It's celebration time
17-Jan-08
When it comes to sampling the finest wines and most sumptuous cuisine, or hearing a lively mix of music in fabulous locations, festivals can offer clients a more vibrant experience of their destination.
"Visiting a Caribbean festival or carnival while on holiday gives you the opportunity to experience the culture and traditions of the country and have some fun with the local people," says Paul Cleary, managing director of Caribtours.
Hugo De Greef, secretary general of the European Festivals Association, recommends the International Music Festival Brno, in Czech Republic; the summer zmir International Festival, in Turkey; and Portugal's Estoril Music Festival (www.efa-aef.org).
"There are a lot of nice cities in Europe, but it makes a difference if you have a high level of culture on top," he says. "If you go to a festival it's not only the opportunity to learn about local culture but it also gives added value to the holiday."
Festivities in the UK are also attracting the more discerning traveller. Visit Britain says boutique camping is a developing trend at the UK summer festivals such as Glastonbury. The Latitude Festival, in Suffolk, offers options from beach huts to Bohemian Bivouacs.
Tom Wright, Visit Britain chief executive, says: "Some of Britain's festivals offer the ultimate in chic - there's a reason they attract the hottest artists from around the world. Luxury travellers expect the very best service and quality from their holidays, and nowadays there are plenty of options available to ensure that no matter how muddy it might get at the festivals, their experience will still be world class."
Martin Randall, managing director of Martin Randall Travel, adds: "For many of those who travel to festivals, it is the reason for going to that destination. Festivals provide intensity of experience. They give clients the opportunity to sample a wide range in a short span of time."
Randall suggests The Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival in Finland for "a marvellous experience" offering clients up to six concerts per day, with a variety of musicians. "It's a highly creative and charged atmosphere that rubs off on the musicians and the audience," he says.
The Veranos de la Villa festival, Madrid, includes more than 100 shows, with this summer's highlight being Daniel Barenboim conducting the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra against the backdrop of the city's Plaza Mayor.
(www.esmadrid.com)
WHERE TO SIT, WHERE TO STAY, WHERE TO CELEBRATE
JANUARY
Festival: Cavadi Festival: January-February
Where: Port Louis, Mauritius
Client fit: Not for the squeamish, Cavadi is a Hindu festival where body parts are pierced with needles and pins.
Best spot to view: The street, so you can watch the devotees carry the 'Cavadi' - a wooden arch covered with flowers and pots of milk - on their shoulders as a penitence.
Best rest: The Royal Villa at The Oberoi Mauritius is located just 15km from the capital and is near the town of Grand Baie.
Sample price: £1,750 per night for the Villa.
Best place to chill: Head to L'Horizon beachfront Restaurant at Le Victoria Hotel, up the coast from Port Louis.
Contact: www.oberoihotels.com
FEBRUARY
Festival: Festival of Flowers: 22 February-1 March 2008
Where: Christchurch, New Zealand
Client fit: Enthusiastic gardeners.
Best spot to view: There are more than 30 events on offer all around Christchurch. Don't miss the Botanical Gardens.
Best rest: The George, a luxury boutique hotel, near parks and the Botanical Gardens.
Sample price: Suites from £150 per night
Best place to chill: The Curator's House - the original home of the Gardens' curator.
Contact: www.festivalofflowers.co.nz, www.thegeorge.com
MARCH
Festival: Kijani International Music Festival: Late February-early March
Where: Kijani, Nairobi Province, Kenya
Client fit: Music lovers with a conscience -it benefits the Kijani Kenya Trust, which works to improve HIV education.
Best spot to view: Any - the festival takes place in a range of open-air venues.
Best rest: The Giraffe Manor, where the resident herd welcome guests.
Sample price: $655 (£321) per room, half board
Best place to chill: Carnivore in Nairobi has twice been named one of the world's top 50 restaurants.
Contact: www.kijanikenyatrust.org, www.giraffemanor.com
APRIL
Festival: Pi Mai (New Year) Festival: 14-16 April
Where: Luang Prabang, Laos
Client fit: Those interested in culture and fun: starts as a cleansing ritual for Buddha and ends up as a water fight.
Best spot to view: Anywhere near the Royal Palace - on the final day, the Golden Buddha is paraded through the streets, accom-panied by an elephant procession.
Best rest: La Residence Phou Vao (Orient- Express).
Sample price: From £145
Best place to chill: Ancient Luang Prabang Hotel has a third floor open air cafe with panoramic views
Contact: www.residencephouvao.com
MAY
Festival: Reykjavik Arts Festival: 15 May - 5 June
Where: Reykjavik, Iceland
Client fit: Adults and families. The festival promotes international and Icelandic culture in all fields of art.
Best spot to view: Events take place in a variety of venues.
Best rest: Reykjavik 101 for boutique chic www.101hotel.is.
Sample price: The Apartment Suite is £627.
Best place to chill: B5 bar www.b5.is or Domo restaurant and bar www.domo.is, or unwind at Laugar Spa www.laugarspa.is
Contact: www.listahatid.is
JUNE
Festival: Glastonbury Festival: 27-29 June, subject to licences
Where: Somerset, UK
Client fit: Music lovers who don't fancy mud.
Best spot to view: The VIP area.
Best rest: Camp Kerala - luxury Maharaja tents.
Sample price: £6,000 (includes two VIP tickets)
Best place to chill: In the bar at Camp Kerala, after being driven back from the festival by an electric golf buggy.
Contact: www.campkerala.com
JULY
Festival: Jerash Culture & Arts Festival: Late July- early August
Where: Jerash, Jordan and Amman
Client fit: There's something for everyone: folklore dances, ballet, concerts of all varieties, plays and markets.
Best spot to view: There are different venues all around Jerash, but just wandering through the streets of the ancient city is a great way to soak up the atmosphere.
Best rest: There are no hotels in Jerash, but Amman is nearby. Stay at the Meridien Amman or the Four Seasons.
Sample price: From J0D 129 (£89) per night.
Best place to chill: Visit the newly opened spa - the largest in the Middle East: at the Kempinski Ishtar at the Dead Sea.
Contact: www.jerashfestival.com.jo
AUGUST
Festival: The Puccini Opera Festival: Late July-mid August
Where: Torre del Lago, Italy
Client fit: Opera lovers
Best spot to view: In section one of The Great Open Air Theatre.
Best rest: Grand Hotel Principle di Piemonte in Viareggio offers packages including tickets. (www.principedipiemonte.com)
Sample price: From £600 per night for a suite.
Best place to chill: At one of the premiere's post-performance dinners, in the private garden of the Villa Caproni Taliedo.
Contact: www.puccinifestival.it
SEPTEMBER
Festival: Hermanus Whale Festival: Last week of September
Where: Hermanus, South Africa
Client fit: Nature lovers and those keen on African culture.
Best spot to view: Join the 'Welcome the Whales Wave'- a 5km-long human chain that lines the cliffs of Walker Bay.
Best rest: The Marine Hermanus has commanding views over Walker Bay
Sample price: Standard room from £230.
Best place to chill: The Sun Lounge at the Marine.
Contact: www.marine-hermanus.co.za
OCTOBER
Festival: Idd al-Fir - end of Ramadan: Starts 2 October
Where: Zanzibar, Tanzania
Client fit: Muslims, or anyone wanting to join in the fun.
Best spot to view: Stone town is the cultural heart of Zanzibar and is the perfect place to observe the feasting and merry-making that make up Idd al-Fir.
Best rest: One of the private villas at the Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski Tanzania.
Sample price: Suites from £600 per night
Best place to chill: Jetty Bar at the Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski, which is situated 150m out from shore.
Contact: www.kempinski-zanzibar.com
NOVEMBER
Festival: Day of the Dead: 1-2 November
Where: Morelia, Mexico
Client fit: For those who are comfortable with the idea of honouring death.
Best spot to view: Abercrombie & Kent can organise visits to graveyards to watch celebrations and trips to houses to see the extravagant altars.
Best rest: The Presidential Suite at Villa Montana.
Sample price: From £220 +tax per night
Best place to chill: The terrace of the Presidential Suite overlooks the town of Morelia. Failing that, the terrace bar does as well.
Contact: www.abercrombieandkent.com, www.villamontana.com
DECEMBER
Festival: Russian Winter Festival: December and early January
Where: Izmailovo Park, Moscow
Client fit: Those who look kindly upon the warming powers of vodka: temperatures fall as low as -25 degrees.
Best spot to view: View the traditional folk music and performances, as well as the intricate ice sculptures, from a roika - a sleigh drawn by three horses.
Best rest: Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow.
Sample price: Rooms from £410 per night
Best place to chill: Tsarskaya Okhota was reputed to be Boris Yeltsin's favourite restaurant.
Contact: www.hyatt.com
