Ten Top Tips For a Successful Villa Holiday
Posted July 15, 2009 , add a comment
Renting a holiday villa that you’ve never seen can be worrying, but if you take a few simple steps beforehand, you’ll find the property that suits your needs. COUNTRY If you’re the type of person who doesn’t take the sun very well, don’t book a holiday in Spain in August. If Greek food doesn’t agree with you, don’t go to Greece. If you detest the sound of car horns, stay away from Italy. I know this is a little simplistic, but the point is; have a little think about which country suits your needs best. SEASON Don’t be caught out by the seasons. Some hot countries can be pretty chilly in autumn and winter, especially if you’re up in the hills. On the other hand, some hot countries can be just too hot in the summer. Inland is usually hotter than the coast in summer and cooler in winter. Study the climate before you book. LOCATION The countryside sounds so peaceful and appealing, but if you’re stuck ten miles from the nearest grocery store, the novelty will soon wear off. Find out how many restaurants are nearby. Is the villa within walking distance of a bar, and if not, are you willing to go without alcohol or stump up for a taxi every time you fancy a couple of glasses of wine with your meal? Another thing to consider is the distance from the airport; do you really need a three hour journey after your flight, or doesn’t it bother you? DO YOU NEED TO HIRE A CAR? If the villa you decide upon isn’t on a bus route, then you’re going to need to hire a car. Take this into account when working out your finances for the holiday. If the villa is in a built up area, say by the beach and you intend spending your entire holiday on the beach, do you really need to hire a car? BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY WITH A REPUTABLE INTERNET WEBSITE By using a reputable company to source your villa, you are minimizing the chances of being let down. Good rental companies are keen to make sure that the properties on their books are what they say they are. Secure payment methods are another reason to use a good company. AIR CONDITIONING If you’re going to a hot country in summer, it could be a wise move to make sure that the villa of your choice is equipped with air conditioning. Many a holiday has been ruined through the lack of sleep. Most air conditioning units provide heat as well as cool air. It can be chilly in winter, so ask the question before you book. SWIMMING POOL Do you need a swimming pool? If you have small children and intend to keep them away from the water, book a villa without a pool? If the villa is on the beach, do you really need the use of a pool? Even in hot countries, the water temperature in winter can be a little to cool for comfort, so take this into consideration when booking. On the other hand, in summer, there’s nothing better than cooling down in the pool. PETS Not all property owners welcome pets, but some do. Check with the owner that the villa is pet friendly. A good website will have the facility to do this. NUMBER OF HOLIDAYMAKERS If you’re going as part of a group, make sure that you book a property that’s big enough to accommodate you all. It’s OK being on top of each other for day or two, but tempers will soon start to fray if you can’t spend a moment alone. ASK THE OWNER Before you commit yourself to a particular villa, contact the owner and ask questions. Most property owners will be delighted that you are showing an interest in their villa, and will help you all they can. A good website will make it easy for you to contact the owner, and clear up any uncertainties before you pay your deposit. Once you have done your homework and found the answers to your questions, you can book your holiday with peace of mind, in the knowledge that you have done all you can to ensure a memorable family holiday.
In Praise of Summer
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Martha eats corn
I had the good fortune of marrying a Midwesterner. My wife, Aimee, is from Indiana. Before we met I didn’t know much about her home state. Purdue, Larry Bird, the Colts - that’s pretty much all I could tell you about the Hoosier State before we were married. (Note to self: what’s a Hoosier? I must ask Aimee.)
Each spring Aimee and I have a version of the same argument: to visit or not to visit Indiana in summer, in order to spend time with her family. We already trek to Indiana each Christmas holiday, and let me tell you, Indiana is not a recommended travel destination in December.
So I’m always hesitant to commit to an additional summertime visit, especially when we could travel instead to Spain, Turkey, France, Italy, Thailand… to anywhere BUT Indiana.
I relented and decided we could go to Indiana for a summer holiday. (Note to self: explain to Aimee that I feel better using words like “relented” and “decided”, even if I didn’t actually have a say in the matter.) So we packed up the family and headed to Sweetwater Lake, about 45 miles south of Indianapolis.
Isaac & Drew go fishing
And after a mere week in Indiana, I gained a new appreciation for the season of summer.
Much to my surprise, summer in Indiana is a blast. I’m talking about swimming in a lake for hours on end. Little kids catching worms for bait and then fishing off a dock for bluegill. Eating sweet Indiana corn until your taste buds explode. Cooking pulled-pork on a barbecue grill in 90-degree heat. Water skiing. Tubing. Wake boarding. Sitting on a porch with four generations of the same family. Coolers overflowing with cans of ice-cold beer. The blaring of cicadas at dusk, outboard motors at dawn, air-conditioning pumps all night long.
Megan eats corn
For a city kid like me, all these experiences transformed a run-of-the-mill vacation into a near-perfect summertime experience.
What’s the secret? I’ve decided to make a list, I’m calling this one “Scott’s 4 Essential Summer Ingredients”.
- First, you need the great outdoors. We had a lake surrounded by 100-foot-tall ash and maple trees. But you could be anywhere as long as you have easy access to the outdoors: lakes, rivers, mountains, beaches, streams, bayou, islands…
- Second, you must do things. No televisions, please, not in summer. Instead play cards, tell stories, run around in circles, walk the dogs. Go to the store for groceries and chitchat. Eat some ice cream. Go swimming. Clean up the shed. Take the boat for a joy ride. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as you’re doing something.
- Third, you need family. Ironically I’ve spent my adult life taking family-free vacations. Yet there’s something to be said for having dinner on a lake with 18 of your cousins, spending quality time with aunts and uncles who tell the same funny stories over and over again. I don’t want all of my holidays to revolve around family. Yet I’ve decided that summer vacations and families are made for each other. I’ll save my trips with friends for winter or spring.
- Finally, you need a big barbecue and some of that sweet Indiana corn…
If you’re looking for summertime inspiration, be sure to browse the thousands of things to do available on the Viator site.
Plain Sailing with Eurocamp’s Fabulous Ferry Deals
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a comment) Offering an irresistible combination of convenience, value for money and flexibility, ferries are a great way to travel ? and with many Eurocamp parcs within a short drive of several ferry ports across Europe ? it’s a perfect way to start a summer holiday.
With such benefits, it’s no wonder over 40 million passenger journeys are made by ferry each year. And this is likely to increase further, with ferry companies set to invest £1 billion in new services and ships over the next three years.
To help its customers take full advantage of this fun and easy way to start a holiday, Eurocamp is offering free crossings and other great prices on ferry travel to many ports across Europe including France, Spain and Holland. The leading tour operator’s holiday base price includes a free return mid-week P&O Dover-Calais crossing, making them a hugely cost effective getaway option.
It’s little wonder therefore that so many Eurocampers make the most of this comfortable, ‘holiday-starts-here’ service by setting sail across the channel.
Onboard there’s plenty to keep everyone relaxed and entertained, with an impressive range of facilities - including reasonably priced refreshments, safe children’s play areas and duty-free shopping.
And with no lengthy security check-in procedures or baggage restrictions and the flexibility of taking your own vehicle, you can simply drive off at the other end - all set to enjoy your holiday with complete independence and freedom to explore the best that Europe has to offer.
And like all aspects of a Eurocamp holiday, ferries are hugely economical and provide a cost-effective travel option as prices are charged per party rather than per person.
P&O to Picardy parc:
A seven-night stay at Eurocamp’s Domaine de Drancourt parc, in St Valéry, Picardy, arriving on Thursday 9 July and staying in a 2-bedroom ‘Superior’ mobile home (sleeps seven max) costs £469 including free mid-week return Dover-Calais ferry crossings with P&O - offering a massive saving of £409.
Ideally placed just 70 miles from Calais, Domaine de Drancourt is located in the gardens of a stunning château: the perfect holiday destination for a young family. Rated Toddler Friendly by Eurocamp and boasting a real family atmosphere, there’s a children’s play area, three swimming pools, free Eurocamp kids’ clubs and restaurant, bar and takeaway on parc.
Brittany Ferries to Vendée vacation:
A seven night stay at Eurocamp’s Les Ecureuils parc, in St Hilaire-de-Riez, Vendée, arriving on Friday 10 July and staying in a 2-bedroom ‘Superior’ mobile home (sleeps seven max) with decking, costs just £578 including return Poole-Cherbourg ferry crossings with Brittany Ferries.
Toddler Friendly rated parc, Les Ecureuils is perfectly situated just across the road from a great beach, where the sand stretches for miles. On the family run parc there are five fabulous swimming pools with waterslides and a fountain and the beautifully kept and landscaped grounds are perfect for relaxing in the endless sunshine. There’s also a bar, restaurant and takeaway and, if you fancy getting out and about to explore, the lively resorts of St Hilaire and St Jean de Monts are both just a few of miles away.
For further information on Eurocamp please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk
Turnberry Golf Resort in Scotland Re-Opens as Member of Starwood’s Luxury Collection
Posted , add a commentThe historic Turnberry golf resort in Scotland
has re-opened as part of Starwood’s Luxury Collection brand at The
Open Championship 2009 following a $65 million renovation by owner Leisurecorp, a division of Dubai World company Nakheel.
Following the $65 million refurbishment, which
has focused on the iconic resort’s public spaces and 40 of its 211
luxuriously appointed guest rooms, Turnberry will host the word’s
oldest golf championship, on its renowned Ailsa golf course from
July 16 – 19, 2009.
Located on Scotland’s picturesque Ayrshire
coast, Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, is the newest
addition to The Luxury Collection which includes other impressive hotels and resorts
such as The Grande Bretagne,
Athens, Greece; Hotel Marqu?s de Riscal, Elciego, Spain; Mystique,
Santorni, Greece; Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy; The U.S. Grant,
San Diego and The Joule, Dallas.
This year’s Open Championship will host the
world’s leading golfers who will compete on Turnberry’s Ailsa
Course, widely viewed as one of the best links courses in the
world. The historic golf resort has previously played host to the
world’s oldest major golf championship in 1977, 1986 and 1994.
Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, boasts
two 18-hole Championship courses including the Ailsa Course and
the Kintyre Course. In addition, the resort has a 9-hole Arran
Course and renowned Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy.
“It is an incredible honour for Turnberry to once again host The
Open Championship. The upgrade of the golf course and the
completion of an extensive hotel restoration programme has been a
key deliverable for 2009 and we have worked closely with heritage
consultants to ensure that the building’s history is preserved
while delivering beautifully designed hotel rooms and facilities,”
said Joe Sita, Chief Executive Officer, Nakheel Hotels, the parent
company of Leisurecorp. “We have dedicated close to $65 million to
restore the hotel to its rightful place as the premier property in
the West of Scotland.”
Redesigned by Mary Fox Linton, founder of Fox Linton
Associates, Turnberry’s restored accommodations include subtle
interior colours which give each room a soft, calming air inspired
by the resort’s majestic coastal setting.
Floor to ceiling windows
flood the resort with natural light and offer breathtaking views
of the Turnberry Lighthouse, Ailsa Craig and the lush links golf
courses.
Ensuring that Turnberry’s historical charm was preserved,
Fox Linton Associates collaborated closely with Historic Scotland
during the restoration of the 103-year-old resort.
“Being
privileged to work on an iconic building in such a beautiful
coastal setting lent inspiration to the new concept,” said Mary
Fox Linton. “We wanted to pay tribute to the original design by
James Miller and bring it up to date to create an ambience of
contemporary luxury using a colour palate and textures that
reflect the hotel’s location looking out over the Irish Sea.”
Dining at Turnberry indulges the senses with a diverse menu of
sophisticated and distinct culinary options.
Offering spectacular
views of the resort’s golf courses and the Irish Sea, original
architect James Miller’s Grand Tea Lounge has been redesigned to
its original splendor.
1906, open for breakfast and dinner, offers
guests a casual dining experience, featuring classic brassiere
inspired dishes such as eggs Benedict, ouefs en cocotte, lobster
Thermidor and more.
Turnberry’s Duel in the Sun bar, offering a
range of specialty draft and bottled beers, wine, spirits and
snacks, is an ideal setting to relax after a game of golf or to
enjoy the latest sporting event on the bar’s multiple plasma
screens.
The History of
Turnberry
Located in Ayrshire, Scottland Turnberry, a Luxury Collection
Resort first opened in 1906 and quickly established itself as the
premier destination for social and sporting events.
Converted into
an airfield during both world wars, the Ailsa course, designed by
Mackenzie Ross, reopened to the public in 1951. The course emerged
from acres of runway, foundations of brick huts, hangars and
transformer houses left over from the Second World War and has
been established as one of the world’s most renowned golf courses.
The Spa at Turnberry was added in 1991 and the new Golf Clubhouse
June 1993. The Colin Montgomerie Links Golf Academy, the first of
its kind in the world, opened in 2000, offering a unique teaching
environment with state-of-the art facilities. This was followed
with the opening of the Kintyre course in 2001.
With its
spectacular setting, challenging golf holes and awe-inspiring
views, each course is world renowned. The Onsite Outdoor Activity
Centre offers guests a variety of distinguished outdoor activities
including, quad biking, horse-riding, fishing, off-road driving
and more.
The Arran course, a par 3 and 4 course, opened in 2002
as the ideal venue for on-course lessons for novices and offer
expert players a warm up round prior to their game on the Ailsa or
Kintyre.
In 2001 Turnberry greatly expanded its accommodation
options by building nine two-bedroom luxury cottages, ideal for
couples and families, as well as twelve luxury lodges with either
six or eight ensuite bedrooms, adjacent to the hotel with
breathtaking views across the golf courses and sea.
MSC Cruises’ New Flagship - Splendida - to be Christened on Sunday
Posted , add a commentMSC Cruises’ impressive new flagship MSC
Splendida will be christened in suitably splendid style by screen
legend Sophia Loren on Sunday 12 July 2009, in Barcelona (Spain).
The arrival of MSC Splendida brings the number of
ships in the MSC Cruises fleet to ten. She and sister ship MSC
Fantasia, launched in Naples last December, are the largest ships
ever built by a European ship owner. Each capable of carrying
3,959 passengers, these “floating cities” are 333m long, 66.8m
tall and weigh 137,936 metric tons.
Featuring a
performance by Flamenco dance troupe Los Vivancos and a
spectacular display of Castells, the Catalan tradition of human
towers, the evening’s entertainment will also include a special
concert by world famous tenor Jos? Carreras. Performing in his
hometown, the Maestro will be accompanied by the 60 musicians of
the Orquestra Simf?nica del Vall?s.
Completing the
colourful ceremony will be a parade of the ships’ officers and, of
course, the traditional cutting of the ribbon by the godmother of
the MSC Cruises fleet, Sophia Loren.