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England has been basking in a spell of unusually warm weather and that, at least, has helped take minds off the national soccer team’s thumping defeat at the hands of Germany in the World Cup.

London has seen temperatures over the past few days as high as 30 degrees Celsius (86F) and whenever this happens, the newspapers here always make a comparison with holiday destinations around the world. ‘Hotter than Bermuda!’ ‘More sun hours than on the Costa del Sol!’

Regrettably, this happens for only about four days a year, but it’s fun while it lasts. Tourists would surely be disappointed if they didn’t see the slate-grey skies and rain which they’ve been told to expect on arrival in the UK.

The other thing that happens during a British mini-heatwave is that bookmakers stir from their slumbers and offer odds against all kinds of eventualities.

For example, you can get 10/1 that the highest ever UK temperature (38.5C/101.3F recorded at Brogdale, near Faversham in Kent, in 2003) will be beaten. And 5/6 that there will be no rain delays for the whole of the Wimbledon tennis championships.

Incidentally, I notice that the midday temperature in Lahore, Pakistan is currently 44C (111.2F). Now that is a scorcher.

by Andy Moreton

With the World Cup soccer tournament beginning in a few days, a junior minister in France has caused a stir by criticising the national team’s luxury hotel arrangements at a time of economic difficulty.

The French players are based at the Pezula Resort luxury hotel and spa on the Indian Ocean at Knysna in Western Cape province – described as ‘Africa’s first truly luxury resort.’ Normal low-season room rates range from £410 ($594) a night for a studio suite to £5,300 ($7,680) a night for a suite in the hotel’s ‘castle’ built into a rock face on a private secluded beach.

France’s junior sports minister, Rama Yade, said she hoped the French side would dazzle everyone with their sporting skills and not ‘for staying in showy hotels’. She commented: “Spain, which is one of the favourites [to win the tournament], chose a university campus.”

Yade, who described herself as ‘a No 1 fan’ of the team, added: “Personally, I wouldn’t have chosen that hotel. In times of [economic] crisis you have to consider this.” The French Football Association said the cost of the hotel was not falling to the taxpayer.

In Italy, where a debt-slashing budget is imminent, a minister demanded that Italy’s national team chip in by giving up their win bonuses if they lift the World Cup. “It would be the right thing for footballers to participate in the sacrifices being made by Italians during this crisis,” said Roberto Calderoli of the Northern League party.

by Andy Moreton

It seems that newlywed couples are increasingly looking for something different from the beach and luxury hotel option when arranging their honeymoons.

Darren Noel, the Commercial Director at the specialist wedding site hitched.com, says many are preferring breaks that mix culture with luxury. “Culture combined with a luxury hotel and excellent food can make for a very exciting and unforgettable honeymoon,” said Mr Noel. He quoted Dubai as an example.

A survey by 101honeymoons.co.uk also found a yearning for more adventurous breaks, such as staying in luxury tented camps in India.

The poll also found that more and more newlyweds were taking the ‘maximoon’ option, which sees couples booking luxury hotels in several exotic destinations as part of a round-the-world trip.

Mr Noel suggested that if the honeymoon booking were left to the groom this summer, brides could find themselves boarding flights to South Africa – the soccer World Cup begins there on June 11th.

by Andy Moreton

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The ‘Obama effect’ of a US President with African heritage, and the 2010 soccer World Cup have been credited with creating a surge of interest in Africa as a tourist destination.

The UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) says Africa bucked the global trend in 2009 – it was the only continent to see a rise in the number of international tourist arrivals: up by 5 per cent.

That compared to a slump of 4 per cent in travel worldwide amid the economic crisis and the swine flu pandemic.

The head of the UNWTO, Taleb Rifai, told a tourism conference in Madrid:

“There has been a shift in the way people look at Africa. It’s now considered a serious destination for travellers from the major generating markets.”

Kenya’s tourist board says the fact that President Obama’s father was from Kenya has led to an increase in Americans visiting the country. And the African Travel and Tourism Association (ATTA) says this year’s World Cup in South Africa will have an enormous effect.

“The World Cup is certainly the most exciting thing to happen to Africa, not just southern Africa,” said the ATTA’s head, Nigel Vere Nicoll. “All Africans are very proud that it’s going to be there.”

by Andy Moreton

Check out Luxique’s selection of luxury hotels in South Africa, as well as in Botswana, Kenya, Zambia and other parts of the continent.

Tourism and soccer officials in South Africa have warned airlines, hotels and restaurants not to charge exorbitant prices during next year’s World Cup tournament.

Tourism official Calvyn Gilfellan said he was worried that if businesses viewed the month-long event as a cash cow it would harm South Africa’s tourism industry.

Kevin Miles, who coordinates international travel for England soccer supporters, said:

“It’s far better to create an impression that will encourage people to return to the country in years to come. That’s what happened with Germany – there was a big hike in tourism after 2006.”

South Africa is expecting a tourism boom during the tournament, with some 500,000 visitors spending about $850 million (£520 million). Twenty-five new hotels have been built and other types of accommodation will also be available, including university halls of residence, safari park lodges and even cruise liners.

One concern is transport. Teams up will have to travel vast distances to play their matches. In Group G, one of the teams faces having to play a game in Johannesburg, followed by one in Cape Town - a distance of 880 miles.

At the draw for the opening stages of the tournament, the United States and England found themselves in the same group. The toughest group is probably the once consisting of Portugal, Brazil, Ivory Coast and North Korea.

by Andy Moreton

If you’re looking for a bit of pampering to go with the soccer, check out Luxique’s selection of luxury hotels in South Africa.