Travel deals, tips, insider news and comment by 101 Holidays editors, Mark Hodson and David Wickers
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Holiday details: 7 nights in Malta staying at the plush 5-star Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz, situated on the small island of Gozo. The hotel has two impressive al fresco swimming pools and every room has a private balcony that overlooks either the surrounding gardens out the valley of San Lawrenz.
Price: from £4,212 per family of 4, B&B, based on 4 people sharing, including flights from London and transfers.
Dates: departs July and August, 2010
Book with: Kirker Holidays
Holiday details: 3 nights in Lille – including 1 free – staying at the impressive 19th Century 4-star Hotel Carlton. Located right in the heart of the city, the hotel is opposite the Opera House, close to the train station and just a short walk to shops, restaurants and museums.
Price: from £450pp - saving £110pp - including 1 free night, B&B, First Class Leisure Select Eurostar and sightseeing guide notes.
Dates: valid all year, Friday arrivals.
Book with: Kirker Holidays
By 101 Holidays newsdesk
Tropical Locations has 8 nights at the Oberoi Mauritius (pictured above) for £1,469 per person (saving £720) based on 2 sharing a Luxury Pavilion on B&B basis, including flights from London Heathrow and private transfers. Valid for travel until 30th September 2009.
Kirker Holidays has 3 nights for the price of 2 at the 5-star L’Heure Bleue (pictured above), a luxurious and elegant riad at the heart of the medina in the unspoilt seaside town of Essaouira. Prices from £698 pp – a saving of £141 pp - including return flights to Marrakech (regional departures), private car transfers , 3 nights’ B&B and a complimentary hammam treatment.
Classic Cottages has 30% savings on Woodlands Manor (pictured above, sleeps 12), near Bude in Cornwall, boasting a VisitBritain Quality Assurance Standard 5-star rating and set within its own grounds. Guests have use of a heated indoor pool and a games room, and the local The Bush Inn dates back to 950AD - it was once a popular haunt for smugglers. Arriving Saturday 12 September, a week now costs from £75 pp (£893 total).
Departing on 23rd September, Hayes & Jarvis is offering a 14-night holiday to Thailand at only £549 per person – a saving of 37% (£325pp). Within easy reach of both Cha-am and Hua Hin, the 3*+ Holiday Inn Resort Regent Beach Cha-am (pictured above) is set within tropical gardens along a 4-mile stretch of beach. The deal includes 14 nights on a room only basis and return Qatar Airways flights from London Heathrow.
By David Wickers, editor of 101 Holidays
Sorrento, which has been putting out the welcome mat to visiting Brits for decades, is an ideal resort for those who want to get more from the Med than a sunbed - yet who don’t want to rent a car.
From its main harbour, confusingly called the Marina Piccola (the little marina), you can zip across to the islands of Capri or Ischia by fast ferry, with some services also going along the spectacular Amalfi coast to glittering Positano and Amalfi.
If your stomach can cope with the twists, turns and hairpin bends of the Amalfi Drive, hacked out of the solid rock face, I thoroughly recommend one of the world’s most scenic bus rides, travelling to the medieval streets and casbah-like alleyways of the main town of Amalfi.
Or head up into the lemon and olive groved hills to Ravello, rightly famous for a pair of beautiful gardens (Cimbrone and Rufolo).
A short walk from Sorrento’s central piazza Tasso, you can board a local train service that will take you to the main entrance of Pompeii, to the funicular that travels up the lava slopes of Vesuvius and on into Naples.
GETTING THERE
From Naples airport there are bus services straight to Sorrento, or take a taxi and be sipping that first Campari and soda on your hotel terrace in less than an hour.
WHERE TO STAY IN SORRENTO
At the budget-testing but spectacular Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria (top left), one of Europe’s most authentic grand hotels and host to an A list of royals, statesmen and celebrities ever since it first opened in 1834. It has 5 acres of gardens, an oasis of lemon trees with a large pool and a spa. The views from the hotel terrace, overlooking the Bay of Naples with Vesuvius looming on the far horizon, are to die for.
WHERE TO EAT IN SORRENTO
In the hills above town is the Michelin starred Don Alfonso in Sant Agata. In town, Il Buco is excellent for fish. For no nonsense Italian food served in a huge conservatory setting with a garden at the back, try O’Parrucchiano. For ice cream head for Gelateria Davide or Bougainvillea - my favourite is the vanilla and mango combo. A good place to sample local Campania wines is the Bollicine wine bar on Via dell’Accademia.
BEST SHOPS
Along the Corso Italia – which is pedestrianised in the evening - and the narrow, flagstoned streets of the old town, especially the traffic-free via San Cesareo.
BEST BUYS
“Tassia” inlaid wooden crafts, the local lemon liqueur, vacuum packed wedges of parmesan.
HOW TO BOOK
To book a holiday to Sorrento, we recommend the following tour operators: Long Travel, Elegant Resorts, Kirker Holidays and Seasons in Style.
By 101 Holidays newsdesk
It’s Friday, so it’s deals day at 101 Holidays. We’ve unearthed some cracking bargains for you this week including a huge saving in Sri Lanka, a great deal at one of New York’s smartest hotels, discount packages to Orlando and even some bargain cottages in Cornwall. Enjoy!
Depart Heathrow on June 18 with Kuoni for a week’s B&B at the Bentota Beach Hotel (pictured above) in Sri Lanka and pay only £501 pp, a saving of £357 pp. Located on Sri Lanka’s south-west coast, between the sweeping Bentota Beach and Bentota River, the setting of this 4 star hotel is spectacular. Kuoni offers an additional 5% discount on online bookings. Click here for this and other special offers to Sri Lanka.
The Pierre, one of New York’s most famous luxury hotels, reopened this week after a major renovation. Overlooking Central Park on Fifth Avenue at 61st Street, The Pierre (pictured above) is ideally located. Kirker Holidays is offering 3 nights for the price of 2 on departures up to September 7; pay from £1,170 pp, a saving of £350 pp, for 3 nights including scheduled flights from London, private transfers and accommodation in one of the newly remodelled rooms. Kirker will also throw in one of its excellent sightseeing and restaurant guides.
Classic Cottages is offering savings of 20% on the rental cost of some of its cottages in Cornwall. A week at Orchard Meadow Barn (pictured above) from June 13 for up to 8 people now costs £845. Located down a country lane close to Launceston, there is direct access to a children’s play area, tennis court, games room and heated indoor swimming pool.
Jetsave is offering savings of £200 pp on 10 nights in Orlando, flying from Manchester on June 22. Accommodation is in the Balinese-style International Plaza Resort (pictured above), set in 23 acres and located close to the Walt Disney World Resort and Florida Mall shopping haven. Pay £525 pp including flights, accommodation and free car hire.
Visit 101 Holidays for more great holiday ideas.
By 101 Holidays newsdesk
Mark Warner is offering half price holidays this June at selected properties in Corsica and Portugal. Departing June 7, one week full board at the San Lucianu Beach Resort in Corsica now costs an incredible £240 per person, including flights from Gatwick. Sailing and windsurfing with tuition, canoeing and tennis are included in the price. Childcare is offered (for a small supplement) from 4 months to 5 years of age. Departing on June 6 and 13, a week’s half-board at the Ocean Club Resort on the Algarve now costs £200 pp, half the usual price.
Departing on June 16, Hayes & Jarvis is offering 7 nights’ all-inclusive at the Bali Tropic Resort & Spa for £699 pp, a saving of £323 per person. Set on Tanjung Benoa beach close to the lively resort of Nusa Dua, the hotel offers Balinese style bungalows set in tropical gardens and facilities including a pool, spa, watersports, three restaurants, four bars and evening entertainment. Flights with Singapore Airlines are also included.
Prestige Holidays is offering savings of £138 pp off of a week’s stay at Quinta das Vistas Hotel in Madeira, a charming restored manor house with panoramic views of Funchal. Prestige is also throwing in one Chandra chocolate sugar treatment in the spa per booking. The saving applies to all holidays completed by July 15 2009; one week now costs from £799 pp departing June 8, including return flights from London Gatwick, private taxi transfers and 7 nights’ B&B accommodation.
Departing on various dates in June and July, Somak is offering 5 nights at the 3 star Kinondo Beach Retreat in South Mombasa, Kenya for £795 pp on a half board basis. With just 12 air-conditioned suites, this “back to nature” hotel is a short walk from the beach.
Travel to Umbria with Real Holidays on June 1 or June 20 and save £549 pp on a week in a deluxe suite at the Villa di Monte Solare. This tranquil 18th century-style hilltop hotel is set amid chestnut groves and elm forest 24 kms from Perugia and offers two pools, a spa and fine-dining restaurant. 7 nights on a bed and breakfast basis now costs £823 pp; flights and car hire are not included.
Kirker Holidays is offering 5 nights for the price of 3 at the 5 star Radisson SAS Golden Sands in Malta. Overlooking one of Malta’s largest sandy beaches, this luxury modern resort offers four swimming pools, a spa, tennis courts and dive centre. For departures up to June 30, the price is now from £540 pp, a saving of £196 pp, and includes flights (with a choice of regional departures), private transfers and accommodation with breakfast.