Jetsettersblog

Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill-Dudley is offering prospective wedding couples the chance to win a Royal Wedding. One lucky couple will be selected to win an all-inclusive wedding package to take place at this wonderful four star hotel on Friday 29 April 2011.

Situated on the prestigious Waterfront complex, the Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill-Dudley boasts an excellent venue for wedding day celebrations. With its prime location, superb banqueting suites and outstanding culinary dishes, the hotel staff will ensure the day is one to remember.

This superb prize package includes a dedicated Wedding Specialist to help plan the day, a civil ceremony at the hotel, reception drinks for up to 40 guests, wedding breakfast for up to 40 guests, an evening buffet for up to 80 guests and a complimentary hotel suite for the bride and groom. Furthermore, the hotel will provide top table flowers, a bridal posy bouquet (courtesy of Eloquent Flowers), 15% off a wedding dress of the bride’s choice (courtesy of The Wardrobe at Kinver), a choice of a pair of wedding shoes or a tiara (courtesy of Wedding Connections), table decorations, chair covers and sashes (courtesy of Cloud 9 Balloons), name cards, seating plan, table numbers and menus (all courtesy of By Donna Blundell), and 20% off a wedding cake (courtesy of Cakeland).

Couples can enter this competition by attending the hotel’s wedding fayre taking place this Sunday 6 February. To qualify, all couples must submit a written statement on why they believe they deserve to win this superb wedding package. Alternatively, couples can email their statements to Claire Wood (claire.wood@millenniumhotels.co.uk). The deadline to enter is 25 February 2011.

Matt Ward, General Manager at the Copthorne Hotel Merry-Dudley commented: “With all the excitement surrounding the forthcoming Royal Wedding, we wanted to offer a deserving couple their very own Royal Wedding on the 29 April. The Copthorne Hotel Merry-Dudley provides the ideal venue to host this special occasion with an experienced team to assist.”

For further information on the hotel, please visit: http://www.millenniumhotels.co.uk/copthornedudley / or call 013 8448 2882 and ask for the Wedding Specialist

“WHERE TO WATCH THE MATCH & LIVE LIKE THE PLAYERS”

On Saturday 19th March, Ireland welcomes England to the magnificent, newly opened Aviva Stadium on Lansdowne Road, just two days after St Patrick’s Day!

But if you are too late to acquire tickets for the spectacular game, you can still savour the full match experience in some of Ireland’s most authentic Rugby pubs and “Live like the players” by visiting the regular hotspots in the Centre of Dublin and local haunts of the stars on the outskirts of town.

Rugby Clubs:

For the true Rugby fans amongst us, The Wanderers Rugby Club House is one of the best known Rugby Union Clubs in Ireland. They will often provide a match dinner and drinks especially to accommodate the more serious members.

http://www.wanderersfcrugby.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=2&layout=blog&Itemid=3

Lansdowne Rugby Club
is a co-tenant club at The Aviva Stadium like Wanderers and has more room than Wanderers See. www.lansdownerugby.com

The Belvedere Rugby Club, between Ballsbridge and Donnybrook,also provides food and drink whilst watching the match…

http://www.oldbelvedere.ie/

Bective Rangers and Old Wesley are co-tenants of the Donnybrook ground and welcome visitors on matchday.

Rugby Pubs:

For a sense of game-atmosphere, Dublin City Centre hosts many a Rugby-pub, but just outside the centre or south-of-the river is where you will find the most authentic experience.

Renowned for their love of the sport and friendly atmosphere – make sure you find a good seat and soak up the atmosphere:

Popular rugby pubs include:

• Sinnotts just off St Stephen’s Green has a great atmosphere and is very popular http://www.stephensgreen.com/storeinfo.php?sID=Sinnotts+Bar

• Kiely’s pub in Donnybrook is close to the Leinster Rugby ground has a great reputation http://www.kielysofdonnybrook.ie/ and the avid fans head to the Back Bar with the largest TV screens around.

• The Mercantile on Dame Street is also pretty good for games http://www.mercantilehotel.ie/

• The Old Stand, Grafton Street, is a very civilised kind of rugby pub http://www.theoldstandpub.com/history.html

• Slatterys, is a traditional Irish bar boasting good food, good music and a buzzing atmosphere. When you enter you will be met by a warm friendly atmosphere the place is populated by an eclectic clientele ranging from the noble artisan through the pondering intelligentsia to the colourful psychotic. The staff are also quite eclectic and will be happy to meet and greet, attend to your needs, and enter into any banter that may be the order of the day.

• Paddy Cullen’s is probably the closest to the stadium grounds, and will be packed to the rafters on match day with rugby lovers and local drinkers. They often set-up outside bar areas in the Beer Garden to accommodate tourists and passers-by. http://paddycullens.com/venue

• Horse Show House is perfect for outside drinking on the day of the match, and often provides extra Plasma TVs, and food with a good local crowd.

• The Waterloo, Baggot Street
• O’Donoghue’s, Merrion Row
• Foley’s, Merrion Row
• The Ballsbridge (formerly Jurys) Hotel Ballsbridge
• The Burlington Hotel, Leeson Street

*NB – All the above (and many more) fit the criteria for matchday TV viewing.

Dress Code:

• Ensure you are prepared for a green trip all round, as just two days after St Patrick’s Day, revellers and Rugby-fans alike will all be wearing their native emerald green, lucky shamrocks optional!

Tips:

• Get there early, if you plan on sitting down!

Rugby Players Favourite Hotspots

If you want to live like a player whilst visiting Dublin there are many stylish Bars, Boutique Hotels and Restaurants that are accustomed to regular visits by the players. Be prepared, as you may see some of the players out and about celebrating St Patrick’s Day in style!

Some of their favourite City hang-outs include:

• The Ely Wine Bar – offers some of the best food and drink in Dublin

Regular visitors include Ronan O’Gara and Brian O’Driscoll.
http://www.elywinebar.ie/

• Searsons Pub – has a contemporary feel but with a traditional Irish bar atmosphere including a very popular snug. The bars location near Landsdowne Road Stadium makes it an ideal meeting place on match days.

Searsons has a substantial lunchtime offer served from an open carvery where food is prepared freshly to order. The food continues into the evening with a bar food menu.
http://www.searsons.ie/content/trg/searsons/pages/about.htm

• The Lansdowne Hotel, Baggott Street, Dublin – is a small Hotel with a big welcome, where you will find players relaxing before the match or celebrating in the bar afterwards. Set in the heart of Ballsbridge the Georgian area of Dublin 4. The Lansdowne is a quiet Hotel which suits the corporate guest and also close to the City Centre and Temple Bar area for those who would like to sample the nightlife.  http://www.lansdownehotel.ie

• The Shelbourne Hotel bars are very popular with the players – this is sometimes the venue for the after match dinner for the team and officials. www.theshelbourne.ie

A new website that recognises the value of older people’s travel experiences, by inviting them to contribute impartial holiday and travel advice, has been set up by a team of travel industry professionals.

Silver Travel Advisor (www.silvertraveladvisor.com ) invites holiday

Greek Orthodox Easter is a huge celebration in Greece and particularly in Corfu where there are numerous luxury villas from which to enjoy the festivities. In Corfu Town once the sombre Good Friday processions have concluded all of the lights start to glow purple in the evening. On Easter Saturday large pots are thrown from windows to get rid of evil spirits. On Saturday night there is music and dancing and everyone lights a candle which must remain alight to bring in the good spirits. The traditional “Magritsa” soup is served at midnight and finally the island is filled with the aromatic scent of spit roast goat for the celebration lunch on Sunday.

This year Greek Easter coincides with the UK Easter holiday, with an additional `Royal Wedding’ public holiday making it one of the best times to travel and take minimal time off work. Luxury villa company, CV Travel has come up with a selection of villas in Greece from which to experience the colour of Greek Easter.

Private cook and a bath on the balcony

Arguably one of the finest luxury villas in Greece, Kaparelli House is located in the exclusive North East coast of Corfu with a breathtaking horizon pool, a master suite that includes a Jacuzzi bath on the balcony and far-reaching sea views. For rental over Easter, Kaparelli House comes with its own private cook to prepare daily breakfast and one other meal a day, perhaps a traditional Easter meal? A week’s stay costs £4200 for ten sharing, including maid service and welcome food hamper but excludes flights, which can be arranged on request, and food costs.

Villa Mokoras for £285pp

Luxury villas in Greece needn’t cost the earth and for a weeks stay over Easter 2011 Villa Mokoras on Corfu’s exclusive north east coast costs just £285pp based on ten people sharing. This price includes maid service, a welcome food hamper and car hire, with flights available on request. Villa Mokoras has wide open terraces, a built in barbecue and a freeform pool of varying depths.

A villa in Greece over Easter

Within an hour’s drive of Corfu Town, with its flamboyant Easter festivities, and a few minutes drive to the lively harbour town of Kassiopi, Villa Karakousi is in a great location from which to enjoy Greek easter. The villa has spacious terraces and a private pool and can be rented for £2310 for six sharing, including car hire, maid service and a welcome food hamper. Flights are available on request.

Villas in Greece straight out of the pages of a glossy magazine

Straight out of the pages of an interiors magazine, Trifylli House is a Greek island villa that combines style with an unique setting amid the fabulous Rou Estate, a 200 year old stone baked hamlet, set high above Corfu’s north east coast brought back to life by a British architect and his holistic therapist wife. Privately located at the top of the village of just 13 houses, Trifylli House enjoys the benefit of a spa and one of the most breathtaking horizon pools shared by any villas in Greece, while having its own plunge pool and sunny terraces too. The price of £1640 / week includes maid service, car hire and a welcome food hamper and is based on four sharing. The price excludes flights.

For further information and details of other villas in Greece, visit www.cvtravel.co.uk or call 020 7401 1026.

Hyper link Villas in Greece to http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/Greece/Pages/default.aspx?content=4a&offer=destinations_greece

Hyperlink with anchor text `luxury villas’ to http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/en/pages/default.aspx

Low cost airline, bmibaby, has today (18 February 2011) announced it will add an extra service from East Midlands Airport to Belfast City Airport. The airline will now offer up to 18 flights a week from the region into the heart of Belfast.

bmibaby will add an extra service to its flying programme on Tuesdays, meaning the airline will operate three flights a day to Belfast during the week. This frequent flying programme is perfectly suited to both business and leisure travellers. The extra service will commence on 29 March 2011.

bmibaby also offer passengers at East Midlands and Belfast City Airport the opportunity to change their flight free of charge on the day, should their meeting finish earlier or later than planned, providing they are at the airport.

Julian Carr, managing director, bmibaby, said:

“We want to offer our customers flexibility when they travel to Belfast with bmibaby. We will fly from the region to the centre of Belfast up to 18 times a week.

“This additional service will mean that we will offer the most flights from East Midlands Airport to Belfast, and we remain committed to offering people of the region exceptionally low fares and a level of great service.”

bmibaby flights from East Midlands Airport to Belfast City Airport start from just £19.99 one way including taxes. For more information please visit www.bmibaby.com

The Old Government House Hotel and Spa, a member of the Red Carnation Hotel Collection, has become the first triple winner in the 25 year history of the Guernsey Awards for Achievement 2010 winning ‘Excellence in Training’, ‘Best Large Business’ and ‘Best Business of the Year’ awards.

Celebrated at the annual Gala evening awards ceremony, the Guernsey Awards for Achievement is founded upon the recognition of achievement and excellence to those organisations that can best demonstrate its commitment to the continuous training and professional career development of its staff.

The Commerce and Employment Minister Deputy Carla McNulty Bauer, sponsor of the Best Business of the year award, comments “The Old Government House Hotel and Spa has demonstrated not only excellent all round business performance, in an industry that is facing many challenges, but also a total commitment to delivering world class customer service while simultaneously investing in the training and development of its staff.”

Delighted with the Hotel’s success, Andrew Chantrell, General Manager of the hotel dedicated the awards to his team saying, “We have achieved this success and recognition solely through hard work and dedication, therefore these awards, and this evening, are very much for my team. As a customer-service-focused business, inspired by the Red Carnation ethos of “No request is too large, no detail too small,” the training and development of our staff is absolutely paramount”

Set in the heart of The Channel island, this four star hotel in Guernsey, fondly know as The OGH, commands inspirational views from St Peter Port across the harbour, out to sea and the neighbouring islands. Celebrating over 150 years of hospitality, the hotel retains its timeless charm and elegance whilst combining contemporary comforts and features of a modern hotel. The 63 deluxe bedrooms and suites, outdoor swimming pool, two AA Rosette Governor’s Restaurant, and The Spa providing soothing treatments for both men and women, offer the perfect weekend escape, on an island where road side honesty boxes and good old-fashioned values are not a thing of the past. The Old Government House Hotel holds a four star rating from the AA and was the winner of the Visit Guernsey Gold Award 2009.

The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is an award-winning collection of five- and four- star family-run boutique hotels in London, Dorset, Guernsey, Geneva and South Africa. Each property has its own individual character and unique location that reflects the local environment, culture and cuisine. They all share the qualities that win Red Carnation so many prestigious awards – splendid luxury, generous hospitality, inventive and traditional cuisine, private art collections, passionate service and loyal staff committed to creating richly rewarding experiences for all their guests.

Notes to Editor:

* For more information on The Old Government House Hotel and Spa, please visit www.theoghhotel.com  or email ogh@theoghhotel.com.
* For more information about these award-winning hotels and the rest of The Red Carnation Collection, please visit www.redcarnationhotels.com
* The Red Carnation Hotel Collection is a member of The Travel Corporation, which also includes Trafalgar Tours, Contiki, Brendan Vacations, Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection and Insight Vacations.
* View a complete list of Awards and Accolades for The Red Carnation Hotel Collection.

Irish Brides have declared one of the country’s newest hotels, the five-star Lough Eske Castle in County Donegal, Ireland’s top wedding venue for 2011 for the second year in a row through an awards scheme with Ireland’s most popular weddings website, WeddingsOnline.ie.

The award comes just three months after the 17th century castle hotel won the coveted World’s Best Luxury Country Hotel title for the second time at the industry’s top international awards ceremony, the World Luxury Hotel Awards, in Thailand.

The Hotel, which is managed by Solís Hotels & Resorts, opened just four years ago in northwest Ireland after being transformed from a ruin into Donegal’s only Five Star Hotel by owner and proud Donegal native Pat Doherty. The hotel is now widely recognised as a fairytale wedding venue.

Over thirty awards were up for grabs at the WeddingsOnline.ie ceremony held on 14 February, with Lough Eske Castle taking two: Ulster Wedding Venue of the Year and the overall prize; Ireland Venue of the Year.

Jeroen Quint, General Manager of Lough Eske Castle expressed his delight for the award, adding that it is a further endorsement of the spectacular setting and exceptional personal service and attention to detail delivered by not only Lough Eske Castle’s dedicated wedding coordination team, but also all of the ladies and gentlemen in food and beverage, accommodation, reception and the Spa. “We set ourselves very high standards from the first day we opened and while it is very rare that you can deliver on those aspirations from day one we have managed to do so, as this award clearly demonstrates. WeddingsOnline.ie is the most popular website for brides in Ireland and the very fact that brides were involved in deciding the winner is the ultimate tribute.

Weddings are a hugely important part of our overall business. We’ve invested heavily in creating a special wedding garden as well as installing a collection of 30 specially commissioned bronze sculptures in the castle grounds to ensure that we have the best possible setting, particularly for photographs. This is truly a celebration showcasing Donegal County as the wedding destination of Ireland for two years in a row.”

It has been a meteoric rise for the new Donegal Hotel, in addition to the extremely prestigious World’s Best Luxury Country Hotel awards and now the Ireland Wedding Venue of the Year award, it has also been named as one of the world’s best castle hotels by US based travel expert Stephanie Abrams.

Lough Eske Castle boasts 95 spacious bedrooms and suites, an Aromatherapy Associates Spa and swimming pool, Cedars Restaurant, two bars and 600m2 of banqueting facilities as well as a Presidential Suite with its own private dining room ideally suited to family weddings.

Located just outside Donegal Town in County Donegal and nestled within 43-acres of forest woodland along the shore of Lough Eske, the hotel has redefined the meaning of luxury in northwest Ireland.

Celebrate St David’s Day with the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain by visiting a top attraction in Wales.

Don a daffodil and head to one of the fun and accessible Welsh attractions featured in the Guide. Visitors can enjoy Techniquest, the hands-on interactive science centre based in Cardiff; the Pedalabikeaway Cycle Centre in Monmouth, where cyclists of all abilities can take a tour of the Welsh countryside; or simply take in the stunning views at the National Botanical Gardens of Wales in Carmarthenshire.

These and many more inspirational days out ideas in Wales are featured in The Rough Guide to Accessible Britain. Available FREE to holders of a Blue Badge or a Disabled Persons Railcard, the Guide is supported by Motability, the leading car scheme for disabled people. The Guide includes over 180 reviews for fantastic, accessible days-out across the UK.

To order your FREE copy of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain, visit www.accessibleguide.co.uk or call 0800 953 7070. An audio guide, with a special introduction by Ben Fogle, is also available to download FREE from www.accessibleguide.co.uk

-ends-

Press information and images: Katie Wright, Sarah Rathbone or Stacey Stockwell at Siren
020 8237 1210
katie.wright@sirenpr.co.uk, sarah.rathbone@sirenpr.co.uk or stacey.stockwell@sirenpr.co.uk

About Rough Guides:
Passionate for telling it like it is, Rough Guides has been inspiring travellers to explore the globe since 1982. A leading travel content provider, Rough Guide content is available in our award winning guidebooks, inspirational gift books, innovative mobile apps, ebooks and in bespoke custom publishing guides and digital products. From maps and phrasebooks to round the world planners and pocket city guides, there’s a Rough Guide to suit everyone. We have over 250 authors and contributors and pride ourselves on accurate, up-to-date information and informed, contemporary writing.

Rough Guides also publish a lifestyle series with books on a range of subjects, from the bestselling Rough Guide to Pregnancy and Birth to zeitgeist books such as the Rough Guide to the iPad.

Rough Guides are part of the Penguin/Pearson family who have offices worldwide. Start your journey at www.roughguides.com  . Make The Most Of Your Time On Earth™

About Motability
Motability offers disabled people a worry-free motoring package including a brand new car every three years with insurance for two named drivers, servicing and maintenance, full RAC breakdown assistance, annual car tax disc delivered to your door, an allowance of 60,000 miles over three years and tyre and windscreen replacement. There are also many car adaptations available at no extra cost as part of Motability’s Managed Adaptations Programme. A range of scooters and powered wheelchairs are also available to lease through Motability by exchanging your higher rate mobility allowance.

Learning holiday specialist GoLearnTo.com announces the launch of its new look website, a culmination of the latest and most contemporary website design features to make booking a holiday course now even easier than ever before.

With signs that the rapid growth of the learning holidays trend looks set to continue at a lightning speed; GoLearnTo.com has responded by not only adding a plethora of inspirational new holiday courses to their portfolio but after the most profitable year yet, have also invested in a new website design that showcases their position at the forefront of this exciting new sector.

The website includes new social media options, improved navigation, a showcase for ‘two skill’ holidays, video and enhanced image galleries, a new logo and much more.

Enhanced navigation includes the ‘one click’ process. No course type stands more than a click away thanks to the ever present navigation tabs at the top of each screen. The site is broken down into easy to follow sections that allow customers to research a variety of course types, destinations and activities that will best suit their learning holiday needs. This coupled with enhanced search, browse and book functionality and striking image and video galleries throughout results in easy access and comprehensive holiday inspiration for all customers.

GoLearnTo.com has also gone global, with courses in over 35 countries worldwide and 40% of its customers coming from countries as far reaching as Australia, Singapore, Qatar, Mexico, Canada and Brazil. To meet their geographically growing customer base, the new ‘getting there’ section together with global flight search options provided by their partners at Skyscanner, enables customers to independently arrange their travel plans with the ease and flexibility they demand whatever their country of origin.

The new site also keeps customers well informed and up to speed with new developments by providing site wide social networking sections that are regularly updated with the latest offers and inspired course releases to reward customers with priority discounts and promotions before anyone else.

Being online is no barrier to GoLearnTo.com’s commitment to giving customers a much more personal experience when organising and booking their holidays; dedicated to online customer satisfaction the site offers advanced and on the spot communication methods such as Live Chat functions, Skype, Email and of course good old fashioned telephone.

The Press Area also exhibits up to the minute press coverage, from featured courses and combined two skill holidays for those customers where just one skill is not enough to the latest trends in learning holidays. All the above plus clear instructions on how to book means everyone can find and book the most suitable courses for their next learning holiday experience with style and ease.

GoLearnTo.com’s CEO, Vanessa Lenssen comments;

“We are excited to be part of the fastest growing trend in travel. The new site includes the full depth of information that a savvy traveller demands, broken down into manageable sections. Our goal was to make it as clear-cut as possible for both new and existing customers to search and book inspirational learning holidays and we’re delighted with the results. The new website opens up a world of opportunities to indulge the imagination and inspire travellers to pursue a passion for learning new skills on holiday.”

To find out more, visit: http://www.golearnto.com

Scotland’s rich literary heritage is being put firmly on the map thanks to a new guide produced by VisitScotland and the University of Glasgow.

Featuring everything from the castle where Bram Stoker penned Dracula to the scenic woodlands of Dunkeld which inspired Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit stories, Literary Scotland: A Traveller’s Guide highlights 60 fascinating literary locations throughout the country, including the stunning settings for world-famous novels, the scenery that inspired poets and the birthplaces of some of the country’s most distinguished writers.
It is the first guide of its kind to be put together by VisitScotland and it is hoped it will appeal to residents and visitors alike.

Compiled in association with the University of Glasgow’s Department of Literary Studies and the Association of Scottish Literary Studies, it will be available from VisitScotland Information Centres throughout the country and online from February 21.

Literary Scotland, which is divided into 13 geographical areas, was written by Alan Riach, a noted poet and Professor of Scottish Literary Studies at Glasgow University.

He said: ” This little book is only a beginning, a first list of locations significant to writers or literary visitors to Scotland. I’ve included many familiar and also many unfamiliar names and places: Burns and Scott and MacDiarmid are all there of course, but also Mary MacLeod and Catherine Carswell, John Buchan and Irvine Welsh, Duncan Ban MacIntyre and Liz Lochhead. So many people – whether visitors or resident Scots – might not know how steeped in literature the landscapes they drive through or live in really are. The idea was simply to

Literary Scotland -2-

open a few doors, to suggest a few ways of thinking about what Scottish literature might do to help us really inhabit the country more fully.”

Also featured in the guide is Loch Katrine – the setting for Sir Walter Scott’s The Lady of the Lake, an 1810 poem credited with kick-starting the literary tourism phenomenon in Scotland.

French author Jules Verne was among those who subsequently came over to Scotland to write about its stunning scenery. It is a tradition which continues to this day, with novelists, journalists and bloggers from all over the world visiting the country to experience its unique landscape first hand.

Scottish author Iain Banks, writer of more than 20 novels, including The Bridge, Complicity and The Crow Road , describes the guide as: “A valuable introduction to the many fascinating links between Scotland and literature.”

Mike Cantlay, Chairman of VisitScotland, said: “Scotland has been a rich source of inspiration for writers for centuries and this new guide highlights just some of the fascinating places associated with literature. We hope it will appeal to people living in Scotland who want to learn more about Scotland’s literary heritage, as well as provide an interesting hook to visitors from further afield. We’ve seen a lot of interest recently from people visiting film locations in Scotland, so we hope the literary angle will have a similar effect.”

The guide will be available to download from the websites of VisitScotland, ASLS and Creative Scotland.