Jetsettersblog

Holidays with children, family stays in the Pays de la Loire

The Pays de la Loire has created a website dedicated entirely to families and children: activities for children, packages for families, tourist news and events, allowing visitors to easily plan their activities and holidays in the Pays de la Loire!
www.enfants.enpaysdelaloire.com

The Machines of the Ile de Nantes – Extraordinary adventures
In total there are a dozen machines while current innovations include the Tree of Herons, a monumental piece of architecture 45 metres in diameter and 28 metres high with two herons at the top. From 2012, visitors will be able to embark from the wings of the birds and take a circular flight travelling from branch to branch of the incredible suspended gardens.

Set in the old naval dockyards, the gallery of the Machines of the Ile de Nantes is both a laboratory and an exhibition.

Fabulous dream-machines created by artists are put into movement to stage spectacular stories and special displays.

In the heart of the naves, the machines come to life in the factory of dreams which the public can discover. And, if the idea of riding on the back of an elephant appeals, visitors can take a ride on the 12-metre high giant, comprising 40 tonnes of steel and wood, that carries them in its stomach and on its back for a promenade.

Info: Nantes Culture +33 (0)2 51 17 48 50 – www.lesmachines-nantes.fr

Great holidays for the big and the small!
In Anjou so many original sites have been modified to allow families to fully discover the fun, the history and the natural way of life – the great Chateau de Montsoreau is involved as is the zoo at Doué-la-Fontaine and also the Museum of Armoury in Saumur.

Both the Anjouand Loire Atlantic tourist departments have established quality assurance schemes to promote and develop hospitality for families.

The Loire Atlantic, Oh LA L.A! Quelle aventure! guarantees well adapted workshops and activities where children are involved with twenty local partners within the Sel à Guérande – the land of the Guérande salt, Escal’Atlantic and the Océarium du Croisic.

Info: Departmental Committee of Tourism of the Loire-Atlantique – +33 (0)810 044 001 www.ohlaloireatlantique.com Departmental Committee of Tourism of Anjou – +33 (0)2 41 23 51 51 – www.anjou-tourisme.com

The Bohemian spirit in Parc Naturel Régional Normandie-Maine
Visitors can fully relax, sway to the slow rhythm of the astonishing Mayenne countryside and discover the pleasure of the Haras du Bas Courtoin which offers itineraries from two to seven days in an authentic horse-drawn cart pulled by cobs. The accommodation ‘Bohême’ is available for family groups in the middle of this enchanting farm where both Portuguese and Lusitaniens horses are bred. The 4 carts can each take 5 people.

Info: Haras du Bas Courtoin – +33 (0)2 43 03 59 41 +33 (0)6 06 52 27 72

An exceptional idea – expert advice in Saint-Jean-de-Monts
The tourist office of Saint-Jean-de-Monts has decided it would be best to let a local mother explain what this seaside resorts offers for families. Therefore, Laura, a young mother from the town has taken the area’s website under her control to share her holiday ideas: news, insider tips and advice, the places to know and her personal recommendations. Laura also posts weekly ideas and news form the area on a dedicated facebook page!

Info: Tourist Office of Saint-Jean-de-Monts +33 (0)826 887 887
www.saint-jean-de-monts.com
Laura’s expert advice: http://www.saint-jean-de-monts.com/www-idees_sejours-VIDEES[FAMILL-897-FR-IDEES_SEJOURS.html
FACEBOOK http://www.facebook.com/pages/Saint-Jean-de-Monts/Sejour-EN-FAMILLE-a-Saint-Jean-de-Monts/125478247491566

Boutique hotel Fishmore Hall has created the ultimate foodie package taking place on Thursday 8th September. In conjunction with Tanners of Shropshire wines, the hotel invites you to indulge in the 6 course “Taste of Shropshire” dining experience with each course accompanied by matching wines. In addition to this exclusive foodie offering, each guest staying over night will also receive free entrance into the first day of the Ludlow Food Festival taking place on Friday 9th September.

The Tanners Wine and Food package for two people is priced at £275 per room based two on a standard double room, inclusive of Full English Breakfast and VAT.

Step inside Ludlow’s finest Georgian manor house, Fishmore Hall and receive a warm and personable service, so personable you can even bring your pet dog along! The homely feel of Fishmore Hall is created by the hotel’s excellent attention to detail. Each of the 15 individually designed bedrooms are furnished with sink in the middle beds complete with bespoke pillow menus, delicious food hampers crammed with Shropshire goodies and luxury Molton Brown toiletries.

The recently refurbished and extended hotel restaurant, Forelles at Fishmore serves wonderfully fresh modern British cuisine, 90% of which is sourced locally from Shropshire. The light and airy Forelles at Fishmore is situated facing the glorious rolling Shropshire hills providing a picturesque view for diners.

Ludlow is one of England’s most historic charming towns, with its pastel coloured town houses and excellent local produce. Celebrating its 15th year this September, the Ludlow Food Festival brings over 130 independent local drinks and food producers from the Marchers. As well as showcasing Shropshire’s local producers, the Ludlow Food Festival also holds food-related events such as the Ludlow Sausage trail, Festival Loaf trail, cooking demonstrations and food talks and seminars.

For all press enquiries, please contact Rachael Adams at Perception Sales and Marketing on rachael.adams@perception-uk.com  or alternatively by telephone on: 08452932552.

If you would like to take advantage of Fishmore hall’s exclusive Tanners Win and Food package, please contact hotel owner Laura Penman on 01584 875 148.

Notes to Editors:

Fishmore Hall is a Regency-style hotel, owned and run by Laura Penman, recent winner of the prestigious Acorn Award, recognising her as the future of hospitality.

Located near the lovely town of Ludlow, the hotel is easily accessible from the A49 but set in the breathtaking Shropshire countryside. The 15 bedroom boutique hotel caters for leisure breaks, weddings and corporate events.

, London: Women who have been inspired by the British Open Championship but lack the confidence to try the game themselves can join Celtic Haven in its innovative campaign to support women’s golf. The self-catering cottage resort on the Pembrokeshire coastline has its own nine-hole golf course and in-house female golf pro and encourages women to enjoy a round as much as men. Golf packages start from £495 for a four night break.

Celtic Haven’s headland golf course has panoramic views over Caldey Island and the Atlantic Ocean and is available for all guests. No handicap is required, clubs are available free of charge and guests can benefit from the PGA approved golf simulator which has over 70 international courses and full training and driving range programmes.

Philip Evans, managing director of Celtic Haven, comments: “Golf is strongly stereotyped as a ‘man’s’ sport which completely pushes women’s golf to one side. We feel that Celtic Haven is an ideal environment for women to comfortably learn or improve on their golf and we have professional golf packages to aid them. The ethos at Celtic Haven is that sport is beauty and a round of golf can be tied in with a treatment at the resort’s spa and a dip in the hot tub.”

Celtic Haven’s flexible four-day golf package allows women to play golf all day or just for a couple of hours. The package includes an induction and three hour golf lesson with a PGA professional, unlimited play on the Celtic Haven golf course and a round at Tenby’s Championship Course. Additionally, Welsh International, Emma Guerreiro, who heads up female golf at Celtic Haven, is always on hand for extra tuition and support. Novices receive a ‘fit for course’ certificate and experienced players can benefit from discount rates at local courses.

Golfers can also use Celtic Haven’s fitness suite, tennis courts, indoor swimming pool, hot tub and sauna and receive ten per cent off treatments at its Elemis Premier Spa. The package costs £495 including four nights accommodation in a luxury cottage, continental breakfast delivered to the cottage each morning and lunch or dinner at Celtic Haven’s restaurant.

To celebrate this initiative Celtic Haven is also holding the first ‘Welsh Festival of Ladies Golf’ from 24 to 25 September 2011. The event will be held in association with award winning beauty brand, Elemis, which will generously treat all players to a £50 Elemis beauty pack. This partnership will help support golf as a feminine activity, which can be enjoyed by women of all ages. Entry is £25. Players can enter at www.celtichaven-golf.co.uk

For bookings, call 01834 870000 or visit www.celtichaven.co.uk

Economic woes may be dampening demand for foreign holidays, but one holiday company is reporting a vintage season.

Specialist wine tour operator Grape Escapes has already notched up record sales in 2011 as travelers opt for a short break that combines twin passions of travel and cuisine.

The company, launched in 2004 by wine lovers Mark and Claire Hallett, specialises in gourmet breaks to the French wine regions and has just surpassed all previous annual sales figures, despite only being half way through the year.

Grape Escapes notes a particular interest in tours to the Rhone during 2011 with bookings to the region up 200 per cent on last year. Return customers are also now making up more than 15 per cent of total sales.

Mark Hallett, managing director of Grape Escapes comments: “We’ve certainly noticed that our customers are looking for something a little bit different from their traditional weekend break.

“Although trips to Champagne continue to be our best sellers, our newer itineraries to destinations such as Loire Valley and Burgundy are also generating a lot of interest.

“We are very proud to have surpassed our sales record so early in the year and certainly believe that our range of new tours and regions have inspired both new and returning customers to book with us.”

Grape Escapes offers a selection of gourmet wine-tasting breaks in France, Spain and Italy and has launched several new tours for 2011. These include gourmet Chateau breaks in Provence, flexible tasting tours to Burgundy, premium Loire Valley weekends and ‘Rhone by Rail’ packages.

For more information about Grape Escapes please visit www.grapeescapes.net or call 08456 430 860.

One of the world’s abest-loved musicals, The Phantom of the Opera, will celebrate its 25th anniversary on 1 and 2 October, with two performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London. This lavish, fully staged production of Phantom of the Opera will star Ramin Karimloo as ‘The Phantom’ and Sierra Boggess as ‘Christine’ together with a cast and orchestra of over 200 and some very special guest appearances. Short break specialist, Superbreak, has just launched a selection of one and two night packages that offer the chance to be part of the celebrations. But hurry, with so many fans from around the world, tickets are expected to sell out fast.

Since it opened in London in 1986, Phantom of the Opera has been seen in 145 cities in 27 countries, enchanting over 100 million people worldwide with its spine-tingling melodies and sumptuous spectacle. The show has won over 50 major theatre awards on both Broadway and in the West End. This once-in-a-lifetime concert offers the chance to celebrate the most romantic love story in musical theatre history.

ONE NIGHT PACKAGE, 2 OCTOBER – from £199 per person including one night’s b/b accommodation at the four star Holiday Inn London Kensington Forum on 2 October and a third priced arena seat ticket to the show on the same night. Based on two sharing.

TWO NIGHT PACKAGE, 30 SEPTEMBER AND 1 OCTOBER – from £349 per person including two night’s b/b accommodation at the four star Millennium Baileys Hotel in Kensington on 30 September and 1 October and a third priced arena seat ticket to the show on the night of 1 October. Based on two sharing.

For more information and bookings call Superbreak 0871 222 3055

or visit www.superbreak.com

Perfectly Chilled is delighted to feature the new ‘Home Grown Hotel’, The Pig in its hotel collection. Set in the heart of the beautiful New Forest, The Pig which opens its doors this July, is the baby sister of the nearby Lime Wood Hotel & Spa which also features on the Perfectly Chilled website. The latest brainchild of Hotel du Vin co founder- Robin Hutson together with marketing guru David Elton and co-investor Jim Ratcliffe intend this first property in the New forest to be the prototype for a completely fresh and imaginative approach to the country hotel.

The antithesis of the traditional country house hotel, The Pig is really a restaurant with rooms: the focus being very much on fabulous, uncomplicated and simple home grown garden food, true to the micro seasons and influenced by the forest, with the emphasis squarely on fresh, clean flavours.

The Pig has been designed to feel confident and uncompromisingly comfortable in its own skin- here its all about eclectic homely furnishings, muted colours, great beds, oversized showers, ‘larders’ stocked with snacks and drinks, espresso machines and with every room having a forest or garden outlook, naturally beautiful views. Outside the main building ate the Stables and Piggery – little duplex suites and rooms with their own private courtyards and plenty of original features.

Massage treatments can be enjoyed in the Potting Shed by the lake and the grounds will include many areas where guests can kick back and relax over a glass or two and even savour some alfresco dining courtesy of the wood fired oven in the courtyard. Room rates at The Pig start from £125 per night. For more information about staying at The Pig please visit www.perfectlychilled.com/hotels/rural-retreats/view/2293/

Perfectly Chilled Passionate about travel and lifestyle, inspirational finds and shared discoveries, is a refreshingly different travel style directory for curious and style savvy travellers. The site brings together a growing collection of private property rentals, stylish hotels, B&Bs and unusual places to stay combined with magazine-style destination features, shopping and lifestyle inspirations and useful where to buy and travel links directories.

From established classic and contemporary style favourites to lesser-known, innovative travel, retail and lifestyle gems, from far away adventures to places closer to home, the site’s aim is to share inspirational finds and discoveries within one dedicated online environment.

Less than 2 hours flying time from Gatwick Airport, Denmark’s northern most city of Aalborg is well-known for its architecture and design, gourmet restaurants, specialty shops, small boutiques and suitably high octane night life. With ancient Viking beginnings – best explored at Lindholm Hoje, Scandinavia’s largest Viking burial ground (www.visitnordjylland.dk) – Aalborg has developed over the centuries to become one of Denmark’s most vibrant cities.

Connecting expansive views along the Limfjord to the city’s historic heart, the inventively rejuvenated waterfront invitingly mixes art and culture with great waterside eateries. Visits to the architecturally stunning Utzon Center (www.utzoncenter.dk/en/), which was designed by famous Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who is best known for building Australia’s Sydney Opera, and the city’s cultural powerhouse ‘Nordkraft’ – a cleverly reinvented coal-fired electricity station (www.nordkraft.dk/) – are more than well rewarded by a meal or refreshing drink on one of the attractive floating restaurants and bars. Why not climb aboard the historic icebreaker Elbjørn (www.restaurantelbjoern.dk/ ), former Dutch training ship Prinses Juliana (www.prinsesjuliana.dk/ ) or The Fat Duckling
(www.denfedeaelling.dk/ ).

Undoubtedly one of Denmark’s culinary hubs, visitors can also get a taste for the city at the award-winning Morten’s Kro (www.mortenskro.dk ) where celebrity chef Morten Nielsen excites with his exquisite Danish fusion menu in stylish surrounds. Alternatively, the popular ‘tapas’ and wine bar Café Pingvin (www.cafepingvin.dk/ ) offers the largest selection of wine in Northern Jutland served by the glass. Or for beer drinkers, there’s the “Aalborg Beerwalk” – a self guided beer-tasting tour showcasing six of the city’s best pubs with six vouchers for sampling some of the region’s many and varied brews (www.visitaalborg.com/international/en-gb/menu/tourist/oplevelser/on-the-town/aalborg-beerwalk.htm ).

For something a little stronger, try Denmark’s famous ‘schnapps’ Aquavit with a guided tour of the local distillery or wander down the longest continuous stretch of restaurants, pubs, cafes, live-music venues and bars on Jomfru Ane Gade for a nightcap late into the small hours.

With an excellent selection of shops and historic buildings throughout, Aalborg’s key attractions can be enjoyably explored on foot or by bicycle.

Surrounded by park and located near the heady Aalborg Tower, Kunsten – Museum of Modern Art is a must for art lovers (www.kunsten.dk ). Designed by Aalvar Alto, it houses a permanent collection of Danish art from Naturalism to Abstract Art including more than 1500 paintings, sculptures and hybrids from the 20th century. With a similar number of animals to artworks, the neighbouring green oasis of Aalborg Zoo is also worth a viewing if only for the popular polar bear enclosure (http://aalborgzoo.dk/forside.aspx ) 

For a shipshape stroll, head along Limfjord to Skudehavnen, the city’s colourful marina and visit the Aalborg Maritime Museum (www.aalborgmarinemuseum.dk ) to learn more about life at sea and the city’s history as a busy port and important shipyard. Explore the Springeren submarine and the world’s fastest gas-turbine torpedo board Søbjørnen before heading to the Aalborg Defence and Garrison Museum for more military memorabilia (www.forsvarsmuseum.dk ).

Aalborg and the immediate surrounds also host an array of exciting annual festivals. Music lovers can join Northern Europe’s largest carnival and over 100,000 revellers in May at ‘Carnival i Aalborg’ (www.karnevaliaalborg.dk ); July’s popular Nibe Festival – one of Denmark’s best loved music festivals in a beautiful outdoor setting (www.nibefestival.dk ); ‘The Blue Festival’ which fills the city with mellow tones from 12 to 15 August this year (http://www.denblaafestival.dk/ ) and ‘Aalborg in Red’ which offers four great days of entertainment from 31 August to 3 September. Foodies can also get their fill at the Løgstør’s Mussel Festival in July; or head to Jutland’s most northerly tip for ‘July’s Great Fish Buffet’ where participants can take part in the local fish auction and eat as much fish as they like (www.toppenafdanmark.dk). Or for something further out to sea, head to the island of Læsø during its lively Langoustine Festival in July where 3,000 feasting spectators descend on the island to devour crustacean.

With plenty to see and do throughout the year, Aalborg is an easy all-rounder for a weekend or short break.

Getting there … ?

Norwegian (www.norwegian.com ) offers direct daily flights from Gatwick to Aalborg in under two hours with flights from £36/person. ´

The city has a good range of central 3 and 4 star hotels including the centrally located Helnan Phønix Hotel (www.helnan.info/helnan-phoenix-hotel/gb/helnan-phoenix-hotel.aspx ) with double rooms from £118(DKK995)/night including breakfast and Cabinn Hotel Aalborg (www.cabinn.com/hotel-i-aalborg/hotel-cabinn-aalborg.html ) from £73(DKK615)/double room/night.

For more information on Aalborg go to www.visitaalborg.com,  North Jutland www.visitnordjylland.dk,  and Denmark www.vistidenmark.com

For great high resolution images of Denmark, ready to download, free of charge go to: http://images.visitdenmark.com

Alpine retreat Ferme du Ciel offers rock climbing short break adventures designed for active parents and their kids to enjoy time together in the French Alps.

Whisk the family away for an action-packed weekend of rock climbing adventure in the French Alps with a package that’s designed especially sporty families. Ferme du Ciel is a luxurious family retreat located in Samoëns, France; less than an hour from Geneva airport yet at the heart of some of the most exciting sporting action to be found in the French Alps. This year they’re offering a special short break package for active families to indulge in a range of exhilarating outdoor activities together, with plenty of support and all the details looked after so the weekend is stress free for everyone. The package is available all summer 2011 and includes a family rock climbing lesson with an expert climber and a day of high ropes training in the forest for the whole family, plus a professional massage as a treat for Mum and Dad.

Ferme du Ciel appreciates that families with young children need plenty of support, and so they’ve thought through all the details on your behalf. From car seats to child-friendly meals, the friendly staff are ready and waiting to help out wherever possible, making it an ideal escape for time-pressed parents looking for a wholesome outdoor adventure with their kids. They’ll collect you from the airport and shuttle you to and from any activities or attractions you’d like to try in the area. The chalet’s facilities are superb with a full entertainment suite, Jacuzzi, sauna, luxurious ensuite bedrooms and even an office for guest use, in case there’s work to do during your visit.

What’s included :

Five-star B&B accommodation + breakfasts

‘Make your own pizza’ evening in the chalet’s traditional bread oven (kids love it!)

Family rock climbing lesson

Family high ropes course

Arrangement of your choice of other outdoor activities (including all transport)

A professional massage for Mum & Dad

3 nights £1750 for a family of 4, or £475pp (prices valid all summer 2011)

Winter or summer, Samoëns is sparkling with activity yet this authentic and picturesque area remains relatively undiscovered. Ferme du Ciel, a 350-year-old Savoyard barn renovated to the highest quality, makes an ideal base from which to explore the area and try out some of the adventure sports run by specialists in Samoëns and the surrounding area. Just an hour’s drive from Geneva airport, Ferme du Ciel is easily accessible for a hassle-free short break.

Clean air, wide open spaces and the freshest French food and will appeal to families who wants to head for the hills and escape the crowds. Whichever sport is your calling, staff at Ferme du Ciel make all the arrangements including travel to and from venues (plus, transfers to and from Geneva airport are free). Adventurous families can enjoy activities including paragliding, canyoning, hiking and mountain biking, along with more chilled-out past times such as practicing golf into the lake, waterslides at the local pool, donkey trekking, archery and more.
Reservations : +33 (0)4 50 58 44 57 or info@fermeduciel.com
Website : www.fermeduciel.com
Prices valid until October 31st, 2011

Cheapflights.co.uk makes travel on a shoestring budget a cinch for students feeling the pinch

As student outrage over the rising cost of tuition fees hits an ultimate high, concern grows over staying within budget during summer holidays.

Cheapflights.co.uk, the UK’s leading website for flight price comparison, eases the strain with its top tips for keeping costs low.

“There’s no escaping the fact that travel money is tight for the summer, particularly for students. However, this doesn’t have to mean cutting down holiday plans to cut back on costs,” says Nadine Hallak, Travel Expert for Cheapflights.co.uk.

“There are plenty of ways to keep costs down, from taking advantage of smartphone apps to pre-paid currency cards and couch surfing,” adds Hallak.

Read on for Cheapflights’ guide to trailblazing the way to a cheap student getaway:

1) Travel Light: The simplest rule of all. Baggage fees are among the rising costs concerning travellers, so keep it simple and don’t pack more than you need.

2) Smartphone assistant: Save money on guidebooks by downloading the information for the destination(s) you’re visiting and let your smartphone be your guide to what to see and do and how to avoid scams.

3) Exchange rates: Familiarise yourself with the exchange rate to get the best rates when exchanging money.

4) Laptop: Bring a laptop and take advantage of free WIFI, which is available in lots of hostels and airports. You can then chat to your family and friends without paying a penny.

5) Unlock your phone: Doing so means you can purchase local sim cards cheaply to allow family and friends to foot the bill for contacting you. It’s significantly cheaper than international roaming costs.

6) Travel insurance: Research the cheapest deals online prior to travel. Paying the small fee for decent travel insurance can mean saving on the hefty fees incurred if anything goes wrong, including medical care.

7) Debit cards: Travellers cheques and credit cards can mean losing a lot in commission. Bringing a debit card is a safer and cheaper option.

Pre-paid currency card: Unlike a credit card, you can only spend the amount loaded onto them, plus your family can top it up as needed. There are many around, so choose wisely and select those that don’t charge for usage or cash withdrawal and are protected by a PIN. Recommended cards include Mastercard, MyTravelCash, and Travelex.

9) Visas: Visas cost money so if you’ve yet to book and are cutting down on costs, avoid countries that require visas.

10) Cheaper currencies: If going long-haul, stick with countries that have weaker currencies and lower ground costs such as Southeast Asia and India where your money goes further.

11) Couchsurf: Save on hotels and hostels with a night on the couch. Try websites such as Couchsurfing.org and liaise with thousands of travellers or locals worldwide who are happy to host tourists on their couch for the night.

12) Student cards: These can often mean discounting prices by up to 1/3, so if you have one, put it to good use and save big.

13) Shoulder seasons: Travelling during the shoulder season means enjoying a destination off peak, away from the crowds where prices are often half-price, but the weather is still nice.

For more insider tips on travel, visit http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/travel-tips/

If you’re planning a trip from London to Aberdeen for business or leisure, easyJet’s new Gatwick to Aberdeen flights can save you a precious 13 hours and £180 over travelling by train.

Gone are the days of waiting on chilly station platforms, tackling three train changes and trying to understand the difference between peak, off-peak, super saver and advanced fares. Prices for easyJet’s new flights from Gatwick to Aberdeen start from £27.99 (one way including taxes) and take just one hour and 40 minutes.

Train journeys from London take a minimum of eight hours each way, cancelling out two full days in the office or of a hard earned holiday. Travelling by air from the South of England to our Scottish neighbours beats any journey by rail hands down for time and value.

The new route has proven to be so popular with passengers that easyJet is set to increase flights to twice daily from winter 2011, making it even more convenient for business passenger to jet in and out in one day.

Paul Simmons, UK director from easyJet said: “It’s never been quicker, easier or more affordable to take a trip from the capital to the north of Scotland.

“We listened to our passengers and identified a demand for a daily service from London to Aberdeen for both business and leisure purposes, which will increase to twice daily in winter. This cuts out more than 13 hours of travel time each way and significantly reduces the cost.

“With such beautiful scenery, cosmopolitan mixture of shops and restaurants and business networking opportunities in Scotland’s third largest city – few people have the time or money to waste on making the journey by train.”

easyJet is the largest airline to fly from London Gatwick and now offers a choice of 92 destinations. This year alone the low cost airline has launched new routes to Amman, Seville, Izmir, Bologna, Zagreb, Verona and Catania.