2/02/2011 01:17:00 pm | 
Posted by
Jemma Marke and Sue Arscott
Destination:
Benidorm
Depart:
Birmingham
Dates / Times:
Departing 05/02/2011
Returning 12/02/2011
Duration:
7 Nights
Staying in:
Marina
Star Rating:
4
Room Type:
Standard
Board Basis:
FB
Description:
The Hotel Marina stands in a privileged setting on the shores of the Mediterranean and is a perfect place for discovering endless possibilities for fun and entertainment. In its facilities guests will find a comfortable environment, ideal for families. Just 200 m from the Levante beach, it offers a unique location in the town centre and commercial hub of Benidorm. To the proximity guests may enjoy the Tera Mitica theme park, two parks for kids and the Algar Springs, while the airport is approximately 60 km away.
Click Here to see more Late Deals.
To book this offer, call us on
01823 478305
and quote reference no: 984541-HAY
Prices are subject to change and availability. Hays Travel reserve the right to withdraw promotional prices at any time. All prices are based on maximum occupancy in standard rooms.
Reasons to smile...
Our low low prices are guaranteed on all our holidays, flights and accommodation
As the UK's largest independently owned travel agent we offer holidays from all the major suppliers
Our friendly staff have a wealth of travel knowledge and are waiting to help you build your perfect holiday
Hays Travel, celebrating 30 years of making people smile
For more details or to book call: 01823 478305 today
Labels:
Destination:
New York
Depart:
Heathrow
Dates / Times:
Departing 05/02/2011
Returning 08/02/2011
Duration:
3 Nights
Staying in:
Astor on the Park
Star Rating:
2
Room Type:
Standard
Board Basis:
RO
Description:
The Astor on the Park Hotel, is conveniently located on New York’s Upper West side overlooking Central Park. We are in close proximity to the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Modern Art.
0182 347 8305
and quote reference no: 983551-HAY
Prices are subject to change and availability. Hays Travel reserve the right to withdraw promotional prices at any time. All prices are based on maximum occupancy in standard rooms.
Reasons to smile...
Our low low prices are guaranteed on all our holidays, flights and accommodation
As the UK's largest independently owned travel agent we offer holidays from all the major suppliers
Our friendly staff have a wealth of travel knowledge and are waiting to help you build your perfect holiday
Hays Travel, celebrating 30 years of making people smile
For more details or to book call: 0182 347 8305 today
This lush, laid-back island provides the perfect Caribbean hideaway.
Whoever coined the phrase ‘looks aren’t everything’ obviously hadn’t been to Saint Lucia. My first view of the Pitons was so breathtaking it was a good thing I was lying down.
We’d arrived as the sun set the night before, so my first glimpse came as I opened my eyes in a four-poster bed at Jade Mountain, a luxury hotel where the fourth wall of every room is missing. Instead of the wall, you get a panoramic vista of the iconic twin mountains. Oh, and your own private, in-room infinity pool.
The island’s five-star hotels are amazing, but five-star views can be found all over the place. There can be few islands more beautiful than this one, famed for its volcanic peaks, green jungles and clear waters. Saint Lucia is nicknamed ‘the Helen of the West Indies’, after Helen of Troy, the beautiful queen whose face launched a thousand war ships. Saint Lucia’s has launched a few too; the British and French fought over the island for more than 150 years, with each nation possessing it at least seven times before being ceded to Britain in 1814.
Britain still loves Saint Lucia, with British lovers particularly fond of it. The island’s gorgeous views have given it the reputation as a romantic idyll for honeymooners and couples, and there are certainly more than enough stunning vistas to give them an alternative to staring into each other’s eyes.
But Saint Lucia is no shallow dolly bird. Beneath the beauty there’s plenty of substance too, from jungle trekking and zip-lining to historical sights and jumping street parties. The island’s winding roads can make driving around picturesque but not speedy, so a twin centre holiday staying in both the north and south gives the opportunity to explore each end of the island without long car journeys.
Accommodation
Many of Saint Lucia’s hotels are located in one of two areas, with by far the largest concentration in the northwest. There are good three-stars such as the Village Inn and Spa, and St Lucian by Rex Resorts, which is located right on Reduit Beach, one of the island’s best stretches of sand.
The three Sandals resorts are dotted around this area, plus other all-inclusives such as the newly refurbished Rendezvous, Smugglers Cove and Almond Morgan Bay. Right up at the very tip of the island you’ll find the wellness-focused BodyHoliday at LeSport and the deluxe Cap Maison.
There’s a second clutch of hotels in the southwest around Soufriere, near the soaring Piton mountains. Perched on a hillside between the two peaks, Ladera is a luxury, secluded boutique property. Below this, The Jalousie Plantation nestles beneath the peaks, on a lovely stretch of beach.
It’s undergoing a $100 million redevelopment in preparation to rebrand as The Tides, Sugar Beach at the end of this year, and has new villas and spa facilities. Further north, on a stretch of coast looking back at the iconic Pitons, sits Anse Chastanet and its super-luxury sister, Jade Mountain.
The most notable hotels outside these two areas are Cotton Bay Village, a luxury villa resort on the island’s undeveloped east coast, and Coconut Bay. This popular all-inclusive is only minutes from the international airport on the southeast coast. There’s an adults-only side, and a family area with a water park.
Excursions
The wide range of activities on offer in Saint Lucia means there will be something to suit all but the laziest of tourists.
Most clients will stay on the coast, so an option that takes them to the interior of the island provides a nice contrast. There are two zip-lining centres, and whizzing through the jungle suspended on a wire makes for a fun-packed day.
At Rainforest Adventure in Chassin, the helmets and a triple-locking harness system made us feel really safe, and you need only a very basic level of fitness and an average head for heights to love the thrill. There’s a gondola ride for those who prefer something more sedate, plus nature trails and birdwatching hikes. rainforestadventure.com
Plantation tours get clients right into the rainforest. Fond Doux cocoa plantation runs a lovely short tour, where visitors are shown the chocolate making process and see local fruits and flora growing among the plantation’s residential cottages, from grapefruit trees to huge, colourful lilies. The restaurant serves up fantastic Caribbean food. fonddouxestate.com
A visit to the bubbling clay of Sulphur Springs to see (and smell) evidence of Saint Lucia’s volcanic make-up is easily combined with a side-trip to nearby Diamond Falls and Botanical Gardens, where clients can visit the waterfall and swim in the mineral baths. diamondstlucia.com
At the island’s northern tip, Pigeon Island is connected to the mainland by a causeway. Beyond the lovely beach, visitors can see the remains of a pirate cave and a naval base, and visit a mini-museum for an overview of the history.
Foodies will enjoy a visit to Castries Market, where there are stalls selling fruit and vegetables, spices and fish hauled from the sea the same day. We visited with Nico, the sous-chef from Cap Maison, which made it extra special, as he knew all the traders and took us for breakfast at his favourite cafe first, where we ate bakes, smoked herring and black pudding, and drank coconut water and sweet cocoa tea.
Über-fit travellers can mountain bike through the rainforests and even climb the Pitons – though many tourists may feel they look lovely enough from a distance.
Saint Lucia’s west coast is lapped by the calm, clear Caribbean Sea, and many hotels offer a wide range of water sports including kayaking and sailing trips – Soufriere and Marigot Bay are particularly popular spots to head for, and it’s a quick way to see the other end of the island if clients are sticking to one hotel for their whole stay.
The area around Soufriere has particularly good coral reefs, with dive school Scuba Saint Lucia sitting on Anse Chastanet Beach. scubastlucia.com
Nightlife
Rodney Bay, home to the island’s yacht marina, is a centre of tourist nightlife. There are cocktail bars and restaurants of many shapes and sizes, from steakhouses to Thai eateries.
For a taste of the Caribbean, many guests head out of their hotels for a street party.
The Friday night fish fry at Anse La Ray is famous, but there’s also – conveniently located for the large number of hotels in the Rodney Bay area – the Friday night jump-up at Gros Islet.
With street stalls selling food and drink and a large sound system, it’s a great night out, with both tourists and locals mingling on the streets.
Sample product
Caribtours offers seven nights from £2,566, combining four nights at Cap Maison in a Garden View room and three nights at Jade Mountain in a Sky Jacuzzi Suite including breakfast. The price includes return scheduled flights with British Airways and private transfers.
Virgin Holidays offers seven nights’ room-only in a Deluxe Garden View room at Saint Lucian by Rex from £699 including Virgin Atlantic flights and transfers.
source: www.travelweekly.co.uk
Destination:
Corfu
Depart:
Gatwick
Dates / Times:
Departing 08/05/2011
Returning 16/05/2011
Duration:
8 Nights
Staying in:
Sailors Apartments
Star Rating:
3
Room Type:
Standard
Board Basis:
SC
Description:
The facilities available for guests includes a swimming pool, sun loungers and parasols (local charge) and a pool bar which serves snack. Bars, clubs and restaurants are all within walking distance and there is a variety of water sports available at the beach.
There are 18 apartments which are simply furnished and are provided with twin beds, a private bathroom, kitchenette, air conditioning (local charge) and a balcony or terrace. Maid service is provided 6 times a week.
To book this offer, call us on
0182 347 8305
and quote reference no: 978844-HAY
Prices are subject to change and availability. Hays Travel reserve the right to withdraw promotional prices at any time. All prices are based on maximum occupancy in standard rooms.
When a gooey-eyed couple sits down in front of me and utters the word ‘honeymoon’ the pressure is on to come up with something special.
The good news is that if my lovebirds are looking for luxury and pampering but lack the five-star budget, they may still be in luck thanks to the abundance of special offers and great value deals currently on offer.
Hit the Med
According to Mathilde Robert, managing director of Planet Holidays, some short-haul options such as Greece can offer just as much romance and luxury as long-haul escapes. Moreover, she points to the fact that many Greek hoteliers haven’t increased their prices for 2011. “One of our top-selling honeymoon destinations is Crete, which has many five-star resorts,” says Robert.
Couples can pay as little as £1,499 to stay in a Royal Villa in the grounds of Aldemar’s Knossos Royal hotel, in Hersonissos. Loved up guests can choose to have a massage in the comfort of their own space, and dinner on their 
Another good-value destination that appeals to all age groups is Cyprus. “My personal favourite is the Four Seasons in Limassol,” says Robert. “Even the standard double rooms have a Jacuzzi bath big enough for two.” Seven nights’ half board costs from £937.
For something smaller and more boutique she recommends the Londa Beach Hotel, also in Limassol, where the honeymoon suite boasts a round bed. Prices for March departures start from £614.
Turkey and Egypt
Turkey offers particularly great value and Turkey specialist Anatolian Sky offers a selection of chic hotels in traditional towns beyond the large-scale tourist hubs.
“This year we have some exciting new properties in our portfolio that have particular appeal for honeymooners, such as the 29-room Kanuni Kervansaray – a newly renovated former Ottoman travellers’ inn in Cesme,” says Akin Koc, owner and managing director. A seven-night stay starts from £585.
Egypt is another good bet for honeymooners. One of Planet Holidays’ most popular itineraries combines Cairo and El Soukhna on the Red Sea. Seven nights in June start from £997.
Morocco
For those seeking something different from a classic beach escape, Prestige Holidays is championing Morocco.
“Marrakech is a really vibrant and exciting city; eating out is very reasonable compared to many European destinations and there’s a fantastic range of high quality accommodation,” says David Nash, Prestige’s director of group travel.
“I’d recommend honeymooners stay in Maison Arabe, a delightful riad hidden in a quiet street on the edge of the medina. The property’s beautiful suites include two with Jacuzzis on their large terraces and super views.”
A week in June costs from £726 including British Airways flights, transfers, breakfast and a free hammam at the hotel spa.
Asia
Andrews singles out the luxurious Shangri-La Rasa Ria Resort in Kota Kinabalu, Borneo as being especially romantic. “It’s set in 400 lush, tropical acres beside the exquisite Pantai Dalit beach and adjacent to an interactive orang-utan education centre,” she says. Seven nights cost from £1,375 from May until July, with honeymooners receiving a 20% discount on spa treatments.
“Koh Lanta island in Thailand is an up and coming honeymoon destination,” adds Andrews. “The island has wonderful beaches, magical sunsets, great diving and verdant jungle.” A seven-night stay costs from £1,375 for travel between May and June at the Cha-Da Beach Resort & Spa. Honeymooners will receive a free Thai massage.
Indian Ocean
Virgin, Cosmos and Kuoni are all tipping the Indian Ocean as the honeymoon hotspot for 2011.
“As the area has become more developed, competition for customers has increased and hoteliers have lowered prices,” says Hayat Bourner a weddings supervisor at Virgin.
“I’d suggest the Chaaya Lagoon Hakuraa Huraa in the Maldives. It has water villas and costs from £1,465 all-inclusive for seven nights. It’s fantastic value for money.”
With the launch of its new Maldives and Indian Ocean brochure, Cosmos Distant Dreams is aiming to increase its share of this market. “The brochure features lots of value-added offers for honeymooners,” says product manager David Fraser. “For many, this is the deciding factor when making the all-important decision about where to stay.”
Hoteliers in Mauritius are offering some particularly great deals. Twelve nights’ half-board at the Mövenpick Resort & Spa in May costs from £1,629. Honeymooners receive a 50% discount for the bride, room upgrade (subject to availability) and a candlelit dinner.
Kuoni is tipping Sri Lanka with its ancient cities, jungle and palm-fringed beaches. Top picks include The Fortress, a five-star boutique hotel that boasts a beautiful ocean-front setting. Five nights start from £1,383, and newlyweds are offered extras such as a private four-course dinner, complimentary room up-grade and Champagne cocktail.
Agent tips
“Bali is a romantic destination we’re recommending for honeymoons in 2011. It has superb hotels with fantastic customer service available at great prices. With rich history, stunning scenery, powder-white sandy beaches and amazing sunsets. This mystical island is a true tropical paradise and will enchant honeymooners.”
Bob Martindale, Perfect Weddings & Honeymoons, Staffordshire
“My top tip for great value honeymoons in 2011 is Caribbean cruises as there are so many great offers. Last year the Maldives and the Sandals resorts were our most requested honeymoon destinations. I can’t see this changing for 2011, however I think Dubai is going to give them a close run.”
Ian Inglis, Weddings4u
“For short haul, Cyprus is a top value destination for 2011. Many low-cost carriers fly there so you can keep costs down and accommodation options are varied from intimate boutique-style hotels to private villas and grand five-star luxury, meaning there is something special to suit every couple’s budget.”
Melanie Salt, Wedding & Honeymoon Specialist, Gates Travel, Cumbria
source: www.travelweekly.co.uk
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