Essential Italy are pleased to add this charming apartment in the ancient part of Siracusa (Ortigia), Sicily to their portfolio.

Casa Luisa / Ortigia, Sicily http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casa-luisa.php

(Sleeps 2)

Casa Luisa offers pretty and simple accommodation in the heart of the ancient part of Siracusa. This charming and romantic ground floor apartment will make you feel like you are one of the locals from the moment you arrive.

Casa Luisa is in an impressive sea-facing building with a majestic wooden gate leading into a courtyard. The apartment is found at the back of the building and the more than stylish design and décor makes up for the lack of sea-view. There is a super outside terrace that sits between the tightly packed old “palazzi” of Ortigia where you may enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy the warm air day or night!

The location of the apartment means you will find yourself in the middle of Italian life with an easy stroll to the local bars or to the archeological sites, shops, restaurants and sea-front as well.

Location: Catania airport 65km, Taormina 120km, Ragusa 78km, Porto Palo 60km, Trapani airport 375km, Palermo airport 290km

Prices: From £515 – £630 per week depending on season

On Thursday 4 March, Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick and Copthorne Hotel Effingham Park both received an award at the region’s most prestigious business event, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010. The Gatwick Diamond Awards celebrates the best of businesses and people who have shown innovation and inspiration in their work, and have demonstrated a real commitment to the sub-region.

The award in the category of “Commitment to Developing People and Skills” recognises commitment to the development of staff at the heart of the organisation, and recognises that developing people in business will drive business forward.

Judging the entry, Russell Strutt, Principle of Central Sussex College, commented that the Copthorne Hotels “manage to wholly engage its workforce to achieve its business objectives through a comprehensive review process, a commitment to personal development and incentivised recognised programmes. Peer training champions in each of its departments help to drive and deliver development and training linked to organisational objectives, with targets translated into meaningful milestones for staff at every level. In an industry renowned for transient employment, this company has a stable staff with an amazing 43% of them in a post to which they have been promoted, proving that talent identification and development really works.”

Heinz Skalnik, General Manager at both hotels, commented: “We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award which demonstrates that effective staff development can have a dramatic impact on the performance of a business, and this is fundamental to supporting our success at the Copthorne Hotels.”

Haven Holiday parks all around the UK are preparing to start the new season on March 19th by unveiling the results of a £40million winter investment programme.

Holidaymakers booking an early season break will be amongst the first to try out the new facilities at Haven’s 35 parks. New attractions range from Adventure Golf courses, new sports and play areas, improvements to venues and ShowBars, upgraded accommodation and, best of all, two fabulous Space Bowls giving guests the ultimate ‘Wow’ factor at Combe Haven near Hastings and Marton Mere at Blackpool!

Swimmers using the Space Bowls can expect a high speed ride down the flumes before spinning around the bowl and dropping into the pool. Great fun but not for the faint-hearted!

Haven say, ‘We’ve invested £40 million in our parks to ensure that families can enjoy even better facilities and some spectacular new innovations. But we’ve made sure our prices have remained affordable to provide the best possible value for money.’

Spring breaks start from as little as £99 for a family of up to six in ‘Superior’ holiday homes on three night breaks from March 19th or four night breaks from March 22nd. The special deal is available at a wide choice of parks including The Orchards near Clacton in Essex, Golden Sands near Mablethorpe, Hafan y Mor in North Wales and Haven’s flagship park, Devon Cliffs near Exmouth.

If you can’t get away until the Easter holidays Combe Haven is offering breaks from April 9th at £179 for a family of six and Marton Mere is offering Bank Holiday Breaks, arriving 2nd April from £299 – both prices based on ‘Superior’ bedroom holiday homes.

For bookings and more info call 0871 230 1900 or click on www.haven.com

Thanks to Eurocamp, those seeking some early summer sunshine have the opportunity to bag their summer break for less than £400 for the whole family.

Why not take advantage of fantastic early summer deals and enjoy magnificent Vendée? Spanning 300 kilometres of spectacular Atlantic coastline, endless golden beaches and crystal clear waters; it’s a paradise for watersports enthusiasts, while the region’s climate makes it an idyllic holiday destination for all the family.

Eurocamp’s Le Clarys-Plage parc in the Vendée is lively all season, making it a great choice for families, particularly those who enjoy splashing around in the sun. With its fantastic swimming pool complex, comprising of sun terraces and a selection of waterslides, there’s also the option of beach-side fun with a wonderful sandy beach located just a short stroll away.

The parc also offers a selection of first class activities and regular entertainment. And with an excellent children’s play area and free Mini Fun Station kids club offering – supervised fun activities like sand play and painting for children aged 6 months to 5 years – there’s plenty to keep the little ones entertained.

A seven night break, staying at Eurocamp’s Le Clarys-Plage parc, arriving 11 June 2010, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Comfort’ mobile home (sleeps up to eight), costs just £327 for the whole party, including return Dover-Calais ferry crossings.

Another of Eurocamp’s popular Vendée parcs is Sol à Gogo. This modern parc has an exceptionally high standard of facilities, including a superb pool complex with waterslides, a covered pool and Jacuzzi.

The parc also offers direct access to a stunning beach and is just a few kilometres from the bustling resorts of St Hilaire and St Jean de Monts, where there’s a variety of restaurants and bars, for holidaymakers to enjoy.

A seven night break at Eurocamp’s Sol à Gogo parc, arriving 06 June 2010, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Comfort’ mobile home (sleeps up to eight) including return Dover-Calais ferry crossings, costs just £348 for the whole family.

Ferry crossings, fly drive packages, rail travel and overnight stops – at hotels or parcs en route – can also be arranged through Eurocamp at a supplement.

For further information on Eurocamp, please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk

Special Offer Valid the weekend of the 30th April through to the 2nd May…….

In honour of the famous and popular festival of Sant’Efisio, patron of Sardinia with a parade of traditional Sardinian costumes and folk dances, this spectacular hotel is offering the following – 2 nights half board £ 145.00 per person. This includes 2 nights in a room facing the park, half board (from dinner on Friday to breakfast on Sunday) with the use of sunbeds and beach umbrellas included. The offer is not inclusive of drinks.

To view:
www.italian-connection.co.uk/italiancollection/details2.asp?propid=433

Martin Dunford, one of the founders of the Rough Guides series of travel guides and reference books, has joined forces with the learning holidays specialist GoLearnTo.com.

Started by Vanessa Lenssen, GoLearnTo.com specialize in selling high quality learning holidays and experiences online, including language courses, cookery weekends, painting holidays, surf breaks and much more. Vanessa has over 20 years experience in the travel industry, working across a number of sectors, and was previously a Managing Director at STA Travel and MyTravel.

Dunford believes that there’s huge potential in the learning holidays sector.

‘Vanessa has established a great business in just two years, and I feel that together we can raise it to the next level. Our ambition for GoLearnTo.com is massive: to become the principal portal for learning and experience-based holidays on the web, with an inspirational and content-rich site that is the last word on this new kind of travel.

It’s a great opportunity. The sector is bigger than most people think, and getting bigger all the time. ’

The numbers bear this out. Just over three million adults attended a course while on holiday over the past three years, and over the past five years the number of consumers swapping beach holidays for trips that educate and provide new experiences has grown by 66%. Society is changing: a zeitgeist culture is driving the need for self-fulfillment, self-expression and status –holidays that satisfy the need to show off a new skill when you get home.

There is also growing interest in travel that can act as a fast-track catalyst for career changes, career progression and major ‘life-shifts’, and significant growth in the singles population and the ‘active retired’, both of which are key markets for GoLearnTo.com. According to National Statistics projections, the singles population in England and Wales is set to grow by almost a third by 2031, when it’s estimated around 45% of the adult population will live in single households.

Dunford continues: ‘Travel is in a relatively mature phase in the UK. For a huge number of people it’s just not enough to fly and flop anymore. They either want to give something back – hence the rise in volunteering and gap year experiences – or they’re looking for some aspect of self-improvement, hence the rise in activity breaks and in particular learning holidays, which are expected to be the number one growth niche market in travel in the next five years.’

Vanessa Lenssen comments: ‘I’m delighted to have Martin on board at GoLearnTo.com. He has a proven track record in building a fantastic brand at Rough Guides, and his experience, expertise and drive to succeed will be a fantastic asset in taking GoLearnTo.com to the next level.’

Kuoni, Penguin books & Elite Island Resorts launch

first dedicated Reading Week at Palm Island, The Grenadines

Bibliotheraphy on the beach and bedtime stories over a sunset cocktails are on the agenda for the first dedicated Reading Week being hosted at Palm Island resort in The Grenadines.

Everyone knows books and the beach go hand-in-hand. But picking the perfect page-turner for the sunlounger isn’t always easy. The Reading Week, which is a partnership between Kuoni, Penguin books and Elite Island Resorts, is designed to be a week of pure relaxation with fellow readers in a paradise setting to chat about favourite novels and help get people out of a reading rut.

It’s taking place over five nights from 1 – 5 May 2010 and will be hosted by BBC Radio 4 playwright and founder of the “reader in residence” scheme Damian Barr. Damian hosts the Literary Salon at the exclusive Soho & Shoreditch House members clubs where authors ranging from Jenny Colgan to Louis de Bernieres read exclusive previews of their work before being interviewed live on stage.

He’ll be supported by Ella Berthoud, a bibliotherapist who works with the School of Life—she’ll be getting to know guests and their reading habits and finding new books for them to enjoy. Bestselling Penguin Books author and journalist Julia Llewellyn, whose books include The Love Trainer, Amy’s Honeymoon and most recently Love Nest, will host a dinner and sunset storytelling.’

There are limited places for the Reading Week. It’s an all-inclusive week and the literary program is in addition to the lavish facilities on offer on Palm Island, from snorkeling to mountain biking and spa treatments to sailing. The itinerary is relaxed with a programme of one-to-one bibliotherapy sessions, sunset stories and breakfast book banter. Guests can opt in or out as you like—there’s no pressure and no pretentiousness.

Prices for the Reading Week from £1,975 per person departing on 29 April 2010 for seven nights. The price is based on two sharing on an all-inclusive basis in a palm view room. Return flights, transfers and all food and drinks are included as well as the literary programmes.

To book contact Kuoni (01306 747008 or www.kuoni.co.uk)

Palm Island is part of the Elite Island Resort group, which has seven resorts throughout the Caribbean. For more about Palm Island visit www.eliteislandresorts.co.uk

See also www.readingweekend.co.uk

With its non-Euro currency, good flying links to the UK, high quality accommodation at affordable prices, Croatia is tipped to increase in popularity this summer far more than most other European destinations, many of which are still seeing a decline in popularity. According to specialist Croatia tour operator, `Hidden Croatia’, Croatia will be one of 2010’s biggest success stories.

Alan Brown of `Hidden Croatia’ says “Not only is Croatia attracting new visitors for 2010, but the country enjoys a high level of repeat business. These are British guests who have been surprised at the high standards of accommodation and cuisine and who are returning time and time again.

When Croatia first re-emerged onto the tourist map it’s fair to say the hotels were reminiscent of its socialist past, standards were mediocre and food was nothing to write home about. These days standards have improved beyond recognition and Croatia offers really good value. Hotels have been reconstructed and refurbished, there’s a much greater emphasis on high quality food and new, cosmopolitan restaurants have sprung up.

British guests are finding both high quality and good value, something that is accelerated by the fact that Croatia’s currency is the Kuna, not the Euro. For visitors apprehensive about traveling to a Euro-zone, this is incredibly good news and although prices have increased in recent years, so has the quality.

On the Croatian coast, hotels that were distinctly average a few years ago are now of a good 4* and 5* standard and new hotels, such as the Hotel Amfora on the island of Hvar is absolutely stunning and has been improved beyond recognition. The island itself is very chic and is home to as many as 47 different types of high quality wines.

Alan Brown continued “The country is also very, very accessible from the UK. `Hidden Croatia’ has flights into Split, Pula and Dubrovnik from a choice of fourteen regional UK airports and during the summer there are nearly 50 flights a week from the UK.

Croatia has become highly fashionable. The islands in particular have become chic and are reminiscent of the sophisticated resorts of France’s Cote d’Azur. The country also has some fantastic new family hotels, for example the new Radisson Blu Resort, Dubrovnik, which opened in July 2009, which is a superb example of a family property with a variety of pools, restaurants and child-care facilities”.

He concluded “Alongside quality, value and accessibility, Croatia offers immense variety, from the historical sites at Dubrovnik and Korcula, island hopping between Croatia’s thousand or so islands, its beautiful clear sea with more blue flag beaches per kilometre than anywhere else in the world, sailing and activity holidays and holidays in Croatia’s beautiful and unspoilt interior. A lot of people hire a boat for the day when in other countries they would hire a car. Here they take out a boat and sail to one on the many uninhabited islands to play Robinson Crusoe for the day. Croatia is just not a place you could ever get bored in”.

Holiday price examples:-

A 7 night stay for a family of 4 in the 5* Radisson Blu Resort during May 2010 costs £1828, with b&b accommodation, return flights from the UK and transfers.

A 7 night all inclusive stay for a family of 4 in the Waterman’s Supertrus Resort on the fashionable island of Brac costs £1720 for 4 people in May 2010, including all meals, drinks, afternoon tea & cakes, a daily activity programme for adults and children, tennis, gym, aqua aerobics and selected sports and activites.

A 7 night stay at the 5* Hotel Amfora on the island of Hvar costs £745 per person, based on 2 sharing and including breakfast, return flights and transfers.

The Hidden Croatia 2010 brochure is launched on 4th January 2010.

To find out about holidays to Croatia visit www.hiddencroatia.com or call 0844 477 9999

The Co-operative Travel is offering double membership points on any summer holiday booked from its new tour operation before 31 March – which means a point for every pound spent. Last year each point was worth two pence, meaning a £20 return on a holiday costing £1,000.

For details call 0844 742 2030 or visit www.co operativetravelholidays.co.uk

To celebrate the clash between England and France on the rugby pitch on March 20th, Lagrange have taken 20% off two night stays over that weekend in their Paris apartments. Two nights based on two sharing a self-catering studio apartment at the Les Rives de Seine property, arriving on either the Friday or Saturday night, is now only £94 per person – ideal for rugby fans who want to enjoy the match in Paris or anyone looking for an affordable weekend away in one of the greatest cities in the world.

Les Rives de Seine is a brand new property and part of the Lagrange City range offering self-catering apartments in city locations throughout France. Located in the Parisian district of Boulogne-Billancourt the apartments can be found at the end of Metro line 9, approximately fifteen minutes from the Eiffel Tower, in the heart of an exciting new business and residential development. More information on the property can be found at www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk.

The price of £95 per person for a two night stay is for accommodation only. Self-drive packages can be booked for an additional £69, whilst prices for the return Eurostar can be supplied on request. For reservations and more information customers should call 020 7371 6111 or email info@lagrange-holidays.co.uk.

Lagrange are the self-catering specialists to France, operating in the UK for over 25 years, with accommodation across the French coasts, countryside and mountains. In addition to city apartments the summer 2010 programme has something to suit all styles and budgets, from apartments on the Côte d’Azur to villas with private pools, or holiday homes in Brittany and the Loire Valley. Accommodation can be booked alone, or with self-drive or rail packages at a supplement. For a copy of the new brochure, or for reservations clients should call 020 7371 6111 or visit www.lagrange-holidays.co.uk.