New destinations dominate summer brochure

The new brochure features more than 370 apartments and hotels in 90 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America and is 30 per cent bigger than the previous year's edition.

Catering for the multinational communities within the UAE, the brochure is available in English and Arabic and offers holidays to suit all tastes including city and beach, cruises, fly-drives, safaris and tours.

Nick Wood, general manager at Etihad Holidays, said:

"There is enormous demand for holidays to Australia and Malaysia and we are delighted to be able to offer fantastic breaks to these destinations. Our customers can now book holidays to 90 destinations worldwide all flying conveniently from Abu Dhabi airport."

Launched on 26 March, Etihad's three flights-per-week service to Sydney, which soon becomes daily, will ensure that Australia is one of Etihad Holidays' most popular destinations.

Among the highlights are breaks in New South Wales' Blue Mountains and the Hunter Valley, which have been designed specifically for couples and families looking to explore the area around Sydney with a fly-drive.
Located approximately 100 km to the west of Sydney, the Blue Mountains are a series of spectacular cliffs which surround a plateau penetrated by rugged gorges.

Another popular Australia destination, especially among Arabian travellers, is Queensland's Gold Coast which offers a subtropical climate, surfing beaches and a wide array of tourist attractions.

Etihad Holidays is also introducing a "go as you please" pass which allows holidaymakers to pre-book hotels or buy hotel vouchers before departure without having to fix a set date for their stay.

Mr Wood added: "The "go as you please" pass will offer maximum flexibility for the more adventurous travellers enabling them to create their itinerary during their holiday. All they need to do is phone the hotel a day or so in advance to book their room."

Another favourite destination for Arabian travellers is Malaysia's capital city Kuala Lumpur which offers flexible visa access and cultural ties with the Middle East.

After flying to Kuala Lumpur holidaymakers can stay at a range of apartments and hotels in Kuala Lumpur and the neighbouring islands of Langkawi and Penang.

From 2 July Etihad will be flying four times-a-week to Dublin opening up a great range of holiday options whether in the city itself or in the surrounding lush green Irish countryside.

Etihad Holidays' deals in Ireland allow holidaymakers to take advantage of the country's fantastic range of accommodation including country houses and castles.

There are also fly-drive options which are perfect for families looking to explore the beautiful rolling countryside.

Looking eastwards, the southern Indian state of Kerala will soon be a popular destination for Etihad with the forthcoming launch of flights to Kochi (Cochin) and Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum).

Known as the Garden of India, Kerala has many stunning hotels which Etihad Holidays' customers can stay at including the world famous Coconut Lagoon which is set in serene backwaters.

Mr Wood added: "Every year the Etihad Holidays' summer programme expands by a third and the 2007 edition is no exception with a world-class array of holiday options. Whether it is an ayvedic massage on the Kovalam beach in Kerala, food tasting in New South Wales or golfing in Ireland's Druids Glen Golf Course, there is a holiday for everyone."

Among the many benefits of booking an Etihad Holiday is the lowest price guarantee for travellers who find an identical holiday available at a better price. If this situation occurs, Etihad Holidays will match the competitor's price.

There are also bonus offers such as a free night's accommodation when booking a specified number of nights, complimentary room upgrades, transfer upgrade options and free stays for children.

Holidays are based on Etihad Airways' flights from Abu Dhabi with complimentary luxury coach transfers in the UAE and excellent value upgrade offers to diamond (first class) and pearl (business class), inclusive of complimentary limousine transfers.

This includes enticing promotions such as early booking discounts of AED200 per adult and AED100 per child to customers who book and pay in full 30 days before departure.