Lebanon

Shit. Dark stuff. The week after Crystal holidays announce their hottest new destination, air strikes break loose.

http://www.skipressworld.com/eu/en/daily_news/2006/07/tour_operator_offers_ski_holidays_in_lebanon.html?cat=Resorts

7/12 "The UK’s largest ski tour operator, Crystal, is offering ski packages to Lebanon this winter. The tours to Lebanon’s largest ski area of Faraya begin on Sunday 17th December and cost from £719 per week, half board, in the five star Intercontinental Mountain resort.

Faraya has 80km (50 miles) of runs served by 18 lifts, most of them chairs. Skiing takes place between 1850 and 2465m and the resort has a good snow record, although there is no snow making. It is part of a larger resort development which ultimately aims to cover up to 1% of Lebanon’s landmass, although leaving most of that undevelopped. The slopes are an hour’s drive from the beaches and warm sea waters of Lebanon.

Apart from winter sports options include add-on stays in Beirut or day trips there from Faraya."


http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,251-2274801,00.html

The FCO has this to say, 7/17:
"ADVICE FOR BRITISH NATIONALS
Lebanon.
The Foreign Office is advising against all travel to Lebanon.

Beirut airport is currently closed following Israeli air strikes. There is also a naval blockade of all ports and the main Beirut-Damascus highway is closed. Other roads out of Lebanon are also closed, or are unsafe for travel.

With the MOD, we are working closely on how to help those British Nationals who want to leave to do so safely. Some naval assets are in the region now, and others, including HMS Illustrious and HMS Bulwark, are heading towards it."


Doubleplusungood.