We usually save the “it’s summer somewhere” stories for the horrors of mid-winter, but since much of the eastern United States has apparently been turned into Seattle, we’re thinking some of you may have forgotten what a genuine sunny day looks like.
So we like the Seychelles’ online tourism campaign, which includes just about all you need to convince someone to go to the Seychelles—a continuously updated webcam focused on Mahe Island’s Beau-Vallon Beach, a 3-mile-long, Northwest-facing stretch of idyllic white sand that looks to be beach heaven on earth.
The beach cam, along with another focused on the Seychelles’ bustling Victoria Market, is updated every 15 seconds, so you can pretty much just sit there and drool through the entire work day. Watch long enough and you might even see some pirates.
Related Stories:
· The Seychelles Webcam [Official Site]
· Seychelles For Everyone Now, Not Just Royalty [Jaunted]
· Prince William Sneaks To Seychelles [Jaunted]
[Photo: Oliver Cochard-Labbe] ]]>
Even though the Seychelles promises to become more affordable for the rest of us, we have a hard time even dreaming about a place so far away and so tropical. Every time we see a picture of its clear water and pristine beaches, we just remind ourselves that it's probably not going to happen. Well, we may start to stop dreaming about it for the time being, as apparently the pirates have discovered it too. ]]>
Last time we checked in with the Seychelles, Prince William was jetting off there to meet with girlfriend Kate Middleton (now the presumed princess-elect) beyond the reach of the British paparazzi. But just royalty won't pay the bills, so now they're gunning for your dollar, whether or not you're hounded by photographers.
The Indian Ocean islands will launch their "Affordable Seychelles" campaign this week to promote trips for the rest of us. Rather than face an estimated 25 percent drop in revenues this year, the national tourism office is forging ahead with promotions on affordable hotels and package trips. So seriously are the Seychelles taking this initiative that they brought out Vice President Joseph Belmont just to introduce the new director of tourism marketing.
Of course, one might argue that the affordable Seychelles never went anywhere, with websites like Seychelles Secrets promising to reveal the islands' real deals. But we won't fault the country's being proactive until the inevitable moment when we find the properties on offer not so affordable.
Related Stories:
· Seychelles launches ‘Affordable Seychelles’ campaign [Agence de Press Africaine]
· Prince William Sneaks To Seychelles [Jaunted]
· Tourism Board Travel: Sri Lanka Is Safe, Minus The Tourism [Jaunted]
[Photo: Guillaume Paumier] ]]>
Where does royalty go when it has something to hide? The Seychelles! Only a few months after their high-profile break-up, Britain's Prince William and erstwhile girlfriend Kate Middleton are sneaking away for rendezvous away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi. Ibiza? Too crowded at this time of year... New Hampshire? Already occupied by French president Nicolas Sarkozy...
Oh, how about an island nation in the Indian Ocean 930 miles off the coast of Africa? After all, the royal couple had been together for five years before their widely publicized break-up. Maybe they wanted to talk things over, which is why they checked into a resort under her parents' names. On the other hand, maybe they'd prefer to be caught after all.
Related Stories:
· Seychelles Hotels [HotelChatter]
[Photo: Just Jared]]]>