Jetsettersblog

Award-winning country house hotel the Cottage in the Wood in Malvern Wells, Worcestershire, is offering a very special “Christmas in the Malverns” package this year.

The 30-bedroom Cottage in the Wood sits high up on a wooded hillside in the beautiful Malvern Hills, boasting lovely views over the Severn Valley. The special Christmas in the Malverns package runs offers a real “house party” welcome, and runs from Christmas Eve until Tuesday 27th December.

The Break begins with a Champagne Reception, Carols and, for those who would like it, Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. On Christmas Morning, transport is provided for those who want to walk on the Malvern Hills, then a sumptuous four-course traditional Christmas luncheon awaits back at the hotel. Christmas afternoon sees teacakes being toasted on the open fire, before a supper of smoked fish and meats is served.

On Boxing Day, guests can enjoy the attractions of the area, such as the Severn Valley Railway or Warwick Castle, or the cities of Worcester or Cheltenham, and in the evening Chef Dominic Pattin presides over a four-course meal in the hotel’s Outlook Restaurant.

Rates for the three-night Christmas Break (www.cottageinthewood.co.uk ) are from £585 per person, and reservations can be made by telephoning the hotel on (01684) 588860.

Nurture Eden, the group behind ‘A Green Eden’ – an exciting and far-reaching tourism campaign aiming to make Eden the country’s first low-impact and sustainable tourism destination – is throwing down a gauntlet to artisan sausage producers in advance of British Sausage Week (October 31 – November 6).

Local sausage specialists are being challenged to create a ‘Green Eden Sausage’, using any ingredients they wish, but with a view to ensuring that the sausage projects the true taste of Eden, or has a unique Eden twist.

The sausage could be coloured green, through green ingredients or subtly communicate the values of sustainability by being underpinned by a very small journey from field to fork. Reasons for the recipe should be given with the entry, so that the provenance behind the sausage can be fully understood.

Entering the competition is all about showing a pride in Eden and what it has to offer in terms of its local food, its stunning natural beauty and its amazing network of cycle routes, bridleways, walks and sustainable transport options, which make it the ideal low-impact tourism destination.

Suggestions for ‘Green Eden Sausages’ will receive free publicity, being promoted in the media and on the Nurture Eden website at www.agreeneden.org to give profile to the passionate sausage makers encapsulating the mood of Eden through their artisan food.

Nurture Eden project leader, Anna Waddilove, says: “Eden has some fantastic sausage producers and farmers who take their home-reared produce and transform it into delicious regional foods. Fostering high quality, artisan produce is all part of the Green Eden campaign, which will encourage tourists to come to Eden and to stay in Eden. Fabulous food is integral to making that stay as memorable as possible and one of our aims is to showcase the excellent produce of our Green Eden members, on the national stage”.

Anyone wishing to enter the Green Eden Sausage Challenge can send their recipe suggestion by email to eden@nurturelakeland.org or by post to Nurture Eden, c/o Nurture Lakeland, River Mill, Staveley Mill Yard, Staveley, Cumbria, LA8 9LR. A taste test to find a winner will then be held on November 16, at a Green Eden food-focused training event being held in Clifton, near Penrith.

Further details of how to get involved in the Green Eden marketing campaign and the benefits of participating in this dynamic, 2.5-year initiative can be found at www.agreeneden.org  or by calling Anna Waddilove on 01539 822890.

The Borgo Storico Seghetti Panichi is as much a national monument as it is a lived-in family home (since the 1750s). It has been open to guests and visitors since 2000, when the family decided to share their house and its treasures, the historic park and the view of the Sibillini mountains and Adriatic coast, with their visitors and make them feel at home.

A special highlight at the end of October is the “Raccolta delle Olive”, the Olive Harvest on the estate and around Castel di Lama. It means two full days of high spirits and humour, with parents and children, Italian and English guests. The first day is dedicated to picking olives using rakes and nets, climbing the trees and filling many crates of olives. A quick harvesters’ lunch of local produce is also included. In the evening the Chefs of the Borgo prepare a dinner of various grilled meats cooked in front of the guests on the open grate of the old kitchen in the cellars.

The next morning the crates of olives are gathered and brought to the ‘frantoio’ where the group witnesses the miraculous process from olive to golden oil. Thunderous stone crushing wheels and powerful presses amuse the children, while all enjoy the supper of toasted bread, fresh oil, salt, sardines and spelt soup. Each guest takes home their own oil, harvested with their own hands: a small token of an ancient annual ritual.

The Borgo lies on a hill along the valley of the River Tronto, a few kilometres from Ascoli Piceno. The historic compound, built in different periods, offers accommodation ideal for families. There is a choice of five separate apartment suites with private access, composed of bedroom, bathroom, sitting room and kitchenette.

All suites are with air conditioning, telephone, satellite TV, electronic safe, minibar and kettle for tea. One apartment suite, Sibilla, is equipped for disabled. Adsl internet point and wi-fi internet connection is available in all apartment suites and common areas.

Families can enjoy the swimming-pool, set in beautiful natural surroundings it is perfectly positioned to enjoy the fresh sea breeze that blows from the nearby Adriatic Riviera. Adults can take advantage of the sauna and wellness room when a little ‘me’ time is required!

The Venezia dining room and the old kitchen (originally a crypt), open in the evening on request for those who wish to enjoy local, traditional recipes, produce from the kitchen garden and wines from local wine cellars.

Unforgettable dinners can be arranged in the Borgo and parents can take advantage of the babysitting service available and fully enjoy this romantic treat.

Breakfast will be served under the grape pergola of the Coffee House Il Palmeto, where guests can enjoy a breakfast of fresh homemade natural produce from the kitchen garden and local farms. In the evening, when the sun sets behind the Sibillini Mountains, the Coffee House turns into a cocktail bar!

Le Marche is an area rich in culture with plenty of local activities, museums, theatres and parks ideal for families. The Le Marche region can boast one of the highest number of blue flag beaches of any region in Italy and has 180k of Adriatic coastline with a variety of resorts to suit all families. The beach is only a 20 minute drive away and is a far cry from the crowded resorts in more familiar regions.

www.borgostorico.com

Parents will be encouraged to dust off their spirit of adventure when it comes to filling next year’s school holidays with 28 new great-value trips introduced to The Adventure Company’s bumper 2012 Family Adventures brochure and the chance to save up to 15% on holidays.

The UK’s leading family adventure specialist has increased its range of child-focused holidays by a third for the coming year with 113 holidays for the whole brood to enjoy and prices for a week-long break starting from just £639 adult / £599 child.

New family destinations for 2012 include Madagascar, the Maldives, Portugal, Spain and the USA.

Claire Wilson, MD of The Adventure Company, said: “As a mum, I know the key to keeping the whole family stimulated while away is to combine amazing destinations with memorable activities. The educational value of opening children’s eyes to new cultures and learning something new can be enormous.

“This year we’ve therefore incorporated even more inspiring experiences to ensure that everyone returns home inspired by what they’ve seen and done. Families can now choose between learning to spear-throw in Ecuador, searching for Madagascan lemurs on night-walks and capturing precious moments on a photography holiday in Morocco or potentially spend their holiday watching the Icelandic skies come alive with the northern lights, kayaking in Andalucia’s Isla Cristina Nature Reserve or camping in the Rockies. Whatever their style of travel, adventures are the perfect way to really get to know the country you’re in and share the moment together as a family.”

LEARN WITH THE EXPERTS

Amongst the new family holidays, 11 follow a ‘learn to’ style of holiday which are accompanied by experts and designed to make developing new skills fun.

The Adventure Company has pioneered the concept of family photography holidays and will be offering five tours in this category for 2012. Catering for creative children aged five upwards, the trips combine a fun approach with practical lessons as families explore Cuba, India, Morocco, Sri Lanka and Tanzania during the school holidays. Prices start from £949 adult / £939 child for the new eight- day Kids in the Kasbah Young Photographer trip to Morocco including flights, transport, B&B accommodation and expert tuition.

Families will also be able to embark on a series of family astronomy holidays which combine adventure, stargazing and breathtaking landscapes in remote locations. From a five-day Iceland trip to enjoy the northern lights during February half term to the clear summer skies offered by Turkey’s Cappadocia and Egypt’s Sinai desert, the live planetarium shows are designed to keep children entertained. Hosted by the company’s resident ‘Galactic Rangers’ – acclaimed astronomers Dr John Mason and Nick James – the evening talks closely follow the Key Stage Three and Four curricula while days are filled with activities such as camel trekking, horse riding, kayaking and whale watching. Trips designed for children aged eight upwards. Prices start from £1,069pp for the new eight-day Active in the Sinai – Astronomy Kids teen adventure, including flights, transport, accommodation, most meals and two-nights of expert tuition.

With the chance to try new activities and experiences at the heart of every family adventure, next year children as young as six will be able to learn how to catch a wave in the new Portugal Surf Week in the Algarve. The centre-based holiday includes three full days of one-to-one instruction and, with groups limited to a maximum of ten, all levels are catered for. Prices start from £899 adult / £859 child for the new eight-day Portugal Surf Week including flights, transport, accommodation, most meals and three days expert tuition.

The adventure specialist’s range of Hands On Family Adventures, which allow holidaymakers to combine an adventurous break with spending a few days lending a hand on a local community or environmental project, remain popular amongst parents keen to broaden their children’s horizons. With two new wildlife-related Hands On trips for 2012, families can now choose to track lions and monitor elephants on a Kenyan safari experience or help protect both elephants and green turtles in Saadani National Park – the only game reserve in Tanzania where bush meets beach. Prices start from £2,249 adult / £1,749 child for the new 14-day Masai & Lions Hands On Adventure including flights, transport, accommodation, most meals and local experts.

EUROPEAN ADVENTURES

As low-cost airlines continue to make short-haul holidays even better value and destinations outside the Eurozone are expected to increase in popularity next year, The Adventure Company’s European portfolio has been developed most for 2012, with half of its new trips in this region.

The 14 new European trips take the total number of European family adventures to 35 (a 66% increase), with prices for 2012 starting from just £639 adult / £599 child for the new week-long Mallorca Experience trip. Designed for children aged 10 upwards, this active break includes a day spent horse riding before a sunset BBQ back at the ranch, the chance to float down-river over rocks along the island’s east coast as well as canyoning and trekking in the mountains. Prices start from £639 adult / £599 child for the new eight-day Mallorca Experience including flights, B&B accommodation, transport and an experienced local leader.

TRAVEL TAILORED TO EVERY FAMILY

To give families freedom to choose their own adventure, The Adventure Company has also introduced a Created for You ‘modular’ option of activities and experiences within popular destinations. Covering Brazil, India, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Thailand and Turkey, the ‘mix and match’ approach will allow families to create a personalised holiday that works best for them.

Mindful that family trips need to be inspiring but also affordable, the travel specialist hopes that its new Pure and Simple range of holidays will help parents keep costs down while travelling. With flights, transport, B&B accommodation and the services of a group leader included, activities on these trips are selected and paid for locally. This approach will ensure families can choose to do as little or as much as they want and can tailor their itinerary to their needs while abroad, with options varying from an eight-day Active Turkey trip (from £839pp) to a 12-day Thailand Adventure (Tropical Island Paradise from £1,469 adult / £1,299 child).

The 2012 brochure also features a new Tour and Stay range of holidays, which offer families the chance to unwind after an exhilarating adventure and ensure they return home truly refreshed after indulging in an exotic beach extension. Options include a four-day Maldives extension after a Sri Lankan adventure (from £630pp), a seven-day beach extension in Tamarindo on the north west coast of Costa Rica (from £450pp), an eight-day Croatian Coastal Adventure, where the last few days are kept free for families to relax at leisure (prices from £949 adult / £679 child) and a six-day Zanzibar Island Extension while travelling in Tanzania (from £700pp).

TEENAGE KICKS WITHOUT A FIGHT

Teenage adventures continue to prove a popular concept with parents attracted by the opportunity to travel with children of a similar age to their own. The Adventure Company has therefore introduced five new teen trips, increasing the total number of teen adventures to 21. In addition to this, 27 additional family adventures offer departure dates specifically for families with teenage children.

New teenage holiday highlights include the chance to get hands on in the Galapagos, combining the chance to kayak through jungle in search of wildlife, hike up a volcano, snorkel in the clear bays and camp in rainforests with the opportunity to join an eco-tourism project with the Huaorani community and find out through a ‘toxic tour’ how oil exploration has damaged the region. Prices from £2,899pp for the new 13-day Rainforest & Evolution Hands On Teen Adventure including international and domestic flights, accommodation (eight nights’ hotels & three nights jungle camp), most meals, transport and an experienced local leader.

Another new teen trip takes in the diversity of the USA’s western national parks, exploring the Grand Canyon, Yosemite and Zion National Parks on foot and by bike, learning about the Native American culture and camping along the way. Prices start from £2,249 adult / £1,749 child for the new 15-day Canyon Discovery Teen Adventure including flights, transport, accommodation, some meals, activities and an experienced local leader.

Claire Wilson, who is also the mother of a teenage boy, said: “Those turbulent teenage years are hard enough as it is without throwing the thorny issue of who wants to holiday where, with whom and doing what into the mix. Variety and flexibility are both key to holiday success and our teenage adventures combine the best of both worlds, allowing kids to get active with their peers while also building in some time together with the parents and ensuring there are no younger kids to cramp their style.”

SAVE UP TO 15% OFF A FAMILY HOLIDAY

Families can save up to 15% off their holiday with a series of combinable discounts:
- 5% discount on 10* selected new family trips booked onto by 1 December 2011

- Alpine Experience
- Andalucía Adventure
- Canyon Discovery
- Complete Turkey
- Greek Island Hopping
- Indian Wildlife Adventure
- Land of the Lemurs
- Portugal Surf Week
- Spirit of the Incas
- Treasures of Tuscany

- 5% off trips booked up to six months before travel
- 5% off for returning customers
- For more information on this special offer visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk/specials

To find out more about The Adventure Company’s family holidays call 0845 287 1198 or visit www.adventurecompany.co.uk/family

Award-winning accommodation specialists Mallorca Farmhouses offer a selection of self-catering properties located in the north-west and south-east of Mallorca from just £356 per week in 2012. And with pine-clad mountains and sweeping golden beaches in the north to beautiful hidden coves and miles of lemon and olive groves in the south, the changes in scenery, terrain and beaches are evident when travelling between the north and south of the island with something available to suit all tastes. Suggestions include:

The North-West:
With many properties located close to the quaint old town of Pollenca, guests can explore the charming cobbled streets, boutique shops and enjoy some locally-produced wines in the main square. The north of the island boasts gorgeous coastlines with a dramatic mountainous backdrop and large pine forests. Recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status, the Serra de Tramuntana mountain range is ideal for a more active getaway with hiking and cycling tours available, while those looking to fly and flop on the beach should head to the sweeping stretch of golden sand between Puerto Pollenca and C’an Picafort.

Sa Caseta is a charming hilltop villa located close to Búger. Set in four acres of rolling countryside, this relaxing retreat has a modern interior, poolside terrace, gated swimming pool, table tennis and a covered BBQ dining terrace. Prices in 2012 start from £1,088 per week. Sleeping six, the price equates to £181 per person, per week.

The South-East:
The cosmopolitan coastal regions of Cala d’Or and Porto Colom in the south-east are renowned for attracting the rich and famous and are home to some of the island’s most exclusive marinas. With many properties surrounded by miles of rolling countryside, lemon and olive groves, the area offers more space and often sweeping views of the sea. They are also only a short drive from the selection of beautiful cove beaches that line the south-east coast – a haven for sun worshippers.

Es Castell is a grand stone-clad villa set in a private estate in the heart of the s’Horta valley. Surrounded by miles of rolling countryside, the property has its own private vineyard with lemon, orange and olive groves as well as a freshwater swimming pool, sun terrace and covered seating area. Prices in 2012 start from £1,139 per week. Sleeping 10, the price equates to just £114 per person, per week.

All properties come with a private pool, maid service and a starter pack. Flights not included. For further information contact Mallorca Farmhouses on 0845 800 8080 or visit www.mallorca.co.uk

With a well-earned title of the World’s Most Romantic Destination, the Maldives continually tops the polls for honeymooners. Although a new trend is fast emerging, reports Sun Hotels & Resorts who operate two resorts in the Maldives, for a familymoon, where newly married couples combine their special holiday with their children, as they travel away for the first time as a new family.

With two idyllic Maldivian resorts, each with their own personality and ambience, a familymoon with Sun Hotels & Resorts promises romance, first-class service and plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.

Whether staying at the four-star Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort or the deluxe Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort, there are plenty of activities and excursions to suit all ages from kite surfing and wind-surfing through to snorkelling safaris, a dolphin cruise, sunset fishing and a romantic Robinson Crusoe experience, with time alone – or all together – on a private sandbank.

Both resorts boast a Sun International Diving School, with PADI Gold Palm status, and extensive courses for beginners and experienced divers. For parents who dive and would like their children to fully explore the Indian Ocean’s underwater world too, the PADI Bubblemaker course offers an introduction to scuba diving. Aimed at children aged eight plus, it teaches how to safely use the equipment and gives kids a chance to experience diving while in the direct care and supervision of a fully qualified PADI professional. Costs US$100 (plus a service and GST charge) per child.

There’s a great choice of accommodation for families at each resort with beach or over-water villas – some with Jacuzzis or plunge pool – and offering a day bed or divan which can be converted into an extra bed as well as interconnecting rooms. There’s even a baby-sitting facility too! Choose from:

Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort (South Malé Atoll) – This 166-room resort is just a short speedboat ride from the airport. A beautiful island retreat with stunning beaches, abundant sandbanks and an array of watersports, it’s a haven for those wishing to mix romance with activity. It also offers one of the only registered kite-surfing schools in the Maldives, and with a large, shallow blue lagoon that surrounds the whole island, it is also great for snorkelling.

Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort (South Nilandhe Atoll) – Enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Maldives with a 35-minute seaplane transfer from Malé. The first glimpses shows off an island surrounded by lush vegetation, swaying coconut palms and pristine white sandy beaches. This authentic Maldivian 122-room resort has much to offer but its greatest assets are something that no other resort can boast because it’s natural: one side of the island is a beautiful protected lagoon and the other side is a beautiful reef ideal for taking the family snorkelling and diving.

Trailfinders (www.trailfinders.com  / 0845 050 5892) is offering seven nights at Olhuveli Beach & Spa Resort from £9,049 for a family of four, based on two adults and two children aged 11 and under sharing two deluxe rooms. Available for February half-term 2012, departing 11 February, the price includes return flights from Heathrow with Qatar Airlines, accommodation on an all-inclusive basis, speedboat transfers, taxes and surcharges.

Tropical Sky (www.tropicalsky.co.uk  / 0844 332 9349) is offering seven nights at Vilu Reef Beach & Spa Resort during February half-term from £1,849 per adult and £1,099 per child. Valid for departure on 11 February, the price includes accommodation in garden villa, scheduled flights from Heathrow, accommodation on a half-board basis, sea plane transfers, taxes and surcharges.

From traditional ski chalets and rustic country houses to high-end villas and cosy cottages

As winter approaches, make the most of cosy evenings in and festive time with family with a short break to a snug cottage or chalet, where you can kick back, relax and curl up in front of a roaring log fire while sipping a comforting mug of hot chocolate or tea. Holiday homes with open fireplaces are always a favourite, especially during winter time, so to provide some inspiration for this season, HomeAway.co.uk, the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, has put together a list of the Top 10 most stylish and comfortable rental homes with wood burning stoves and fires.

Rent a traditional Swiss chalet for a ski break with friends and enjoy your own games room and open plan living room with log fire. Celebrate Halloween in a rustic mountain chalet with brick fireplace near Dracula’s castle in Transylvania, Romania, or head to Croatia for a relaxing stay in a rustic stone villa with wood burning stove in a peaceful countryside location in Central Istria. Alternatively, closer to home, stay in a cosy cottage in Cumbria, or a seaside house with three open fires and spectacular views in Scotland. Whatever type of fire-side setting you fancy, you can be sure to find it on www.HomeAway.co.uk

Choose from one of the properties below or browse more than 82,000 holiday homes with fireplaces available to rent worldwide.

Prices quoted are per property per week and correct at the time of going to press. Properties are arranged in order of price, from highest to lowest.

Top 10 homes with log fires on HomeAway.co.uk

IRELAND
Elegant period home in County Clare
5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10. From £1,840 per week
Inchiquin House is an elegant period home in County Clare, romantically tucked away in the west of Ireland not far from the Atlantic. Over 200 years old, the house stands in its own peaceful wooded private estate of over 100 acres, reached by its own half-mile long avenue. Both inside and outside, the house exudes atmosphere and an old country charm, featuring an imposing entrance hall, a large kitchen and breakfast area and a drawing room with black marble fireplace, decorated with period blue tiles, that burns on coal, wood and pleasantly-scented local turf.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p455496

SWITZERLAND
Traditional Swiss ski chalet with spectacular views in the village of Leysin
5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10. From £1,774 per week
Chalet Le Houx has four floors, as well as a garage for two cars and a ski room. The basement has an entrance hall, laundry, boot room, games/play room and a twin bedroom with en-suite shower. The first floor has a spacious, cosy open plan living room with log fire, dining area and well-equipped kitchen.

French doors open onto a terrace with magnificent views of the mountains and the meadow below. The second floor has three bedrooms all with access to the main balcony and the master bedroom is on the top floor with a private balcony and luxurious en-suite bathroom. The chalet is located a five minute walk to the ski lifts and ten minutes to the village centre, shops and restaurants.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p445034

FRANCE
Ski- in/ski out chalet in the heart of the Three Valleys
4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £1,577 per week

This is a stunning high-end log and stone ski chalet located within easy access to the famous Three Valleys ski area. The chalet has traditional alpine decks and beautiful exposed beams throughout and offers stunning views across the valley. It has four bedrooms with luxury bathrooms, a spacious living area with a beautiful log fire as its centrepiece, and an outdoor hot tub ideal for relaxing after a day on the slopes.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p861501

CROATIA
Beautiful villa with cosy fireplace, private pool and outdoor Jacuzzi, Central Istria
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 10. From £1,490 per week
This rustic, stone villa is situated in a peaceful countryside location and is ideal as a romantic retreat for couples or for family holidays. In complete harmony with the landscape, the property has been built with local stone and natural materials and features a large outdoor area with sun loungers and Jacuzzi, a beautiful fully equipped kitchen, as well as a cosy living room with fireplace and exposed wood beams.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p476494

ITALY
Rustic trullo with swimming pool and log fire, Puglia
5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 9. From £1,402 per week

Surrounded by four acres of olive and other types of fruit trees, Trullo Genna provides outstanding self-catering accommodation and is ideally suited to one or two families or a group of friends. The property features a cosy snug area with log fire, a living area with leather sofas, a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, as well as beautifully restored stonework. The salt water swimming pool and large patio with stone gazebo for shade, pizza oven and BBQ provide the perfect environment for al-fresco dining.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p442001

MOROCCO
Beautiful and peaceful villa with private pool outside Marrakech
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. £875 per week

Just a 20 minute drive away from the ancient Medina, this is a chic property set in a prestigious development designed by acclaimed architect, Charles Boccara. Surrounded by unspoilt farmland and with spectacular views of the Atlas Mountains, the villa sleeps up to six people in three elegant double bedrooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom. Available to rent throughout the year, it also features a beautiful open fireplace, a private swimming-pool, beautiful walled-gardens and the convenience of a discreet staff and personal cook.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p809220

POLAND
Historic farmhouse with design furniture close to the beach, Gdansk
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £701 per week

The house lies in a fruit grove, in a secluded position between Gdansk, the Malbork Castle and Masuria. The lodge dates back to 1789, but it has been lovingly restored between 2005 and 2007. The house features a mix of antique furniture and modern design and boasts an entrance with sitting corner and window to the kitchen, a living and sleeping area with fireplace and a fruit grove with endless panoramic views.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p500631

ROMANIA
Rustic mountain chalet near Dracula’s castle in Transylvania
5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £701 per week

In a secluded position in the mountains around Sirnea, the highest village in Romania, sits this large, rustic mountain chalet. The impressive living space includes an open-plan lounge/dining area with a large brick fireplace and galleried, wood-beamed ceiling with hanging candelabra. The four separate bedrooms can easily accommodate up to eight, and there is a fully equipped kitchen and two bathrooms. It is the perfect retreat for nature lovers, hikers and bikers, and other peace-loving people looking for solitude.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p465673

SCOTLAND
Seaside house with three open fires and spectacular views, Northern Scottish Highlands
5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 12. From £550 per week

Keiss Harbour House is a stunning, contemporary house located on the edge of the Caithness village of Keiss, some 12 miles south of John O’Groats. The five bedrooms and spacious reception rooms make it ideal for entertaining groups of friends or family gatherings. The house is arranged over two floors and boasts a spectacular ‘great hall’ style living/dining room with handmade wooden table, two seating areas with sofas and armchairs, with an open fire and a wood burning stove hall with open fire and small dining table. The living/dining room, kitchen and hall all benefit from spectacular sea views.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p733207

ENGLAND
Stylish, antique cottage in Cumbria
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £420 per week

This stylish cottage is full of charm and character and is furnished and equipped to a very high standard. Grange End Cottage is beautifully presented with every modern convenience and lots of thoughtful extras. Converted from a 19th century barn by a local craftsman, the property is lavishly furnished using a mixture of contemporary and antique furniture and has thick stone walls, a large, inglenook fireplace, many original features including owl holes (now glassed in) and oak beams. The cottage is located at the top of a cobbled lane in the picturesque village of Cark-in-Cartmel away from any roads, but only a minute’s walk to the centre of the village.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p1955

At a time when our financial institutions are under intense scrutiny a new exhibition in Florence seeks to examine the birth of the modern banking system and the economic boom that it triggered.

Visitors are able to delve into the daily life of the families who controlled the banking system and to explore the economic mechanisms which allowed the Florentines to dominate the world of trade and business 500 years before modern communication methods were invented.

Masterpieces by Botticelli, Beato Angelico, Pollaiolo, the Della Robbia family, Lorendo di Credi and Memling – the cream of the Renaissance artists – show how the modern banking system developed in parallel with the most important artistic flowering in the history of the Western world.

This exhibition analyses the systems bankers used to build up their immense fortunes, it illustrates the way in which they handled international relations and it also sheds light on the birth of modern art patronage. The exhibition also uses the detailed depiction of episodes in bankers’ daily lives (the work of several leading Flemish artists) to illustrate the era when Florence was the financial capital of the world.

www.palazzostrozzi.org until 22 January 2012 Classic Collection Holidays (www.classic-collection.co.uk  0800 294 9318) is offering 7 nights from £1419 per person, 3 nights from £823 per person, this November at the Hotel Lungarno, located on the southern bank of the River Arno. Price based on 2 adults sharing a double classic room on a bed & breakfast basis and includes return flights from Gatwick to Florence and private transfers.

-Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) Compares International Mobile Phone Charges-

With many UK mobile phone networks recently changing their roaming allowances and prices, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) has compared the costs for pay-as-you-go and monthly contract customers of the major UK mobile firms. The research is available in the Know Before You Go section of the website at www.aph.com/dataroaming 

The table highlights the costs of calling, texting and internet data packages of all major UK networks; Orange, O2, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile, Vodafone and 3 Mobile. This also compares the difference between monthly contract and pay-as-you-go costs when travelling in the various regions abroad.

When calling from Europe to the UK, a 10 minute call with O2 from Eastern Europe will cost £8.10 on a monthly contract but only £3.50 on pay-as-you-go. T-Mobile customers travelling to Andorra, Faroe Islands or Switzerland (Price Zone 3) should also be very careful when calling the UK as the mobile network is found to charge £10.00 for a 10 minute call.

With regards to data-roaming charges, travellers should be cautious if accessing the internet through networks such as Orange or T-Mobile who charge up to £8.00 per MB or £10.00 per MB respectively, when travelling to countries such as Canada and Thailand. Vodafone was found to be quite generous to travellers visiting the ‘Rest of the World’ by charging only £3 for the first 5MB, however this increases to an expensive £15 for every MB used afterwards.

Nick Caunter, Managing Director of APH said: “Travellers should certainly plan ahead and make sure they are aware of the extra costs when using their mobile phones or smart phones on holiday. By checking their network costs in the Know Before You Go section of the APH website, holidaymakers can plan ahead and make sure they’re prepared for these extra charges, keeping them to a minimum. Travel bundles are also a beneficial way for travellers to save money when using phones abroad which can also offer discounts of up to 30% off calls and texts in international destinations.”

Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) is the UK’s award winning airport parking operator and booking agency, after winning the Best Airport Parking Company at British Travel Awards 2010. This year APH also celebrates its 31st year as a retailer and operator of pre-booked airport parking and travel extras. APH offers parking at all major UK airports, as well as airport hotels packaged with parking and airport lounges. APH is also a carbon balanced company and has, through support of the World Land Trust, helped purchase more than 1,000 acres of endangered rainforest.

For further information on Airport Parking and Hotels (APH) visit,
http://www.aph.com/  or call 01342 859515.

To celebrate their new website at www.skibeat.co.uk, catered ski chalet specialist Ski Beat is offering a saving of £200pp off new year ski holidays, with prices now from £799 per person. The offer is for a week’s ski holiday departing 31st December with accommodation in selected ski chalets in France’s Three Valleys ski region. The holidays include return flights from Gatwick and Manchester, transfers, breakfast, après ski snacks and three course dinners with complimentary wine. Example holidays as follows:-

La Tania, New Year for £799, saving £200pp

Departing 31st December a week’s stay at Chalet Amethyste 2 in La Tania, France, can now be booked with Ski Beat for £799 per person (was £999 per person), saving £200pp, based on 2 guests sharing and includes catered chalet accommodation (breakfast, afternoon tea and cakes, 3-course dinners with wine), Wi-Fi, return flights from Gatwick or Manchester.

Meribel, New Year for £829, saving £200pp

Ski Beat has a week’s ski holiday at the Chalet Cervin in the top French resort of Meribel with a £200 per person saving. Departing 31st December, the ski holiday can now be booked with Ski Beat for £829 per person (was £1029pp), based on 2 guests sharing and includes catered chalet accommodation (breakfast, afternoon tea and cakes, 3-course dinners with wine), Wi-Fi, and return flights from Gatwick or Manchester.

To book and for more ski chalet offers please contact Ski Beat on 01243 780 405 or visit www.skibeat.co.uk

http://www.skibeat.co.uk/ski-beat-news-article.asp?id=104