My Holiday Expert

With plenty of offers about and operators adding luxurious new hotels, Cyprus looks set for a solid season. Jeannine Williamson reports

Cyprus ticks all the boxes as a winter-sun destination. The sea is warm enough for swimming in November, the average temperature on the coast is 20C in December and the island enjoys an average six hours of sunshine a day.

Sales are hotting up too, with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation reporting that winter 2011-12 bookings are up 29% on last year, despite fierce competition from other winter-sun hotspots.

Cyprus remains Olympic Holidays’ leading winter-sun destination and commercial director Photis Lambrianides expects winter bookings to benefit from the fallout of the recent unrest in North Africa and the Middle East.

Winter prospects

“There’s every likelihood people will turn to a traditional favourite like Cyprus for their winter-sun break this year,” he says. “Cyprus is a long-established and steady destination and I expect it to perform well in 2011-12, with good initiatives by hoteliers continuing from summer and prices being pegged.”

Cosmos product manager Gemma Carroll is also positive about Cyprus bookings, even though she believes it can struggle against other winter-sun destinations such as the Canaries on account of its slightly lower temperatures for some of the winter months.

“The winter market is definitely up on the same time last year, although with people now tending to book much closer to departure it’s too early to predict how it will end up,” she says.

“In general, we expect the majority of bookings to come in the shoulder periods, such as October, November and March, and anticipate it will be driven by the couples market more than the family market.”

One challenge, notes Alexis Josephides, Sunvil’s programme director, is that reduced airlift, particularly to Paphos, has led to fewer hotels remaining open. The majority of Sunvil’s available beds in the winter are in small family-owned hotels, inns and villas.

“For years the CTO has tried to market Cyprus as a winter-sun destination but with limited success,” he adds. “It’s worth noting, though, that Cyprus has a long summer season compared with the likes of Greece, Spain and Portugal, with many properties still counting September and the first half of October as peak months.”

Operator news

Prestige Holidays has added the all-suite, adults-only Asimina Suites in Paphos for the winter. Facilities include three pools, spa, tennis, gym and restaurants, and Prestige offers include complimentary half-board for arrivals between October 15-31.

Guests can take the plunge at the five-star Columbia Beach Resort and sister property Columbia Beachotel in Pissouri Bay on the southwest coast. This winter the two hotels are launching packages featuring the new onsite diving centre, Kembali Diving, due to open in November 2011.

Guests, including children aged 10 and above, will be able to take part in a range of diving activities suitable for complete beginners to experienced divers, gain Padi certification and go on wreck dives. Half-day introduction courses start at £48 and there are preferential room rates for guests booking three or four-day diving packages.

With bad weather highly unlikely to stop play, Cyprus is a golfer’s paradise where players can tee off throughout the winter. New for this year is Elea Golf Club, a 71-par course just outside Paphos that was designed by Nick Faldo.

Visitors can pit their wits against Faldo’s ‘Mediterranean Masterpiece’ on the new winter golfing packages on offer from the five-star Almyra hotel in Paphos. The packages include two rounds of golf at Elea, two rounds at the well-established InterContinental Aphrodite Hills Resort, taxi transfer to the courses, packed lunches and a restorative massage in the hotel spa. The package leads in at £530, excluding accommodation. For golfing widows, or non-players, there are spa packages from £140.

The Elea course and Minthis Hills Golf Club are both new to Cyplon’s winter programme and the operator is also offering reduced green fees, a free spa treatment and 14 nights for the price of 10 at Aphrodite Hills.

Cyplon has introduced several properties this winter including the rural Avalon Village House outside Limassol, leading in at £428, and the boutique-style Library Hotel Wellness Retreat in Kalavassos village from £752.

Moreover, golfers flying with Aegean Airlines on its twice-daily Heathrow-Larnaca service can check in one golf bag for free on top of their 20kg bag allowance.

Flight news

Monarch this summer started scheduled flights to Paphos from Birmingham, Gatwick and Manchester, with up to 11 flights a week, in addition to existing services to Larnaca from Birmingham, Gatwick, Luton and Manchester. Flights to Larnaca also operate during the winter. All flights are available to book until October 2012.

Price check

Cyprus is not the cheapest of destinations, and some agents report that selling the destination can be a tough call with consumers keeping a close eye on their holiday spending.

“I have been there and I love it, but when you have places like Egypt, Turkey and Greece going so cheap it’s very hard to push as people are price conscious at the moment and the prices are quite high,” says Kimberley Marshall, assistant manager at The Co-operative Travel in Eastleigh.

“I would say the quality in Cyprus is far higher than the likes of Greece and Spain but you do pay for it.”

Neil Jones, senior travel consultant at Westgate Travel in Mid-Glamorgan, says: “People are worried that it’s a lot more expensive than places like Greece and Turkey.” However, he points to the market for long-stay winter holidays as one area where the island has long excelled.

“The year-round sunshine is a massive bonus and hotels offer great rates for long stays from November to March,” he adds.

 

source: www.travelweekly.co.uk

Destination:

Menorca

Depart:
Stansted

Dates / Times:
Departing 03/10/2011
Returning 17/10/2011
Duration:
14 Nights

Staying in:

Vista Blanes 1 brm Apartment

Star Rating:
3

Room Type:
Board Basis:
SC

Description:
The Vista Blanes Apartments are made up of six buildings built in a smart low-rise style around an attractive pool area, with a spacious terrace. This lively, well-maintained complex is situated not far from the beach in the fairly quiet resort of Cala'n Blanes. These apartments are popular with families with kids of all ages; you'll find there's plenty to keep everyone happy in this complex.
All studios and apartments have a kitchenette including 2 electric rings and microwave, bathroom, maid service 3 times a week; with towels and linen changed twice a week and balcony or terrace. Studios have 2 beds. 1 bedroom apartments have a twin bedroom and 2 sofa beds in the lounge - these apartments may be on the ground floor. 2 bedroom apartments have 2 twin bedrooms with 2 sofa beds in the lounge bedroom.
Facilities
Meals
• Cafeteria restaurant facilities with terrace
• Offering a varied menu daily
Swimming pool
• Swimming pool
• Poolside bar/snack bar
Activities
• Games room
• Volleyball
• Football
• Water polo
Entertainment
• Daytime and evening entertainment 5 days a week
For Families
• Thomson Kids' Clubs for 3 to 11-year olds
• Mini disco
• Playground
• Cots
Main Facilities
• Supermarket
• 150m to sheltered sandy cove
• 300m to nearest restaurants
• 1.5km to Cala'n Forcat

Day 7 and we have decided to keep it nice and quiet today with it being our last day. So from our village of Giggleswick we travelled 5 minutes by car to a nearby walkway and a wonderful waterfall. Yorkshire has plentiful of Waterfalls, with more information HERE . All I can tell you about where we visited today is that, it was such a beautiful sight, so peaceful and very at one with mother nature.

The geology of the Yorkshire Dales is perfect for supporting waterfalls. The spectacular landscape is a result of the area's geololical history with much of the Yorkshire Dales National Park covered in carboniferous limestone which is interspersed with shales, gritstones and sandstones. Natural landshift which created the topography of the area during the great ice age and subsequent erosion of the softer stones has caused rivers and becks to form waterfalls all over the dales. Some are little more than a few inches high, many less than the height of an adult person. Yet there are many many spoectacular waterfalls to be found. Some are solitary like Hardraw Force, the highest of them all and some part of a series of cascades like the ones at Aysgarth Falls. In this section I present my top 30. These are from my personal experiences while walking in the Yorkshire Dales. With each description I provide their source and the river the source flows into with details on how to get to them when walking. This includes a precise OS map reference. You must try to visit some of them on your next walking expedition into the Yorkshire Dales.

 

Day 6 and we have decided to venture to the edge of the Lakes, armed with raincoats and umbrellas we went to the South Lakes Wild Animal Park to see the Giraffes, Lions, Tigers, Kangaroos and much more. This is a great park, with many animals and loads of fundraising schemes to make money for the Tigers that are becoming fewer and fewer in this world. I would advise anyone thinking of going here to make sure that they take with them plenty of wet weather clothes and not make the same mistake as me and wear sandals, this is definitely a place for Wellies and Raincoats!

Open every day except Christmas day.

1st April - 31st October 2011 10am-5.00pm

Last admission is 45 minutes before closing.

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Our 2011 admission prices are as follows:
Adults - £12.50
Children - £8.00 (3-15 years)
Seniors - £9.00

Under 3's are FREE of charge

Tesco vouchers can only be used towards admission costs.

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For further information on school, brownie/scouts, or group visits click HERE

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Situated in Dalton in Furness just 20 minutes from Lake Windermere, you'll find here all the information you will need to find us. Whether you are driving or using public transport these details should help you get to us. MORE

Address South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Broughton Rd, Dalton In Furness, Cumbria, LA15 8JR

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This is your chance to get hands on.
Don't miss your chance to hand Feed Giraffes, Penguins, Kangaroos and more every day.

Click HERE for the full daily programme.

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A visit to South Lakes Wild Animal Park is great fun and educational. Your safety is very important to us and we need to make sure you are aware of all the risks and rules. Please find out how you can stay safe here.

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Download the latest Map HERE

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Our brilliant forest themed gift shop is a one stop shop for all your souvenir needs. With gifts from £1 to £100 including a fantastic selection of gifts from our conservation projects around the world. MORE

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Maki -meaning Ring tailed lemur in Malagasy

Take a break from exploring and drop into our Maki Restaurant for a delicious bite to eat. Feed a family of 4 for £15 then enjoy your meal on the "treetops" style decking where you can watch Rhinos, Giraffes, baboons at leisure. MORE

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We have a fantastic range of facilities available for your convenience including:

Free Car parking; Mini train ride; children's play area; indoor and outdoor covered picnic areas ; baby changing facilities;

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Join us for fabulous events throughout the year - In February come vote at the Park Mascot Elections, join in the trick or treat parade at Halloween, or meet Rudolf and Santa during the Magic of Christmas all special times here at the park with lots of fun family activities...
For more information of what's up and coming or to see photos from last years events. HERE

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Become a Friend of the Park, for as little as £17.50 (if purchased within the park and after full price admission has been paid) then come as many times as you like for a year for just £1.50 per visit plus get 10% off food and drinks in the cafe and 10% off gifts in the shop. Annual passes cost £30.00 if purchased online.. MORE

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Ever dreamed of the chance to work with some of the rarest wildest animals in the world? Become a keeper for the day at the UK’s top conservation Park. Adult and junior (7-13 years) experiences available MORE

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We obviously think we are great - read here what others have said about their visit. MORE

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The park was created and developed solely by David Gill. At the time of construction back in 1993/4 he was an animal nutritionist with no connection to zoo's, but a desire to see education and conservation brought into the public awareness by the reality of a close wild experience, an experience for all to react to assist worldwide conservation issues. David built the Park with his own hands and to this day, still designs and builds all the facilities around the park - now with the help and assistance of the large staff. MORE

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We hope the contents of these pages help you in planning a trip to South Lakes Wild Animal Park we cannot however vouch for the experience you will have except for your time in the park - which will be truly amazing! The nearest travelodge is found in Barrow in Furness just 4 miles away there are also a selection of hotels in Dalton itself. Just 20 minutes from Lake Windermere there is also plenty to keep you busy MORE

Important information

Please note that we DO NOT allow dogs or any other pets on the zoo site. Unfortunately due to strict regulations this must include guide dogs.
Park Road Kennels & Cattery is a short car journey and they accept day boarders. 01229 465538 or 0774799529

All under 16's visiting the park must be accompanied by an adult.

The park has a No Smoking Policy and has been smoke free for 3 years. SMOKING IS NOT PERMITTED ANYWHERE IN THE PARK. A passout system is in operation. CCTV is in operation throughout the park and our policy is to ask offenders to leave the park without re entry.

Off we go to see if the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream is any better than the Cornish Kellys Ice Cream! And at Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream Farm we found a great afternoon out for adults and kids. With a great outdoor play area with a wooden pirate ship, train, car, boat and tyre swings, the kids can work up an appetite for some truly delicious ice cream made on the farm. Plus as a treat, the cows that make the ice cream are in the field as you drive in, so the kids get to see exactly where it all starts.

“

We've been selling ice cream in and around the Yorkshire Dales for three generations, close to 60 years. Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream is made here at our farm, near to Bolton Abbey; the farm also houses our fleet of ice cream vans and is home to our Charolaise cattle, sheep and horses.

If you've ever been to the Yorkshire Dales, you'll know it's a place of fresh air and breath-taking scenery. All our Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream products contain lashings of fresh milk and double cream, produced by cows that graze the lush and natural Dales meadows. It comes to us exclusively from local farms just up the road in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, then we add only natural ingredients such as real fruit flavourings, luxury chocolate pieces, and crunchy cinder toffee chunks. Please take a minute to watch our animated video to find out more...

Ice cream is our business, but equally it's our passion and we like nothing better than making great tasting Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream at a fair price for those of you who love ice cream too! “

Sue x