Tucan Travel, an adventure travel specialist is offering discounts to clients who pay in some currencies until 1 November 2008 in response to these currencies increasing in value against sterling and the US dollar. The discount for payment in New Zealand dollars is 7.5%, Australian dollars 10% and the euro 12.5%. The discount only applies to items which are payable in advance. So if you happen to have access to funds in these currencies you could save some cash.


Tucan Travel offer different types of trip from budget trip for 18 - 35 year olds, overland expeditions with camping, tours by private vehicle staying in comfortable hotels and tailor made itineraries.

If you'd like to get up close and personal with an astronaut, you can book a lunch date with an astronaut at the Kennedy Space Center. The daily one hour session includes a buffet lunch, a live presentation from a NASA astronaut and an autographed souvenir. The cost is $23 per adult and $16 per child (aged 3 - 11), plus taxes. This is in addition to the admission fee to the Space Center of $38 per adult and $28 per child, plus taxes. The general admission ticket is valid for 2 days during a one week period and gives to access to IMAX movies, flight simulators, exhibits and shows.

I do wonder if the astronauts manage to keep up their enthusiasm once they've delivered their lunch presentation on numerous occasions? That could be more of challenge than a space flight. Have you had lunch with an astronaut, how would you rate it?

The Cape Lodge Hotel in the south west of Australia has won it's third award of 2008, being crowned as the best boutique hotel in Australia. Earlier in the year it was placed in the Conde Nast 100 best hotels in the world and in the top ten for food.

The location of the hotel looks wonderful surrounded by it's own vineyard. The Indian Ocean coast is only three kilometres away. It takes around three and a half hours to drive there from Perth.


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You can relax in the beautiful gardens and the new swimming pool. Optional extras included riding, fishing and bush eco-tours.

The suites start at 425 Australian dollars a night. There also a self catering two bedroom cottage with rates from $825 a night, The Cape Lodge Hotel also offers retreat, honeymoon and wine tasting packages.

The Regent Street Festival takes place on Sunday 7 September 2008 from 12:00 - 20:00. Regent Street will be closed to traffic during the event. It's one of the largest, free of charge, outdoor events in the London calendar. There focus of this year's Festival is "The Great British experience" with a James Bond themed afternoon in one store and the opportunity to partake of a traditional Afternoon Tea. There will be music of all types from pipe bands, trumpet fanfares and British tribute bands.


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As an added bonus you'll receive a 10% discount on your purchases at many of the stores and restaurants in Regent Street. There's also an online photo contest on the "Great British" theme where the winner will receive £500 worth of Regent Street shopping vouchers and £300 worth of vouchers for Jessops photography stores.

easyCruise are offering early bookers of their 2009 cruises discounts of up to 30% for bookings made by the 31 August 2008. For Summer some easyCruise prices now include half board and daily housekeeping, which I think it is a much better idea than just paying for the cabin and everything else being payable as an extra. I looked at the on board menu and was pleasantly surprised by the prices with most main courses costing around 8 euro and a litre bottle of mineral water 1.5 euro. Even if meals aren't included you can pre-purchase breakfast and lunch/or dinner for 12 euro per person per day. There are other packages as well offering wine with meals and shore excursions.


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The cruises vary in length from 4 days to 14 days. Prices start at £120 per person, based on two sharing a compact inside cabin The journeys between ports, which only last for a few hours, arrive in port by around noon, leaving with the whole afternoon and evening at your destination.

Their cruises concentrate on Greece and her islands but one itinerary visits Albania for a day and another has the option to start your cruise in Bodrum, Turkey.

I've never been on a cruise but this does sound like a pretty good deal and I like the idea of a good amount of time on shore. Have you been on an easyCruise, how would you rate it?

The Ragasthan International Folk Festival will take place from 10 - 14 October 2008 at Mehrangarh in Jodphur.


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The event has been named as one of the best five music festivals in the world by the editor of Songlines, Simon Broughton, which is quite a feat as last year was the first time the event had taken place. More than 150 artists will perform during the four day event at the characterful historic Mehrangh Fort with it's beautiful gardens and terraces.Any profits from the festival will be used to support the performing arts in Rajasthan.

There isn't much information currently available on the website such as how to purchase tickets or programme details but there are links to photos and press comments about last years festival.