save money on your travels.

Even if you haven't got time to read the whole newsletter right now, save it 'til later, and please send this on to any of your friends or colleagues who may also be interested in getting the most from their leisure time. Also if you have some tips or news to share, then please drop us a note to info@karibuni.co.uk

You will find some more great features and articles in this edition and we are giving away some Lonely Planet guidebooks.

Coming up in this edition: -
- Karibuni news - exciting weekends and new activities
- Cowes Week - an insight
- Competition - Free Lonely Planet travel guides
- Get away to Europe on the cheap
By Air - Charter flights
By Sea - Booze Cruising
- Global Quickies - news and tips from around the world

Karibuni news
Well summer has finally arrived - albeit in fits and starts - and we have been making the most of the good weather with some scorching Adventure Weekends.
The schedule for the summer contains some great trips covering the Lake District, Snowdonia, New Forest, the Shires and also the Isle of Wight.

For any of you not familiar with the Adventure Weekend trips - they are the easiest way of getting out, seeing some great parts of Britain and enjoying some fun outdoor pursuits. It's all arranged for you - you just turn up and enjoy an action packed and fun weekend that is perfect for escaping the city. It's as easy as that!
The trips leave London on Friday evening, and return on Sunday night and are all-inclusive. So the price you see includes all transport, accommodation, meals and activities. Great value…

Some of the weekend trips are already filling up fast, but there are spaces left so move fast. Full details of all the weekend trips can be found here

Rogues Gallery
Also - you can now see photos of the fun that past groups have got up to in the Rogues Gallery section of the website. If you have been on one of our tours - then see if you can spot yourself looking dashing in a wetsuit.

Great new activity
If you like it "wet 'n' wild" then the Snowdonia trip on the 17th August is for you! This weekend includes gorge-scrambling - the fantastic new sport of making your way up and down a river gorge. Jumping off waterfalls, scrambling along rocks and sliding down rapids are just part of the fun in this exhilarating activity. But - as ever safety comes first and you have all the gear and qualified instructors. A real buzz and a great experience. More details

Cowes Week
Although sailing may not be as big in London as in say Sydney or Auckland - the town of Cowes on the Isle of Wight is known as the "yachting capital of the world" and every year plays host to one of the greatest sailing regattas in the world, and definitely the finest in the UK.
Known as "Cowes Week" the event attracts nearly a thousand competitor boats and countless other spectator craft in a truly magnificent spectacle. The full 8-day racing event ends in a grand finale of racing and associated social events - with the picturesque town in full party mood.
This year Karibuni will be running a weekend trip to catch this great event, and explore the beautiful Isle of Wight - Fri 10th - Sun 12th August. Find out more details

Cowes Week is the longest-running, regular regatta in the world, having been held in early August every year since 1826. That first race was for a "Gold Cup of the value of £100" and was held under the flag of the Royal Yacht Club, later the Royal Yacht Squadron. There was another race the next day, a ball on Thursday evening and a dinner and fireworks on Friday evening.
The same traditions still prevail, as does the attendance of members of the royal family, and an extensive social programme. The activities ashore are just as much part of the whole event. They vary from cocktail parties, yacht club balls, private parties, culminating in the spectacular fireworks display held on the final Friday evening, which is attended by tens of thousands of people both watching from the shore and from hundreds of yachts which gather around the harbour.
The Solent is a unique piece of water characterised by its tides and winds and it gives even the most experienced helmsman and crew plenty of excitement and challenges.
More details on the event can be found here.

Competition - win Lonely Planet guidebooks

In order to win one of these books, you simply need to send an email to info@karibuni.co.uk (LINK) with the answer to the 2 simple questions below.

Stone Circles Competition
1 - Which ancient Wiltshire stone circle will Karibuni be visiting as part of the weekend trip on 3-5th August?
2 - The name of the Stone Circle which is visited on the August Bank Holiday Adventure Weekend in the Lake District?

The answers can easily be found on the Karibuni website if you're not a stone circle boffin! The first 4 correct entries to be drawn from the hat on 25th July will each be sent their Lonely Planet books ready to explore Britain.

Getaway to Europe on the Cheap
Summer season is in full swing and many people want to escape for some warmer weather and delights of the Continent. With that in mind, we have a few tips and ideas on how to save some time and money with some quick trip ideas to Europe.

By Air - Charter flights
If you are looking to escape to the Mediterranean for some sun but want to travel independently you can still use the high street travel agencies to get you a cheap trip.

You can buy "flight-only" deals from all the main high street agencies and they can be great value - particularly on the late deals. Hundreds of charter flights leave the UK each day heading for the Greek islands, Balearics and mainland Spanish resorts.
With so many departures throughout the week it is not necessary to book 7 day return trips, and you can tailor return flights for most durations. Also some of these flights leave from provincial airports, so can be convenient if you are not based in London. Capital dwellers needn't worry as Gatwick, Stanstead and Luton are also widely served.
Flight-only brochures are not produced as times can change through the season, but call into any main travel agency and they should be able to find you suitable dates and times.

We took Ibiza as an example and found fares in the high street leaving in the next 2 weeks for as little as £79 return - whereas the cheapest flights at budget airline Go were £86.50 each way. The same was also true for Palma (Majorca) and Alicante on the Spanish mainland.

By Sea - Booze Cruising
Do you have a party or barbeque coming up and need some cheap booze? If you have a day or 2 to spare, then a trip across the Channel to France could be just what you're after. As the ferry companies face up to the competition of Eurostar and the Tunnel, they have been offering some great day-returns and mini-breaks aimed primarily at those cross-channel shoppers heading for the cheap wine, beers, spirits and cigarettes.
There are practically no restrictions on how much you can bring back - as long as it is for "personal consumption" and so this is an ideal way to stock up on your alcohol needs.

Prices are normally based on a car and at least 5 passengers and have some restrictions on the times that you can travel out and return by. The cheapest fares tend to have more restrictions, but do present some real value.
The cheapest and quickest routes are from Dover to Calais, which also has the largest choice of supermarkets and discount warehouses. However, you are unlikely to even notice being in another country with English people, shops and brands all around.

For a more French feel then you should go West to ports such as Cherbourg, Caen and the picturesque St Malo - ideal for an overnight break. Brittany Ferries (0870 5360 360) have sailings to these towns but they are longer journeys.

For pure "duty free" value P&O Stena Line have some great offers on day trips from Dover to Calais - and even include some free booze to help you on your way. Further discounts are available if you book on line. The best offer we found was a £62 fare which gives you up to 24 hours in France and includes 6 bottles of Hardy's Chardonnay. More details here or call 0870 6000 600

Hoverspeed operate the very impressive Superseacat boats which take just 40 minutes to reach France! A super fast time which leaves you with more time to spend in France. More details of their special offers can be found on their website or by calling 0870 5240 241

"Gadget" corner - The Dream Helmet!
A company in Los Angeles has come up with a new travel device called the Dream Helmet, which is meant to help you sleep in airports or on planes, trains and automobiles. It's a cross between a wrap-around pillow and a sleep mask, and when you twist it around your head and use its Velcro fasteners to keep it on, it not only cushions your cranium but also keeps out all sound and light. The Dream Helmet costs $30 and is supposedly being snapped up by budget travellers in the USA to save them the cost of a hotel room.

Global Quickies
A few quick snippets of news from around the world…

- Don't delay on going to Egypt - as a new study by British researchers estimates that you have only 25 years left to enjoy the Sphinx before it crumbles back into the desert. Despite a ten year, multi-million dollar restoration project the future of the great statues (first uncovered from beneath the sand in 1926) lies in the balance. The chemicals used and shoddy workmanship have been identified as possible causes of future degradation.

- A giant tortoise has escaped from a zoo in Michigan. Despite only averaging a distance of half a mile every day. 13-year old Big Bertha, a 75lb African spur-thigh tortoise, made her dash for freedom 3 weeks ago. Keepers failed to find her on a quick search after the escape was discovered, and Bertha remains at large despite several sightings!

And a tip which can save money on hotel rooms…(particularly in the big chains)
- When booking a hotel room always phone in your enquiry and avoid asking the question in person at the front desk. If the hotel clerk sees you standing at the counter, they will assume you have no alternative but to book a room regardless of price, and will not offer you their best rate. By phoning you give the impression that you can still shop around if an unsatisfactory price is quoted. Always ask for a lower price than the one quoted, pointing out that the initial price is beyond your budget.

That's all for this time….I hope that you found it an interesting read and can use our tips to get out there and make the most of the summer. It never lasts long enough - so don't delay!

Many thanks, and happy travels

Paul