CITY TRAVEL WITH MICHAEL CROFT

Issue 52:

British Breaks
If you have something to celebrate this year and you’re looking for something a little different how about hiring a cottage? Most places can only be booked for a minimum of one week during the summer, however if you are looking to book within four weeks and there is availability then many of them will look at selling short breaks from Friday – Monday or midweek breaks. Prospect House sleeps 12 people in six twin and double rooms, it boasts a lounge, fully fitted kitchen leading on to an enclosed patio, four parking spaces, Wi-Fi and en-suite rooms. You can hire the whole property at the end of May for just £1728.50 – that’s just under £145.00 per person if there are twelve of you. Prospect House is a delightful Grade II listed Georgian terrace just 200 yards from Scarborough’s harbour.

Or for a gourmet delight Le Manoir Aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire is hard to better. With menus created by Raymond Blanc and holding 2 Michelin Stars for a remarkable 27 years, Le Manoir is a firm favorite with the great and the good. The gracious individually furnished rooms start from £595.00 per night including a five-course dinner, sumptuous French breakfast and the boring old vat. It gets booked up quickly here so if you are thinking of treating yourself then it’s best to book ahead and perhaps have a few different dates in mind.

For those Royalists amongst us how about a snoop around the Palace? One night stays at the 4* Cavendish Hotel in Mayfair with breakfast, an exclusive tour of Buckingham Palace with an Official Guide book and a glass of champagne in the garden afterwards for just £159.00 per person. Dates are the 4th, 12th and 20th August. Provided there are at least two people travelling, you can also add discounted rail tickets for £38.00 pp from Leeds & Wakefield and £47.00 pp from York. A great way to round off day’s sightseeing, the tour starts at 5pm and lasts a couple of hours.

Egypt
I’ve recently returned from a fantastic week in Dahab, in Egypt, a wonderfully relaxed place with a great atmosphere. It’s just over an hour’s drive from Sharm el Sheikh airport and much more laid back than it's busy neighbour. No building is taller than the minarets of the mosque, and the resort has been popular with divers and backpackers for many years helping to contribute to the chilled vibe in this Bedouin town. Think of beach bars and restaurants where you can step from your sun bed into a warm sea that is teeming with the most amazing marine life; the sun shines, the drinks are chilled and the prices are most reasonable.

I stayed at the Sea Sun Hotel, about 5km outside the centre, a great stroll along the beach or £2.50 in a taxi. Expertly run by Brigitte, a Belgian woman who’s had a baptism of fire since taking over the hotel less than a year ago, having had to cope with a mud slide flooding the hotel and then the political upheavals. Not that anyone in Dahab minds those upheavals one bit. There was a real sense of pride among the people for what they had managed to achieve and a palpable sense of excitement for the future. There was also huge gratitude towards the British people, and Polish too, as they’d continued to go on holiday to Egypt throughout the period of unrest, when pretty much every other European country had pulled out.

The Sea Sun hotel has rooms for a week in May, June & July from £270.00 for two people sharing a double room on all inclusive, or just £130.00 if you prefer bed and breakfast. In August & September a week’s all inclusive is £340.00 and October & November is £295.00. Flights are extra and have been selling around £250.00 pp so it is great value. Plus you can stay for up to two weeks on the Red Sea Peninsula without the need for a visa, you just need to have at least six months validity in your passport.

The situation throughout Egypt is much calmer now and I can’t emphasise enough how perfectly safe it felt there. Tourist numbers are going to be down this year for the Egyptians, but if you are looking for a break with pretty much guaranteed sunshine, world-class diving and snorkeling opportunities, or you’d like to visit some of the world’s most iconic sights without hundreds of other people sharing your view; you could do a lot worse than book to go this year. No getting up at the crack of dawn to bag a sun bed, great prices in the shops and restaurants, and a genuinely warm welcome. Like the sign said on Dahab seafront: “Support Freedom – Come to Egypt”

For help and advice on any travel matter contact Michael Croft on 0113 277 8004

or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 51:

City Dweller Top Travel Tips...

In view of the unfolding events in the Middle East, I’ve put together a few travel tips you might find useful. Some of them may seem mundane but others could save you a whole load of hassle and money.

Take a photocopy of your passport away with you; this will help enormously with having a replacement issued if you are unlucky enough to lose yours or have it stolen. Also many people stick a note of their home address to the inside lid of their suitcase to help with identification if it gets lost.

If you are heading to the Middle East (and indeed for all countries) it’s a good idea to check out the advice from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office for your chosen destination: www.fco.gov.uk and head for Travel Advice by Country. Remember you would not be insured should you choose to visit a country where the FCO has advised against travel.

An obvious one here from a security point of view: if it’s valuable leave it at home. Most travel insurance policies will not regard your valuables as being worth more than a couple of hundred pounds so if you have to take precious belongings with you, make sure they are covered on your household policy or ask your insurer about extending the cover to include these items.If you are travelling independently and not part of an organised tour, keep someone here at home informed of where you are heading and take your mobile with you for emergencies.

The UK continues to have a higher incidence of skin cancer than Australia despite us having much fewer sunny days here in Blighty. I remember holidays of old where I’d slap on the factor 4 for the first couple of days then work down to lemon oil for the rest of the trip – COMPLETE MADNESS! If you want to keep your looks and stay healthy then go high: factor 20 and upwards for the body and for your face use a really high sunblock, it will give you a safer, deeper and longer-lasting tan with much less risk of getting anything nasty.

Distill your shampoo & shower gels etc. into smaller bottles like the ones you get in hotel bathrooms. This will save on that very precious baggage allowance and, if you’re not bothering with paying to check a suitcase in, then remember to keep toiletries in containers of 100 ml or less – otherwise they’ll be confiscated at the airport.

Talking of airline baggage, a jacket with lots of pockets can be invaluable if you’re trying to keep the weight of your luggage down. I’ve not seen our lovely airlines weighing their passenger’s coats just yet but it’s probably only a matter of time……

For those going on a cruise, on your day of embarkation, keep items that you might need on your first afternoon such as swimwear, sun screen, books etc. with you in a separate bag, as after you’ve checked in at the cruise terminal your luggage may not be delivered to your cabin for several hours.

If you are heading on a city break for a special occasion, Friday and Saturday nights in the good restaurants are often booked up. It’s a really good idea to make a reservation, often your hotel will be able to help (as would a great travel agent of course!) or try www.toptable.com, where you can book restaurants in the UK & Europe as well as in destinations further afield like New York City & Marrakech.

The popular museums in many European cities including Paris, Madrid and Rome are closed on Mondays, so it’s worth checking out if you plan to visit one during your break.


I’m really keen to hear from you if you have any of your own ideas to share with your fellow City Dweller readers, so if you do please let me know. And as always if you need any help or advice with your travel plans please don’t hesitate to get in touch. 0113 277 8004 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 50:

Compared to many Italian Cities, Milan is often overlooked and is considered as either a gateway for the Italian Alps or for a business trip. To do this would be a mistake however, as the home of the world’s most famous Opera House: La Scala, and some of Europe’s best boutiques, this city has many gems waiting to be discovered. Jet2 serves Bergamo from Leeds, some 30 miles from the centre, but well served by public transport or taxi. A midweek break from Monday 4 – Friday 8 April is £332.00 per person including flights from Leeds with luggage and staying at the recently refurbished Sanpi Milano Milano hotel. Or the same deal flying from Manchester to Malpensa Airport with FlyBe is £299.00 per person. This contemporary hotel houses some beautiful art work and is a five-minute taxi ride from the railway station and close to the shopping districts.

Having never looked back since hosting the 1992 Olympics, Barcelona is a leading contender as Europe’s capital of cool. Check out the Barcelona Catedral Hotel, a three night break over Easter weekend (22 – 25 April) with flights from Leeds on Jet2 is £508.00 per person (or £478.00 pp if you don’t take suitcases). This modern hotel opened in 2006 and has just 80 well-appointed rooms and a fab rooftop terrace with swimming pool. It also offers complimentary walking tours of the magical Gothic Quarter on Sundays.

Or snatch a two-night break at the Catedral Barcelona on 2 April for £264.00 per person including flights from Leeds when not checking in any luggage.

With most schools breaking up for Easter at the beginning of April, flights and hotels in the key areas are selling quickly. There are still some great deals to be had though; a family holiday in Florida for two adults and two kids under 12, departing 1st April from Manchester and spending one week in a three bedroom home with private pool near Disney, followed by a week in a three bedroom private home with pool on the Gulf Coast at New Port Richie near Clearwater is £3595.00 including two weeks car rental!!

If you can take time out in June then this holiday is a bargain currently starting at £2929.00 for a family of four departing Manchester on 14 June. Children are classed as being 11 years of age and under.

For something a little different over the Easter weekend you could spend a lot worse than visit Dubrovnik, the capital of Croatia. Flying from Manchester on Good Friday and returning on Easter Monday with three nights at the Dubrovnik Palace is £530.00 per person including breakfast. This great 5* property has a pool and is a short drive from the old town centre. Or something the Hotel More is good value at £408.00 per person on BB including flights.

Following the scandalous scenes witnessed at many UK airports, but Heathrow in particular, before Christmas, let’s hope those responsible can get their act together for the future. That aside the episode highlighted the importance of having good travel insurance and a good travel arranger. I was able to get the majority of my clients away within 24 hours so they didn’t miss their hard earned Christmas breaks; something online companies and many high street agencies were simply unable to do.

At the time of writing there is a superb sale on with Emirates to Dubai; 10% off airfares and discounts of 35% on hotels with free half board. This short term offer is only on sale for three days however I get many offers like this to a variety of destinations. If you would like to be amongst the first to hear when deals like this appear just let me have your contact details.

For more info on these holidays or help and advice on any travel matter contact

Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 277 8004 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 48:

As Summer Draws to a close....

...and thoughts turn towards Christmas here are some examples of what’s possible if you want to celebrate (or escape) away from home.

De Vere Carden Park near Chester has a two night break on 24 December for £325.00 per adult and £79.00 per child, and for three nights to include Boxing Day, the price is £395.00 per adult and £99.00 per child, with scrumptious festive meals included. Carden Park has a wealth of outdoor activities for young and old alike, 4 x 4 driving, two championship golf courses, quad biking, zip wires, archery and a 22-room candle-lit Serenity Spa; plus an acclaimed restaurant. The hotel is about 15 miles south of Chester City centre. De Vere Slaley Hall in Northumberland is offering three night Christmas breaks for £349.00 per person on 24 December.

Center Parcs has some festive breaks at Sherwood Forrest in Nottinghamshire; a three night stay on 19 November is from £419.00 for four people sharing a two bedroom villa. Or a five night Christmas break arriving on 22 December is from £799.00 for the two bedroom villa, sleeping up to four.

For under £1000.00 per person you can get some Christmas sunshine on Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera. Departing Manchester on 21 December, a week on all inclusive in Taba Heights is £849.00 per person at the Sol y Mar hotel or the Hilton is from £945.00 per person on all inclusive. Taba is a diver’s dream destination however if you are looking for something a bit livelier then Sharm el Sheikh could be perfect for you, a week at the Coral Beach hotel is £1005.00 per person all inclusive whilst Hilton Shark’s Bay is £1089.00 per person again on all inclusive. For a bit more luxury the Baron Palms is £1295.00 all inclusive for a week, all departing from Man chester on 23 December.

Departing from Leeds on Christmas Eve you can spend a week at the Villa Adeje in Playa de las Americas in Tenerife, seven nights on all inclusive is £816.00 per person. Unsurprisingly, holidays that include Christmas and New Year are priced high, you can always get a deal however if you are happy to travel earlier in the month and be home before Christmas. This same holiday for example is £505.00 departing on 17 December and landing back in sunny Leeds on Christmas Eve.

There’s still availability if you want to take to the ocean waves to celebrate, the informal cruise line Carnival sails from New Orleans on Carnival Triumph departing 20 December and ports of call include the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. Prices including flights from Manchester start from £1699.00 for an 8 night fly-cruise from Manchester based on an inside cabin and £1829.00 for an outside cabin. Holland America line has Prinsendam sailing from Miami on a two week cruise taking in St Barths, Trinidad, Guadeloupe and Barbados. Silversea, the luxury cruise operator, has a seven night Christmas cruise from Barbados on 21st December. Visiting Tortola, Bequia and Grenada, Silver Cloud offers a premium all inclusive service and cruise fares start from £4409.00 per person including economy class flights from Gatwick or £7099.00 in business class.

Two iconic American cities can be combined for the party lover’s real Yuletide treat: depart 24 December and spend four nights over Christmas at the Affinia Manhattan in New York followed by four nights seeing in 2011 at the Hyatt Regency in Miami at just £1057.00 per person including flights from Leeds via Amsterdam.

For help and assistance on any travel matter contact Michael Croft at
City Travel on 0113 277 8007 and michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 47:

Welcome to the great British Issue where we have selected the best British breaks for you to plan that well deserved get away this autumn.

Forget about flight cancellations, ash clouds and flight companies going bust and have a no fuss break at one of the many attractions on the British Isles. If you are looking for a weekend away or a mid-week break, our great country really does have something for everyone. We've got it covered.

British Breaks

For those not wanting to venture too far, Oakwood Lodges offer stylish and contemporary accommodation in dwellings with one and two bedrooms. Located 15 miles from York and close to Castle Howard, Bridlington and the Skipwith Nature Reserve, they are complete with an outdoor hot tub and leather sofas, making it the perfect romantic break or family getaway.

North of the border, Lochy Park near Fort William, Scotland, is in a beautiful setting in open countryside leading down to the beach on the River Lochy, with mighty Ben Nevis in the background. The Lochy Lodges have three bedrooms and are ideal for families and groups of friends. Prices are from £220.00 for the week or £143.00 for 3 nights up until the end of the year. This really is the perfect location. Why not take the steam train to Mallaig or have a day trip to the Isle of Skye which is close to the skier’s gondola up Aonach Mor, for some of Scotland’s finest winter skiing.

For a day’s decadence take the Orient Express Northern Belle from Leeds, York or Doncaster to London on 16th October. The day includes a delicious Bellini brunch en route to the capital, transfer by coach to The Adelphi for the matinee performance of Chicago and then back to the Northern Belle to enjoy a sumptuous dinner with champagne and wine. Prices are £295.00 per person.

One of Sean Connery’s favourites, Cameron House, on the shores of Loch Lomond is offering discounts for stays between November and March from £59.50 pp with breakfast and £94.50 pp to include dinner for one night, and two nights with breakfast from £109.00 pp and with dinner from £179.00 pp, www.cameronhouse.co.uk

Why not combine this with a city stay? Loch Lomond is just 30 miles from Glasgow, which was recently voted one of the UK’s coolest cities. The Abode is a funky award-winning boutique hotel. Check out their website for some other great ideas including the Girl’s night in
– www.abodehotels.co.uk

For help and advice with any travel matter and for bookings where all your money is fully protected, contact Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 277 8004 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 46:

At the time of writing another large tour operator has failed. Goldtrail specialised in budget breaks to Greece and Turkey and its failure means 150,000 people who were booked to travel with them this summer are back in the market for a holiday. This has led to prices for many European holidays increasing, particularly over the summer school break with the resultant reduction in available holidays. That said 2010 has been, and still is, a great year for those looking to travel further afield.

For some late summer sunshine during the October half term, a seven night break to Sharm el Sheikh staying at the Grand Sharm Hotel is from £777.00 per person in a double room, flying from Manchester on 17th October based on all inclusive and including transfers. The hotel is a 10-minute ride by courtesy bus from the action in Naama Bay and it has a great choice of restaurants, bars and swimming pools and also a wonderful jetty from which you can take a dip and see some of the marine life for which Egypt’s Red Sea is famous.

The Makadi Palace is another great all inclusive hotel near the small resort of Makadi Bay, about a 45-minute drive from Hurghada. There are eight restaurants and you can dine in any on the all inclusive programme, with some dishes at a supplement. These hotels are great for families and couples and you get to keep your room on the last day right up until it’s time to leave for the airport, with all inclusive still applying. A week’s stay is from £891.00 pp departing Manchester on 19th October.

One for the petrol heads, the MPH 2010 show at Earls Court will feature Top Gear Live on stage, make a night of it for £109.50 per person including Silver tickets to the show and one night’s stay at the President Hotel in London with breakfast. The show is on from 4 – 7 Nov. Other hotels and rail inclusive breaks are available from me,
see www.mphshow.co.uk for more details.

Over the years the Dominican Republic has at times suffered from a bad press regarding hotel quality and food poisoning incidents. The old adage “you get what you pay for” is by and large a good rule of thumb and, in the days when holidays here cost £399.00, corners were bound to be cut. All change nowadays though with the opening of the Dreams Palm Beach hotel in Punta Cana. In an acknowledgement of the arrival of more quality properties, British Airways has commenced a twice-weekly service to Punta Cana.

I’ve spoken to people who’ve travelled extensively in the Caribbean and stayed at some of the top hotels, and they say this place gives some of the well established names a run for their money. It’s very good value too for what you get; flying with BA on 14th October, a week’s stay on all inclusive in a deluxe room is £1210.00 per person, or ten nights is £1400.00 per person.

Something for next spring, a four-night taster cruise on Celebrity Eclipse, the luxury liner involved in the repatriation of Brits stranded by the ash cloud. Departing 3 May 2011, a balcony cabin on this four night cruise is from £429.00 per person, including all meals. She sails from Southampton to Cork, spending the night there and returning to Southampton on 7 May. If you’ve never cruised before this is a great introduction to life at sea and is excellent value for the quality of ship.

For help and advice with any travel matter, plus full financial protection on all bookings contact Michael Croft on 0113 277 8004 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 44

A Wake up Call...

What a week last week’s been! As I write this feature I still have a family in Barbados stranded by the volcano, unable to get home for nine days after they were due to, fortunately they’ve been able to stay in their hotel at no extra cost and, as they said themselves, there are worse places they could be!

This event was a complete bolt out of the blue and a bit of a wake-up call to many. Again the value of booking with a reputable firm is highlighted by an unexpected event. I was in contact with all of my clients in their various time zones on a regular basis and, in several cases, was able to get them home quicker than many of their fellow holiday-makers. I also helped a film crew unable to get back from Dubai and, with a bit of creativity, found fares at half the price they’d found online. In addition those that weren’t on a package tour or with an EU airline but had taken our travel insurance were covered up to £300.00 per person for hotel costs.

As part of the repatriation effort, Celebrity Cruises kindly offered up their brand new ship, Celebrity Eclipse, to pick up stranded holiday-makers from northern Spain. While simultaneously being a very generous and practical gesture to help bring people home, it was undoubtedly a brilliant piece of PR and I’m sure from the 2,000 passengers they carried, there’ll be some extra bookings as a result. The ship was primarily bringing back package tour clients of Thomas Cook and Thomson; however, because of our strong relationship with Celebrity we were able to put some of our clients onto this ship for just £78.00 per person.

The ship sailed from the Spanish port of Santander, which if you’re a foodie you might recognise as one of the gastronomic capitals of Europe. Tie in with some cheap Ryanair flights (currently £100.00 per person for travel in June and July), with four nights at the Silken Coliseum hotel, a centrally located 4* is £150.00 per person including buffet breakfast on weekends in June and July. Or make it a longer trip and take the car; P & O Ferries sails regularly between Portsmouth and Bilbao, a return crossing in June including cabin accommodation is £578.00 for two adults and a car. There’s lots to see in this still relatively untravelled part of Spain. It’d also be a great opportunity to stock up on Rioja for the summer barbecues brought straight from the vineyard; visit the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao; and perhaps stay in a Parador, one of the government run properties which are often in wonderful converted convents and castles.

If you liked the look of Celebrity Eclipse from the news, how about a summer cruise departing Southampton on 24th July – 7th August; ports of call include Lisbon, Gibraltar and Palma and fares are from £1,529.00 per person, which is great value for the quality of ship, service and food. I went on Eclipse’s sister vessel, the Celebrity Equinox, on a short inspection trip last year and was bowled over by the quality. It reminded me of a grand hotel in somewhere like Hong Kong, being simultaneously understated and opulent. The cabins, all designed by women, were rated by my female colleagues as the best they’d seen in terms of getting ready in on an evening! Eclipse and Equinox are on several itineraries in the Mediterranean this year and are proving extremely popular.

The Post Office has released the results of their annual survey on the cost of living in top holiday destinations. In Turkey they continue to make hay while the sun shines (i.e. while the pound to euro remains so poor), with the shopping basket of eight tourist staples having increased 44% over last year making in-resort items much more expensive than the sample taken in Spain. As a result Turkey drops 14 places to 22nd position in the table. Compared to January 2009, visitors to Jamaica, Egypt and Dubai are getting more cash for their pounds; Jamaica rising by 21%, Egypt 14% and Dubai and the rest of the UAE up nearly 13% from last year. In addition the costs in many eurozone countries have fallen since last year so, if you’ve been put off by high prices on the continent recently, it might be worth taking another look at some destinations. For more information see the Post Office website and go to the 2010 Holiday Costs Barometer.

A twin-centre winter cruise and hotel stay to Egypt is from just £868.00 per person, departing Leeds/Bradford on 16th December and spending the first week cruising the Red Sea from Sharm el Sheikh takes in Aqaba in Jordan and Cairo so you can take in the pyramids and other famous sights, before cruising back to Sharm for a week’s relaxation on the beach. The second week is at the 4* Park Inn Hotel on an all inclusive basis with transfers included throughout.

A two-night break to Blackpool is from just £65.00 per person including breakfast and dinner at either the 3* Grand Metropole or the 3* Norbreck Castle, both on the north shore. The Norbreck boasts its own pool and nightly entertainment as well as ample guest parking, it’s a bit further out than the Grand Metropole which is located adjacent to Blackpool Tower. Or from £78.00 per person you can spend the weekend at 4* Bosworth Hall Hotel near Castle Donnington. A Grade II listed William and Mary House set in 11 acres of gardens. The hotel has its own health club and two restaurants. Alternatively head to the south coast for a weekend in Brighton, two nights with dinner and breakfast included at the Royal Albion hotel is from £75.40 per person. This beautiful hotel is opposite Brighton Pier and this offer, and the other two are valid for stays from 1 May right through to 30 April next year, subject to availability.

For help and advice on any travel matter contact Michael Croft City Travel on 0113 245 3187 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 43

Magaluf Rocks - The legendary Ibiza Rocks Hotel’s sister property Mallorca Rocks opens on 1st May this year in Magaluf. The official opening party will be held on Sunday 6th June with Radio 1 DJ Zane Lowe and The Kooks amongst others. If you want to be there, a studio for two people is from just €191.00 from 5th June for four nights including tickets to the party. This includes an early booking offer for reservations made by the end of March. Flights from Leeds with Jet2 are currently from £225.00 per person including one piece of luggage.

There’ll be other parties with headline stars on 5th, 19th and 26th July and the closing party will be on 6th September. Check out their website for more details: www.ibizarocks.com

Thailand - The trend for great value long haul travel is showing no signs of abating; over in Thailand the Evason Hua Hin & Six Senses Resort has reduced its rates by 30%.

A week’s stay in an Evason room is from just £659.00 per person, including breakfast and private transfers. This is based on flights from Heathrow with Jet Airways via Delhi on 31st May.

Holidays from Manchester are currently available from £726.00 on Etihad Airways via Abu Dhabi. This beachfront hotel is set in tropical gardens, and it’s in a more secluded location so great for honeymooners and those seeking some escapism.

It’s also good for families with young children and was featured on the prestigious Conde Nast list in 2008 (the bible of all things luxurious in travel) as best for facilities.

Issue 42:

Planning a break in 2010

Now we’re into 2010, lots of people are looking at getting away with their loved one for Valentine’s Day and, with World Cup fever mounting, I have some superb packages to go see our lads play in South Africa in June.

Windsor - Visit beautiful and historic Windsor, home of the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. The town offers great shopping and fine dining and a one night stay at the 4* Burnham Beeches hotel is £99.00 per person including breakfast and a seven course Valentine’s dinner on the night of 13th February. A glass of champagne, surprise gift and chocolates are complimentary upon arrival. Burnham Beeches is in an idyllic countryside setting with a huge garden and is close to the attractions of Windsor with health spa, indoor heated pool, 8-hole golf course and tennis courts as well as the AA rosette awarded restaurant.

Marbella - For a little February warmth take a trip to Marbella and indulge in fine dining and authentic Andalucian fayre on a two night blissful retreat to Spain’s Mediterranean jewel. Staying at the 5* Ritz-Carlton Villa Padierna is from £399.00 in a classic room with breakfast. This exclusive venue combines the best of spa, golf and Spanish gastronomy in a magnificent setting with views out to the Mediterranean, Africa and Gibraltar. Although it’s not going to be baking hot at this time of year, the Costa del Sol boasts the highest annual sunshine record of anywhere on the Med so if you fancy a couple of days in shorts and t-shirt this is the place to head. Prices include flights from Leeds with Jet2 based on current airfares.

Lincolnshire - Lincolnshire boasts a wonderful, rolling landscape dotted with nature reserves, farm parks and seal sanctuaries. The Lincolnshire Wolds is home to many charmingly picturesque market towns and villages. Stay in a beautiful hand crafted wooden lodge with vaulted floor to ceiling windows set in seven acres of Lincolnshire countryside. Relax in your own private outdoor hot tub and enjoy the superb on site facilities including golf and fishing or head into Lincoln and explore its magnificent cathedral soaring above ancient cobbled streets. Three nights at Birkdale VIP lodge at Thorpe Park Lodges is £114.00 per person based on self catering arriving on 12th February.

Prague - Prague has long been one of the most popular city break destinations in Europe; it boasts picturesque medieval cobbled streets, gothic churches, beautiful snow covered bridges and a wonderfully romantic atmosphere. I was here last June for the first time and we all said what a magical place it must be in the winter. Sip hot mulled wine on world famous Wenceslas Square and visit one of many superb museums, art galleries and concert halls. Or for something a bit different take a city tour on a bike for a different take on this lovely city. The exceptional Mandarin Oriental has been converted from a former 14th century monastery in the heart of the city with a sumptuous spa and contemporary dining. Departing on 13th February for two nights, the price is from £369.00 per person including Jet2 flights from Leeds and staying in a superior room on a bed and breakfast basis. If you’re heading there already check out these wonderful people for the bike tours – www.prahabike.cz.

San Francisco, L.A and Vegas from £699pp - Three great cities - one great price

Spend three nights in beautiful San Francisco, three nights in Los Angeles and three nights in Las Vegas and enjoy the sights and sounds of some of America’s most vibrant and popular destinations. Price includes accommodation in centrally located 3 star hotels, return flights from London Heathrow and all internal flights throughout. Departing on selected dates between 22 February and 30 November 2010 this is a holiday not to be missed! Regional airport departures are available at a supplement and you can upgrade to four star hotels in all three cities from just £131pp.

Cape Town - Finally what could be more romantic than watching England win the World Cup?! I have some excellent packages covering all of the matches: go see one of England’s first round games against the USA, Algeria and/or Slovenia. Serial award-winning airline Emirates has packages to see any or all of these games with five nights’ accommodation in Cape Town, flights from Manchester, airport transfers and arrangements to get you to and from the stadiums as well as the match tickets themselves from £2419.00 per person based on two adults sharing a room. Or see two matches from £3499.00 per person with BA flights to Johannesburg and ten nights’ stay in Centurion close to the leafy suburb of Sandton, this price includes match tickets and transportation down to Cape Town for the match against Algeria, and to Port Elizabeth for the Slovenia game.

The match tickets are being sold with five nights’ accommodation per game; you can go for a shorter duration if you wish however accommodation needs to be paid for the five nights per match. In addition there’ll be the opportunity to buy tickets for other countries’ matches from March once they have a clear picture on how many have been sold in the respective countries. This is a superb opportunity to experience the second greatest show on earth (London 2012 being the greatest of course!) and you can combine it with a world class safari, a tour of the winelands or travel the renowned Garden Route along the south coast. For those wanting to see the World Cup final there’s a three-night package starting from £3964.00pp based on staying in Cape Town with all transfers included or be at both semi-finals and the final from £7947.00 per person.

The match tickets are being sold with five nights’ accommodation per game; you can go for a shorter duration if you wish however accommodation needs to be paid for the five nights per match. In addition there’ll be the opportunity to buy tickets for other countries’ matches from March once they have a clear picture on how many have been sold in the respective countries. This is a superb opportunity to experience the second greatest show on earth (London 2012 being the greatest of course!) and you can combine it with a world class safari, a tour of the winelands or travel the renowned Garden Route along the south coast. For those wanting to see the World Cup final there’s a three-night package starting from £3964.00pp based on staying in Cape Town with all transfers included or be at both semi-finals and the final from £7947.00 per person.

There are lots of other options available right now; you can go the whole hog with 32 nights’ accommodation on a team specific package covering all three first round matches, the quarter final, semi final and the final itself from a cool £13,631.00 per person. None of these packages are what you would call cheap but by the time the tournament kicks off the prices for match tickets alone will be a fortune so, if you want to go, now is the time to get the best deal.

For help and advice on all travel matters call me on 0113 245 3187 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

• Remember unlike many websites and agencies, everything I book has full financial protection and I work on behalf of my customers - not the suppliers.

Issue 41:

City Travel

The Son Net, Mallorca

The Son Net is a luxury finca in the countryside just 25 minutes from Palma, Mallorca. An intimate property with just 31 rooms and suites, it boasts two gourmet restaurants and is close to some of the island’s best golf courses. The Zen Zone spa offers a wealth of de-stress and rejuvenating treatments including their signature facials and reflexology therapies, pilates and yoga can also be arranged. The renowned Oleum restaurant serves classic Mallorcan dishes in elegant surroundings and is popular with the locals. A three-night break here in February or March is from just £349.00 per person including flights from Liverpool with Easyjet, a case in the hold is £18.00 extra.

Northern Lights, Norway

The first months of the year are the best time to see the Northern Lights. A three night break to Norway with Scantours staying at the Vika Hotel in Alta is from £715.00 per person including breakfast and flights from Heathrow via Oslo. For further bragging rights you can add activities such as a husky safari for £120.00 or go reindeer racing for an extra £105.00

Castlemartyr Hotel, Cork (Ireland)

Since opening in 2005, the Castlemartyr Hotel near Cork in Ireland has gained a reputation as one of the country’s finest hotels. As well as a blissful spa there’s golf and all the usual healthy outdoor pursuits as well as enjoying the craic in the local village pubs. A classic room is from £225.00 per night including breakfast. At the time of going to press BMI Baby has flights from £60.00 return plus bags at £35.98 from Manchester to Cork.   

Caribou Lodge & Spa, Canada

Heading west, the Caribou Lodge & Spa in the Canadian Ski resort of Banff is ideal for a Rocky Mountain adventure. Ten minutes walk to the centre of town with its shops and restaurants, this hotel has a warm and welcoming feel and an authentic trapper cabin atmosphere. As well as skiing you can snowboard, hike, climb or cycle or get pampered in the spa at the Banff Ptarmigan Inn, sister hotel to the Caribou. A week’s stay on various dates in February or March is from just £739.00 per person including flights from Heathrow to Calgary and transfers.

Lastly thanks to all those Guardian and Observer readers who voted for Travel Counsellors in their 2009 Awards, we won Best Travel Agent for the third time! If you’d like any further information on any of these trips or have any other travel enquiry I’d be delighted to help.

For help and advice on any travel matter contact: Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 245 3187 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 40:

Warner Leisure Breaks

All of us City Dwellers need some fresh air now and then and Warner Holidays has two perfectly sumptuous and scrumptious breaks this season.

Thoresby Hall nr Ollerton in Nottinghamshire has a four night break from 23rd December for £699 per person on full board. The spa facilities here are superb and Thoresby Hall has deservedly been nominated as Best UK Boutique Hotel in the 2009 British Travel Awards.

Or spend New Year at delightful Nidd Hall in North Yorkshire arriving 29th December until 2nd January on full board with evening entertainment for £599 per person in an Ambassador room.

City Travel

With the nights drawing in and winter approaching thoughts inevitably turn to Christmas and New Year and there’s still plenty of choice and value to be had for those seeking to celebrate (or escape) the festivities. Skiers and snow-boarders can take to the slopes in Austria, an exclusive holiday to Zell am Zee or St Wolfgang departing Manchester on 19th December for one week from just £399 per person on half board basis. Or enjoy the stylish Swiss resort of Verbier staying in a chalet for a week including breakfast each day and six dinners from £599 per person including flights from Manchester, again departing on 19th December.

If a tropical climate is more your thing and you like to party then how about Christmas in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya, it’s undergone a bit of a face lift in recent times and although still racy in parts it’s great value. I have six nights at the luxurious Amari Orchard hotel with its blissful spa and choice of bars and restaurants. Departing Heathrow on 21st December on room only from £889 per person.

Or head west for Christmas in the Caribbean, a week’s all inclusive at the Casa Marina in the Dominican Republic is from just £1147 per person including flights from Manchester on 21st December, transfers and complimentary snorkeling and non-motorised water sports.

If you’re not keen on such long flights there’s a New Year break to Fuerteventura departing Manchester on 30th December from £629 per person on all inclusive at the Oasis Village in Corralejo, and a week at the St George Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus is from £689 per person on all inclusive with flights from Manchester on 29th December. The hotel boasts an indoor and outdoor pool, tennis, squash and gym as well as a good choice of bars and restaurants.

Or see in the New Year in style and elegance at the famous Mandarin Oriental hotel on Hong Kong Island. Departing Heathrow on 29th December, a four night break with private transfers is £1175 per person including upgrade to a harbour view room: the perfect spot to enjoy the spectacular fireworks display as you look down on Victoria Harbour.

Something truly unforgettable for the kids would be spending Christmas with Santa himself, head for Lapland with Transun Holidays on 23rd December for three nights from Gatwick to the Davvi Hotel & Cabins for £1149 per adult & £1029 per child. Or they can thank him for their pressies with a package from Manchester on Boxing Day for £759 per adult and £639 for children for three nights.

It’s true for certain destinations that it pays to book early to get the widest choice and value however it’s still not too late if you’re thinking of seeing in 2010 in New York, if you’re prepared to fly home New Year’s Day evening then a four-night break to Patsy and Eddie’s fave the Soho Grand in trendy Tribeca is £1409 per person departing Manchester 28th December for four nights stay one room only.

Or if you’d like to remain in the UK, a four night festive break to Drumrossie Hotel on the outskirts of Inverness in the Scottish highlands on 23rd December is from just £219 per person including dinner, bed and breakfast, mulled wine reception and Scottish entertainment.

If you’d like some more information on any of these holidays or if you’d like to discuss any other travel matter please get in touch with me on: 0113 245 3187 or michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 39:

Half-term Break!

With the kids back to school it might seem too early to think of the October half-term break however there are some great family theatre deals around. From just £429.00 a family of 4 can spend two nights in a 3* central hotel near Oxford Street with tickets to see the long standing West End family favourite - the Lion King.

Other half-term deals include a week in Menorca to the Son Parc Apartments on Son Saura beach from £1236.00 for a family of four departing Manchester on 23 October. Or a week’s all inclusive at Coconut Bay in St Lucia departing Gatwick on 25 October from £3329.00; all prices are based on two adults and two children under 12.

It’s been quite pricey getting to the capital by train of late, a good way to make a saving if you’re staying overnight in a hotel is to buy a rail inclusive package, there’s always availability of tickets priced at £35.00 return in standard class or £79.00 in first class from Leeds. The hilarious Peter McIntyre is on at the O2 on Tue 29 Sep and a night at the Ramada Docklands including breakfast is £129.00 per person including tickets for the show.

For something rather special the Royal Ballet are performing Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House in October, November and January. A ticket to the performance and a night’s stay at the President hotel in nearby Russell Square is just £74.50 per person including breakfast.

Another great value deal for a couple of days Christmas shopping in London to the 4* Corus Hotel at Hyde Park from just £113.50 per person including two nights bed and breakfast and return rail from Leeds or York. This is valid for selected dates right through until the end of April.

Or if you like your train journey to have a little more style how about a Festive Break on the Orient-Express? Two nights at the Best Western Queen Hotel in Chester including a five-course champagne lunch on the Northern Belle is £265.00 per person on 20 Dec. Or if you just like the sound of a fabulous day out there’s a departure from Leeds, Harrogate and York on 1 Dec for £195.00 per person.

Following the demise of the free cheese sandwich on flights of less than 2 ½ hours, British Airways will begin charging for the second checked bag on transatlantic services from 7th October. Despite the cost-cutting the free gin and tonics will remain though, “there’d be a riot of we took those away”, said a spokesman. Good news too for Leeds’ St Kitts & Nevis ex-pat community, BA is increasing their flights to St Kitts to two a week from next March. Flights will operate on Tuesdays and Saturdays with fares currently from £584.00, there’ll be special offers from time to time, contact me if you’d like to be notified when any are released.

For help and advice on any travel matter contact:
Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 245 3187
or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

Issue 37:

Summer Sizzler...

The Caribbean Tourist Organisation (CTO) is lobbying the government for a review of the forthcoming increase in UK airport passenger duty. From next November, if the proposals go through in their current form, some taxes will more than double. “This discriminatory system means that flights to Hawaii or California will be less heavily taxed than flights to the Caribbean destinations, even though APD is intended as a ‘green tax’,” the CTO said. “UK holidaymakers and the overseas friends and relatives of Caribbean nationals who live in Britain are being heavily penalised. It would be more reasonable to place the Caribbean in the same band as the USA.”

A family of four flying to the Caribbean – a region reliant on the revenue from tourism – will pay £300 in APD from Nov 2010. Egypt is another area of concern, due to its location just outside of Band A. The APD on a family of four’s flights here would be a £240. If this annoys you it’s worth telling your MP, I have details on how to do this. Hopefully they will see reason and make some changes to make this less punitive and damaging to developing countries’ economies.

Following their dress rehearsal hosting the Confederations Cup the focus is turning to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ in South Africa. Holiday packages to include tickets to watch the England matches, with a choice of group fixtures, 2nd round matches, quarter finals, semi finals and the final itself will soon be released. South Africa is a simply amazing destination with a massive choice of things to see and do with a range of touring options to spot the ‘Big Five’ on safari or sample some of the world’s finest vintages in the Winelands. If you’d like to be amongst the first to be notified of what the options are let me know.

For a last-minute escape to the Med from Leeds/Bradford, Jet2Holidays has seven nights’ all inclusive at the Hotel Filerimos for £319.00 departing 8 July. Also departing the same day there’s a week half board at the Costa Apartments in Protaras for £359.00 per person. Or Lanzarote is from £439.00 per person based on a week’s half board at the Flora Apartments in Puerto del Carmen. All rates include transfers and are subject to availability; call me for latest prices and full financial protection on all bookings.

Kate Moss, Kevin Pietersen and Vivienee Westwood were amongst the guests invited to celebrate Virgin Atlantic’s 25th anniversary at the end of June. The 747, named “Birthday Girl”, flew from Gatwick to Newark New York with an 80s theme to its in-flight service including specially selected music and meals designed with an 80s twist. Among the movies shown was ‘Airplane’, which was famously shown on the airline’s first ever flight. Guests were whisked off to an uptown Manhattan venue to continue the party. Ever the showman Sir Richard took supermodel Kate out on the jumbo’s wing. Check out their current ad for a bit of nostalgia if you’ve not already seen it: www.virginatlanticstillredhot.com.

For more information and unbiased advice on any travel matter contact:
Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 245 3187
or email: michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com.

Following the recent demise of the Leeds – Heathrow service Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, recently announced a new three times daily midweek service to London Gatwick. The new route, which starts on 29th June will create 130 jobs in the region, and will also have two departures on Saturdays and Sundays. See www.flybe.com for more details, at the time of going to press they’re just charging taxes and fees making a return trip around £50.00.

A lot has been made of the costs involved in travelling to the eurozone this year, the Post Office has just released the results of their Annual Holiday Costs Barometer and, Bulgaria at £42.00 is coming out as the cheapest destination in the survey with Antigua being the most expensive. The items included a three-course meal for two with wine, a bottle of factor-15 suncream (go higher though to keep your looks), insect repellent and various drinks. Spain came in at £67.08, Turkey £64.31, Portugal £67.47 and Thailand £43.92.

For both convenience and exclusivity a villa is often a great option for families or friends. A week’s rental on 30 May at the Venzala or Casa Dos villas in Puerto Pollensa, northern Mallorca, is just £895.00 for up to six persons sharing a three-bedroom villa with private pool. Both properties are within walking distance of the centre so no need to hire a car. Or on Menorca the three-bedroom Bella Vista in the resort of Cala Galdana is also £895.00 sleeping up to six, flights extra. www.villaselect.com or contact me for exclusive offers.

One week’s self catering to the Crystallo Apartments in Paphos, Cyprus on 31st May is £245.00 per person, or for Zoe’s Studios in Faliraki, Rhodes on 27th May is £235.00 for one week and £275.00 for a fortnight. Also on 9th June a week at the Vasso Studios in Hersonissos in Crete is £265.00. All based on flights from Leeds with transfers and bags included. These are just a few of the pre-peak season offers around for May and June.

A bit further afield, for bookings made in May, a nine-day tour taking in India’s Golden Triangle visiting imperial Delhi, the Taj Mahal, the Pink City of Jaipur and a stay at a royal mansion in Rajasthan. The first person pays £1495.00 and the second just £745.00, sharing the same room. Includes flights from Heathrow and is for travel from now up to 14th July and 16th August – 22nd September. This magical itinerary is with the highly regarded tour operator, Cox and Kings.

Also with C&K a private-luxury safari to Zambia staying at Kapani Lodge in the Luangwa Valley, one of the last wilderness areas and arguably the finest wildlife sanctuary in Africa. It covers an area of over 9000 sq. km and houses huge concentrations of game - including elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, hippo - and over 400 species of birds. £3495.00 for the first person £795.00 for the second. www.coxandkings.com or contact me for exclusive offers.

Lastly America bound travellers beware, in January the US authorities replaced the green visa waiver forms with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization, it seems some unscrupulous websites are making a charge for this free service, if you need to apply the official website is www.esta.cbp.dhs.gov.

For help and unbiased advice on any travel related matter contact Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 245 3187 or email michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com

For more information and unbiased advice on any travel matter contact:
Michael Croft at City Travel on 0113 245 3187
or email: michael.croft@travelcounsellors.com.