Chocoholics looking for a family break this Easter can pick up some great deals from European holiday village specialist Sunparks, which is offering three-night stays in the chocolate capital of the world, Belgium, for as little as €179 (approximately £163) per family.

Sunparks’ all weather, year-round holiday villages have facilities suitable for families, groups of friends and couples. The company offers four properties in Belgium, as well as additional holiday villages in Germany and Holland. Some of the best last minute deals for Easter short breaks in Belgium are listed below, or for more properties and information about booking a longer break, please visit:
http://www.sunparks.co.uk or call 0904 0110 011.

Sunparks De Haan, Belgium
Three night breaks start from €299 (£272) for a family of four in a standard self-catering villa from the 9th – 12th April 2010
Located just 30km (approximately 15 minutes drive) from the centre of Bruges, Sunparks De Haan acts as a great base from which to explore the historic city. Bruges is the perfect choice for chocoholics to spend an Easter break, boasting its own chocolate museum, Choco-story, as well as its very own official city chocolate, called the Bruges swan. The city even has chocolate-themed walking tours throughout the year, taking visitors on a tour of the best chocolate shops in the region. De Haan is also close to the beach at Ostend and several cycling trails on the West Flemish hinterland.
http://bit.ly/8RbnAa

Sunparks Ardennen, Belgium
Three night breaks start from €199 (£181) for a family of four in a standard self-catering villa from the 6th – 9th April 2010
Located in a peaceful area amongst the Ardennes woods and just 1km from Vielsalm, Sunparks Ardennen is perfect for families looking for a relaxing break in the Belgian countryside. On site, an ‘aquafun’ indoor water park is available for the whole family and mountain bike hire is available for families who wish to explore the local region. Nearby is the Chlorophylle Park nature reserve, the Beer Museum in Rodt, the Han caves and Clervaux Castle across the border in Luxemburg. Holiday villas are available for groups of up to 20 people.
http://bit.ly/aPRZtB

Sunparks Kempense Meren, Belgium
Prices start from €179 (£163) for a family of four in a standard self-catering villa from the 6th – 9th April 2010
Located in the Belgian Campine, amongst 2,000km of car-free cycling trails, Kempense Meren is ideal for active families. Onsite, there is an ‘aquafun’ swimming complex, as well as a wellness centre with saunas, Jacuzzis and Turkish baths. Nearby, children and adults alike can be kept amused at the Bobbejaanland theme park and Olmense Zoo. The Bokrijk open-air museum is also a must-see in the local area. The property boasts both villa and hotel accommodation.
http://bit.ly/9aCUHH

Tourism Flanders- Brussels is pleased to announce that with immediate effect, its promotion of Flanders and Brussels as a meeting and incentive destination will be globally re-branded as The Belgian Convention Bureau – Flanders Brussels.

Representing the Belgian Convention Bureau is Sarah Mathews who is the Meetings, Incentives and Conferences Manager at Tourism Flanders’ London office. The office offers an essential first point of contact for meeting planners for staging events in Flanders and Brussels. They will be represented at Confex 2010 at Earls Court on Stand P130, where the Convention’s branding will be exhibited for the first time.

The region is famous for its historical cities: Antwerp, Bruges, Ghent, Leuven and Mechelen. Brussels is not only capital of Europe and Belgium but of Flanders as well. Culturally rich and well connected in terms of its network of transport options, the region is also renowned for its superb gastronomy and local food delicacies. Furthermore, its great range of conference facilities, proximity to the UK and top of the range hotels, make Flanders a quality venue choice in terms of value for money.

www.visitflanders.co.uk/go/mice

DFDS Seaways has launched its Mini Cruises & Hotel Breaks 2010 brochure with an extensive range of inspiring new value for money cruise break ideas for 2010. Departures are from Newcastle and Harwich with lead in prices of £69pp for a two night Mini Cruise break.

The new brochure highlights the ever popular Mini Cruises, cosmopolitan city breaks with a hotel stay, family adventures, cultural breaks and trips with a car to destinations across Europe. There’s something for everyone including families, couples or groups of friends.

Andrew Crowe, Head of Sales at DFDS Seaways commented: “In 2010 we are building on the success of 2009. In addition to our traditional two night Mini Cruises and the three night Cruise & Hotel breaks, we are adding even more variety and choice of short breaks.

“We have 27 short breaks in the brochure, offering new and interesting short cruise breaks that will suit families, friends and groups. From themes such as St Patrick’s Day and Halloween, to destination breaks such as Keukenhof Gardens and the Spring Flower Festival in Holland, to Hamelin in Germany and Bruges in Belgium. The range has been developed following customer and agent feedback and we are confident it will give our customers even more reasons to travel with DFDS Seaways.”

Highlights of the new brochure include:

Mini Cruises

DFDS Seaways’ Mini Cruise breaks offer the perfect escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, with the ever popular two night Mini Cruise break to Amsterdam from £69pp or Esbjerg in Denmark from £85pp. For further information on Mini Cruises for to www.dfds.co.uk/minicruises

Themed Mini Cruises

These variations on an Amsterdam Mini Cruise include special or themed onboard entertainment and include St Patrick’s Day ‘craic’, a romantic cruise and Halloween fun, all combined with a day in Amsterdam. To celebrate the EAT! festival of food and drink that takes place annually in NewcastleGateshead, DFDS Seaways are putting on a special themed EAT! at Sea Mini Cruise with star chefs Terry Laybourne and Dave Kennedy designing a special and exceptional menu – the perfect trip for foodies across the country. Lead in prices for Themed Mini Cruises are from only £69pp for two night break, plus coach transfers and a day in Amsterdam. For further information on Themed Mini Cruises go to www.dfds.co.uk/theme

Special Mini Cruises

The range of breaks has been specially designed to offer trips focusing on history, tradition and culture, gardens and family fun. Cruises include trips to quaint Dutch town Alkmaar, a journey to Haarlem the city of flowers; enjoy Holland in bloom with the Keukenhof Gardens or Spring Flower Festival, and much more. Lead in prices from only £88pp for a two night break. For further information on Special Mini Cruises go to www.dfds.co.uk/special

Cruise & Hotel Breaks

The perfect way to explore some of Europe’s most cultural cities including Amsterdam, Esbjerg, Hamelin, Bruges and Brussels, all trips include two nights on board and overnight accommodation from a range of city centre hotels. Lead in prices are from £119pp. DFDS Seaways have also partnered up with Octopus Travel so that customers can receive up to 30% discount if they want to book their hotel independently. For further information on Cruise & Hotel Breaks go to www.dfds.co.uk/hotel

Cruise & Drive Breaks

This is the ideal choice for people who like to get the most out of their short break and explore while enjoying a relaxing time away with the family or a loved one. All packages include carriage of a standard car. With breaks to medieval Ribe, wonderful Copenhagen, Legoland and Middlefart in Denmark, plus Centre Parcs Europe and Sunparks holiday villages across Europe, there is much to enjoy. Lead in prices are from £156pp and range from 4, 5 and 6 nights including two nights on board ship, plus carriage of a standard car, departing from both Newcastle and Harwich. With flexible departure dates over the year, there is something to suit all. For further information on Cruise & Drive Breaks go to www.dfds.co.uk/drive

DFDS Seaways has recently been awarded Europe’s Leading Long Sea Ferry Operator 2009 at the World Travel Awards, the industry’s “Oscars”. This is the third successive year that the cruise ferry operator has received this recognition.

To get in the spirit of the World Cup frenzy, DFDS Seaways are showing World Cup games onboard to ensure that those avid football fans do not miss a second of the world class action!

Lovebirds looking for a great value break this Valentine’s weekend should head to the chocolate capital of the world, Belgium, for a taste of the Bruges annual Chocolate Market. To celebrate, European holiday village specialist Sunparks is offering accommodation for couples from just €229 (previously €389) per villa per weekend.

For two days, from the 13th – 14th February 2010, chocolatiers and chocolate shops from all over Bruges will gather to display some of the world’s finest chocolates at the Chocolate Guild’s annual Chocolate Market. The Belgian city of Bruges is the perfect choice for chocoholics to spend a Valentine’s break. The UNESCO world heritage city boasts its own chocolate museum, Choco-story, as well as its very own official city chocolate, called the Bruges swan. The city even has chocolate- themed walking tours throughout the year, taking visitors on a tour of the best chocolate shops in the region.

Sunparks De Haan aan zee is located just 30km (approximately 15 minutes drive) from the centre of Bruges and acts as a great base from which to explore the historic city, as well as the many sights of the picturesque Belgian coastline. The property is also close to the beach at Ostend and several cycling trails on the West Flemish hinterland.

A two person ‘exclusive’ villa from the 12th – 15th February 2010 starts from €229 (previously €389). The villa includes a living area with fireplace, one double bedroom, a fully kitted kitchen area, a large terrace and a private sauna. http://bit.ly/8RbnAa

Anyone booking a holiday in either January or February 2010 will also be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a week’s holiday every year for the next ten years, as part of Sunparks’ ‘Decade of Happiness’ competition.

16 December – A road trip adventure across Europe is a surefire way to cure the winter blues and with a whole host of weird and wonderful events taking place across the channel – from riotous carnivals led by a fat cow to death defying sledding competitions (without the sled!) – thrill seekers will not be disappointed.

To aid to such a trip, Wicked Campers offers the funkiest form of budget transport, with individually graffitied vans complete with built-in kitchen and accommodation or tents for the larger vehicles.

Wicked Campers is a bargain campervan company, ideal for budget and independent travellers.
They offer a choice of two-berth and five-seater vans with one-way and round-trip hire from a
number of the coolest cities in Europe. With the money saved on transport and accommodation,
travellers can afford all the great activities, events and adventures not-to-be-missed which include:

Befana Benefica, Milan, Italy – 6 January: Motorcyclists throughout Italy converge on Milan for
this annual two-wheel charity procession which is kick-started by a toothless old witch who’s
substituted her old broomstick for a shiny new bike! Despite the bazaar introduction, food and gifts are handed out to kids and poor people in a heart-warming feast of generosity.

San Antón Festival, Spain – 17 January: A free festival in the mountain-top village of Moclín in
Andalusia celebrating the Patron Saint Antón, the protector of animals, pigs in particular. It features lively parties with plenty of pork. A barbecue in the village square follows, where locals eat, drink and dance the night away around a bonfire.

Paris Carnival, France – 14 February: This annual procession is over 500 years-old and is also
known as the Fat Cow Parade. Led by the Fat Cow herself, the carnival mascot, the event is free
with music, costumes and dancing.

Arschleder Sledding World Championship, Germany – 14 February: Neudorf, in Germany’s
Ore Mountains, stages the world championship in sliding down a ski slope protected from the
ravages of nature by nothing more than a pair of leather over-britches. Everybody is welcome and,
naturally, surprises are to be expected.

Dead Rat Ball, Belgium – 6 March: Dress up in an outrageous outfit at the Bal du Rat Mort, held
at Ostend Casino and guests can win the coveted best dressed prize. Entry is €30.

Rotterdam Pancake Cruise, Netherlands – three times weekly: This thrice-weekly cruise on
the Netherlands’ only floating pancake restaurant is a must for those with a sweet tooth. As the
boat lifts anchor, hungry passengers have just over an hour to make and eat their dream pancake.
This winter, Wicked Campers is offering discounted campervan hire, for travel throughout Europe,
with prices starting from just £288 per week. Valid until 1 April, the price includes a two-berth
campervan with pick-up and drop-off in London, insurance for two drivers aged 25 and over,
unlimited mileage and roadside assistance. One-way packages are also available. Depots include
Amsterdam, Barcelona, Malaga and Munich to name but a few.

The Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia has sent a special Christmas package (details below) to Mr David Highest of The Moon, the best-selling UK daily famous for its images of fully-clothed attractive young women on page 5. The newspaper published an article last month by the reporter claiming that the Belgians were boring and that the country had only produced one famous “rubbish actor”.

A video with special Christmas greetings for the journalist has also been posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZn_vaZ18Js)
by the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia.

Speaking from London, director of the BTO Françoise Scheepers said “we felt very sorry for Mr Highest who has probably never been to Belgium, or if he has, not to the right places. We realise that he must have been upset by an article in the Belgian press on 10 reasons to dislike the English, but it would appear that Mr Highest had not read the full article which also included 10 reasons why in fact the Belgians really love the English.”

She added: “We hope that his Christmas present will be of use to his professional career and help him with any further articles he might write on Belgium and the Belgians.”

She also said “We hope that all those who love Belgium have a very merry Christmas and enjoy our Christmas video to The Moon.”

The Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia has sent a special Christmas package (details below) to Mr David Highest of The Moon, the best-selling UK daily famous for its images of fully-clothed attractive young women on page 5. The newspaper published an article last month by the reporter claiming that the Belgians were boring and that the country had only produced one famous “rubbish actor”.

A video with special Christmas greetings for the journalist has also been posted on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZn_vaZ18Js)
by the Belgian Tourist Office-Brussels & Wallonia.

Speaking from London, director of the BTO Françoise Scheepers said “we felt very sorry for Mr Highest who has probably never been to Belgium, or if he has, not to the right places. We realise that he must have been upset by an article in the Belgian press on 10 reasons to dislike the English, but it would appear that Mr Highest had not read the full article which also included 10 reasons why in fact the Belgians really love the English.”

She added: “We hope that his Christmas present will be of use to his professional career and help him with any further articles he might write on Belgium and the Belgians.”

She also said “We hope that all those who love Belgium have a very merry Christmas and enjoy our Christmas video to The Moon.”

Families looking for some last minute New Year inspiration can still pick up a bargain break from holiday village specialist, Sunparks. The company is offering last minute breaks of five to seven nights to its holiday properties in Holland, Belgium and Germany, with prices starting from as little as £20 per person, per night.

All of the below prices are based on a seven night stay between 28th December 2009 – 4th January 2010 on an accommodation-only basis. Long weekend breaks of five nights from 30th December 2009 – 4th January 2010 are also available. At all properties, a special New Year’s Eve dinner and New Year’s Day breakfast buffet is available at an additional cost. For more details please visit the village “Extras” pages on http://www.sunparks.co.uk

Sunparks De Haan aan zee, Belgium Typical Christmas and New Year prices for a four person standard villa are from €329 (£298) per week per villa Located just 30km from the centre of the UNESCO world heritage site of Bruges where you can enjoy the New Year festivities in the city’s historic centre.

Sunparks De Haan is a great base for exploring the picturesque Belgian coastline and the village itself features a wide array of activities for the whole family including an Aquafun indoor swimming centre and a ‘Kids World’ indoor playground. For the more adventurous, why not head down to the local Groot Strand beach on New Year’s Day for the annual Ostend New Year swim?

http://bit.ly/8RbnAa

Sunparks Zandvoort aan zee, Holland Typical Christmas and New Year prices for a four person select villa are from €429 (£389) per week per villa A forty-minute drive from Amsterdam, Sunparks Zandvoort aan zee offers the best of both worlds – close to the vibrant capital but located in a peaceful setting on the Dutch coast. Take in the firework displays and festivities in Amsterdam or Haarlem on New Year’s Eve before spending a relaxing New Year’s Day cycling the local trails or relaxing in the parks very own ‘aquacinema.’ Children are well looked after with tennis and mini golf facilities, as well as an Aquafun water park on-site.

The local beach at Zandvoort also runs an annual New Year Dive on the 1st January, which is often followed by a number of free family events and activities on the beach. http://bit.ly/5afgUo

Sunparks Eifel, Germany Typical Christmas and New Year prices for a four person select villa are from €399 (£362) per week per villa Lying at the centre of a volcanic region in the German countryside, Sunparks Eifel is a great choice for families looking for an active post-Christmas break. The park is ideally situated just ten minutes away from the infamous Nürburgring formula one circuit where you can have a guided tour or even experience driving around the track yourself.

For those looking for something a little more active the Eifel has some great cross-country skiing (weather permitting) and Nordic walking trails. The local medieval village of Cochem is also nearby boasting a 1,000-year-old castle, fairytale architecture and a bustling village square. On-site facilities include indoor and outdoor tennis courts and a large ‘Aquafun’ water park, complete with water slides for the children. http://bit.ly/4swMOD Ends

About Sunparks Sunparks offers eight comfortable and well-equipped holiday villages in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. Sunparks is an all-weather holiday concept, with facilities for all ages and all seasons, including indoor and outdoor sports facilities; ‘Aquafun’ water parks; children’s play areas and numerous restaurants and cafés on-site. Sunparks is part of the Pierre & Vacances Group.

Each village also has a dedicated tourist information centre, the Tourist Guide, where village guests and online visitors can view the best tips and event listings for cultural, gastronomic, shopping and recreational activities in each region. These include hurtling across abandoned railway tracks on a rail bike in the Ardennes, racing in the Nurburgring, or trying beauty creams and sampling liqueurs made from horse milk in De Peel in Limburg. The Tourist Guide also provides a complete overview of special restaurants and cafés in the regions. For further information, please visit: http://www.sunparks.com/touristguide

Further information For further consumer information on Sunparks, please visit: http://www.sunparks.co.uk or call 0904 0110 011

Media information and press trips For media information and images or if you’re interested in a press trip, please contact Rebecca Genin or Laura Crickmore at Surf PR on 020 7928 1600 or email laura.crickmore@surfpr.co.uk or rebecca.genin@surfpr.co.uk

Camping and mobile home specialist, Vacansoleil has launched its biggest ever brochure with the 2010 programme featuring around 335 European campsites – including 35 which are new for the coming year.

Around half of the new sites are in France, whilst there are also additions in Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Denmark and Croatia.

The company is also introducing new and improved bungalow tents – with room for four sleeping compartments – at selected sites in France and Italy during 2010.

Outside of peak season, the programme features some superb free night deals – such as ‘seven-nights-for-the-price-of-five’ and ‘14-nights-for-the-price-of-seven’.

As an example of what’s new, Les Dunes is a lovely campsite situated alongside the 4-kilometere long Torreilles Plage sandy beach – which is ideal for young children – in the Roussillon region of southern France.

On-site facilities include heated pool and children’s pool, tennis, table tennis, mini golf, football pitch, games room, playground and cycle hire. For those who wish to explore further, oyster farms, pretty coastal villages and the city of Perpignan are all within easy reach.

A seven-night stay – for a family of up to six – in a fully-equipped Fiji mobile home costs from £434 per party in May, rising to £998 in peak season.

These prices include midweek return Dover-Calais P&O crossing for car and passengers. If no ferry is required, the price is reduced by £90 (the company now provides a link on it website which gives price comparisons of low cost airlines and it can also arrange car hire from the airports).

A road trip adventure across Europe is a surefire way to cure the winter blues and with a whole host of weird and wonderful events taking place across the channel – from riotous

carnivals led by a fat cow to death defying sledding competitions (without the sled!) – thrill seekers will not be disappointed. To aid to such a trip, Wicked Campers offers the funkiest form of budget transport, with individually graffitied vans complete with built-in kitchen and accommodation or tents for the larger vehicles.

Wicked Campers is a bargain campervan company, ideal for budget and independent travellers.

They offer a choice of two-berth and five-seater vans with one-way and round-trip hire from a

number of the coolest cities in Europe. With the money saved on transport and accommodation,

travellers can afford all the great activities, events and adventures not-to-be-missed which include:

Befana Benefica, Milan, Italy – 6 January: Motorcyclists throughout Italy converge on Milan for

this annual two-wheel charity procession which is kick-started by a toothless old witch who’s

substituted her old broomstick for a shiny new bike! Despite the bazaar introduction, food and gifts are handed out to kids and poor people in a heart-warming feast of generosity.

San Antón Festival, Spain – 17 January: A free festival in the mountain-top village of Moclín in

Andalusia celebrating the Patron Saint Antón, the protector of animals, pigs in particular. It features lively parties with plenty of pork. A barbecue in the village square follows, where locals eat, drink and dance the night away around a bonfire.

Paris Carnival, France – 14 February: This annual procession is over 500 years-old and is also

known as the Fat Cow Parade. Led by the Fat Cow herself, the carnival mascot, the event is free

with music, costumes and dancing.

Arschleder Sledding World Championship, Germany – 14 February: Neudorf, in Germany’s

Ore Mountains, stages the world championship in sliding down a ski slope protected from the

ravages of nature by nothing more than a pair of leather over-britches. Everybody is welcome and,

naturally, surprises are to be expected.

Dead Rat Ball, Belgium – 6 March: Dress up in an outrageous outfit at the Bal du Rat Mort, held

at Ostend Casino and guests can win the coveted best dressed prize. Entry is €30.

Rotterdam Pancake Cruise, Netherlands – three times weekly: This thrice-weekly cruise on

the Netherlands’ only floating pancake restaurant is a must for those with a sweet tooth. As the

boat lifts anchor, hungry passengers have just over an hour to make and eat their dream pancake.

This winter, Wicked Campers is offering discounted campervan hire, for travel throughout Europe,

with prices starting from just £288 per week. Valid until 1 April, the price includes a two-berth

campervan with pick-up and drop-off in London, insurance for two drivers aged 25 and over,

unlimited mileage and roadside assistance. One-way packages are also available. Depots include

Amsterdam, Barcelona, Malaga and Munich to name but a few.