Click here if you are having problems reading this newsletter or copy and paste the following link into your browser:
http://www.key2holidays.co.uk/newsletter/shopping_08/index.html

Key2holidays, 25 February 2008 Newsletter. Call us on: 0207 963 6696
Holiday shopping has come a long way since the souvenir sombrero and straw donkey.  Along with an increased selection of mementos to take home, the colour, noise and vibrant atmosphere of each country’s shopping scene, from local markets to high street fashion all add to the experience - whether or not you plan to buy anything. If you are keen to pick up a bargain or simply soak up the atmosphere beyond your hotel, traditional markets and local shopping offer fascinating experiences which can become the lasting memory of your holiday.In this newsletter, key2holidays highlight our favourite open-air markets in Dubai, Oman and Bangkok which offer the traveller a glimpse into these countries’ trading heritage. We unearth the best place for handicrafts in Jamaica and if heading Down Under, discover funky fashion and indigenous art in Sydney. If top designer labels and fashion boutiques are your style, then book a morning with our personal shopper in Rome.  We have also included some great offers for you to visit these destinations. Whatever your shopping pleasure, key2holidays travel consultants have shopped around the world and can let you know the perfect locations to pick up those special holiday purchases. The team at key2holidays.

Enchanting Arabian Souks

Email Request | Phone: 0207 963 6696
For a more authentic Arabian shopping experience, head to Dubai’s famous gold and spice souks or Omans, Muttrah souk.The souks, or traditional markets hark back to the boats that would discharge their cargoes, to be haggled over in the souks adjacent to the docks These souks now bustle with locals seeking bargains and exotic aromas rising from the myriad of spices. Wandering around the dusty atmospheric stalls allows you to get in touch with how life was in Dubai before oil was discovered.

Enchanting Arabian Souks Our Recommendation:

“Head for the gold markets in Dubai, fantastic for the good prices you get for gold and gems. Oman´s Muttrah souk is slightly smaller but great for handicrafts - particularly wood, metal work or the famed Omani coffee pots."


James Hamlyn - Senior Reservations consultant


Head to Dubai and stock up at the souks, then relax at the luxury at the 5* Hyatt Regency, Dubai.

3 nights 5* Bed and Breakfast from £519pp including return flights and transfers.


Or visit Oman’s famous Muttrah souk and stay in Muscat.

5 nights 5* Bed and Breakfast from £709pp including return flights and transfers.

Bangkok’s Floating Market

Email Request | Phone: 0207 963 6696
If you have a real passion for shopping, there´s no better place to head than Bangkok. Here, retail therapy is the best way to get to grips with a city that puts shopping, eating and bargaining at the centre of everyday life.

The famous floating market boats are still piled high with tropical fruit and vegetables, fresh ready-to-drink coconut juice and local food cooked from floating kitchens located right on the boat. To simply enjoy the atmosphere without haggling over prices, relax on a guided boat tour of Bangkok´s Damnoen Saduak market.


Our Recommendation:

“The sight of the small Khlongs filled with small flat boats, all jockeying for position and ready to stop and bargain at a moments notice is unforgettable.
I would also recommend taking a traditional Bangkok long tail boat that passes the orchards, traditional teak houses and locals going about their lives."


Joanne Hensman - Senior Reservations consultant


Combine a deluxe stay in Bangkok with a relaxing stay on the island paradise of Hua Hin.

10 nights 4* + Bed & Breakfast from £1035pp including return flights and transfers.
Bangkok’s Floating Market

Hand Crafted in Jamaica

Email Request | Phone: 0207 963 6696
For that authentic Caribbean shopping trip, nothing tops bartering for hand crafted wares, particularly at Jamaica´s Ocho Rios craft market. This market famed for wooden carvings and vibrant local art is a fantastic chance to meet and observe the local craftsmen and after a hard days bartering you are never far from relaxing retreat of the surrounding luxury spa resorts.

Shopping in Jamaica Our Recommendation:

“I loved the Craft Markets in Ocho Rios with the stalls all brightly decorated with skillfully engraved ornaments and vibrant embroidered lace and linen. The stall holders make you feel very welcome, and they are definitely up for a challenge when it comes to bartering the cost, Indeed the whole atmosphere is lively and animated, with the magnificent Dunn´s River Falls nearby. Whether you visit the craft market or the falls, you are sure to have a special time to remember.
"

Althea Dixon - Senior Reservations consultant


Visit the Ocho Rios Market from a luxury base at the 5* Couples San Souci. You can explore the market at your own pace, or ask our consultants to pre-arrange a tour.

7 nights 5* All Inclusive from £1020pp including return flights and transfers.

Sydney - Sun, Sights & Shops

Email Request | Phone: 0207 963 6696
Curled around the base of the famed Sydney Harbour Bridge and tucked in behind Circular Quay sits the Rocks Market. From this modern and contemporary city come a variation of funky fashions and accessories, indigenous arts and crafts as well as some of the most mouth-watering market foods around! Pick your way through classic Aussie antiques and collectibles to find your own treasure and meet some of the typical characters which make the area truly charming.

Our Recommendation:

“The Rocks is home to one of the most exciting and vibrant markets in Australia and one of my favourite things to do whilst at the market is to take a Harley Davidson ride around the area. You can see where the historic area has come alive from its humble beginnings as the first settlement port in back in 1788."

Clare Goss - Australia Product Manager

With easy access to the Sydney CBD and set in the heart of The Rocks the 4* Sebel Pier Hotel blends heritage with contemporary chic.

7 nights 4* + Bed and Breakfast from £1065pp including return flights and transfers.
Sydney - Sun, Sights & Shops

Rome´s Boutique Heaven

Email Request | Phone: 0207 963 6662
From famous designer labels such as Bulgari, Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Armani and Gucci that you find on Rome´s elegant Via Condotti; to fashion outlets outside the city and traditional Roman craftsmen´s shops and laboratories, Rome is arguably the worlds most refined shopping destination.

Rome’s Boutique Heaven Personal Shopper in Rome

Discover the eternal citys best shopping locations and discover those that only locals know with a tailor-made shopping excursion under the experienced guidance of personal shopper Anna Maria Nardi. Click here for more information on this unique experience.
Stay in the heart of Rome at the 4* Duke Hotel.

3 nights Bed and Breakfast 4* from £470pp including half-day personal shopping experience (Flights not included).
  
key2recipe

Jamaican Jerk Chicken

You haven´t tasted Jamaica until you´ve tried Jamaican Jerk Chicken from the traditional Jerk shacks that thrive in the Jamaica´s local markets. If you can´t wait why not try this recipe yourself and bring that distinctive Jamaican flavour into your own home.


Key2 Recipes, Jamaican Jerk Chicken

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup white vinegar
Zest and juice of 4 limes
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 red onion, chopped
1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced
3 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped 2 Scotch bonnet peppers, seeded and chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons ground allspice
2 tablespoons ground thyme
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 pounds chicken thighs

PREPARATION:
Combine all ingredients except the chicken and place chicken pieces in a medium bowl. Pour marinade over chicken, and turn the pieces to coat. Cover and place in refrigerator to marinate in jerk seasoning overnight.

Preheat grill. Remove chicken from jerk marinade and pour marinade into a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Place chicken on grill cooking approximately 7 to 10 minutes per side (or until done), basting periodically with remaining marinade.

Visit Jamaica and try the famous Jerk Chicken there. Stay at the
5* Half Moon Resort and get your second week FREE.


14 nights 5* from £969pp

key2newsletters

Here at key2holidays we enjoy putting together a newsletter that is more than simply offers. We try to give you that bit more information about a hotel or destination and bring you something extra to do whilst at home, whether that is a recipe or news of what´s on. You may, from time to time wish to refer back to some of our earlier editions - such as multi-centre ideas, family holidays or the Far East. The good thing is you can. We store all of our newsletters on our website, so Click here to see what you may have missed - or for inspiration once again. If you have been sent this email by a friend, you can also sign up for your own copy here.

key2destinations

Key2holidays can tailor-make your holiday to any one of many destinations around the world so why not ask us for a quote when planning your next holiday. You can also visit our worldwide special offer page, Click here.

Key2holidays Destinations

Part of Western & Oriental

Key2holidays are part of Western & Oriental plc.
A range of individual companies sharing the same levels of knowledge, experience and expertise in different destinations, to give you the most perfect holiday wherever you choose to go. Each prides themselves on providing what you want; ready made perfectly packaged holidays, or the most intricate bespoke arrangement; there is a whole world to choose from, from a ranch holiday in America, to Russia and the Baltic states. To see the other brands in the collection,
Click here.


ATOL Protected Logo ABTA Logo www.key2holidays.co.uk
Unsubscribe
Part of Western & Oriental

Opening Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8.30am-8pm, Friday: 8.30am-7pm, Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 10am-4pm.
key2holidays: Welby House, 96 Wilton Road, London, SW1V 1DW.