10. Tokyo Top retailers 38.68% – Tokyo is well known for its fashion and people living in Tokyo are said to be obsessed with top brands. You can find here mass retailers like Uniqlo and boutiques such as Boutique W as well as Side by Side, a clothing store established by the stylist Nicola Formichetti that also showcases the work of emerging artists.

9. Barcelona Top retailers 39.09% – Barcelona has its fair share of high street stores including Zara as well as the more mature Cortefiel. Designer’s shops including Chanel and Cartier are also to be found there. The shoppers will really appreciate lesser known shops such as luxury designer boutique Jean-Pierre Bua that sells brands such as Jean Paul Gaultier – and Le Shoe.

8. Munich Top retailers 39, 92% – Munich is the third largest city of Germany and attracts shoppers from all over the world. Brands like Brioni, Armani and Cerruti 1881 and Polo Ralph Lauren attract shoppers from near and far. If you look for something really German, go to Marienplatz and get your own Bavarian costume.

7. Berlin Top retailers 40.33% – The capital of Germany is also the shopping capital of this European country. Department stores such as Galeries Lafayette and fashion-forward boutiques like The Corner attract masses to spend their money here. 

6. Moscow Top retailers 42, 39% – Moscow is considered to be the most expensive city in the world and if you look for luxury Moscow is the right place to go. Le Form is a shop that carries many brands with complimentary aesthetics as well as international favorites such as Derercuny, Maison Martin Margiela and Dries Van Noten. Mass brands like Gap, Zara and H&M have also expanded to the city. 

5. Madrid Top retailers 44.03% – Madrid is the capital of Spain and serves as home to many of the world’s top brands, including Adidas, Loewe and mass mainstay H&M. Local favorites such as Agatha Ruiz de la Prada and Desigual are also to be found there. 

4. Dubai Top retailers 45.68% – Dubai is known for its endless shopping malls including Mall of Emirates, Wafi Shopping Mall and Villa Moda housing designer shops like YSL, Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton.

3. New York Top retailers 46.91% – New York is beloved for its department stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and Barneys both situated in Midtown. Funky boutiques such as Crave, Aloha Rag and What Comes Around Goes Around in SoHo, are also typical for this city. Of course every top retailer under the sun seems to have a presence in N.Y. 

2. Paris Top retailers 49.79% – Paris, the capital of France, is considered to be the most stylish city in the world. It is also home of the world’s most well-dressed artists, stylists and designers. Maria Luisa, Colette and L’Eclaireur are the best known multi-brand boutiques in the world. Palais Royal is the latest hot shopping spot which hosts boutiques such as Stella McCartney, Rick Owens and Corto Moteldo.

1. London Top retailers: 59.26% – London is with its High Street the capital of the world’s shopping. The city hosts more than half of the world’s shop retailers, including the young and trendy Topshop as well as high end department stores such as Liberty of London and Harvey Nichols. Comme des Garçons designer Rei Kawakubo’s Dover Street Market is a boutique that focuses on hard-to-find designers such as Anne Valerie Hash. Labour of Love stocks little-known labels such as Louis Amstrup.

To book your next shopping trip, call or visit Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

Some hotels offer ‘dine around’ schemes with local restaurants, you guests won’t tire of the same buffet all week.  Many hotels run free shuttle buses to nearby Hurghada so the odd night out is no hassle.  “Makadi Bay works well for families”, says Hayes and Jarvis Regional Products and Conracts Manager Glen McCool.  “It’s self-contained and safe, almost like a Disney-style village.”

To book your holiday to Egypt, call or visit Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

The city will be helped by the fact that it was recently named European Capital of Culture for 2010, the company said.

Ice also forecast that Turkey as a whole will perform well in 2010, with British travellers already showing strong demand for the country’s currency.

Koko Sarkari, global head of the firm, said: “The Turkish lira was the sixth most ordered currency in both May and June 2009 and in the summer of 2008 Turkey knocked Spain off the top spot for UK holidays.

“We are already seeing sales of lira up in January 2010, compared to the same time last year, suggesting that Turkey is a hot favourite with UK travellers.”

Mr Sarkari also pointed out that it is useful to have some low denomination lira if visitors are planning to visit Istanbul’s bazaars or take a river cruise on the Bosphorus.

Flights to Istanbul are provided by Turkish Airlines, Swiss, British Airways and other carriers, but luxury Hertfordshire travel agent Ultimate Destinations can help find the right flight for you.

To book your holiday to Turkey, call or visit Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

Here’s the number one hotel room together with the rest of the list:
1. Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi, Athens from 45,000 per night
The suite offers guests a private version of everything imaginable; heated pool, steam room, private beach, private butler, chef or pianist, everything is possible!

2. Hugh Hefner Sky Villa, Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas from $40,000 per night
3. Ty Warner Penthouse, Four Seasons, New York from $34,000 per night
4. Royal Penthouse Suite, President Wilson Hotel, Geneva from $33,000 per night
5. Bridge Suite at The Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas from $25,000 per night
6. Ritz Carlton Suite, The Ritz-Carlton, Moscow from $18,200 per night
7. Royal Suite, Burj Al Arab, Dubai from $18,000 per night
8. Royal Armleder Suite, Le Richemond, Geneva from $17,500 per night
9. Royal Suite, Four Seasons George V, Paris from $16,000 per night
10. Imperial Suite, Park Hyatt-Vendome, Paris from $15,500 per night

Tempted!  Well who wouldn’t be, but if it’s a little over your budget and you would still like a fantastic holiday of a lifetime experience call Ultimate Destinations travel agent on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

SpaceShipTwo uses all the same basic technology, carbon composite construction and design as SpaceShipOne. However it is around twice as large as that vehicle and will carry six passengers and two pilots. It is 60ft long with a 90″ diameter cabin which is similar in size to a Falcon 900 executive jet albeit with no floor dissecting the cabin allowing maximum room for the astronauts to float in zero gravity.  Each passenger gets the same seating position with two large windows: one side window and one overhead, so that, if you don’t want to float free in space, and you’d rather just remain in your seat, you still get a great chance to see the view.  No more squabbling over who has the best seat!

Book your place in space now and join around 250 Virgin Galactic astronauts who will venture into space.  Tickets cost $200,000 and deposits start from $20,000.

Or if you want a holiday full of adventure, but without leaving earth, call Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

The Caribbean is abuzz with tourists, ports packed with cruise ships, beaches coated with glistening baking bodies and wharfs beset with souvenir stalls and busy bars. There is one place in this bright holiday Mecca though, where tranquillity reigns supreme and unspoilt beaches spill down from discreet exclusive resorts to the crystal clear sea.  This is the island of Anguilla, situated in the British West Indies about 150 miles (241km) east of Puerto Rico, and nine miles (14km) north of St Martin.

Anguilla boasts 33 amazing beaches that many rate as the best in the world and most certainly in the Caribbean.  Each is special in its own way, from Shoal Bay East with its mile of soft sand and wild Windward Bay to serene Little Harbor or secluded Captain’s Bay, reached only by a narrow gravel track.  The beaches, together with a set of stylish villas, resort hotels and delicious cuisine have made Anguilla a favourite hideaway for celebrities, particularly movie stars, as witnessed by the private jets often parked on the airport runway.

Alan Haynes, owner of Ultimate Destinations travel agents in Herts visited Anguilla recently and comments “Anguilla was the highlight of my travel agent educational visit to several of the Caribbean islands.  We stayed at Cap Jaluca which was truly exceptional with its high levels of service, recently refurbished rooms, the newly acquired Greg Norman golf course and of course the fantastic beach.  I am already back there in my dreams”.

For your next holiday to the Caribbean or more specifically Anguilla call Ultimate Destinations travel agent on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

Against the Egyptian pound and UAE dirham, sterling will buy 15 per cent more than in January 2009. The pound has also strengthened against the dollar by around 15 per cent in the past year, although it fell back slightly this week following the Government’s announcement that the economy is growing at a slower rate than expected.

The Post Office said the improvement in sterling’s value has been mirrored by a rise in currency sales. Purchases of Egyptian pounds rose by 9 per cent in 2009, while sales of the UAE dirham were up by 6 per cent. The growing popularity of Egypt and Dubai as mid-haul winter sun destinations has been reflected by a 45 per cent increase in sales of the Egyptian pound and a 205 per cent increase in sales of the UAE dirham since 2005.

Against the Caribbean’s leading currencies, sterling has strengthened even further over the same period. Visitors to Jamaica can expect to receive almost 30 per cent more dollars than in January 2009, while those going to St Lucia or Antigua will find the East Caribbean dollar has fallen by 17 per cent against the pound since last year. Sterling will also buy 15 per cent more Barbados dollars.

For football supporters the news is not so good – the pound has weakened against the South African rand by nearly 12 per cent since January last year. Sterling has fallen by more than 14 per cent against both the Australia and New Zealand dollars. The pound also fell marginally against the Polish zloty, Czech koruna and Norwegian kroner.

For your next holiday booking and to receive expert advice on what currency to take on your trip abroad, call Ultimate Destinations travel agent on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

The £1.2bn project, known as e-Borders, is an exceptionally complex and challenging programme to completely modernise what the UK Border Agency knows about passengers.  The previous largely paper-based system was scrapped progressively by Conservative and Labour governments because it had become unworkable.   E-Borders will collect information on everyone entering or leaving the UK. Much of the information has to be collected by the carriers, mostly airlines, and passed on to the authorities just before departure.  
The minimum requirement is each passenger’s name and all the details in their passport. But the UK Border Agency has the right to ask the carrier for much more information, including their e-mail address, credit card number, car registration number and the name of the person who made the reservation. This can then be checked against immigration, customs and police watch-lists.

That information will then be used to better understand who is coming and going and why – but also to improve the means of identifying people who are a threat, criminal or otherwise.   The Home Office is promising that the scheme will be efficient – but many travel firms and carriers remain sceptical, predicting chaos as the system is rolled out over the next four years.

For your next holiday booking and to receive expert advice on what and how to pack for your trip call Ultimate Destinations travel agent on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk viagra

He said that despite the recession cruising remained a value option and said “Meals, accommodation and entertainment are included in the price and customers can not only visit many vibrant ports and enjoy every activity under the sun, but also meet so many different people and cultures, making cruising a really satisfying experience.” 

If you need some help to navigate the world of cruising, then make Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts your first port of call.

To book your cruise holiday call Ultimate Destinations travel agent in Chorleywood, Herts on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office and ABTA have tipped Turkey, Egypt, Morocco and Mexico as some of Britons’ likely choices this year. Indeed, they do all offer a culture rich, Euro-free experience. Travel journalist Simon Calder also recommends looking East: “This is going to be a fantastic year for travel, it’s just a question of being careful, planning ahead and getting the most for what remains of your pounds. Once you get to Croatia, Bulgaria, Turkey and Egypt, and beyond that to India and Thailand, that’s when you’re going to see the best value”.

However, Simon also warns not to ignore those classic destinations such as Spain and France. “It’s still very easy to get no-frills flights right across Europe and there’s an awful lot of very hungry hoteliers out there who are going to be offering some very spectacular deals to lure you and me across to the Med despite the puny pound”.

Alan Haynes, Ultimate Destinations travel agent says “We are being asked all the time for holiday recommendations out of the Euro zone. Long haul destinations like Mauritius are extremely popular, with all-inclusive resorts providing great value.”  He goes onto say “Cruises too are more popular than ever:  the choice of itineraries is extensive, the ships cater for every requirement and there are cruises to suit all tastes and budgets.   In our opinion the luxury top end cruise lines such as Silversea, Regent Seven Seas and Crystal Cruises are offering by far the best value, their prices compare well to other cruise operators and offer far more for your money.”  Alan confirms that closer to home, Turkey and Egypt remain fashionable for this year and currently the price of flights to these destinations is quite reasonable.  

In terms of new destinations, Syria is really up and coming.  Its historic sites rival those of its Middle Eastern neighbours and Damascus, without doubt, is one of the great classical cities of the eastern Mediterranean.  The Syrian people are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality and you won’t be disappointed.

To book your next holiday call Ultimate Destinations travel agent on 01923 284148 or email info@ultimatedestinations.co.uk