My Holiday Expert

Reference No: 428117-HAY

Deal Ref: 177722

Depart: Heathrow

Destination: Sri Lanka

Dates / Times: Departing 04/03/2010

Returning 17/03/2010

Duration: 13 nights

Rating: 4 Star

Room Type: Twin

Staying In: The Blue Water

Board Basis: 4* All Inclusive

Description: A terracotta-topped hotel that hugs the coastline, this place couldn't be in a better spot. Set beneath lofty palms, it serves up great sea views and puts you just footsteps from the sands.

But it'll probably be the pool that catches your eye first. It's a huge affair that sweeps round the hotel. Add sunloungers, parasols and manicured lawns and it's a great alternative to The Beach.

As for the hotel itself, it's a contemporary affair. Water plays a big part, with stepping stones across shallow waters outside, and small ponds and water features inside.

Bedrooms have a Zen-like feel with cool whitewashed walls. And they're all kitted out with big, comfy beds, chunky wooden furniture and rugs on tiled floors. Add mod-cons like satellite TVs and air-conditioning plus your own balcony or terrace and they're great little hideaways.

Location:

About 65km and a 2 hour 15min/3 hour drive, to Katunayake and Bandaranaike International Airport.

Facilities:

A La Carte Meals, Air Conditioning, Badminton, Bath, Beauty Salon, Billiards, Ceiling Fan, Cocktail Party, Coffee Shop, Daytime/Evening Entertainment, Dining Area, Direct Dial Telephone, Disco, Double bed, Entertainment Programme, Fitness Center, Fridge, Gift Shop, Golf Course, Gym, Hair Dressing Salon, Hair Dryer, Kayaking, King Size Bed, Live Entertainment, Lounge Area, Mini-Bar, Pool Bar, Restaurant, Safety Deposit Box, Sailing, Satellite TV, Sauna, Sea View, Shops, Snorkelling, Soft Drinks, Spa, Squash, Swimming Pool, Table Tennis, Tea & Coffee making facilities, Tennis Courts, Terrace, Themed Nights, TV, Whirlpool, Wi-Fi, Wind Surfing. 

Based on 2 sharing

Prices quoted are per person and based on maximum occupancy...

To book this offer, note reference number and call...

0182 347 8305

Offers are subject to availability.

29th April 2010, Queen Victoria

4 nights, full board, Sailing from Southampton to Le Havre, Rotterdam, Bruges or Brussels, Southampton

About Queen Victoria

December 2007 saw a new Queen join the Cunard fleet, Queen Victoria, the second largest Cunarder ever built. For the first time in 168 years, three Queens sail together under the Cunard banner.

Distinguished by her red and black livery, Queen Victoria is a true Cunarder proudly upholding our famous heritage and traditions. She was ceremoniously named, by royalty, in her home port of Southampton on 10 December 2007.

Her interiors are warmly reminiscent of a more gracious era, with a dramatic three-tiered Grand Lobby and sumptuous marble, wood, plush carpets, rich fabrics and soft furnishings that simply exude elegance.

Prices quoted are per person and based on maximum occupancy...

To book this offer, note reference number and call...

01823 478305

Offers are subject to availability.

The travel trade may have rescued Britain’s medal hopes for the Winter Olympics after raising over £5,000 for urgently-needed snow sports coaching in Vancouver.

Norfolkline Ferries and Crystal Ski were among the operators to donate money when the collapse of the British Ski and Snowboard Federation earlier this month meant skier Chemmy Alcott, 16th in the world, would be without her trainer for the competition next weekend.

Peter Stratton, commercial director of Snowsport England, said: “We couldn’t stand by and see one of the most impressive British squads for many years having to prepare and compete without the support of their coaches”.

Erna Low, Peak Retreats, Ski Verbier, and Holiday Extras all contributed when called upon.

The British Olympic Association has confirmed that two coaches will now meet Alcott and her thirteen teammates in Vancouver.

source: http://www.ttglive.com/

Eurostar has been criticised for its handling of the transport chaos caused by the breakdown of five trains in the Channel Tunnel.

The breakdown of six Eurostar trains because of snow in December left 2,500 passengers stuck in the Channel Tunnel. Passengers had to endure overflowing toilets on trains and cold and darkness for hours on end. A further 100,000 passengers were stranded because of delays.

An independent report accused the train operator of poor maintenance and not being prepared to cope with breakdowns. It said the high-speed train operator had to improvise and its “provision of information to customers was inadequate”.

The report’s authors, former GNER East Coast Main Line rail boss Christopher Garnett and French transport expert Claude Gressie, made 20 recommendations.

They said: “This incident caused some passengers distress and others enormous disruption to their holiday plans at a critical time. We believe there are three lessons to be learned.

“First, passengers need to be assured that the Eurostar trains are reliable, and so improvements need to be made in this area as a priority.

“Second, if a train breaks down and passengers have to be rescued or evacuated, this must be done with greater speed and consideration, and more comprehensive emergency plans should be put in place.

“Third, in an emergency, passengers need to have prompt information and regular updates. Eurostar must improve the way it communicates with passengers and put in place new systems and practices to achieve that.”

Eurostar said it accepted the conclusions and was sorry for letting customers down.

Source: http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/

Prices quoted are per person and based on maximum occupancy...