U.K Holidays

The ski season has ended but with the weather changes, the resorts below have turned their attention to summer holidays.

Remembering D-Day
Last week saw the 69^th anniversary of D-Day marked by an innovative approach from Channel 4 with seven individuals tracked and their progress charted in real time over the internet, social media and TV. This is just the beginning of what will be burgeoning interest in D-Day in the lead up to next year’s 70^th anniversary. Get ahead of the game with Pierre & Vacances and learn with your family about the infamous landing beaches and the surrounding Normandy battlefields. The Normandy Garden Holiday Village is just a few miles from the beaches and the town of Caen around which paratroopers landed. The village itself is set amongst classic Normandy countryside with houses to match. There is an aqua centre, tennis courts and play areas as well as kids and teen clubs on offer. Prices for 3 nights start at £274 (down from £304) for a 1 bedroom select apartment sleeping up to 3. For more information visit www.pv-holidays.com or call 0870 0267 145

VIP SKI cycling holidays
VIP SKI has teamed up with Hammer Sports to offer a cycling holiday in the Alps with a competitive edge. Arriving on the 23^rd June the week takes in the Morzine Sportive with an option to ride the 110km or 160km route. The cycling experts from Hammer Sports are on hand to prepare you and your bike for the big ride as well as guide and advise on big rides around Les Gets and the Portes du Soleil area of the French Alps. Accommodation is at the Altitude Lodge in Les Gets, a large comfortable chalet featuring a large terrace, sauna and massage suite, outdoor hot tub and plenty of relaxing space. The price of the holiday has been discounted by £100 to £390 for 7 nights or by £40 to £270 for the first 4 nights of the week (departing after the sportive) arriving on the 23^rd June. Price includes breakfast and a two course meal accompanied by wine. Entry into the Morzine Sportive is 37€. Self-drive is the best option for travel due to transportation of bikes. Visit www.vip-chalets.com/summer-alps-cycling or call 0844 557 3119

10% off summer Alpine breaks with VIP SKI
Bookings made before the 14^th June are now subject to a 10% discount. The Alaska Lodge in Morzine is the perfect location to make the most of the variety of activities on offer in the resort. Right in the centre of the resort the lodge has stunning interiors, a sauna and a hot tub. In the summer rooms are booked by the night and on a bed and breakfast basis. A 4 night stay starts at £234 per room, with family rooms sleeping up to 4 included. 7 nights starts at £477 per room. Prices remain at these levels through the summer. For more information or to book visit www.vip-chalets.com or call 0844 557 3119

Mallorca with Coastline Villas
Departing on the 29^th June there is a special price for the C’an Mir villa from Coastline Villas, a saving of around 15%. This is a large villa, perfect for those big family get-togethers or a couple of families who enjoy going on holiday together. This is a 6 person villa with the possibility of further guests. A large walled garden means privacy is assured and the mature landscaping within along with the large swimming pool make for a relaxing environment. 20,000 square metres beyond the walls are also within the grounds of this substantial villa. Within the villa itself there is a great open plan living/dining area and a large, rather grand, staircase leads to the upstairs bedrooms. The master bedroom has a walk-in closet, large ensuite and balcony, the whole villa exudes exclusivity. The villa is located near Pollensa, in northern Mallorca, situated between the town and the beaches, just 2km from the closest beach. The price, villa only, is £3,556. Coastline’s nannies and chef services can also be added for an additional charge. For more information or to book visit www.coastline.co.uk or call 0844 557 1020

Coastline Tour de France breaks
With a Team Sky 1-2 in the Criterium du Daupine at the weekend it is time to seriously consider another British winner of the Tour de France, in the form of Chris Froome. The start of this year’s race is in Corsica with the first 3 stages taking place on the French Mediterranean island. Coastline Villas have several properties available through the time of the Tour’s visit. The initial stage on the 29^th June starts at Porto Vecchio before making its way north. The Supranu villa is just 10 minutes from the town using the included air conditioned car. The villa sleeps 8 in 4 bedrooms and has amazing views from its hillside position of the sea. Large luxurious bedrooms and open plan living spaces mean this is a real treat accompanied by the outdoor space featuring freeform pool. 7 nights from the 23^rd June start at £845 per person including return flights from London Gatwick, air conditioned car and a welcome hamper. For more or to book visit www.coastline.co.uk or call 0844 557 1020

Just over 2 weeks left to win!
Quark Expeditions’ Greenland Contest can still be entered up until the 30^th June and with a once in a lifetime trip on offer it is well worth entering. Through watching a fact filled video or viewing an equally informative infographic contestants need to answer 3 questions about the most active glacier, the Northern Lights and Greenland’s ice covering. The prize on offer is a 15 day cruise, the Arctic Quest itinerary, which visits Greenland and Canada. Accommodation and meals are on the Sea Explorer with Arctic wildlife to be seen throughout the trip along with Inuit communities. Special excursions on Zodiac boats are arguably the prizes highlight as winners are whisked to the shore to take a closer look. For more information and to enter visit www.quarkexpeditions.com/blog/contest

Ski Safari early booking deal!
Another great North American early booking deal from Ski Safari travelling this time to Whistler. 10 nights in Whistler is just £1,139 per person, savings of over 40% on accommodation. £880 per person is saved when staying at a 3* property based on four sharing a 2 bedroom condo. Once the booking is confirmed the property is confirmed to the party. The options are the Stoney Creek Lagoons, Tyndall Stone Lodge or the Glacier’s Reach. A 9 day lift pass is also available with a saving of 38% making it £393 per person. For more visit www.skisafari.com or call 01273 224060

Preferred Suites

Offers from Preferred Hotel Group™ are ideal for us who want to splurge – and save – on suite accommodations or those of us who long for a dose of world-class culture and couture. Available now through December 31, these new specials present luxurious accommodations in spectacular settings for unforgettable 2013 excursions.

Before you go… Join I Prefer & experience the ease of I Prefer Membership. No points to count. No waiting for hotel rewards. We will automatically receive room upgrades (if available), complimentary WIFI, early check in and late check out and as an I Prefer member we receive an amenity, unique to each hotel.  Best of all, membership is free so please register online today!

Couples pining for a romantic weekend à deux, families jetting off for a fun vacation, and business travelers on an extended stay can save up to 50 percent on suite accommodations when booking a two-night stay or longer with “Preferred Suites”. Highlights of participating Preferred Hotel Group properties include:

Save 30 to 50 Percent in the Americas (*Discounts vary by property)

 o  Newburg, Oregon, USA: Preferred Boutique member The Allison Inn & Spa offers eight one-bedroom suites that are equipped with a gas fireplace, deep soaking tub, and balcony or terrace with panoramic views of the famed Willamette Valley wine region. *Regular suite rates from US$460 per night.

 o  Orlando, Florida, USA: The one- to four-bedroom villas at The Villas of Grand Cypress, pictured above, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, allow families to stretch out while enjoying quick access to the city’s famed theme parks. *Regular suite rates from US$225 per night.

Save 20 Percent in Europe, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, and India

  o   London, England, UK: The 16 suites at ME London, a member of Preferred Hotels & Resorts, feature private terraces with panoramic views and other unexpected pleasures, such as 24-hour service from a personal host. *Regular suite rates from US$1,670 per night.

  o   New Delhi, India: A luxurious choice for the business or leisure traveler, the 43 suites at Preferred Hotels & Resorts member The Imperial New Delhi are among the largest in India and feature marble baths and custom décor. *Regular suite rates from US$730 per night.

  o   Phuket, Thailand: At La Flora Resort Patong, pictured right, a member of Summit Hotels & Resorts, three Sea View Suites offer private balconies that overlook the Andaman Sea, while five Pool Villas are the only rooms on Patong Beach with private plunge pools. *Regular suite rates from US$615 per night.

  o   Vienna, Austria: The 21 suites at Hotel Sans Souci, a member of Preferred Boutique, feature designer furniture, parquet floors, original artwork from Roy Lichtenstein, and luxury baths with steam showers. *Regular suite rates from US$360 per night. 

For a full list of participating hotels and to make reservations, visit www.PreferredHotelGroup.com/Suites. 

VIP SKI

Hankering for a quick ski fix pre-Christmas but short on time? Specialist ski company VIP SKI is delighted to offer short ski breaks in Val d’Isere and St Anton between 1^st and 22^nd December 2013.

The super-stylish Hotel Montjola in St Anton, launched last season was treated to a total overhaul by VIP SKI’s interior designers to give the hotel that special VIP twist and is open for the first time for early season short breaks. St Anton is a skiers resort; varied terrain and lots of it, fantastic snow reliability and a state of the art lift system make it a skier’s delight no matter what your age and experience.

Val d’Isere, offers practically limitless skiing and breath-taking surroundings. L’Espace Killy which comprises of Val d’Isere and neighbouring Tignes is the highest extended ski area in the world, with a well-founded reputation for excellent snowfall. Val d’Isere’s 300km of pistes include everything from green and reds to the legendary Face de Bellevarde black run and some of the most exhilarating off-piste worldwide. VIP SKI’s boutique hotel style chalets offer plush accommodation in excellent central locations in the heart of Val d’Isere.

At long last, an opportunity to book early and enjoy VIP SKI chalets and service on a short break – perfect for that pre-season warm up, an office Christmas reward for staff or to inject some pre festivities romance into the month!

VIP SKI will publicise online a collection of rooms and chalets available on a short break basis. Prices will be £149 per person per night for the usual VIP SKI fully catered product, staying a minimum of 3 nights.

Sample package: VIP SKI (0844 557 3119) offers a long weekend break, arriving on a Thursday and leaving on a Sunday (3 days skiing) from £447 at Aspen Lodge in val d’Isere. Price includes catered chalet accommodation including cooked breakfast, afternoon tea, three course evening meal followed by cheese board and coffee and mints, house wine, daily newspapers and complimentary toiletries. Flights and transport to resort not included but can be arranged at a supplement.

Snowcarbon

A new online journey-planning tool is set to revolutionise the way that skiers and snowboarders find out how to travel to ski resorts by train. The new Snowcarbon Journey Planner shows recommended train travel itineraries to ski resorts all over the Alps further in advance and more easily than anywhere else online.

Powered by a unique database, assembled in conjunction with leading rail companies, the Journey Planner enables skiers to view and compare the best, hand-researched, daytime and overnight journeys for 34 ski resorts in France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Andorra, up to 12 months in advance, and includes transfer information from station to resort.

“With the school holidays over, many skiers are already planning their winter holidays and want to know comprehensive train options – and many start planning a year ahead.” says Snowcarbon Director, Daniel Elkan. “But until now they couldn’t find comprehensive train timetables on rail-company websites – so although they love the train, they were always left in the dark about their rail options. The Journey Planner is a solution to this.

“We’ve designed it so that ski resorts, tour operators, travel agents and accommodation providers, who want to proactively communicate train options to clients can now do so, because the Journey Planner can be used as an iFrame within their website travel sections. So skiers can view train schedules, powered by an accurate, updated, comprehensive central information source, without needing to leave the travel page of the ski website that they are on.”

Eric Chevalier, director of Les Arcs ski resort in France, one of the first resorts to pioneer the Journey Planner, says: “Les Arcs is the perfect resort to travel to by train with both direct and indirect options from the UK. Rail access is one of our important strengths and we’re really pleased to be able to communicate this to the British market with Snowcarbon’s journey planner.”

Holly Fisher, director of chalet company Fish & Pips, with chalets in Meribel, France, says. “We always encourage our clients to come by train. It is a far more enjoyable journey and it becomes part of their holiday – skiers arrive so much more relaxed. We get a lot of clients asking us for advice on what the best rail options are, so the Snowcarbon Journey Planner enables us to communicate travel information accurately and efficiently.”

All the travel information on Snowcarbon has been thoroughly researched, with journey photos to show what the trains and stations are like. The site’s new Journey Planner launches on 3rd September 2012. Travelling to the slopes by train is a fun enjoyable experience that creates only a fraction of the pollution of flying or driving. For more information visit: Snowcarbon (www.snowcarbon.co.uk)