European Travel

Enticing Christmas and New Year Breaks in London or the UK

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:13:00 +0000

You deserve a break and Superbreak have some lovely offers on right now. One New Year I treated my family to a Superbreak deal staying in a 4* hotel in Central London visiting the Terracotta Warriors exhibition at the British Museum and Tutankhamun at the O2 Arena. We had priority pass tickets and an excellent price overall.

Here is a tempting selection of the many offers on right now:

There are Christmas breaks:

Christmas Break: 4* Macdonald Highlands, Aviemore, £329pp3nts from 24th Dec includes breakfast, dinner, Christmas day lunch and entertainment. Resting at the very heart of the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands, the Macdonald Highlands Hotel offers luxury guest bedrooms and features Aspects signature restaurant, offering the very best locally sourced and organic produce. The hotel’s on site Leisure Arena and Vital Beauty Spa offers an array of facilities including a lagoon swimming pool, luxury spa, gym, sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.

Christmas Break: 4* Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster, £420pp3nts from 24th Dec includes breakfast, dinner, Christmas day lunch and entertainment. Add a little style, elegance and luxury to your Christmas break with a stay at the fabulous Lancaster House Hotel, where an award winning menu awaits you in the Foodworks Restaurant. Offering a taste of exquisite food, attentive service and fine wines. Located in peaceful grounds, this hotel offers spacious, stylish and superbly appointed guest rooms, whilst the hotel’s Sandpiper Leisure Club boasts a 50 foot swimming pool, outdoor hot tub, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, gym and beauty spa.

Christmas Break: 3* Hatherley Manor, Gloucester, £299p3nts from 24th Dec breakfast, dinner, Christmas day lunch and entertainment. An elegant 17th century manor house, nestling in 37 acres of its own grounds on the edge of the Cotswolds. Following major refurbishment, this formerly moated residence provides all the comfort and luxury expected of a modern county house whilst retaining its historic heritage and charm. The Dewinton Restaurant with its oak beams and appealing décor is a delightful dining room with a vast menu of interesting and tasty dishes.

There are New Year breaks:

New Year break: 4* De Vere Carden Park Hotel, Chester (nr), £195pp1nt on 31st Dec, includes breakfast, dinner and live entertainment. Located on a beautiful 1000 acre estate, De Vere Carden Park Hotel is one of England's finest luxury hotels and offers a unique combination of history and luxury. Each room is beautifully designed and has fabulous views over the Cheshire countryside and Welsh hills. Why not spend your time enjoying a slice of pure relaxation in the Spa where you'll find 20 unique expert treatment rooms, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and more.

New Year Break: 3* Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool, £299pp3nts from 30th Dec includes breakfast, dinner and cabaret entertainment. The Norbreck Castle stands proud on the North Shore overlooking the seafront, in the quieter part of Blackpool, a short tram ride from the town centre and the Pleasure Beach. The hotel boasts two restaurants, two bars and Spindles Health Club offering heated indoor pool, sauna, gym and hair & beauty treatments. Each bedroom is furnished for your comfort with en suites, hairdryer, television, and tea and coffee making facilities.

New Year Break: 4* Menzies Cambridge Hotel & Golf Club, Cambridge, £185pp2nts from 30th Dec includes, breakfast, afternoon tea, Gala dinner and dancing. Its contemporary décor and spacious public areas make this Cambridge hotel one of the finest in the area. The superb Waves Health & Leisure Club includes indoor swimming pool, Nordic sauna, steam room, spa bath and a fully-equipped gym. The hotel’s Brassiere restaurant has a tempting menu of British favourites and international dishes, using only the finest, freshest ingredients and seasonal produce.

There are some wonderful shows on in London. Don't miss them and bag yourself an excellent package deal of hotel and ticket:

The Nutcracker live at the O2 Arena, 4* hotel & ticket from £87.50pp Available 27th, 28th & 30th December. Birmingham Royal Ballet presents The Nutcracker. Enjoy the festive feel of this renowned Tchaikovsky ballet which is an essential part of the Christmas season. The Nutcracker is a magical story for the whole family to enjoy where enchanted lands and toys come to life. After sneaking downstairs at midnight to play with her new Nutcracker doll, Clara magically finds herself in a fantasy of toy soldiers, giant rats, snow fairies and magic before she is finally transformed into a beautiful ballerina.

Apassionata live at the O2, 3* hotel & ticket from £98.50ppAvailable 21st January 2012. Awarded ‘Show of the Year’ at the 2010 PRG Live Entertainment Awards the astounding Apassionata returns with their new show ‘Together forever’. See the skilful agility and athleticism of the classic Cossack riders and their horses as well as the mesmerizing simplicity and discipline of a horse whisperer's talents. From Shetland ponies to Friesian horses, over 40 horses have been drawn together from throughout Europe to create this evocative show.

Strictly Come Dancing live at the O2, 4* Hotel & Ticket from £120ppAvailable 28th & 29th January 2012. Following the return of Strictly Come Dancing to our TV’s in September the hugely successful show will embark on its live tour in 2012. Now in its fifth year the Strictly Come Dancing Tour brings all the glamour of the show to a live stage arena. Experience firsthand the views of the judges, the stunning costumes and the remarkable dancing. Celebrities confirmed for the 2012 Tour are Jason Donovan, Harry Judd, Anita Dobson, Robbie Savage, Chelsee Healey and Mark Foster.

As well as these, always think Superbreak for London hotel & theatre trips:

Bookmark European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers.

The Colourful World of Mondo Hotels in Belgium

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:13:00 +0000

Many hotels these days look the same. Don´t get me wrong, I like minimalist chic but sometimes it is fun to have a little colour around. People who stay in hotels frequently sometimes forget their room number, the name of the hotel or even the city they are staying in! One hotel room looks just like the next.

If you would like to stay somewhere a little different, then I suggest you look at Mondo Hotels. They are a privately-owned group of four hotels in Brussels, Antwerp and Ostend in Belgium.

I love all three cities. Quirky Brussels with its Mannekin Pis statue, the most beautiful square in the world, the Grand Place/Grote Markt, the Tintin museum, great shopping and some wonderful old bars where you can relax and enjoy Brussels beers eg Gueuze, Faro, Lambic and Framboise. Of all the 500 odd beers produced in Belgium, these four are some of my favourites. In fact, there are several varieties of Gueuze. More info on my Squidoo site.

Antwerp has its fantastic harbor with bars lining the old quaysides, or Kaai in Dutch, the new MAS – Museum Aan de Stroom overlooking the inner harbour, even better shopping and unbeatable nightlife.

Ostend (Oostende) is loved by Brits and it is easy to see why. A beautiful golden sandy beach, go karts of every sort to hire, a fresh fish market and stalls selling small platters of seafood, some expensive gin palace boats to drool over in the Mercator yacht harbor, more great shops and a never-ending choice of restaurants. That is if you are not full from all the delicious seafood on the harbour front. Of course, there are plenty of bars for enjoying Belgian beers. I spent four nights in Ostend in August on our own boat and did not want to leave. The luxury residential cruise ship “The World” also visited for two nights whilst we were there.

Mondo Hotels offer a colourful location in each of these three cities so whether you are visiting on business, a one night stop-over or want to make a weekend city break, I recommend Mondo Hotels.

Have a look at Mondo Hotels

Mondo Leopold Brussels is near the European Commission & Parliament but also within walking distance of the Royal Palace, the museums and the Grand Place/Grote Markt.

Mondo Eden Antwerp near the sublimely beautiful Centraal Station which is next door to the Zoo.

Or Mondo Empire Antwerp in the middle of the famous Diamond district.

Mondo Hotel Ostend is a hip and trendy art deco hotel near the seafront, Casino, shops and the beach.

Learn all about Gueuze beers.

Read about my visit to the MAS-Museum Aan de Stroom in Antwerp.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers.

2 for 1 on Mini Cruise to Amsterdam

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:02:00 +0000

Have you thought about a mini-cruise from Newcastle to Amsterdam?

DFDS Seaways know that money is a little tight after the Summer holidays but we still want to spoil ourselves and have fun so they have a great offer right now

2 for 1 is back!

Yes, for selected departures between September-December, you can now book a Mini Cruise to Amsterdam from only £79 for 2 people.

It´s perfect for an Autumn/Winter getaway, whether you want a short break with your friends or partner, a relaxing break in one of Europe's finest cities, or use the trip to start your Christmas shopping, with a vast number of shops from small boutiques to designer department stores.

A Mini Cruise to Amsterdam includes;
• 2 nights accommodation in an en suite cabin
• Coach transfers to/from Amsterdam city Centre
• Live entertainment onboard
• Approx. 5 hours in Amsterdam

Click DFDS Mini-cruise to Amsterdam for details.

• FROM £79 FOR 2 PEOPLE

There are also a variety of 2 for 1 offers available on the DFDS Seaways Themed Mini Cruise range, including the annual and ever popular Halloween Mini Cruise, Haarlem Mini Cruise, School Disco Mini Cruise, Tropical Party Mini Cruise, Christmas Panto Mini Cruise and Utrecht Mini Cruise.

In addition to great restaurants, bars and the famous on-board entertainment, DFDS now offer the Wildlife Watching Experience

Learn about the wildlife of the North Sea as you sail to Amsterdam. Led by the leading wildlife charity ORCA, the the wildlife experience is fun for both kids and adults.
All of these special offer cruises can be found at DFDS Mini-cruise to Amsterdam

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers.

A Visit to the MAS in Antwerp

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Mon, 16 May 2011 14:18:00 +0000

You may know Antwerp in north Belgium for its diamonds. In fact 70% of the world’s diamonds hail from Antwerp.

It is a vibrant city (population 470,000+) for shopping, fashion, business, culture (theatre, opera, museums) and nightlife. Now there is a new reason to visit.

Antwerp has developed part of its harbour and port area into the fashionable “Het Eilandje” (The Little Island). The centrepiece is the 60 metres high MAS – Museum Aan De Stroom (Museum on the River MAS www.MAS.be) which cost 33.5 million Euros and opened to the public on 13 May with a four-day long festival of dance, theatre, films, tours and free visits to the 10-storey urban icon. The MAS is a collection of 470,000 pieces in permanent museums plus temporary exhibitions eg diamonds and silver, a gift shop and museum square for open-air events or just to rest and watch the world go by. The harbour museum shows a non-stop 360° panorama film of shipping movements in the harbour via webcams. There are plenty of choices for good food and delicious Belgian beers. Don’t miss Felix Pakhuis and Het Duvels Genot.

I took my sons on 15 May. We saw exhibitions containing collections from the city’s museums: Life and Death – myths, religions and the impressive collection of Paul and Dora Janssen-Arts with relics from Latin America; A World Port (fantastic collection of ships); Metropolis; Power & Prestige and a temporary exhibition “Masterpieces in the MAS" (until 30/12/2012) with classical and modern art. There is also a floor of storage showing collections which do not fit into the other exhibitions. Plenty for everyone to see and find their favourites.

On the 9th floor is a viewing platform giving an impressive 360° roof panorama over Antwerp through 6m high glass with the occasional open circle to give the best quality photos.

The building itself is built from hand-cut Indian red stone and designed as a giant storehouse with stacked containers or boxes to create a spiral tour with constantly changing views from the curved glass panels on each floor adjacent to the different museums. 3,000 aluminium hands, the symbol of Antwerp, adorn the stone. It is a striking design.

Antwerp is the second most important port in Europe, after Rotterdam, and the 13th busiest worldwide, handling an average volume of 160 million tonnes of international maritime cargo. Its location 80km inland offers the most environmentally-friendly means of cargo transport saving on the carbon footprint of truck movements. 14,000 ships and 55,000 barges call at Antwerp every year. The River Scheldt has been deepened to give a 15m draft.

The MAS has been built between Antwerp’s two oldest ports which have been totally renovated. There is an inner harbour in Willemdok with a high class of boats. Bonapartedok next door will be a museum dock for historic ships.

Antwerp on Wikipedia

You can also fly to Antwerp (Deurne) from London City or take the Eurostarto Brussels then change and arrive at the truly impressive Antwerp Centraal Station which is right next to the city zoo and round the corner from the Diamond centre. Have a look at the flash mob video on YouTube which took place in the station in 2009 to “Do-Re-Mi” from “The Sound of Music”. This promoted Belgium’s own search for a Maria to star in their Flemish speaking musical.

Antwerp is over 500 years old. Have you visited yet?

© Antonia Harrison 2011

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers.

Ferry to Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:51:00 +0000

Ah the Emerald Isle! I have been watching Terry Wogan's Ireland program on BBC and it has given me a thirst to visit Ireland...and not just for the Guinness.

Ireland is beautiful, has a wonderful culture and you never know when a sing song will break out.

The best way to visit Ireland is in your own car so "you'll be needing a ship". Those Ferry Nice Folk at Norfolk Line/DFDS have just the ticket - a ferry from Liverpool to Ireland from just £79.

There are more than 26 crossings each week between Belfast and Birkenhead (Liverpool). They can also help with a weekend break or a short holiday in a luxurious cottage, so go ahead book online to Ireland.

Bookmark European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers.

Useful Site to Check on Travel Strikes

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:17:00 +0000

EasyTravelReport is a useful site to check the latest on potential air strikes, public transportation strikes or anything else which could affect your holiday:

Click to visit EasyTravelReport

Spanish Air Strike 2010 Update

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:13:00 +0000

Air traffic controllers vote to go ahead with 3-day strike starting August 18th but talks continue to try and avert union action.

Ryanair has asked the Spanish government to help ease the effects of the Spanish air traffic controller strike which, if it goes ahead, will start August 18th and last three days.

The strikers are protesting at government plans to change their work hours and reduce overtime pay and more than 2,000 nationally have voted for the strike which could affect some two million passengers (many Spanish workers take their holidays in August and the strike couldn’t come at a busier time).

The dispute with the Spanish government has dragged on since February, when overtime hours and controllers’ pay were slashed. According to some reports, some controllers were earning as much as £290,000 a year, more than the Spanish prime minister Mr. Zapatero earns, and the government wants to increase their hours and shorten their rest breaks.

Now Ryanair is calling for standardised pan-European air traffic control following recent action by French air traffic control staff. The airline is suggesting that if strikers in Spain, for example, took action, disruption could be minimised by having controllers in other countries handling the air traffic until strike action ended.

A spokesperson for Ryanair said: “Air transport and tourism are vital to the Spanish economy and the Government must ensure that Spanish airports remain open during strikes by calling on the military to provide air traffic control services … this happens in many other European countries when strikes threaten air transport.
“[The threatened] Spanish air traffic control strikes and the industrial action taken by French ATC workers in recent weeks highlight the urgent need for a standardised Europe-wide system of air traffic control to ensure that striking air traffic controllers in one country do not hold the travelling public to ransom.”

Source: GoTimeShare.org article

Luxury Athens Hotel Trip at Bargain Price

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:41:00 +0000

I am a member of a travel club which offers champagne quality travel at beer prices, like this one in Athens:

DREAMTRIP INCLUDES:

•5 Day & 4 Night stay at the Hotel Metropolitan
•Superior room accommodations
•Breakfast included
•Hotel taxes included
•Supervised hotel fitness center
•Outdoor heated swimming pool
•18 hole golf course approximately 6.5 miles from the hotel
•Tennis courts approximately 3 miles from the hotel
•Jogging path across the hotel property
•Must provide your own transportation to hotel
•Must have a valid passport

HOTEL INFORMATION:
The Metropolitan hotel with its unique cosmopolitan atmosphere, combines traditional hospitality and luxury in central Athens. With a view to both the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea, the fully renovated Metropolitan hotel is ideally situated in front of the Faleron Olympic Coastal Park for both leisure and business travelers. This luxurious hotel in central Athens is only 10 minutes away from Syntagma Square, the center of Athens and the port of Piraeus. The Faleron Olympic Coastal Park is now hosting exhibitions, conferences and events.

WHEN: July 3rd - July 7th

PRICING:
•Best Online Price: $272.19
•DreamTrips Price: $172.00
•Average Savings per Couple: $200.00

HOW TO BOOK:
Visit Athens Metropolitan Hotel luxury trip and give Sponsor ID 11013301

The number of available rooms at this price is limited so first come, first served. Only members of the Dream Trips travel club may book at these low prices. Hundreds of other Dream Trips are also available throughout the world including cruises, weekend city breaks, hotels, resorts and self-catering accommodation.

Save 50% On Flights From Brussels

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:12:00 +0000

Fancy a trip to Seville for some Spanish sun? But your travel partner prefers a weekend looking at Roman ruins?

Well, with Brussels Airlines
you can save 50%* on flights to all European destinations this spring, so you can go to both Seville & Rome! Or perhaps, you prefer London & Barcelona. Or how about Marseille & Venice? There are over 40 European destinations you can choose from.

Wherever in Europe you choose to go this spring and whether you pick one, two or even three destinations, you can fly there at -50%*! Which means you can travel twice as much!

So hurry! Book your flights by midnight 1 March 2010, and fly between 10 April and 30June 2010.

Save 50%* to over 40 European destinations:

Athens, Barcelona, Berlin, Bilbao, Birmingham, Bologna, Bristol, Budapest, Catania, Copenhagen, Krakow, Faro, Florence, Geneva, Gothenburg, Hamburg, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Madrid, Malaga, Manchester, Marseille, Milan, Naples, Newcastle, Nice, Oslo, Palermo, Palma de Mallorca, Porto, Prague, Rome, Seville, Stockholm, Strasbourg, Toulouse, Turin, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius, and Warsaw.

* This discount is valid for all return tickets booked between 23 February and 1 March 2010 for a European flight between 10 April and 30 June 2010. This discount only applies to the base price of a b.light or b.flex ticket. It does not apply to airport and fuel taxes or ticket processing costs. It is only valid on flights to and from Brussels, operated by Brussels Airlines.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

UK Hotel Rooms from Just £9 for Summer 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:18:00 +0000

Travelodge have a great offer right now. UK hotel rooms for Summer 2010 from just £9 booked online at Travelodge and available on a first come, first served basis. £9 rooms are only available at selected hotels on selected nights (also in Ireland and Spain) from 2 May to 5 September 2010.

Booking with Travelodge
All rates are subject to availability at the time of booking and may not be available at every hotel, every night.

Click on this banner to book a room in Ireland:

I often stay in Travelodge because they provide great value for money, large comfortable beds, a full bathroom, TV, tea & coffee making equipment and a family room includes a pull-out sofa for two more people so it makes a family trip really affordable. The incredibly low price of £9 is per room, not per person. Many Travelodges also offer a delicious cooked breakfast buffet plus a bar with tasty meals. If you book breakfast and/or dinner with your room, you receive a 20% discount! They are usually in convenient locations with on-site parking. I really recommend Travelodge

For a short break in London, I usually stay at Tolworth because the train in to London takes just 25 minutes, the station is 5 minutes walk, the on-site parking is £5 for 24 hours, there is a bar-cafe with breakfast and dinner. There are trains through the night to Surbiton Station with a 24 hour bus service on the 281 route direct to the Travelodge at Tolworth Broadway. There is also fantastic shopping, cinemas, restaurants etc in the nearby town of Kingston, again on the 281 bus route.

Click Travelodge to book a UK hotel break.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Resort Transfer Service

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 15:07:00 +0000

Resorthoppa has one of the widest ranges of any transfer company, providing transfer services in over 70 countries worldwide, covering over 450 airports, ports and railway stations. Rates start at just £3.49 per person.

Shuttle Services
Resorthoppa operate shuttle services throughout the summer and also during the winter to all the main Mediterranean resorts. In Spain they operate through Gerona, Barcelona, Reus, Alicante and Malaga airports on the mainland, in the Balearic Islands of Majorca, Ibiza and Menorca and in the Canary Islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. In Greece they have shuttles on the islands of Corfu, Crete, Lesvos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, Rhodes, Samos, Zakynthos and Kos. They offer services in the Algarve in Portugal, from Antalya, Bodrum and Dalaman airports in Turkey, from Larnaca and Paphos airports in Cyprus and in Malta.

They also operate shuttles in other parts of Europe, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Bulgaria, as well as further afield in Egypt, Tunisia and Dubai and in the Dominican Republic, Mexico, USA and China.

Ski shuttle services are also available.

Click Resorthoppa for full details.

Private Transfer Services
They offer private transfer services in all destinations where they operate shuttles, but also in many other countries and major destinations around the world, including Morocco, South Africa, Australia, India and Sri Lanka.

City Transfers
City break destinations are also well covered. They operate a shuttle as well as a private transfer service in Barcelona and private transfers in Paris, Rome, Venice, Prague, Budapest, Marrakech and New York, to name but a few cities.

Use promotional code HOPDISC4 for a 4% discount for bookings made in January 2010.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Jet2.com Massive Flights Sale Now On

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:52:00 +0000

Jet2.com have a massive sale on offering flights from only £9.99 (one way inc. taxes) to a number of fantastic destinations including: Dusseldorf, Paris, Amsterdam and Belfast.

Other great offers include Pisa from £29.99, Croatia from £49.99, Tenerife from £49.99, Turkey from £59.99, Cyprus from £59.99 and Tunisia from £69.99. All prices are one way inc.

Click Jet2.com to view sale offers.

That’s not all, Jet2.com are also offering some great added benefits to every flight booking with a promise of Great Flight Times, a Huge 22kg Bag Allowance, Allocated Seats and a Free Loyalty Scheme.

Jet2.com are also promoting last minute ski flights to Geneva, Chambery and Salzburg from £19.99 one way inc. taxes.

Jet2.com fly from Belfast, Blackpool, East Midlands, Edinburgh, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle to destinations all over Europe. As well as flights, they offer holiday packages, hotels and Hertz car hire.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Brussels Airlines Extra Flights Between Belgium and the UK

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:19:00 +0000

Brussels Airlines have increased the number of flights between Belgium and the UK.

From 10th January 2010, there will be 3 daily flights to both Bristol and Newcastle and 4 daily flights to London Heathrow, a total of 19 flights daily between Belgium and the UK.

Click BRUSSELS AIRLINES for current flight offers.

Brussels Airlines offer some of the lowest rates in Europe with flights from as low as £40.

There are daily long-haul flights to Moscow, Helsinki, Africa and more.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

UK Hotel Rooms from Just £19 for February Half-Term Holiday

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 11:01:00 +0000

Travelodge have a great offer right now. UK hotel rooms for February half-term holiday from just £19 booked online at Travelodge and available on a first come, first served basis. £19 rooms are only available at selected hotels on selected nights (also in Ireland and Spain).

Booking with Travelodge
All rates are subject to availability at the time of booking and may not be available at every hotel, every night.

Click on this banner to book a room in Ireland:

I often stay in Travelodge because they provide great value for money, large comfortable beds, a full bathroom, TV, tea & coffee making equipment and a family room includes a pull-out sofa for two more people so it makes a family trip really affordable. The low price of £19 is per room, not per person. Many Travelodges also offer a delicious cooked breakfast buffet plus a bar with tasty meals. If you book breakfast and/or dinner with your room, you receive a 20% discount! They are usually in convenient locations with on-site parking. I really recommend Travelodge

For a short break in London, I usually stay at Tolworth because the train in to London takes just 25 minutes, the station is 5 minutes walk, the on-site parking is £5 for 24 hours, there is a bar-cafe with breakfast and dinner. There are trains through the night to Surbiton Station with a 24 hour bus service on the 281 route direct to the Travelodge at Tolworth Broadway. There is also fantastic shopping, cinemas, restaurants etc in the nearby town of Kingston, again on the 281 bus route.

Click Travelodge to book a UK hotel break.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Last Minute Hotel Bargains

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 13:02:00 +0000

LateRooms.com is one of the UK’s leading online accommodation specialists, offering deals in over 20,000 properties across the UK and Europe. Accommodation ranges from budget to luxury five star hotels with regular savings of up to 70% off the normal room rate for a variety of independent and branded hotels.

Available in five languages (English, French, Italian, German and Spanish) LateRooms is designed for anyone who needs to book accommodation, either over the phone or online, 12 months or 12 minutes in advance.

A special offer at the moment includes free nights:

LateRooms’ wide range and choice of accommodation makes it the ideal site for bargain hunters, spontaneous travellers or those just looking for great value deals. Whether it’s for business travellers wanting somewhere in the city after a meeting or a couple wanting a romantic weekend away in chic luxury or a cosy B&B. LateRooms give their customers access to a huge range of hotel rooms, helping you find just the right room to suit your needs.

LateRooms' hotel choices also include UK pub rooms, apartments, luxury suites and boutique hotels.

The LateRooms site is really easy to use. You can select a town, a specific area or to be in the vicinity of a specific landmark. You can search by price, location or number of stars. I have used the site many times.

4-5 star secret hotels
Some of the UK's most prestigious 4 and 5 star properties are prepared to let you stay for just a snip of their advertised price. Unsurprisingly - they are less than eager to publish this fact. They don't after all, want other guests NOT privy to this exclusive information to find out. LateRooms.com will give the general location, the star rating and the current guest rating. The actual name of the hotel however, will remain a closely guarded secret. After the reservation has been made - all will be revealed.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Brussels Airlines End of Year Promotional Offer

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Looking for the best way to show your loved ones how much you’re thinking of them ? Take advantage of the Brussels Airlines End of the Year Promotions to offer your friends and relatives tickets to any one of 40 great European destinations, and you’re guaranteed a smile at unwrapping time.

Tickets start at just €99 return all-in, so why not give everybody an extra special treat and get one for yourself as well?

200,000 tickets** to all European destinations***
From €99* return, all-in :
Barcelona, Berlin, Florence, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Lyon, Madrid, Malaga, Marseille, Milan, Munich, Naples, Nice, Oslo, Rome, Seville, Venice, Vienna, Vilnius

From €119* return, all-in :
Bilbao, Budapest, Faro, Lisbon, Porto, Manchester, Prague, Stockholm, Toulouse, Turin, Warsaw

From €139* return, all-in :
Athens, Birmingham, Bologna, Bristol, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Krakow, London, Newcastle, Strasbourg

Book from 18.00 on Friday 18 December until midnight on 3 January. Fly from 15 January to 30 April 2010. But as a b.smart member you can start booking 4 hours before everyone else. So make sure to get the cheapest seats from 14:00 on Friday!

If you don't know where to fly, here are some tempting ideas:
VENICE: Carnival (6-16 February)
With roots going back to the Middle Ages, the carnival fills the city with colourful, costumed and masked revellers, while fantastic balls are held in historic palaces.
OSLO: Mr Gay World (10-14 February)
This international contest is not only about looks. Also important are athletic abilities, personality, charisma, and ability to act as the Gay World Ambassador.
BERLIN: International Film Festival (11-21 February)
One of Europe's most important film events, the festival celebrates its 60th year with a special programme. Who will win the coveted Golden and Silver Bear awards?
NEWCASTLE: AV Festival (5-14 March)
Shared with neighbouring Middlesbrough, Gateshead and Sunderland, this international festival of electronic arts presents performances, exhibitions, screenings and more.
BUDAPEST: Spring Festival (19 March - 4 April)
Hungary's capital explodes with exhibitions and music, dance and theatre performances. Don't miss the Bach and Ellington Evening with violin superstar Nigel Kennedy.
SEVILLE: Semana Santa (28 Mar - 4 April)
World famous, Seville's spectacular Easter week celebrations date from the 16th century and include nightly costumed processions to the sound of drums and music.

Book promotional flights with BRUSSELS AIRLINES

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

£15 Dscount on Travelodge Bookings

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 14:41:00 +0000

Travelodge have a great offer right now. UK hotel rooms with £15 promotional discount booked online at Travelodge available for stays between 1st Jan - 1st April 2010(also available in Ireland and Spain). Book by 23 December.

Booking with Travelodge
All rates are subject to availability at the time of booking and may not be available at every hotel, every night.

Click on this banner to book a room in Ireland:

Quote promotional code: QL65817G

I often stay in Travelodge because they provide great value for money, large comfortable beds, a full bathroom, TV, tea & coffee making equipment and a family room includes a pull-out sofa for two more people so it makes a family trip really affordable. Many Travelodges also offer a delicious cooked breakfast buffet plus a bar with tasty meals. They are usually in convenient locations with on-site parking. I really recommend Travelodge

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

The World's Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts at Auction

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 11:22:00 +0000

Luxury Link hosts the largest selection of vetted luxury hotels, resorts, cruises and tours on the web. Every property and package has been examined by travel professionals and meets strict criteria for inclusion in our elite network. Whether you are looking for a specific destination, luxury hotel or style of luxury vacation, Luxury Link has a travel package for you. The most popular luxury travel destinations include Hawaii & South Pacific, Mexico, Caribbean and Bermuda, United States, Europe, Canada and Asia.

Explore and browse now to find your dream trip on Luxury Link.

Get $100 off your First Purchase at LuxuryLink.com - Enter Code LUXLINK100 (Expires 11/30/09)

About Luxury Link Europe Vacation Packages
London - Madrid - Paris - Rome. Just a few of the amazing cities on a continent exploding with history and culture and featuring some of the most famous landmarks and landscapes in the world. From Gothic cathedrals and renaissance palaces to Mediterranean beaches and snow-covered Alps, a Luxury Link Europe vacation package can offer you the perfect setting for any occasion.

Sail in luxury down the Rhine River, luxuriate at a spa in Austria, discover the magic of the Parisian countryside, or lounge on the beaches of the Italian Riviera. Europe vacation booking opportunities are at your fingertips. You can choose contemporary suites in the center of a bustling city where you will enjoy sightseeing and shopping in the chicest of surroundings. Or perhaps your perfect Europe vacation package includes a resort - no make that a villa - on the Mediterranean coast where you will explore quaint fishing villages before basking in the sun on one of the many beaches of this region.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

10% Discount on Spa Gift Vouchers for a Wonderful Present

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:28:00 +0000

For one week only SpaFinder are offering 10% off all SpaFinder Gift Voucher orders of £75 or more and FREE delivery.

The offer runs from 23 to 29 November 2009, perfect for all those Christmas shoppers giving their loved ones a relaxing spa experience this year!

The discount will be automatically applied to all qualifying orders, so no promo code is required.

SpaFinder offer gift vouchers can be used at 5,000 spas in the UK and other countries. Gift vouchers start at just £25.

Well-known UK spas include:
Champneys
The Sanctuary Covent Garden
Dove Spas
Tranquillity Spas, Esporta Health Clubs
Stoke Park Club, Stoke Poges
Pure Spa, Edinburgh

SpaFinder is happy to confirm that in addition to great partner brands such as Dove Spas and Tranquility Spas at Esporta Clubs, all Champneys Town & City Spas and all Champneys Health Resorts are now partners of SpaFinder. Their listings are live on all websites and they accept SpaFinder Gift Vouchers as payment.

Why give an experience at one spa when a SpaFinder Gift Voucher offers a choice of over 5,000?
* SpaFinder Gift vouchers start from only £25.
* Recipient chooses spa after receiving the voucher.
* Accepted at 400+ spas in the UK and 5000+ spas worldwide.
* Can be used for any treatment – wherever and whenever.

Guideline Average price ranges for spa services:
£25 … Quick beauty treat at the local spa such as manicure, pedicure, waxing or an express facial
£50 … Indulgence pampering treatment such as full-body massage or invigorating body scrub wrap
£75 … Combination of treatments or a half day of spa-ing in a Day Spa
£100+ … Full day pampering at a Day Spa or even a relaxing weekend break at a Hotel Spa

SpaFinder gift vouchers available online.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

EasyJet Sale Up to 30% Off

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:44:00 +0000

The easyJet Sale is now on! Up to 30% off all flightson every route between 1 January to 31 March 2010.

Hurry! Sale ends midnight 10 November 2009.

Book EasyJet at http://www.EasyJet.com

UK Hotel from just £9 Per Night

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 10:42:00 +0000

Book a room now with Travelodge for a stay anytime from 29 November 2009 to 10 January 2010 and the room rate starts at just £9 per night.

Booking with Travelodge
All rates are subject to availability at the time of booking and may not be available at every hotel, every night. So book quickly because there are only so many rooms at this ridiculously low price.

I often stay in Travelodge because they provide great value for money, large comfortable beds, a full bathroom, TV, tea & coffee making equipment and a family room includes a pull-out sofa for two more people so it makes a family trip really affordable. Many Travelodges also offer a delicious cooked breakfast buffet plus a bar with tasty meals. They are usually in convenient locations with on-site parking. I recommend Travelodge

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

The Great British Heritage Pass

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 09:40:00 +0000

The Great British Heritage Pass is a must for your visit to Britain. Britain boasts some of the richest history in the world, the abundance of magnificent, olde world properties throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are testament to this.

With the Great British Heritage Pass you can visit them all – just buy an affordable one-off pass, and you will be granted free entry to over 580 UK heritage properties.

The Great British Heritage Pass offers free entry to properties covered by the National Trust, English Heritage, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, and Cadw, plus many more. It was created over 30 years ago by VisitBritain, and is available exclusively to the overseas international visitor.

1 ticket - 580 attractions

Skipping the Queue
As well as free entry, the Great British Heritage Pass allows you to skip long and frustrating queues at the busiest tourist properties, including Hampton Court Palace, Blenheim Palace, Roman Baths & Pump Room, Stonehenge, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Shakespeare’s Birthplace and many more properties. Simply show the attendant your Great British Heritage Pass and you will be allowed entrance.

Exclusive benefits of the Great British Heritage Pass include queue jumping at busy tourist attractions, a free map and guidebook, free entry at 580 heritage properties and almost £3,000 worth of value for as little as £2.25 per day – it doesn’t get much better value than that!

You can buy individual passes or families of two adults and up to three children, ages 5 to 15, will be able to enjoy the best of Britain’s heritage using only one pass to enter over 580 properties around the UK.

You can view attractions per region but also by theme ie castles, historic houses, gardens, history & mystery, movie trail and royal residences.

Buy your Great British Heritage Pass here.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Win a Free UK Hotel Weekend Stay

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Book a room now with Travelodge and win a wonderful weekend away (and they will throw in some spending money!)

Fancy a free weekend away? Book a room anywhere, for any time before the end of September and you could win a 2 night stay in any Travelodge hotel. They will even throw in £150 to spend on Ticketmaster and £150 worth of vouchers to spend in top high street stores. Just book a room to enter, it's that easy.

And if you're one of the 2 runners up, you'll win a 2 night stay in the Travelodge hotel of your choice. What are you waiting for?

Booking with Travelodge
All rates are subject to availability at the time of booking and may not be available at every hotel, every night.

Right now, you can also book a room from 1 January to 11 April 2009 from just £19.

I often stay in Travelodge because they provide great value for money, large comfortable beds, a full bathroom, TV, tea & coffee making equipment and a family room includes a pull-out sofa for two more people so it makes a family trip really affordable. Many Travelodges also offer a delicious cooked breakfast buffet plus a bar with tasty meals. They are usually in convenient locations with on-site parking. I recommend Travelodge

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Avis Sale - Book Worldwide from £10 Per Day

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:06:00 +0000

Avis the experts in car rental are having an autumn sale. For all bookings from 9th September - 6th October 2009, prices start from just £10 per day in Portugal, Italy and Spain.

Visit Avis for affordable, quality car rental.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.

Spa Gift Vouchers Make a Wonderful Present

noreply@blogger.com (Antonia Harrison) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 13:52:00 +0000

SpaFinder offer gift vouchers to be used at 5,000 spas in the UK and other countries. Gift vouchers start at just £25.

SpaFinder is happy to confirm that in addition to great partner brands such as Dove Spas and Tranquility Spas at Esporta Clubs, all Champneys Town & City Spas and all Champneys Health Resorts are now partners of SpaFinder. Their listings are live on all websites and they accept SpaFinder Gift Vouchers as payment.

Why give an experience at one spa when a SpaFinder Gift Voucher offers a choice of over 5,000?
* SpaFinder Gift vouchers start from only £25.
* Recipient chooses spa after receiving the voucher.
* Accepted at 400+ spas in the UK and 5000+ spas worldwide.
* Can be used for any treatment – wherever and whenever.

Participating spas in the UK include:
Champneys Health Resorts, various locations
Tranquility Spa at Esporta Clubs, nationwide
The Sanctuary Covent Garden, London
Dove Spas, various locations
Stoke Park Club, Stoke Poges
Pure Spa, Edinburgh

Guideline Average price ranges for spa services:
£25 … Quick beauty treat at the local spa such as manicure, pedicure, waxing or an express facial
£50 … Indulgence pampering treatment such as full-body massage or invigorating body scrub wrap
£75 … Combination of treatments or a half day of spa-ing in a Day Spa
£100+ … Full day pampering at a Day Spa or even a relaxing weekend break at a Hotel Spa

SpaFinder gift vouchers available online.

Visit European Travel blog for European travel ideas and special offers and EuroTravel the one-stop site for travel to and within Europe.