Jetsettersblog

Been there? Done that? Well yes, and so have most family and friends. There’s nothing more rewarding than returning from a holiday and regaling the tale of a quirky experience, to a captive audience enthralled by the details of a unique adventure.

But of course, one shouldn’t have to sacrifice certain popular experiences that have always been a must on the tourist trail, so the key here is reading the fine print and asking tour operators lots of questions, which might just uncover some esoteric activities already on the itinerary.

Off to trek the Inca Trail? How about a bit of camel conservation en-route? Heading out to Costa Rica to relish in its varied topography, or get up close to some turtles? Well what about spending a bit of time with one of the laziest and loveliest animals around; the Sloth. Or maybe impress friends at home with a superior knowledge of fruits, having completed a tropical fruits course?

Here’s a couple of ideas, to spark holiday maker’s imaginations in 2012.

Conserving the camels

Visitors to Peru in 2012 have the chance to visit the home of the Inca civilization, the breath-taking peaks of the Andes and its native camels! Those visiting Peru in the New Year can visit the world famous Machu Picchu site and also partake in a week’s camel conservation. i-to-i volunteering offers life changing travel trips including the experience of feeding and caring for these native animals as well as learning ancient Andean traditions such as weaving camel wool, set in an awe-inspiring landscape.

Prices start from £899 per person for 2 weeks land only. Accommodation is provided in a homestay and guest house, spending time and eating meals with local families. The trip also includes breakfast and dinner whilst volunteering, airport pick-up, in-country orientation and 24 hour support. For more information call i-to-i volunteering on 0113 3504 459 or visit www.i-to-i.com

Kung Fu monk

China’s Martial Arts Academy allows visitors to train in Kung-Fu at their own pace with the very best in Chinese martial arts masters whilst enjoying the backdrop of the picturesque Fujian mountains that surrounds the academy. Time away from training allows travellers to discover the untouched surrounding landscape of South East China and partake in group activities such as Bamboo rafting. Mandarin lessons are also a memorable inclusion, giving the opportunity to learn about traditional Chinese cultures, as well as the chance to experience calm and tranquillity whilst meditating with Monks.

Prices start from £899 per person land only for 4 weeks. 27 nights’ accommodation is provided staying on site at the academy, with most rooms boasting stunning scenic views of the surrounding area. The rooms are basic, with one to two single beds with very firm Chinese mattresses and a simple wardrobe for clothes and personal possessions. All meals are provided at the academy and are prepared by the academy cooks. Meals are made in the local style and with local produce; however, some Western dishes are served occasionally, airport transfer, orientation and 24hour support is included. Also included is martial arts training five days a week, meditation five days a week and Mandarin classes. For more information call Real Gap Experience on 01892 516164 or visit www.realgap.co.uk

Chilling with the Sloths

Travellers can make a real difference to orphaned Sloths (ahhh) in Costa Rica. Real Gap Experience offers a trip allowing visitors to stay within a Sloth sanctuary, getting up close and personal with the laziest but loveliest animals in the wild. Highlights of the trip include caring for the endangered creatures and nursing them back into health. The sanctuary, with the help of volunteers, has already returned many injured and orphaned Sloths back in to their natural environment. This trip also allows volunteers to visit the nearby unspoilt Cahuita Beach as well as participate in the unusual activity of tropical fruit lessons.

Prices start from £719 per person for 3 weeks land only. Includes accommodation within the rescue centre (so that volunteers can keep a close eye on their new furry friends at all times), all meals, airport pick-up, details orientation, airport accommodation and 24 hour support. For more information call Real Gap Experience on 01892 516164 or visit www.realgap.co.uk

As details of the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant – one of the largest public events ever held in London – are announced, VisitEngland looks at other Jubilee celebrations scheduled across the country.

Marking 60 years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign, the Diamond Jubilee celebrations will celebrate around an extended weekend on 2 – 5 June 2012. Officially unveiled this morning, the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on Sunday 3 June will see a procession of 1,000 boats travel down the Thames, from Battersea to Tower Bridge, flanking the Royal Barge which will transport the Queen. The procession, which will include vessels of all shapes and sizes from around the world, including tall ships and square riggers, fishing and cargo boats, yachts, tugs, steamers and canoes, is expected to be the biggest televised event ever to take place.

VisitEngland Chairman, Lady Cobham said:
“The Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant is a remarkable undertaking and a fantastic draw for London. However, the rest of England has also been gripped by the occasion and there are celebrations taking place throughout the country, from the royal family’s official residences, stately homes and national galleries, to parks and public spaces and in private gardens and family homes.”

Here are just a few of VisitEngland’s highlights of the Jubilee year calendar:

Sixty Photographs for Sixty Years – The Drawings Gallery, Windsor Castle
Opening on 4 February, an exhibition of 60 photographs of The Queen, including the work of leading press photographers of the past six decades, will go on display at Windsor. The exhibition presents a portrait of The Queen’s reign as captured in fleeting moments on both official occasions and at relaxed family gatherings. The exhibition includes pictures of Queen Elizabeth II on regional and international official visits, leading the nation on Remembrance Day, in the Garter Day procession at Windsor, hosting Heads of State and inspecting the graduating officer cadets at Sandhurst. It also records important personal and family milestones and her lifelong love of equestrianism and of her corgis. The exhibition will run until January 2013.
www.royalcollection.org.uk

The Wild, the Beautiful and the Damned at Hampton Court Palace
Running 5 April – 30 September 2012, this royal-themed exhibition tells a story about the fascination of love, glamour, celebrity, lust and power and involves some of the key characters that lived, loved and died at Hampton Court Palace – Charles II, James II, William III & Queen Mary II and Queen Anne. Beauty was a good thing: it was a reflection of divine perfection, an indication of virtue. This temporary exhibition will contain magnificent artworks to reveal the stories and scandals, and will include items from the Royal Collection and other public and private collections, many of which are not currently on display.
http://www.hrp.org.uk

The World Comes to Windsor Castle
Held in the private grounds of Windsor Castle on the evenings of 10, 11 and 13 May, the Diamond Jubilee Pageant will pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II’s 60-year reign in a performance that brings together over 500 horses and 800 international performers. Dance, music, military and equestrian displays from around the world will feature in this major show: Around the World in 60 Years and 90 minutes. Visitors will be taken on a journey around the world, reflective of the Queen’s State and Commonwealth visits during her rain: starting out from London and visiting the Americas, Australasia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and finally Great Britain. The seven acts draw from their respective continent, ensuring a colourful cultural display. Tickets available at www.diamond-jubilee-pageant.com

Bright, Shiny Diamond Jubilee Beacons – Various locations
England has a centuries-long history of beacon lighting to mark national events and the beacon is widely recognised as a symbol of united celebration. On 4 June, 2,012 beacons will be lit across the whole of the United Kingdom, as they were for the Queen’s Silver and Golden Jubilees. Locations already confirmed include the highest school in England, Flash Church of England school in Staffordshire (which has just 10 pupils); three of His Grace the Duke of Westminster’s estates in Sutherland, Cheshire and Lancashire; and 60 beacons along the length of Hadrian’s Wall – one for every year of the Queen’s reign.
www.diamondjubileebeacons.co.uk

Go Down to the (Diamond) Woods – Various locations
To celebrate the Diamond Jubilee, the Woodland Trust is helping millions of people to come together with their communities to plant 6 million trees. The Jubilee Woods Project, fronted by Patron HRH The Princess Royal, aims to create hundreds of Jubilee Woods across the country, and 60 special Diamond Woods, of at least 60 acres – to transform our landscape in a generation and provide a lasting legacy for many years to come. This includes the Trust’s new Flagship Diamond Wood in the heart of The National Forest in Leicestershire, a haven for wildlife and a monument to Her Majesty. To find out more or get involved, visit
www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Partake in a Big Jubilee Lunch – Countrywide
Building on the established Big Lunch initiative, the Big Jubilee Lunch will encourage friends and neighbours to share lunch in their local neighbourhoods on Sunday 3 June. Based on the premise that a connected community is a safe and happy community, the Big Lunch Initiative was founded by the Eden Project in 2009 and provides the tools and support needed for members of the public to organise and encourage shared neighbour lunches once a year, and as a result to build lasting and valuable connections. The initiative hopes to double participation numbers in 2012, and to create an annual Thanksgiving Day of sorts, all of our own. To find out more about hosting or joining a Big Lunch, visit www.thebiglunch.com

A Capital Celebration – London’s Exhibitions
In addition to the river pageant, London will be host to several exhibitions on the Royal Family and the reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Showing at the V&A from 8 February – 22 April, Cecil Beacon’s Royal Portraits will include 60 photographs depicting the Royal Family at home and on official occasions. A new permanent exhibition opening at Kensington Palace on 26 March, Victoria Revealed, will look at the life and reign of Queen Victoria – England’s longest-reigning monarch – while Tower Bridge will be re-presenting the Crown Jewels exhibition for the Jubilee year, with new displays showing the jewels like never before.

For more information on Jubilee events around the country, visit www.enjoyengland.com/jubilee

with Taber Holidays

Spending the night in an ice hotel is not something you get the opportunity to do very often, and for those adventurous at heart, this truly unforgettable experience has just been made easier with a great new offer from Taber Holidays. The specialist tour operator to Scandinavia is offering five per cent off the brochure price of their three-night break to Alta, Norway, which includes a night at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel, if you book and travel before the end of March. This takes the price to £1,043pp.

Situated high above the Arctic Circle, the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel is an enviable location by the edge of the Altafjord, with the magnificent mountain plateau, Finnmarksvidda, to the other side. Made entirely from snow and ice, the hotel is built at the start of each season and melts away again as soon as the temperatures start to warm. It was constructed for the 13th time this year.

As well as housing a number of guest rooms, the hotel is also home to an ice chapel, ice gallery, sculptures and its very own ice bar complete with glasses. The temperature inside is kept at a constant temperature just below freezing, and guests are given a thermal sleeping bag to keep them toasty during the night as they sleep upon their bed made of ice.

Alta and the Igloo Hotel – From £1,043pp (Was £1,098pp) – This three-night break is priced from £1,043 per person to include flights, transfers and accommodation (including one night at the Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel). Based on two sharing. Price valid if you book and travel before the end of March.

For more information call Taber Holidays on 01274 875 199 or see
http://www.taberhols.co.uk/holiday/alta-and-the-igloo-hotel

Titan Travel (0800 988 5858, www.titantravel.co.uk), the award-winning tour operator, has unveiled its second edition Worldwide brochure with more than half of the 153 itineraries featured at lower prices than in the first edition of the brochure and in some cases with savings of up to £300 per person for bookings made before 31 January 2012.

Commenting on the news Dan Whitehouse, Marketing Director said “At Titan we never compromised on quality for our clients and have been able to produce these genuine discounts as a result of renegotiating costs with our suppliers. In fact in some cases we have actually upgraded a number of our services including the choice of hotels in New York, Venice and Rome”.

In addition the operator has introduced a number features to add flexibility for clients to tailor make elements of their trip. For example on North American tours there is now an optional ‘meal plans’ element for breakfasts to be booked and paid for in advance and flight upgrades to be added. They can also suggests extra hotel nights, available stopovers, airport lounge access whatever class a client chooses to fly and can extend dates or change flights for clients visiting friends and family.

These changes are the next stage in the rebranded brochure that first appeared in August 2011 having undergone a major re-design to create more compelling imagery with a unique series of visual montages on the introductory pages of each continent or region.

However the brochure still offers the finest selection of escorted tours, cruises and short breaks to all four corners of the globe and North America retains its wide choice of holidays with some of the best discounted offers.

These include a saving of £300 per person on the 11-day ‘Rocky Mountain Railtour’ that departs on 21 August, which was originally £3,095 and is now reduced to £2,795 per person. This snapshot of the best of western Canada includes the opportunity to see the snow-capped Canadian Rockies and dramatic Columbia ice fields with an included Ice Explorer ride to one of the highest accumulations of ice and snow south of the Arctic Circle. In addition there is the chance to explore Vancouver before boarding the unique Rocky Mountaineer train for a 2-day adventure to Jasper with the tour reaching its final destination on Calgary. There are departures throughout the year with discounts on departures in May, June, August and September.

Meanwhile in South America there are savings of up to £280 per person on the 14-day ‘Footsteps of the Incas’ tour which has been reduced from £3,375 to £3095 per person departing on 13 January 2013. This spectacular tour includes a full day Orient-Express -operated rail journey from Puno to Cuzco, which is often not included by other operators; a visit to the ruins of Machu Picchu and the chance to see Colca Canyon which is renowned for the Andean Condors that choose to nest there. There are departures in May, September, October and November 2012 and January 2013.

More savings can be found in the southern Africa where the 15-day ‘Namibian Discovery’ tour has savings of up to £200 per person on 27th September departure, this originally cost £3,695 and is now £3,495 per person when booked before 31 January 2012. The unique and starkly beautiful desert landscape of Namibia’s deep red dunes produces a dramatic backdrop to a tour like no other with game drives in Etosha National park and the chance to see one of the largest collections of rock paintings and engravings in Africa at Twyfelfontein. There are five departures from March 2012 to April 2012.

Closer the home a large number of European escorted tours feature savings of up to £100 per person. These include the 10-day ‘Classic Croatia – Star of the Adriatic’ tour that travels from Venice to Dubrovnik with a well-balanced itinerary without long driving distances. There’s a stay in the rarely featured city of Zagreb and 2 nights in the pretty coastal resort of Opatija made famous as the holiday resort since the 19th century by European aristocracy and famous artist including Puccini, Chekhov and James Joyce. The tour features eight departures from May to September 2012 with prices now reduced from £1,595 to £1,495 per person on 4th September 2012.

For details on these and other tours call Titan Travel on 0800 988 5858 or visit the website www.titantravel.co.uk

Brochure For 2012
Titan Travel (0800 988 5867, www.titantravel.co.uk/elegantrivercruises ) has unveiled the third edition of its 2012 programme of award-winning river cruises for independent travellers with four new combination cruises and a savings of up to £1000 per person for bookings made by 29th February 2012.

The programme is operated in partnership with Uniworld (the market-leading river cruise company) and offers a world class collection of upmarket cruise options on Uniworld’s fleet of floating boutique-style hotels to some of the grandest and most scenic waterways of Europe, Russia, Egypt and Indochina.

In addition to the new itineraries the brochure also highlights an expanded choice of shore excursions in significant ports of call, plus the opportunity for passengers to ‘Go Active’ or take a ‘Gentle Walking Tour’ and discover their various destinations on foot or by bike.

As might be expected from an Elegant River Cruise, every itinerary features fabulously well-appointed river cruisers, offering comfortable staterooms, sumptuous cuisine and first-class entertainment. Along with a full programme of shore excursions and the services of knowledgeable, English-speaking guides, every passenger receives the VIP Home Departure Service, a door-to-door transfer service that takes them from their own home to join the start of their holiday wherever they live in the UK, including Northern Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. In addition, early-booking discounts are available on every single cruise, providing even better value for money for those customers reserving their holidays in good time.

The brochure features a total of 26 luxurious river cruise as well as five Festive Christmas river cruise itineraries to see the Christmas markets at places along the Rhine, Danube and in Paris. Prices start from £1,799pp (including a saving of £200pp if booked before 29 February 2012) for an 8-day Danube Festive markets cruise from Budapest to Passau on three departures in November and December 2012.

The four new combination cruises provide a brand new opportunity to link itineraries for the ultimate river cruise holiday crossing the entire continent of Europe from Paris and Amsterdam to Vienna and Bucharest or even on to Istanbul. There are epic voyages of up to 32-days in duration and spectacular savings for early bookers with up to £1000 per person off the 18-day ‘Paris to the Heart of Europe’ cruise when booked by 29th February 2012. Starting with three-days sightseeing in Paris before setting sail along four of Europe’s most beautiful rivers – the Moselle, Rhine, Main and Danube the cruise takes in the scenery and experiences the celebrated food and wine of each region. There’s even the chance to take a horse drawn ride through the Bavarian Forest. The tour costs £3,579 per person (including the £1000pp saving when booked by 29 February 2012) and comprises flights, 3 nights hotel accommodation in Paris and 14 nights full board cruise accommodation on the River Princess plus shore excursions, transfers and the VIP Home Departure Service for a smooth journey to and from the airport.

Alternatively, following in the footsteps of the great European travellers such as Patrick Leigh Fermor, who took his epic journey in 1933-34 from the Hook of Holland, as he called it, to what he insisted on calling Constantinople (Istanbul). A similar ‘Grand European River Voyage’ takes travellers on a remarkable 27-day journey from Amsterdam to Istanbul travelling through 10 countries and seven capitals and countless treasures in between. From colourful Amsterdam to exotic Istanbul the journey takes in UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Bamberg and the Wachau Valley and the crooked streets of Miltenberg, with the opportunity to sail through the famous Iron Gates, the gorge that forms the natural border between Romania and Serbia on the Danube River. The cruise costs from £6,099 per person (which includes a £500pp saving for bookings before 29 February 2012) with 5 departures between May and October 2012. Cost includes, flights, accommodation, transfers, excursions and the VIP Home Departure Service.

Further afield there’s a £1000pp saving on the new ‘Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & The Mekong’ cruise for departures on 5th September and 8th December 2012. The 17-day cruise follows the Mekong, Indochina’s longest river along its navigable lower reaches between Thailand and Laos and on downstream through Cambodia and Vietnam, taking in each of these countries’ most distinctive attractions, starting with a visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels (the famous underground passageways used by the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War) and a chance to meet a wartime veteran. Other memories of a turbulent past can be found in Phnom Penh, the Cambodian capital, where the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum commemorates the terrible atrocities that took place under the violent reign of the Khmer Rouge regime. On a lighter note, other highlights of the 17-day itinerary include visits to peaceful Buddhist monasteries, floating markets and ancient temple complexes, with the undisputed high point being a tour of Angkor Wat, the mysterious, jungle-shrouded temples that are today protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Departures are available from September 2012 through to March 2013 on Uniworld’s new River Saigon with prices from £4,139 pp (which includes a £1000 pp saving when booked by 29th February 2012).

For details or to book call Titan Travel on 0800 988 5867 or visit www.titantravel.co.uk/elegantrivercruises

Skiers head to the slopes following recent heavy snowfall in the Alps

Snow has been falling in the Alps for over a month now, so conditions are excellent for skiing with some resorts in Austria reporting up to 6 metres of snow. If you still haven’t had your share of skiing this year, book a late ski holiday now and take advantage of some great deals on apartments and chalets in the Alps. HomeAway.co.uk, the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, offers access to a great range of private holiday lets available to rent at a discounted rate.

Opting for private ski accommodation rather than a hotel can enhance your holiday experience. The added space and privacy allows you to truly relax after a hard day on the slopes, and with the low cost per head of a private ski chalet or apartment you can indulge yourself with affordable luxury. Whether you’re looking for a budget bargain in Austria, a large apartment in Switzerland or a luxury chalet in France, HomeAway.co.uk has something for every taste and budget.

So, head to the slopes now to experience one of the snowiest winters in decades and book one of the properties below or browse HomeAway.co.uk for over 47,000 ski holiday rentals worldwide.

Prices quoted are per property per week for the ski season and after discount. All properties still had good availability at the time of going to press.

AUSTRIA
Modern chalet with mountain and lake views, Salzkammergut
5 Bedrooms, Sleeps 12. £650 per week
Special Offer: 35% off until end of March
This is a beautiful chalet in an elevated position in the small hamlet of Ried on the outskirts of St Wolfgang. Skiing at the nearby Postalm a 20 minute drive is ideal for the beginner and intermediate with skiing for the more experienced being 30 minutes away. The property has balconies on two levels with access from three bedrooms which afford views of the lake and Austrian Alps.
The chalet sleeps 10, but can accommodate up to 13. There is a large kitchen/diner and a spacious lounge complete with a large flat screen television, satellite TV and a state of the art games console.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p431713

SWITZERLAND
Superb ski in/ski out Swiss apartment in Portes du Soleil
2 Bedrooms, Sleeps 6. From £822 per week
Special Offer: 25% off per week (available w/c 21st and 28th January)
The apartment is located in a newly developed building, the Sundance. It is light, modern, well equipped and attractive with extensive use of modern pine and with spectacular views of the Les Dents du Midi from all rooms. It has laminated floors, wooden ceilings and whitewashed walls. There are three large windows looking out to the mountains and there is a balcony running the full length of the apartment. Les Crosets boasts a multitude of lifts, a ski school, a dedicated snowboard park and a number of nice restaurants, shops and bars. You can ski into France in minutes or stay in the Swiss area.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p68678

AUSTRIA
Penthouse apartment with breathtaking views in the centre of Zell am See
3 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. £1,409 per week
Special Offer: 15% off until end of March
This is a duplex penthouse apartment, furnished to a very high standard and with a large balcony with breathtaking mountain and lake views. There is parking for one car in the basement. The property is located in the centre of Zell am See within walking distance of ski lifts, restaurants and shopping.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p90619

FRANCE
Stunning chalet with sauna, hot tub and panoramic windows in Chamonix
4 Bedrooms, Sleeps 8. From £3,207 per week
Special Offer: 20% off in January
This is a charming holiday chalet with wonderful panoramic views of Mont Blanc in Chamonix. The relaxing living room with a central fireplace connects with the dining area and opens out onto a terrace and balcony. The wooden gable end of the house has been replaced with glass to offer wonderful panoramic views of Mont Blanc. The four bedrooms are all en suite and the bedroom up on the second floor has a French copper bath with wonderful views from the top of the chalet. In the garden there is a wood fired hot tub as well as an amazing sauna.
www.HomeAway.co.uk/p820545

-ends-

About HomeAway.co.uk
Founded in 1996 and part of HomeAway Inc., HomeAway.co.uk is the UK’s number one holiday rentals website, listing over 250,000 self-catering properties worldwide. The site provides a simple, cost-effective way for holiday home owners and managers to market their property and manage bookings, with unrivalled worldwide exposure for a fixed annual fee. For holidaymakers, HomeAway.co.uk offers the best choice of any UK website.

About HomeAway, Inc.
HomeAway is the world leader of the online holiday rentals market, representing over 625,000 property listings across more than 145 countries. The company has contributed significantly to the popularity of the holiday rentals industry, making it easier than ever for both owners to advertise and profit from their second homes and for millions of holidaymakers to find the perfect holiday rental. HomeAway operates sites in 11 European countries and the market-leading sites in the USA and Brazil.

Seven Nights On The Costa Dorada From Just £306 Per Family
To egg-scape to sunnier climes this Easter, look no further than a break with Keycamp. Seven nights with the outdoor holiday specialist staying on Spain’s Costa Dorada start from just £306 per family and with an early booking discount available on all trips booked by 29 February, enjoying a cracking good Easter abroad doesn’t have to break the bank.

With a peaceful woodland setting, direct access to a sandy beach and three swimming pools, Keycamp’s Playa Montroig is an ideal base from which to enjoy the region. This lively parc offers an array of sports and activities, including cycling, tennis, mini golf and football. Meanwhile, the Port Aventura theme park is close at hand to provide enough thrilling rides and make-believe adventures to allow the kids to let off some steam.

For an experience of traditional Spain, there are plenty of opportunities for sight-seeing in the Roman city of Tarragona with its ancient cobbled streets, cafes and boutiques or at L’Ametlla de Mar, a typical fishing village. This beautiful region also offers mile after mile of secluded coves, quality vineyards and the breathtaking sierras and game reserves.

Seven nights starting on 5 April 2012 at Keycamp’s Playa Montroig staying in a Villanova mobile home with decking and air conditioning will cost just £315, accommodation only, including an early booking discount, if booked by 29 February 2012.

Fly-drive packages are available at a supplement. To book, or for more information, call 0844 406 0319 or visit www.keycamp.co.uk.

Those looking for the ultimate romantic getaway this Valentine’s should head to the beautiful city of Edinburgh for the luxury experience of a lifetime.

Start things in style with your very own chauffeured Rolls Royce Phantom to collect you both at the airport and remain at your beck and call throughout your stay. Enjoy turning heads as you cruise through the city centre before arriving at the prestigious Princes Street Suites where your exclusive penthouse awaits.

Boasting an exceptionally bright spacious living room with open plan dining area and breathtaking views across the Edinburgh skyline, the fifth floor penthouse provides the perfect setting for a romantic escape in the city.

Take the first day easy with a his and hers pamper experience in the comfort of your suite. Slip into a bathrobe and let your personal team of therapists from the Sanctuary at The Suites wait on you hand and foot, quite literally, with an indulgent full body hot stone massage, Indian head massage, prescription facial, and a deluxe Shellac manicure and pedicure.

Now fully relaxed, sit back and enjoy a four course champagne dinner of your choice, freshly cooked by your very own chef and served by candlelight as you take in the views of the city by night.

Make your second night one to remember with a private five course dinner for the two of you in the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky at the award winning Scotch Whisky Experience next to Edinburgh Castle. Set in a marble-floored vault, surrounded by almost 3,500 bottles of Scotch whisky, have the entire Collection to yourselves as you sample some of the city’s finest dining courtesy of Amber Restaurant.

Return to Princes Street Suites in the Phantom to complete the evening with champagne and dancing on the rooftop. Have your very own string quartet provide a repertoire of classical favourites to create an extra special moment for that extra special question.

This two night experience costs from £8,500. For further details, or to tailor your own romantic getaway, contact Princes Street Suites on 0131 558 1600.

It’s not too late to book a cosy Valentine’s break in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Rural cottage resort, Celtic Haven, is offering three or four night breaks for £159 per person including accommodation, a candlelit dinner and ‘romance pack’ and discounts on his and hers massages at the resort’s spa. The Valentine’s breaks are available for arrivals at any point between 10-17 February.

The clifftop resort will offer an indulgent service with dinner brought to the door on an evening of choice, a bottle of fizz waiting in the fridge and a ‘romance pack’ with chocolates, massage oil and rose petals left in the cottage. For an extra treat 15 per cent will be knocked off massages at Celtic Haven’s Elemis Premier Spa.

Couples will be able to relax in Celtic Haven’s sauna and hot tub and take romantic strolls along the beach or on the Pembrokeshire Coast National Walking Trail, which are both a few minutes walk away.

The break is available for three nights over a weekend and four nights midweek. Bookings can be made at welcome@celtichaven.co.uk/  01834 870000.

For more information on Celtic Haven, please visit www.celtichaven.co.uk  or call 01834 870 000.

This Valentine’s Day enjoy a romantic break at one of Elite Hotels’ four elegant properties, steeped in history and set amongst acres of landscaped gardens or pristine coastline, all offer an unforgettable first-class experience. Offers include blending bespoke scents, tailor-made five-course dinners designed especially for the occasion and relaxing weekend escapes in the English countryside.

The Ultimate Valentine’s Day at Luton Hoo Hotel
One of England’s grandest and most romantic country houses, Luton Hoo Hotel offers the “Ultimate Valentine’s Package” where couples can enjoy an intimate and bespoke stay including a private five-course dinner with wine served in a majestic State Suite by a personal butler. The menu is especially created by the Executive Head Chef Kevin Clark after discussing dishes and preferences with the couple. Upon arrival a bottle of champagne with chocolate-dipped strawberries awaits, followed by cocktails and dinner. The overnight stay starts from £1,200 per room including a full English breakfast. To book visit www.elitehotels.co.uk/lutonhoo  or call 01582 734437.

Specially-tailored scents at Tylney Hall Hotel
Set in 66 acres of quintessentially English landscaped gardens, woodlands and lakes, Tylney Hall Hotel in Hampshire offers a “Just for you Perfume” experience, including a 90 minute Perfume Studio session by Studio XN to create a customised perfume or cologne for each person. Guests are also treated to a Kerstin Florian Organic Aromatherapy Massage for two, followed by a three course table d’hôte dinner in the Oak Room Restaurant, overlooking the longest uninterrupted views in the county. The overnight stay in a Deluxe Bedroom is £550 with a full English breakfast. To book visit www.elitehotels.co.uk/tylneyhall  or call 01256 764881.

A romantic weekend in the country at Ashdown Park
At Ashdown Park couples can enjoy an indulgent weekend away whilst making the most of the hotel’s extensive grounds with activities including spa treatments, woodland walks and even a round of golf. The weekend includes a four-course dinner with wine, aperitifs, desserts or local Sussex cheese platter to share, coffee and petit fours, luxury accommodation, access to the hotel’s leisure facilities including the pool and tennis courts, and breakfast. Prices start from £330 per room at Ashdown Park based on two people sharing. To book visit www.elitehotels.co.uk/ashdownpark  or call 01342 824988.

Dinner and dancing at The Grand
The only 5 star luxury hotel on the British coastline, The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne is a short walk from both the bustling Pier and the beautiful Sussex Downs. This Valentine’s Day the hotel will serve a four-course dinner in The Garden Restaurant or a six-course delight in the Mirabelle Restaurant to seduce and spoil loved ones, followed by dancing in the Chatsworth Lounge. Prices start from £49 per person. Alternatively, those looking for a cosy weekend away can stay in a Deluxe Room for £99.50 per person and enjoy a complimentary dinner at the hotel. To book visit www.elitehotels.co.uk/grandeastbourne  or call 01323 412345.

Romantic Ruinart
Throughout February, for a more discreet and low-key Valentine’s Day, stays at Ashdown Park, Tylney Hall, Luton Hoo and The Grand Hotel in Junior Suites include a bottle of Ruinart Brut or Ruinart Rose, as well as a box of chocolates. The overnight stay in a Junior Suite is £400 with a full English breakfast per night.

For bookings visit www.elitehotels.co.uk