101 Holidays blog

Luxury New York break for £499

March 3rd, 2010

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By 101 short breaks news desk

Travelmood is offering 3 nights in the 5* InterContinental, The Barclay, New York City for £499 pp, a saving of £170 pp.

The hotel is in a great location just off Park Avenue, close to Madison and Fifth, in walking distance of the Rockefeller Centre, Carnegie Hall and Time Square. The style is old world glamour but with modern facilities. Past guests have included Bette Davis, Marlon Brando, Nelson Mandela and Ronald Regan - not at the same time, we understand.

Departing June 7, the break includes 3 nights’ room-only accommodation and Virgin Atlantic flights from Heathrow.

Transfers aren’t included but you can always blow the money you’ve saved on a stretch limo to whisk you off in style to the hotel when you arrive - Travelmood can fix it for an additional £163 per couple.

Tags: Holiday deals June 2010, Travelmood
Posted in Deals | Click here to leave a comment »

Win tickets to the new Legoland Discovery Centre

March 2nd, 2010

legoland discovery centre manchester Win tickets to the new Legoland Discovery Centre legoland discovery centre animation Win tickets to the new Legoland Discovery Centre

Here at 101 short breaks, we are giving away two family tickets - for two adults and two children - to the UK’s first LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, opening on March 22.

For your chance to win, simply answer the following question:

Where is the UK’s first LEGOLAND Discovery Centre located?

a) The Bull Ring, Birmingham

b) The Trafford Centre, Manchester

c) Westfield Shopping Centre, London

Send your answer (together with your full name) to info@101shortbreaks.co.uk by noon GMT on Wednesday March 31. The two winners will be picked at random from the correct answers and announced on the 101 Blog.

LEGOLAND Discovery Centre is like a life-sized box of LEGO. Children can learn how the famous bricks are made on the LEGO factory tour, the master model builder will share his top tips for creating the best LEGO models in his master class and iconic scenes from the North West are recreated in the fantastic Miniland.

Kids can battle against trolls to save a beautiful princess on Kingdom Quest, the interactive LEGO laser ride, or they can experience being part of the action in the 4D cinema. Other features of the attraction include a LEGO Racers build and test track, LEGO Belville area and a DUPLO Village featuring a soft play section, plus a café and a shop featuring a huge range of LEGO products.

Located in The Trafford Centre, Manchester, the Centre will be open from 10am, 7 days a week (closing times vary) with day tickets costing £7 per adult or child - click here for details.

Terms & Conditions: the prize is for tickets only and must be redeemed at the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Manchester by December 31 2010 (excluding school and Bank holidays, subject to availability). There is no cash alternative.

We’d like to tell you about future competitions and holiday deals. Please let us know if you don’t want to be added to our mailing list

Tags: Legoland Discovery
Posted in Competition, Exclusive offers, News | Click here to leave a comment »

Would you visit Madeira after the floods?

February 26th, 2010

quinta on madeira Would you visit Madeira after the floods? valleys of madeira Would you visit Madeira after the floods?

Is now a good time to visit Madeira - so soon after the devastating flash floods and mudslides that killed at least 42 people?

Media reports suggest that the Portuguese island is still struggling to return to normality. This BBC video shows the extent of the damage just 20 minutes outside the capital, Funchal.

But travel companies that know the island well say the main tourist areas have not been badly affected - and that local people are desperate for visitors to return.

John Dixon, Managing Director of Prestige Holidays, which has been operating in Madeira for more than 20 years, said today: “The island is quickly returning to normality. Most hotels are unaffected, flights are operating, main roads are open and the phone network and internet are fine. The clear-up operation has been extensive and almost every area that a tourist would want to visit is open for business.”

Dixon said his clients were not evacuated following the storms, and those with existing bookings are arriving safely. “We had 24 clients on the island and all of them were safe,” he said. “None of the hotels that we use were affected.”

Dixon urges British tourists not to abandon Madeira. “I appreciate that it’s a sensitive time to travel and that some clients have concerns about islanders who may be in mourning. However, the message is loud and clear from the islanders and tourism authorities. They need and welcome UK visitors.

“The worse thing for Madeira would be if people were to stop or postpone travelling to the island. Go to the island - you will have a great time, a warm welcome and you will be helping the islanders out.”

What do you think? Would you travel to Madeira now to support the island, or do you consider it insensitive? Please leave a comment below.

Tags: Prestige Holidays
Posted in News, Opinion | Click here to leave a comment »

Save £40 at the Star Castle Hotel

February 26th, 2010

By 101shortbreaks newsdesk

The Isles of Scilly are one of this year’s hottest destinations.

And one of our favourite boltholes, the Star Castle Hotel on St Mary’s, is offering 3 nights half-board for £439 pp, a saving of £40 pp.

There’s no need to worry about a rough crossing either - the price also includes return helicopter transfers from Penzance.

The offer applies for stays between March 27 and April 30, perfect for some island-hopping, bird-watching, hiking or strolling along the beach in the spring sunshine - or hunker down in this luxurious 16th century gem with its roaring fires, romantic rooms and fabulous food.

Tags: Holiday deals April 2010, Holiday deals March 2010, Star Castle Hotel
Posted in Deals | 1 Comment »

Half price long-haul holidays with Hayes & Jarvis

February 25th, 2010

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By 101 Holidays newsdesk

Hayes & Jarvis has slashed more than £800 pp off the cost of selected long-haul holidays. It is also throwing in free upgrades from B&B to half-board.

Bookings must be made by Thursday March 4.

* Save £801 pp, departing May 4. Two weeks at the 4* Kandaburi Resort and Spa on Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, now costs £749 pp.

* Save £853 pp, departing May 15. One week at the 4* Medhufushi Island Resort in the Maldives now costs £899 pp with seaplane transfers.

* Save £440 pp, departing June 28. Four nights at the 5* Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai now costs £599 pp.

All holidays include a free upgrade to half-board, scheduled flights and transfers. More details from Hayes & Jarvis.

Tags: Hayes & Jarvis, Holiday deals June 2010, Holiday deals May 2010
Posted in Deals, Insider tips | 1 Comment »

Alice in Wonderland at The Grove

February 24th, 2010

easter at the grove 2010 Alice in Wonderland at The Grove easter breaks at the grove Alice in Wonderland at The Grove

By 101 short breaks newsdesk

Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland is released at cinemas on March 5, but you can experience your very own Mad Hatter’s Tea Party with Glamour Puds’ Eric Lanlard at The Grove this Easter.

The “groovy grand” Hertfordshire hotel is hosting fantasy cake-making classes throughout the Easter weekend with the Master Pâtissier himself. Drool over an inspiring and irresistible display of Chef Lanlard’s amazing creations, currently showing on Channel 4.

If Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is more your thing, The Grove’s own pastry chefs will hold a series of chocolate-making classes for parents and children with plenty of tastings.

Wannabe florists can pick up tips from uber-chic florist, McQueen’s, who will run flower workshops inspired by the world of Beatrix Potter.

Anouska’s, The Grove’s Ofsted-approved children’s club, will run a packed programme of indoor and outdoor activities through the Easter holiday. One highlight will be performance classes with professional actors from Perform, the renowned children’s drama group, culminating in a family show based on Peter Pan.

The Grove is offering 4 nights for the price of 3 throughout the Easter holidays (March 28 to April 25) with 25% off the cost of an adjoining room for children under 12. Rates start from £290 per room per night including breakfast (based on 2 sharing).

Tags: holiday deals easter 2010, The Grove
Posted in Deals, News | Click here to leave a comment »

Museums at Night weekend

February 23rd, 2010

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By 101 short breaks newsdesk

Fancy spending the night in London’s Cabinet War Rooms sleeping in Churchill’s atmospheric World War Two shelter beneath the streets of Whitehall? That’s one of the activities on offer in this year’s Museums at Night Weekend, an after-hours celebration of UK culture, history and heritage.

From May 14 - 16, museums and galleries throughout the UK will be opening late with over 200 events aimed at all ages and interests including historic house openings, re-enactments, industrial heritage exhibitions, stargazing and sleepovers.

For families, events include an evening in the Terrible Trenches exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, London where kids can learn to draw the Horrible way with Martin Brown, illustrator of the Horrible Histories series written by Terry Deary.

Try your hand at night-flying a helicopter on one of 50 flight simulators at the Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare or come face to face with a Dalek, Wallace and Gromit and watch an Imax film with a sleepover at the National Media Museum in Bradford.

Join the Royal Marines on a night operation training session in the Royal Marines Museum in Hampshire or explore Bath’s Roman Baths at night.

For the grown-ups, options include a silent ’70s disco at the Tate Liverpool - grab a set of headphones and take to the dance floor in the sculpture gallery.

Play detective in a live game of Cluedo at Devon’s Torre Abbey or learn how 18th and 19th century eligible bachelors would meet their future fianceés at a Jane Austen-inspired evening at The Assembly House in Norwich.

Start planning now by visiting the Culture24 website.

man landscapeframe Museums at Night weekend

Tags: Culture24
Posted in News | 1 Comment »

Save £336 in Borneo

February 20th, 2010

Shangri-La`s Tanjung Aru Resort orang utan in borneo Save £336 in Borneo

By 101 Holidays newsdesk

We rarely see special offers for holidays in Borneo, but here’s a cracker.

Travelmood is offering 10 nights room only at the 5* Shangri-La Tanjung Aru Resort from £799 pp, a saving of £336 pp.

Set on a gorgeous beach on the shores of the South China Sea, it has all the usual features of a luxury resort plus panoramic views of the tropical islands of the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine National Park.

The holiday, departing on October 9, also includes flights with Royal Brunei Airlines from London Heathrow and transfers.

Tags: Holiday deals October 2010, Travelmood
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