Dream of Summer 2013 with Thomson

Dreamliner routes announced, more “Only From Thomson” holidays, New Sensatori Hotel

Thomson is excited to announce the launch of its Summer 2013 programme, with the latest editions of Thomson’s Florida, Summer Collection, and Faraway Shores brochures. The new brochures showcase the launch of the Thomson Airways 787 Dreamliner, more hotels offering exclusivity and unique holiday experiences, than ever before, plus new Sensatori and Thomson Couples hotels and new destination of Costa Almeria. Summer 2013 holidays will go on sale as of Thursday 26 April.“Summer 2013 is shaping up to be one of our most exciting launches ever,” says Garry Wilson, Purchasing and Product Director for Thomson.

“We are thrilled that our customers are going to be able to experience the benefits of travelling on the Dreamliner on our most popular long haul routes. We know that this addition to our fleet will set us apart from our competition and we’ll be able to give our customers the best possible start to their holidays.”

“In line with our strategy of offering customers holidays they cannot get elsewhere, we’ve been working to ensure that more hotels than ever are being offer exclusively by Thomson to our customers in the UK. This is the way the business has been taking for a few years, as we have found that when we are able to work more closely with hoteliers, we are able to tailor the hotels around our customers. I am confident that our customers will really appreciate this move, as it will mean that their hotels are more in tune with their needs and wants.”

NEW: THOMSON 787 DREAMLINER
Thomson Airways, the airline for Thomson and First Choice, is the UK’s first airline to take delivery of Boeing’s new 787 aircraft – the Dreamliner. From 1st May 2013, holidaymakers heading to Cancun, Mexico and Sanford, Florida from Manchester, London Gatwick, East Midlands and Glasgow will have the opportunity to travel on the brand-new aircraft.

Hailed as the greatest advance in air travel for passengers in recent years, the Dreamliner will revolutionise air travel for Thomson Airways customers through significant advances in in-flight comfort and wellbeing. The new Dreamliner routes will be included in the Florida and Faraway Shores brochures.

NEW: HOLIDAYS ONLY FROM THOMSON
From May 2013, 90% of Thomson’s holidays will be available Only from Thomson to UK customers. By increasing the number of properties offered exclusively by Thomson in the UK, we hope to be able to offer customers the best holidays in the market. The hotels have been handpicked by our product and purchasing teams, further to customer feedback, and Thomson will be working with hoteliers to ensure that all of our hotels are tailored exactly to our customers needs.

NEW: SENSATORI AND THOMSON COUPLES HOTELS
Due to popular demand Thomson can announce the latest addition to the Sensatori Collection, with the launch of Sensatori Turkey located in Sorgun. The brand-new beachfront hotel will have five a la carte restaurants, including a traditional Turkish restaurant and fine dining options, specially zoned adults and family zones, a beachside location and a world class spa. Prices start from £649pp

Thomson Couples is introducing six new hotels to its collection for Summer 2013. Thomson Couples has proved very popular amongst customers looking for adult only holidays, staying in chic, beachfront locations and offering real relaxation. The 4T Vilamendhoo Couples Resort & Spa, in the Maldives and the 5T RIU Palace Macao, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic will be the long haul additions to the programme. These properties will feature in the Faraway Shores brochure.

Closer to home, the 4T+ Iberotel Palace in Sharm el Sheikh, the 4T Los Gigantes in Tenerife, the 4T Medulin in Croatia, and 5T Atlantic Kalliston in Crete, have also become part of the Thomson Couples collection, due to their top dining scenes, contemporary style and great settings. Another first for Thomson Couples is the Couples Cruise, onboard the 4T Nile Legacy in Luxor. The luxury ship sails past the Niles iconic sights and will be bookable on a full board basis.

Thomson Family Resorts is also adding to its programme, introducing three new hotels. They include the 4T Golden Taurus Resort in Costa Brava which has non-stop activities and fantastic family facilities; the 4T Sirenis Club Aura in Ibiza, which is close to the beach and has its own splash park; and the 4T Coral Sea Aqua Club that has three swimming pools and an on-site waterpark. These mid and short haul properties will all feature in the Summer Collection brochure.

NEW DESTINATION: COSTA ALMERIA
Finally Thomson will be introducing the Mainland Spain destination of Costa Almeria to its Summer 2013 programme. Costa Almeria was chosen as destination thanks to its fantastic beaches, ideal for families. Thomson Airways will operate weekly flights from Manchester Airport throughout the summer season. The Costa Almeria programme will be featured in the Summer Collection brochure. Holidays will start from £485pp.

Brits dream of holidaying with Branson not Clooney

Virgin boss Richard Branson has pipped both George Clooney and Johnny Depp to the post in a survey that asked British holiday makers who they’d most like to stay with!

British travellers were asked who they would most like to stay with in a poll carried out by UK based holiday rentals specialist Owners Direct and Britain’s favourite entrepreneur came out top.

Sir Richard achieved a third of the votes with chef Jamie Oliver coming a close second with just over 23 per cent of the votes – maybe because people were hoping for a catered break! Surprisingly, only 11 per cent of British holidaymakers said they wanted to holiday with George Clooney. Other big names who made it in the top ten were Elton John, Bradley Cooper, Oprah Winfrey, Angelina Jolie and Pippa Middleton, who still only managed to achieve just 9% of the votes between them. Historian David Starkey just managed to scrape into the top 10 with 0.3% of the votes – but beat Oprah Winfrey.

One holidaymaker gave her reason for choosing Richard Branson over George Clooney: “Because it would probably be a spacious place in the country with good books and nice food and George Clooney wouldn’t fancy me, let’s face it.”

The survey also revealed the number one country people would most like to visit in their lifetime is Australia which beat tropical destinations such as the Maldives and Hawaii. New Zealand came second and India third.

Getting back down to earth, most British holidaymakers revealed that they would be spending their annual summer break in Spain. This is closely followed by other Mediterranean destinations including The Canary Islands, Greece, Portugal and France.

“We were encouraged to see Greece in the top five countries to visit after the economic struggles they are currently having. Tourism is a vital part of their economy so it’s reassuring to see this trend” says Marketing Manager Angela Southall.

Owners Direct also found via its Facebook page that holidaymakers would choose the Med over a holiday in outer space, with cosmic trips on the cards from 2013.

When it comes to destinations of a lifetime, many Brits are up for an adventure and want to travel to places like Antarctica, Madagascar and Machu Picchu, Borneo. Some opted to holiday closer to home, choosing Scunthorpe as their dream destination!

The survey also revealed that Brits are opting to take just as many holidays this year, preferring to cut back on spending rather than the number of trips they plan to take. In 2011 just under 80 per cent of people took two or more holidays and are planning to take the same amount this year.

Over 80 per cent are opting for self-catering but many (75%) still plan to eat out over four times a week. 40% of respondents said the current economic climate is having an effect on their holiday plans for 2012 but only 10% said they would be taking fewer holidays this year. 70 per cent admitted they will be spending less on holiday whilst a tiny 1% said they would actually be paying more for holidays this year!

When asked about travelling habits, only a very small minority are prepared to go solo. Nearly 60 per cent of Brits are plumping for their partners over Richard Branson, 48 per cent with their families and just under 3% on their own.

As well as dreaming of exotic holiday destinations and celebrity companions, almost all Brits have aspirations of owning their own holiday home. The survey revealed the favourite places to own a holiday home would be France, Spain, Greece, Italy and Portugal with the South Coast of England also proving popular.

One person even thought Birmingham would be the ideal location for their holiday hom. (EDITOR: And why not? Home to the sites that inspired Lord of the Rings, more miles of canals than Venice, Birmingham has much to be said for it, as a holiday destination!)

See Owners Direct infographic here: www.ownersdirect.co.uk/survey-infographic-lg.htm

Win A Storm Chasing Holiday To The USA With Netweather

Flying cows and huge tornadoes lifting cars into the air are usually the images which are conjured when storm chasing is mentioned - usually helped by memories of the film ‘Twister’.

The reality isn’t quite so Hollywood as the best view is from a safe distance and one lucky winner will be heading out to Tornado Alley for the trip of a lifetime chasing down what are some of the most spectacular storms on planet earth this Spring.

UK based weather forecasting company Netweather have been running storm chasing tours for 5 years now and have regularly witnessed the violent supercells and tornadoes as they rumble across the States. This year they will have chase teams out on the plains from May through to the end of June with the winner of the competition joining one of the 10 day chasing holidays.

The competition closes this Saturday & the lucky winner will then just have a matter of weeks to wait before heading out to the USA for an incredible trip run by our experienced and knowledgeable team.

Click Here To Enter The Competition

For those who don’t win the competition there are still a handful of places available for the 2012 chases, but even if you can’t make it to the USA it’s still possible to experience the next best thing as all of the action will be streamed live on Netweather from day 1 of Tour 1 in May.

British Airways launches new Algiers flights from London Gatwick

British Airways has launched a new service to Algiers from London Gatwick, which will commence from the start of the summer schedule.

Flights to Algiers will move from Heathrow to Gatwick with seven flights a week. Algeria's capital city, Algiers mixes past with present with 17th-century mosques and Ottoman-style palaces in the hilltop Kasbah city with a Mediterranean harbour. British Airways offer hotels in the city, including the beach front Sheraton Club des Pins Resort and Towers and the Hilton Alger, which is set among pines over looking the bay.

Algiers is one of five routes to North Africa offered by British Airways, the others being Cairo in Egypt, Tripoli, Marrakech and Tunis.

The year-round service will operate on Boeing 737 jets, and roundtrip flights to London are available to book on www.ba.com.The fares are all inclusive, offering passengers free online check-in and seat selection up to 24 hours before departure, a 23 kg checked-in luggage allowance, plus two pieces of hand baggage, and no debit card fees.

In addition to the new service to Algiers, British Airways customers can also enjoy the luxury of flying in First Class on the airline's new long haul service to Moscow. The start of the summer season also sees addition of long haul flights from Heathrow to New York JFK, Johannesburg, Miami, Hong Kong and Riyadh.

British Airways' partner Iberia will also move its eight daily services from Heathrow to Madrid into Terminal 5 from Terminal 3, for the first time. This terminal move will allow customers better access to more destinations, and a smoother transfer experience at Heathrow between British Airways and Iberia flights.

Other changes at Heathrow have resulted in additional short haul flights to popular destinations such as Barcelona, Brussels, Bologna, Rome, Hamburg, Paris Orly, Prague, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Manchester.

Three new leisure routes, to Mahon in Menorca, Angers in the Loire Valley and Quimper in Brittany, will also start from London City Airport, resulting in a total of 21 destinations in the UK, Europe and USA being served from the docklands airport.

Door2Tour.com reports the return of the staycation

Door2Tour.com has revealed the 'staycation' might be making a comeback. The latest figures from the tour operator have shown sales of UK breaks have increased by approximately 9% compared to the same period last year. This has been put down to the UK being under the spotlight during 2012.

There are a variety of factors causing this resurgence in UK breaks with the main one being the UK playing host to some top events during 2012 such as the Queens Diamond Jubilee, The Olympics, the 100th anniversary of the maiden voyage of RMS Titanic and the 200th anniversary of Charles Dickens birth. Other popular events drawing in the crowds are the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Wimbledon Tennis Championships, the Chelsea Flower Show and Royal Ascot Ladies Day.

It's not just events that are proving to be a hit for people choosing to take their break in the UK in 2012, VisitEngland have recently launched a campaign showcasing the advantages of taking a 'staycation' instead of heading abroad. The campaign draws on the benefits of avoiding the hassle of passport control, lengthy queues to check-in at airports, poor exchange rates and the risk that travellers' suitcases may not arrive at their destination - which happened to many when London Gatwick suffered a power failure earlier this month and the baggage conveyors did not work. The 2012 campaign has got thousands of fantastic offers to make holidaying at home more affordable than ever this year.

With all the focus pointing towards London during 2012, short breaks to the UK’s capital city remain popular with holidaymakers. Latest figures from Door2Tour.com have shown a 63% rise in sales for London city breaks and this does not include sales of London theatre breaks that have also risen in popularity. Many believe that the 'Royal Effect' has also had a positive impact on the popularity of UK breaks and coach holidays in England with interest in the Royal Family reaching new heights after The Royal Wedding. Sales for Door2Tour coach holidays to Buckingham Palace, its gardens and of course Windsor Castle have risen steadily in popularity. Traditional seaside favourites are also making a comeback with resorts such as Blackpool, Bognor Regis, Scarborough and Great Yarmouth all seeing a rise in hotel bookings.

Rachel Jones, Online PR and Marketing Co-ordinator for Door2Tour.com commented: "Our figures have shown that although the credit crunch is still affecting many of our customers, it has not dampened their spirits where holidays are concerned. It just means that for 2012, most will be shopping around for the best deal for their money. Europe is still a temptation for holidaymakers simply because of its guarantee of sun, sea and sand. In 2011, many people who chose to have a 'staycation' were probably let down because of the typical British weather and are more determined than ever to seek out that summer sunshine in 2012. Let's hope that with all the focus on the UK and the possibility of a beautiful summer, people will be persuaded that holidaying at home is the far better option this year."

FACTFILE:
Door2Tour.com is a consolidation of national and regional tour operators creating a diverse choice of UK, European and worldwide touring holidays including New Year breaks and Christmas breaks, UK coach holidays, day trips, mini cruises and holidays by air to many exciting destinations. All have live availability and offer the customer the opportunity to book online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Door2Tour.com features over 35 operators, including Cosmos holidays, Travelsphere and Leger Holidays.

Men head to Med whilst women stay with friends for big Olympic rent-out

A recent survey conducted by holiday home specialists Owners Direct has revealed that 50% of Brits in the South East who plan to, or have already rented out their homes for the Olympics games are looking to escape the UK for a Mediterranean break.

Owners Direct has also seen almost a 90% rise in enquiries during 2012 to date for the London area and an 80% increase for surrounding areas such as Essex.

And the sexes have been divided. Whilst more men said they’d go abroad while they rented out their property, more women said they’d bunk with friends. Either way, 40% of home owners surveyed said they would be or have already rented out their main residence for the weeks in July and August during which the games take place.

As a result of increased demand for properties near the Olympic sites next summer, Owners Direct have launched a service specifically to cater to the needs of those looking for short term let options. Launched at the end of October last year, it offers landlords a cost effective way to market their homes to people all over the world who are looking for accommodation during the Olympics.

Owners Direct advisers home owners to make sure they do their research before renting out their home.

“We’ve seen a huge increase in demand for properties in the London area and our advice for people considering renting out a holiday property or even their own home would be to ensure that you make it clear to prospective tenants what you are offering within the price – are you providing linen and towels, a welcome pack or any other added extras? Before renting your London property, make sure that you have the relevant insurance required and check that your local council allows short term letting. Once you receive a booking always confirm the booking with a written contract” says Owners Direct Marketing Manager Angela Southall.

46 year old Rochelle Peachey who runs transatlantic dating site www.iloveyouraccent.com and her husband secured a booking last October for their four bedroom semi in the Woodford Green area to a Russian family for a total of four weeks during the Olympics and Paralympics.

“We are super close to everything and the opportunity was too good to pass up. I might send my mother in law on a cruise so we can stay in their flat but something more exotic is calling my name – California maybe!”

With over 50% of people who took part in the study who own a holiday home in the South East already having received enquiries for the 2012 games, Marketing Manager Angela Southall said the company was keen to extend their offering to people who didn’t need to list their properties for a long period of time.

“We have launched a service that will allow homeowners who wouldn’t normally rent out their properties to do so for a short time. We’ve been amazed at how many people are willing to pack up their lives and find a roof elsewhere for a few weeks!” says Angela Southall.

Of those who are renting out their homes or are planning to, the majority are of the 35-54 age group. With options to take a holiday, move in with friends and family or rent elsewhere, some have said they would happily crash on a mate’s sofa or hole up in a converted shed or garage with 30% looking at such options. As well as the Med, popular destinations included Northern Europe and America.

The majority of enquiries regarding rental properties are coming from within the UK, with Brits who were lucky enough to get tickets looking to stay close by and make a holiday of the event. The UK was followed by the USA and France.

www.ownersdirect.co.uk

www.twitter.com/ownersdirect

http://www.facebook.com/ownersdirect

Holiday rentals company onefinestay unveils its 300th stylish London home

 onefinestay is celebrating its 300th member’s distinctive and upscale home in central London. Following the company’s launch in May 2010, the service has grown from six members to over 300, supported by a full time team of over 60 staff. The Index Ventures backed start-up has doubled its number of homes available in under six months, from 150 in October 2011.

Greg Marsh, onefinestay’s CEO and co-founder, says “This is a period of rapid growth for us. The company’s success has proven that people with beautiful homes are keen to have guests to stay in them while they’re away. Reaching this milestone of 300 homes is a great achievement for the onefinestay team, adding further anticipation around our international launch announcement later this year.”

onefinestay redefines the experience of visiting London: live like a local by staying in a distinctive home while the owner is out of town, with a service which offers all the convenience and comfort of a hotel. Guests enjoy luxury amenities like 5* hotel linens and toiletries from The White Company as standard.

Every guest is also loaned an iPhone for the duration of their stay which is filled with local tips and helpful videos recorded by the home’s owner, and from which they can make free local calls. Members benefit by earning an income from a house or flat which would otherwise sit vacant, without the risk or hassle associated with alternatives like holiday rentals or short term letting.

There are now 300 homes to choose from, at prices which range from £150 a night for a comfortable one bedroom apartment in Marylebone W1, to over £1,000 a night for a grand townhouse in South Kensington. Other stylish options available through onefinestay include a historic stay in St. Pancras Chambers, a four bedroom family home in Hampstead, a bachelor pad in trendy Shoreditch and a palatial home in luxurious Knightsbridge. This service suits everyone - from regular business travellers to London, couples seeking a more authentic experience, and families with children looking for the comforts of a real home.

onefinestay's early success was spotted by leading European venture capital firm Index Ventures which led a $3.7m funding round. Other angel investors include Brent Hoberman, co-founder & CEO of Lastminute.com, Andy Phillipps, co-founder of ActiveHotels, and other leading figures from the travel and hospitality community.

Women's Photography Retreat - Absolute Sanctuary Wellness Resort

Gaye Gerard knows how to take a good photo. As a professional freelance photographer with Getty Images she's shot Eric Bana, Cate Blanchett, Miranda Kerr, Nicole Kidman, Beyonce, Megan Gale, Richard Branson and their friends.

Gaye also knows the importance of balancing health, nutrition and wellness to be able to achieve your dreams and goals. The spa devotee understands that image on the outside is about what's on the inside. This is why she has created a Photography Retreat at Absolute Sanctuary Wellness Resort in Koh Samui, from May 4th to 10th 2012. The Retreat is designed to give women an opportunity to connect with each other and be inspired as they share their passions, develop new photography skills, enhance their creativity with a camera and cleanse their body and mind so they leave feeling rejuvenated.

Guests on the six night retreat not only get direct access to Gaye Gerard's professional photographic expertise and guidance but will also feel re-energised with healthy raw food, divine smoothies and fresh juices & vegetarian cuisine.

The delicious cuisine will delight your senses and leave you lingering for more, optional daily yoga, meditation and over 3 hours of heavenly spa massage treatments are also included. You can also experience one of Thailand's best culinary cooking classes, where each person has their own wok station and will prepare and enjoy a Thai meal, a true feast of flavours and colours. There will be a series of inspirational talks by guest speakers and Gaye's Photography workshops and image review sessions.

"When the body is detoxed the mind becomes clearer and creativity is unleashed" explains Gaye. Thailand offers a plethora of photographic opportunities from landscapes to people. You don't have to be an expert photographer; you just have to give it a go."

The Photography Retreat will also feature guest talks on Health and renewing your Creative Inspiration and includes all meals. The cost is $1997 per person twin share.

Book and pay in full before April 4th.

For more information on Gaye Gerard visit www.gayegerardphototours.weebly.com to see Gaye's Portfolio visit www.gayegerard.com contact Gaye Gerard info@gayegerard.com or call
+ 61 410 898 293

Want to find your perfect holiday? British Airways will help you with that

British Airways is making it easier to find the perfect holiday with the launch of a new 'Holiday Finder' tool on their website, www.ba.com.

Andrew Crawley, the commercial director with British Airways said: "We have been developing ways to make choosing the right holiday even easier, so we are excited to launch the new 'Holiday Finder' on ba.com.  Now customers can be inspired and find a bargain that's just right for them at the same time."

A new section called 'Not sure where and when' has been added to ba.com homepage and this is where customers will find a link to the 'Holiday Finder'. The tool can also be accessed directly at ba.com/holidayfinder.

The new ba.com feature allows customers to find the best deal on their flight+hotel package to a range of British Airways' most popular holiday destinations. Customers can personalise their specific requests by adding in budget, departure date, number of nights, destination or group of destinations, journey time, star rating, board basis, type of holiday and temperature.

Once these filters are added a list of holiday packages will be displayed to fit their specific criteria.

This will not only benefit anyone not sure where or when they want to go on holiday but also those looking for a good deal, anyone on a budget, holiday-makers with flexible dates and those who do not have the time to shop around.

The 'Holiday Finder' tool offers a more personalised experience for customers, enabling them to search for specific options including  budget, departure date, number of nights, destination, journey time, star rating, board basis, type of holiday i.e. city break or beach, and temperature.

Enjoy England as a touist destination of Firsts in the World

England has a long history of innovation and over the years it has paved the way for the rest of the world in several industries. As well as being home to the world’s first motorcar and being the first ground of several of the world’s first sports, England has also led the way in tourism.

With the first ever English Tourism Week taking place this week (10th – 18th March), VisitEngland takes a look back at some of the country’s tourism contributions that have shaped how we holiday today.

First Afternoon Tea
The tradition of taking Afternoon Tea is said to have been started at Woburn Abbey by the wife of the 7th Duke of Bedford, Duchess Anna Maria, during the 1840s. The Duchess felt that taking tea and delicate sandwiches, cakes and biscuits bridged the long gap between luncheon and dinner. We couldn’t agree more. Today, afternoon tea is still our preferred way to break up the afternoon, meet friends, or celebrate – and it is still served in traditional form in the Duchess’ tea room at Woburn Abbey. £12.50 per person. www.woburn.co.uk/abbey

First Stamp
What goes around the world and stays in a corner? The answer… a postage stamp, and the first method of pre-paying to send mail in a convenient way was invented right here in England. The first stamp in the world was posted from Bath in May 1840. The Penny Black officially came into use on 6th May 1840 and was sold in 1990 for £55,000. To learn more about England’s postal history, visit Bath Postal Museum. Adults: £3.50, Child over 6: £1.50.
www.bathpostalmuseum.co.uk

First Pier
Ryde Pier on the Isle of Wight is thought to be the oldest pier in the world. Built in 1813 and opened in 1814, the pier certainly made the experience of coming ashore more pleasant than being carried on a porter’s back or walking half a mile through wet sand in your fineries. The pier has recently been renovated to preserve its Victorian heritage and today is home to the Wightlink catamaran service between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde. Return crossing on the Catamaran from Portsmouth Harbour to Ryde is £16.
www.wightlink.co.uk

First Flight
2010 marked the 1,000 year anniversary of the first flight, when Brother Eilmer, an 11th century Benedictine monk, attached wings to his arms and legs and attempted man’s first recorded flight. He jumped off Malmesbury Abbey tower in Wiltshire and managed a downward glide of some 200 metres. You could say this was the precursor to Hang Gliding. To learn more about aviation, visit the flight gallery at the Science Museum in London, which is brimming over with extraordinary exhibits reflecting both British and international achievements in aviation. Entry is free but charges apply for the IMAX cinema, flight simulators and some special exhibitions.
www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/galleries/flight.aspx

First Deckchairs
Englishman John Thomas Moore, the man who bought the deckchair to world, took out a patent for an adjustable folding chair made of wood and fabric in 1886. Mass production of the deckchair started in Macclesfield in Cheshire, before becoming part of the furniture on ocean liners travelling all over globe - including the doomed Titanic. They became - and still are - an essential part of British piers, beaches, promenades, cricket grounds and back gardens. Beer beach in Devon is a picturesque beach with striped deckchairs and charming beach huts. Head out mackerel fishing, or simply recline in a deck chair for the afternoon and watch the world go by…
www.visitdevon.co.uk/things-to-do/beer-beach-p640103

First Package Holiday
It was a 32-year old cabinet-maker named Thomas Cook who pioneered the very first package holiday back in 1841, when he organised a rail journey from Leicester to Loughborough to allow 500 people to attend a temperance meeting on July 5th that year. During the next three summers, Thomas arranged a succession of trips between Leicester, Nottingham, Derby and Birmingham on behalf of local temperance societies and Sunday schools. His first commercial venture took place in the summer of 1845, when he charged patrons to join an organised a trip to Liverpool. Today, Thomas Cook is the UK’s largest retailer of breaks on home turf, as well as being the official provider of short breaks to the London 2012 Olympic Games and providing more trips to UK sports events than anyone else.
www.thomascooklondon2012.com

First Hard Rock Café
You can go all around the world from Aruba to Sharm El Sheikh and find a Hard Rock Café. But if you want to find the original, head to Old Park Lake in London. In June 2011, the Café celebrated its 30th birthday; the brainchild of Isaac Tigrett and Peter Morton, the central London restaurant offered first-rate American food, a fascinating collection of memorabilia with live music. Still housing the first ever piece of memorabilia donated to Hard Rock Café, Eric Clapton’s Lead II Fender – originally donated to reserve a space at the busy bar – the London café today is as authentic and popular as ever.
www.hardrock.com

For events and offers taking place this week for English Tourism Week, visit www.enjoyengland.com/English-Tourism-Week

Win a city break to Barcelona courtesy of the easyJet holidays website!

The easyJet holidays website is celebrating Barcelona being voted as one of Europe’s top gastro tourism destinations by launching a challenge for food bloggers to create a tapas dish worthy of winning a holiday to Barcelona.

This is following the news that Barcelona was recently voted in the top ten best European destinations for food and wine according to a world traveller’s poll commissioned by tripadvisor. The Catalan capital has steadily been on the rise on gastro tourists’ radar, with the city having a number of the world’s best restaurants and chefs residing in its limits in recent years.

The blogger competition is set up to showcase the delights of Spanish food. If you are a budding foodie blogger and fancy sharing your creation on your blog, you have the opportunity to enter and win a holiday in Barcelona. The top prize is a three night stay at the stylish 4 star Barcelo Sants hotel with return flights included. The competition runs until the 4th of April with entries being entered into a random prize draw, which gives everyone a chance to win no matter what the cooking ability is.

Mandy Round, general manager, easyJet holidays commented on the prize saying: “Barcelona is a beacon of both Spanish and Catalan cuisine and is home to some of the world’s best chefs and restaurants. The Barcelo Sants hotel is in a great location and a stay there will give the lucky winner a fantastic opportunity to get out and sample the city’s best gastronomic delights, something Barcelona is becoming ever more renowned for”

Entrants will have the chance to have their dish and blog promoted on the easyJet holidays competition page, giving great exposure to any aspiring food writers and adding to the already great incentive to enter. Along with the chance to win a three night holiday in Barcelona, there will be ten highly rated Catalan cookbooks, ‘Catalan Cuisine: Europe’s Last Great Culinary Secret’ up for grabs as runners up prizes that will be chosen at random from all competition entries, giving everyone a chance to win a prize.

The competition runs through March until the first week of April, with final entries being accepted at midnight on Wednesday 4th April 2012.

For all the details of how to enter the competition, visit the Barcelona food blogger competition page. Learn more about Barcelona holidays on the easyJet holidays website http://holidays.easyjet.com.

Eurostar reports bumper half-term

Eurostar, the high-speed passenger service between the UK and mainland Europe is reporting that it has carried 10% more passengers over this half-term school holiday, compared with the same holiday period last year.

Over 230,000 people from across the UK and Europe will travel on Eurostar over the course of the week for a late winter break. A combination of attractive prices, Valentine's Day and good ski conditions have made this a bumper half-term for Eurostar.

Nick Mercer, Commercial Director for Eurostar, said: "This has been one of our busiest February half-term weeks for several years. School holidays are always popular, but our service is particularly busy this year. With the perfect skiing conditions we are enjoying at the moment our direct ski services to the French Alps are virtually sold out next week.

"For families thinking about a last minute break we still have availability towards the end of the half-term week, with children under the age of four travelling for free. A short break can cost less than you think particularly when you take into account all the discounts you get on museums, galleries, restaurants and shopping with our Eurostar Plus scheme."

Eurostar Plus launched in 2010 to offer added value to Eurostar's leisure travellers. The Eurostar Plus collection includes Plus Shopping, Plus Culture and Eurostar Plus Gourmet, with more info on the latter available here: http://www.eurostarplus.co.uk/gourmet.

For more information, to book Eurostar tickets or purchase Eurostar gift vouchers visit www.eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186.

Spain booms as the ‘MET’ takes a hit following Arab Spring

Marketplace Report from HomeAway.co.uk reveals recovery of Euro-zone destinations and Croatia as the new rising star.

Supply of holiday rental accommodation in Spain grew sharply in the last quarter of 2011 as demand from holidaymakers also stayed strong, according to the UK’s largest holiday home rentals website, HomeAway.co.uk. Figures released today by the company position Spain as the tenth best performing market in terms of growth in inventory on its website. It was the first time the country entered this top ten last year.

Due to the tough resale market in 2011 it would seem more Spanish holiday homeowners looked to rent out their properties to help cover costs. Now, as property prices are largely thought to have bottomed out, Spain is again becoming one of the most attractive investment options for Brits.

The country also performed well on the demand side too. Overall, booking enquiries for Spain in 2011 were up 27% compared to 2010 and Malaga Province was the fifth most popular destination for holidays in the last quarter of the year, according to HomeAway.co.uk. This supports recent figures from Skyscanner which show Spain remains the number one holiday destination for Brits.

On the other hand, after rapid growth and a promising performance in 2010, Morocco, Egypt and Turkey all saw booking enquiries fall following the Arab Spring. Meanwhile, Euro-zone countries recovered as people switched back to traditional destinations to take advantage of the good exchange rate and stable environment.

Based on a survey by HomeAway.co.uk this January, 56% of respondents said they’re planning a trip to the Euro-zone this year to profit from the strong pound.

The rising star in Europe during the last part of 2011 was Croatia, which experienced a 35% increase in property listings at the end of 2011 compared to the same period the previous year, as well as strong increase in booking enquiries. HomeAway.co.uk expects the Croatian property and travel markets will grow even further this year, as the country benefits from more UK flight arrivals and gets set to join the E.U. in July 2013.


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FACTFILE:
HomeAway UK operates the two market-leading websites HomeAway.co.uk (www.HomeAway.co.uk) and Owners Direct (www.OwnersDirect.co.uk), founded respectively in 1996 and 1997. HomeAway.co.uk is the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, listing over 250,000 self-catering properties worldwide. HomeAway.co.uk offers independent guest reviews and OwnersDirect.co.uk offers owner profiles for increased peace of mind.

HomeAway is the world leader of the online holiday rentals market, representing over 625,000 property listings across more than 145 countries. The company has contributed significantly to the popularity of the holiday rentals industry, making it easier than ever for both owners to advertise and profit from their second homes and for millions of holidaymakers to find the perfect holiday rental. HomeAway operates sites in 11 European countries and the market-leading sites in the USA and Brazil.

What would YOU eat when on holiday?

According to a recent survey by villa rental specialists Owners Direct despite selecting self-catering accommodation, 75% of Brits still choose to eat out over four times a week whilst on holiday.

This throws the long-standing term of self-catering into confusion with the description ‘self-hosting’ now being far more applicable.

40% of those surveyed actually eat out every day, but 37% said the average amount they spend a week is only between £100-£250 totalling an average of £7 per meal per person based on two people dining. This demonstrates that budget is still an important issue.

Whilst the majority of British holidaymakers say they embrace the local cuisine whilst abroad we still like our home comforts. We British are notorious for enjoying a good cup of traditional tea to start off our day. It is no surprise that over 40% of us take our own little luxuries away, with marmite and tea bags proving the most popular items to take abroad.

When feeling a little adventurous, some of the strangest foods consumed by British abroad include guinea pig, crocodile, dolphin, rattle snake, mud hopper crab and fish eyes. Yet sometimes we find out about local customs the hard way, with a few confessing to finding themselves in embarrassing situations.

One holidaymaker recalled using ‘the lemon in the finger bowl to squeeze on my asparagus.’ Another remembered ordering fish soup in Singapore and instead received a bowl of water with fish heads floating in it. Local customs are also well known for catching people out – one diner quickly learnt not to cause offence by eating with his left hand in Morocco.

With dining out comes the challenge of ordering from the menu. Whilst some favour picture menus, 75% are willing to give the local lingo a go – even if that means slipping up and being the butt of dinner time jokes.

When people do choose to cook for themselves, 46% of travellers like to purchase locally produced products such as meat and fish from the local market to fit in with the culture and try out new dishes. Over 50% wait until they get home to cook traditional meals like a roast dinner or curry.

Results revealed that 59% of British people surveyed believe Italy, Spain, Portugal and Greece deliver the cheapest but the best local food, with others enjoying the food culture in Thailand, Vietnam and India. Controversially France appears to be a common answer for the worst meal British tourists have experienced along with being the most expensive!


When it comes to eating out as a family, 50% of Brits feel that their children are adventurous with trying new foods abroad. One commented that their children “will eat almost anything except snails and calamari.”

58% of holiday makers find that restaurants abroad are more welcoming to children than at home, with most agreeing that they are simply more tolerant of younger diners.

The most common languages spoken abroad are Spanish (70.7%), French (57.3%) followed by German (19.1%) and Italian (15.4%). By contrast, very few people are prepared to have a stab at Greek, Arabic, Portuguese, Cantonese, Dutch, or Norwegian whilst on holiday.

FACTFILE:
Owners Direct specialises in advertising privately owned holiday accommodation direct from the owner. We have advertised holiday properties since 1997 and on our web site you will find over 37,000 villas, apartments, chalets, farmhouses and cottages.

From Fincas in Spain to traditional Riads in Morocco and beach villas in Koh Samui, Owners Direct offer all types of holiday accommodation in a diverse selection countries throughout the world. They have seen enormous growth in recent years and are delighted to report that, they were voted Runner Up in the Best Villa Rental Companies category in the Conde Nast Readers Travel Awards 2009.

In August 2007 Owners Direct became part of HomeAway Inc. which owns the largest holiday website in the US and Europe, continuing to operate as a separate brand.

Owners Direct Website

British Airways launches travel tip videos for half-term holidays

With over 900,000 people travelling with British Airways this February half-term, the airline is giving travellers a light-hearted helping hand with their top travel and baggage tips collected from their staff all over the airline.

The videos, which are located on YouTube, can be found at: http://bit.ly/y0jiLN (Travel) and http://bit.ly/xNZFgE (Baggage).

The videos include tips pertaining to travelling with small children, remaining comfortable when travelling between different climates, how to remember passports and other essentials, and practical packing and baggage advice.

Abigail Comber, Head of Brands and Marketing, said: "With thousands of our worldwide team travelling around the globe and 30 million customers flying with British Airways a year, the airline is a font of top tips to make travel easy and the video is a nice way for us to pass that on."

The top day for getting away is Friday, February 10th with nearly 95,000 people jetting off on British Airways flights and the peak return date is Friday, February 17, 2012 with nearly 85,000 travelling.

Most popular holiday destinations with British Airways over half-term are New York, Rome, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Dubai, Las Vegas, Orlando, Hong Kong, Prague and Paris.

And there are still a few bargains to be had including three night city breaks in Amsterdam staying at the 3-star Blyss Hotel departing on February 13th. The package includes return British Airways flights from Gatwick and accommodation only.

New Online Magazine, theBandBer.com, Champions Independent Accommodation

It's an online magazine celebrating everything that makes independent accommodation special and unique.

A new online magazine dedicated to celebrating the very best in the independent accommodation market has been launched in the UK.

Aimed primarily at owners of bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and small hotels, theBandBer aims to create a community of self-styled ‘BandBers’, tirelessly championing and celebrating everything that makes them so unique and special.

Edited by David Cunningham, a senior web content developer and editor, this digital forum covers topics as wide-ranging as managing online reviews and profiles, appealing to the discerning business traveller, top tips and advice on effective use of social media, staycation trends, technology and credit card charges.

“There is a real spirit of community and comradeship within the independent accommodation market and property owners are eager to connect and share their stories,” says editor David Cunningham. “We are planning on using an arsenal of social media tools to help support and promote our members.”

Funded by US Booking Services Ltd, the Scottish-based, family-run travel technology company behind justonehotel.com, roomgenie.com and freetobook, theBandBer.com is a trade site with no membership costs. It is linked to an associated directory site, aimed at potential customers, www.bandber.com, which will provide opportunities for independent operators to advertise their properties.

You can contact Editor David Cunningham by email: david@thebandber.com

Or join them at theBandBer

Follow them on Twitter @theBandBer

Itineraries Announced For Seventy%'s Chocolate Holiday Tours

Seventy%, claimed to be the world’s leading authority on chocolate, has revealed the itineraries for its Connoisseur Chocolate Tours of France and Italy, launching in 2012 in association with Arena Travel.

Led by Seventy%’s founder and editor, Martin Christy, the holiday tour programme includes visits and direct access to the regions’ pre-eminent chocolate makers and chocolatiers.

Holidaymakers with a less refined understanding of fine chocolate need not be put off - as one of the world’s leading bean-to-bar chocolate experts, Martin will use his expertise to help the group develop their understanding, with a welcome talk that includes chocolate samples and tasting notes, as well as guidance throughout the tour.

The five-day Chocolate Masters of the Lower Rhône tour takes in visits to some of France’s oldest and most established chocolate producers, including:

• The original Bonnat shop in Voiron - something of a site of pilgrimage for fans of fine chocolate - followed by an exploration of the factory

• Chocolaterie A. Morin in Donzère, where the cocoa beans are roasted, ground and conched onsite in their own workshop

• Pralus in Roanne, home of the famous praluline bar

• Artisan chocolate house, Bernachon, Lyon, typified by its house speciality, Le Palet d’Or, made from fresh cream and dark chocolate adorned with gold leaf

• Other activities include a specially-designed chocolate dinner at a local restaurant

The five-day Chocolatiers of Florence and Tuscany tour is packed with specially arranged visits to eminent chocolatiers from across the city and the Tuscan Chocolate Valley, including:

• Andrea Bianchini, often referred to in Italy as the ‘King of Chocolate’

• Rivoire, master of its art for a century and a half, Rivoire has been producing chocolate on its site in the heart of the city since 1872

• Vestri, produces chocolate from its own organic cacao finca in the Dominican Republic

• Luca Mannori in Prato an innovator and international award-winning Relais Dessert and Maître Chocolatier

• Roberto Catinari in Agliana, considered the ‘father’ of all Tuscan artisan chocolatiers

• Slitti in Monsummano Terme, the first non-Frenchman to win the prestigious Grand Prix de la Chocolaterie de Paris

• De Bondt, Visignano-Navacchio, listed in Chantal Coady’s prestigious, The Chocolate Companion, as one of the 15 top chocolate manufacturers in the world

• Other activities include a private chocolate tasting led by their local expert Monica Meschini

Both tours include travel, accommodation in a 4* star hotel and free time for guests to explore the local area.

Details of an additional Chocolate Connoisseur Tour, taking in a plantation trip and the fascinating cacao trail of Ecuador, will be announced later in the year.

FSACTFILE:
With seventeen years’ experience of fine chocolate, Martin Christy has travelled the globe visiting cocoa plantations and meeting the world’s top producers. He was a founding member of the Academy of Chocolate in the UK and is a consultant to the fine chocolate and cacao growing industries worldwide. As well as his regular online chocolate blog, he has written features for UK magazines and has worked on several books about fine chocolate, including 'The Connoisseur's Guide to Chocolate' (Apple Press, 2007).
www.seventypercent.com

As one of the most comprehensive chocolate sites in the world, Seventy% brings consumers, professionals and industry producers together as a community to learn the finer distinctions of cacao and chocolate and the importance of a direct connection from ‘bean to bar’. In doing so it helps support the continued growth and development of the cacao and chocolate market, from the ground up.

• www.arenatravel.com

• Full itinerary for Chocolate Masters of the Lower Rhône

• Full itinerary for Chocolatiers of Florence and Tuscany


Stylish Staycations In South West Wales

North Beach Tenby (www.northbeachtenby.com), the collective name for two luxurious, contemporary apartments in the picturesque beach resort of Tenby in Pembrokeshire, is offering stylish staycations from £650 per week for a family four (or even five) in 2012.

One of Britain’s most popular coastal resorts in Victorian times, Tenby remains a great destination for a traditional family seaside holiday.

The town has three wide, sandy beaches (North, South and Castle), totalling 2.5 miles in length, all of which have been awarded Blue Flag status (guaranteeing excellent water quality and beach facilities, such as public loos and lifeguards).

Other outdoor activities include hiking the coastal trail, windsurfing, sea kayaking, golfing and boat trips for pure pleasure or a spot of fishing.

If – heaven forbid – it should rain, there is plenty for families to do that is mainly indoors, such as visit Silent World Aquarium & Reptile Collection, Blue Lagoon Water Park & Adventure Centre, Anna Ryder Richardson’s Manor House Wildlife Park, Folly Farm, the Pottery Shed Café or Caldey Island, all of which are in or just outside Tenby.

Alternatively, guests can return to North Beach Tenby, get the log-burning stoves going and snuggle down in front of the TV or around a family board game. Created from a Regency townhouse, the two-bedroom apartments have sensational views overlooking North Beach and the Pembrokeshire coast, and are well located in the heart of Tenby, just a few minutes’ walk from all the old town’s attractions – shops, cafes, restaurants, medieval walls, National Trust property and, of course, the town’s beaches.

Both apartments accommodate four, each having a double room with an ensuite shower, a twin room and a bathroom with shower, but an additional single bed can be supplied on request at no extra charge to sleep a fifth person. Spacious living spaces have separate cooking, eating and dining areas. The fully-fitted kitchens have every amenity, including ovens, dishwasher and washing machines, while the living areas come complete with flat-screen TVs and DVD players and log-burning stoves. The apartments also come with off-street parking and use of a kayak, subject to availability.

A week’s holiday at North Beach Tenby costs from £650 per apartment in February (perfect for half-term holidays), including use of linens, full cleaning service and the provision of logs for the stoves. In April, during the Easter school holidays, a week’s stay is priced at £750 and in the summer, from £900 per week. Shorter stays are possible, but are subject to a minimum two-night stay and availability.

Reservations can be made through the website www.northbeachtenby.com.

Romantic Retreats For 2012

Luxury villa company CV Travel has come up with its top choice of romantic retreats for 2012, from cosy villas for two on the Greek islands, to a boutique London hotel, a town-house in rural France, to a Spanish cottage.

Coastal sun-kissed Greek villa for two

Pelagia Cottage, Messinia, Greece

What could be more romantic than sitting in a hot tub overlooking the Greek coastline as the sun sets across the Gulf of Messinia. CV Travel’s Pelagia Cottageisa beautifully restored villain a superb setting on the edge of a low headland on the Peloponnese.

The property has two outdoor dining terraces, one dappled by shade and the other with a private jacuzzi on the headland with rock bathing just below and within walking distance of beautiful sandy beaches, local shops and tavernas in the Greek village of Stoupa.

A 7 night stay in Pelagia Cottage costs from £1680 - £1925 per week including car hire, maid service and food hamper, based on 2 guests sharing. Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1026,www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/greece/peloponnese/stoupa/accommodation/pages/pelagia-cottage.aspx

Just a diamond’s call away

The Draycott Hotel, Kensington, Great Britain

Romantics and lovers of tradition will enjoy the afternoon tea and biscuits, champagne at six and bed-time hot chocolate at the 5* Draycott Hotel, a red-brick house in the heart of Kensington and Chelsea, close to Sloane Square and temptingly close to London’s high end shops.

The Draycott recalls an era of Edwardian grandeur in style, with high ceilings, period antiques and theatrical memorabilia and is set around a peaceful private garden square. 24-hour concierge service ensures that a call for a large diamond at 2am will at least be answered.

Those falling for the hotel’s charms, and each other, can also book a wedding reception there at a future date.

A two night stay at the Draycott Hotel costs from £318 per person in 2012 (based on a standard double bedroom), including breakfast, available through CV Travel, 020 7401 1086, www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/great-britain/england/london/accommodation/pages/the-draycott-hotel.aspx

`Wedding cake’ villa above the sea

La Ventana, Siesta, Ibiza

For those with nuptials on the mind La Ventana in Ibiza is a real `wedding cake’ of a whitewashed Spanish villa, tucked up in a private location on the cliffs above the small town of Siesta. Its immensely intimate setting, with wide-open sea views from its raised private terrace and its own hexagonal swimming pool make it a very special romantic retreat. The villa is private, but within a romantic stroll of a spa, lovely beaches and the bars and restaurants in the town.

La Ventanacan be rented through CV Travel from £2,170 per week between April and October 2012. Sleeps up to 4.

Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1035 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/spain/ibiza/siesta/accommodation/pages/la-ventana.aspx#/

Centuries of love

The Cockloft, Cotswolds, Great Britain

Stroll in the grounds of Wiltshire’s oldest inhabited manor house, with its 13th century porch and 15th century chapel, and amid the ancient yews, stumble across a love folly and pluck a bloom from the profusion of old fashioned rose species that fill the gardens in May and June. This historic manor house has witnessed centuries of romance and modern-day romantics can enjoy a week’s stay at `The Cockloft’ in the grounds of the manor house, a heavily-beamed, ancient, stone-built house with traditional polished wood floors, furnished with antiques.

A week’s stay at The Cockloft can be booked with CV Travel (020 7401 1086, www.cvtravel.co.uk) costs from £600 for two.

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/great-britain/england/cotswolds/accommodation/pages/the-cockloft.aspx

Villa for two on the island of Corfu

Villa Akrothalassia, St Spiridon, Corfu

Akrothalassia on the North east coast of Corfu is a very romantic, secluded property situated deep within a private olive grove, just a few steps away from the sea. The property’s romantic charm includes a Jacuzzi bath which has superb views of the sea with an eye-catching silhouette of an offshore island.

A week’s stay starts from £1415 based on 2 people sharing and includes car hire maid service and food hamper. Contact CV Travel on 020 7401 1026 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/greece/corfu/kalamaki-st-spiridon--perithia/accommodation/pages/akrothalassia.aspx

A tower for two in rural Umbria

`Renato's Tower', Borgo San Biagio, Umbria

This quirky, restored medieval tower in a hilltop Umbrian hamlet with a hot-tub on the roof terrace, is absolutely perfect for a romantic weekend or honeymoon retreat. From the rooftop terrace couples enjoy beautiful views of the undulating countryside while the tower offers rustic and comfortable accommodation on 4 floors and is in close proximity to historic towns and places of interest for plenty of romantic excursions.

Renato’s Tower can be booked for two from £995 per week. Call CV Travel on 020 7401 1039 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Umbria--Tuscany-Borders/Accomodations/Pages/Renatos-Tower.aspx

Wake up to the waves

`La Trasita', Positano

Wake up to the sound of the waves and the scent of the sea in a 14th century Saracen tower, perched on the headland on a coastal path leading away fromPositano, making it a unique venue, with its own roof terrace, galleried double bedroom and sitting room with balcony. Sea views are, naturally, unrivalled.

La Trasita is available to book through CV Travel from £1445for two to share per week. Tel 020 7401 1039 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/italy/campania/amalfi-coast-sorrento--ischia/accommodation/pages/la-trasita.aspx

Town house on Sicily’s coastline

Casa Cefalu, Sicily Coast

Wander through the streets and squares of Cefalu with its palazzi, churches, old fashioned bars and a sandy beach, before returning a short stroll to Casa Cefalu, a pretty town house in the medieval centre of Cefalù, on the north coast of Sicily.From the house’s two terraces magnificent views over the roofs of the medieval town, the twelfth-century Norman cathedral and out to sea can be seen.

Casa Cefalu can be booked through from CV Travel from £895 for two to share per week. Call CV on 020 7401 1039 or visit www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/italy/sicily/sicily-coast--countryside/accommodation/pages/casa-cefalu.aspx

Charming rural retreat, inland Mallorca

Son Siona, Mallorca, Spain

Son Siona is a traditional cottage with plenty of rural atmosphere and secluded countryside for a very peaceful and romantic stay. The local village of Buger is a short walk away and is one of the smallest municipalities on the island of Mallorca and one of the most attractive. Bursting with character and cosiness, the house has its own private pool and large private gardens, making it perfect for seclusion and romance.

Son Siona is available to rent through CV Travel (020 7401 1035, www.cvtravel.co.uk) from £805 to £1565 per week.

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/spain/mallorca/bay-of-pollensa--surrounds/accommodation/pages/son-siona.aspx

Town house a deux in one of France’s most beautiful villages

La Petit Gordes, Gordes, France

Take a leisurely stroll together through the stone paved streets of one of France’s most beautiful villages, Gordes, a picturesque hillside town with spectacular views overlooking the hills of Luberon, and a place where film stars and local artists have made their home. Visitthe Saint-Firmain Palace cellars, the Sénanque Abbey and the Village des Bories. CV Travel’s La Petite Gordesis a charming two bedroom stone town house with a large private pool, just 5 minutes walk from the centre ofGordes, and driving distance fromthe beautiful town of Bonnieux and the city of Avignon.

La Petit Gordes can be booked through CV Travel (020 7401 1044,www.cvtravel.co.uk) A 7 night stay in La Petite Gordes costs from £2,360 to £3,655 per week including villa hire and maid service, for up to 4 guests sharing. Return flights, transfers and car hire can be arranged on request.

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/destinations/europe/france/provence/goult--surrounding-areas/accommodation/pages/la-petite-gordes.aspx

Door2Tour.com reveals flower shows are blooming whilst UK holiday sales are wilting

Door2Tour.com, the website tour consolidator, has revealed that overall flower show sales are up 158% year to date compared to the same period last year.

It has also found that that over half of the increase can be attributed to sales for the once-every-ten-years Euro flower show, Floriade 2012, an international event with more than 100 participants taking part from across the world, including countries, businesses and horticultural companies. Floriade 2012 is a showcase for the very latest trends in gardening, horticulture and the environment, with countless innovative attractions and interactive activities for all to take part in.

Despite the increase in flower show sales, Door2Tour.com has also found interest in traditional UK breaks are down in line with recent reports from other travel companies such as TUI, who have also experienced weaker UK holiday bookings with an 11% drop in summer 2012 bookings compared to last year.

Rachel Jones, Online PR & Marketing Co-ordinator at Door2Tour.com, said: "Although sales for our flower shows appear to be blooming at the moment with favourites such as Chelsea and Floriade 2012 receiving huge interest from the public, this has been counteracted by drooping UK holiday sales despite holidaymakers tightening their money belts and trying to save the pennies by holidaying at home. One of the reasons for this decline in UK holiday sales could be because families simply cannot afford their annual holiday this year therefore are not booking anything at all."

The coach holidays company has also seen a 15% increase in Euro breaks, with a come-back for destinations like Rome, Spain, Belgium, Austria and Germany. Destinations that appear to have suffered since last year include France with interest in Paris city breaks declining, although trips to Disneyland Paris are selling extremely well, with travellers still being drawn to the major European theme park.

Rachel concluded: "Although our UK sales seem to be down this year compared to 2011, it would appear that our customers are taking advantage of the recent troubles in Europe and opting for European coach tours instead which is why we have seen an increase in interest for destinations such as Rome, Spain, Belgium and Austria. With many still trying to budget when it comes to planning their annual break away, some are choosing popular all-inclusive holidays so they do not have to worry about any hidden extras thus being able to enjoy their holiday. The added advantage of holidaying abroad is you’re more or less guaranteed good weather compared to UK coach holidays where the weather is somewhat unpredictable."

Event sales are also flourishing, with a 73% increase in overall events sales. This has been boosted through early interest shown for events such as The X Factor and Dancing on Ice Live Tours, Royal Ascot, the British Grand Prix, The Grand National and the hotly anticipated Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.