Most people who go on holiday think it is a time to ‘let their hair down’, go a little crazy, forget about being or eating healthily and enjoy themselves. Of course having a great time is important, but you should really try to eat healthily while you are away and maybe do some activities that get you burning calories, unless you want to weigh a few pounds more when you get back!

If you want to stay trim even while you are on holiday, then you need to make sure the people you are travelling with are on the same wavelength as you. If the person/people you are with just want to sunbathe all day and party all night, then you are going to have a tough time sticking to your plan.

It is also important that you take a bit of time out to investigate the local area and find things to do. Find out if your hotel has a gym, what activities your resort offers, and if there are other physical options nearby such as biking, golfing, hiking, or kayaking. If you would like to do activities like those on holiday then make sure you take some suitable clothing with you for it, otherwise you’ll be forced to buy some over there. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and take a risk, after all you are on holiday. Try something you haven’t done before like white water rafting, or climbing a mountain, even sky diving would be a great way to burn some calories!

Another idea is to take some time to learn an activity such as yoga prior to leaving on your trip. Then you have a workout you can do anytime and almost anywhere, even in your hotel room. You can get up half an hour before everyone else and get a short workout in prior to starting your day.

It is a good idea to have your own store of healthy foods to call on as well. Pack things like dried fruit, nuts, seeds and oatcakes. This will provide you with a burst of energy when needed, and keep you from reaching for those high fat, high calorie snacks and sweets offered by vending machines or shops. You find it really handy having your own snacks when you are waiting places that you can’t get access to food, like in the queue at the airport, or standing in line waiting for a bus or tram.

Finally, make sure you choose wisely when you are eating (and drinking) out. Just because you have access to all the junkfood most resorts offers their visitors, then it doesn’t mean you have to join in. Go for nice lean pieces of meat that are grilled or baked, along with some vegetables, stay away from fatty fried foods and sugar-laden sauces. Choose your alcohol choices carefully as well, drink light beers or wine, and try to keep away from mixed drinks. Hopefully those tips will help you to come back at the same weight you left!

If you want to lose weight before your holiday then check out this Cookie Diet review to discover a great meal replacement diet.

CELEBRATE ST GEORGE’S DAY AT MACDONALD COMPLEAT ANGLER, MARLOW

Celebrate our patron saint with an evening of sheer indulgence at the Macdonald Compleat Angler, Marlow on St George’s Day, Friday 23rd April. Fine English cuisine is being matched with exceptional Champagnes, wines and spirits from the Moet Hennessy Group at a sumptuous four-course wine dinner.

Created by Head Chef, David Smith and his team, the candlelit dinner will be served in the hotel’s two AA rosette Bowaters restaurant overlooking the river; guests can watch passing boats and lights reflect in the water as they dine.

After a welcome glass of champagne, the first course features seared Devon scallops paired with Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc. This will be followed by roast medallions of lamb served with Cape Mentelle Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, while for afters there’s a dark chocolate fondant with Terrazas Reserva Malbec and a selection of English cheeses accompanied by Veuve Cliquot Rosé. Coffee and petits fours with a glass of Hennessy Cognac or Glenmorangie complete the evening. A wonderful treat at £95 per person including all the wines.

Bowaters restaurant will also be offering a special lunchtime menu featuring classic English dishes throughout the week from Monday 19th to Friday 23rd April.

To book a table call the Macdonald Compleat Angler on 0844 879 9128 or visit website www.MacdonaldHotels.co.uk/CompleatAngler. B&B is also available on 23rd April from £116 per room per night for two sharing.

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

Chris Delaney, Head Chef of privately owned 18th century mansion, Close House Hotel in Northumberland has launched the calendar for his seven course Degustation Tasting Menu, kicking off on March 18th 2010, for the gourmet traveller to enjoy. The seven course menu will be available for these exclusive dates only, and will be served with carefully selected pairing wines. The tasting menu will include dishes from the new seasons a la carte menu and will be served in the award winning Berwicke Restaurant. The evenings are expected to be very popular, so early booking is advised. £69.95 per person or £49.95 without the wine selection.

For information on accommodation or the Degustation Tasting evenings email events@closehouse.co.uk

Located just 10 minutes from Newcastle airport and the city centre, along with their resident chauffeur, this is an ideal destination for anywhere around the UK, for something a little bit different. www.closehouse.co.uk

MARCH 2010 – Renowned travel writer and editor David Wickers gives nowfly.co.uk an insight into his top 5 travel tips. We have a great selection of city breaks that have, well, never been so sexy. And we’ve found some fantastic Prague picks too.

Here are the edited versions and for full details click on the links below each article:

David Wickers’ travel tips
Hidden Italy
I love Italy and know most parts but my favourite pocket is the relatively little known Marche. In between Umbria and the Adriatic, it’s got everything we go to Italy to find – Renaissance art and architecture, historically intact hill towns, soft and velvety dumpling hills rising to the snow-capped peaks of the Sibillini national park, a seemingly endless stock of palaces, classical gardens, nights at the opera and feasts of seafood and fine wine.

For David’s remaining four travel tips click here:

http://www.nowfly.co.uk/ZipIt/50-David-Wickers-travel-tips.aspx

Top Sexy City Breaks
Buenos Aires
In Buenos Aires adult entertainment is full-on to say the least. The term ‘sex sells’ is taken quite literally in this steamy Latino city. Youkali Hotel is one of the most popular hotels for porn sets and glamour magazine shoots – Playboy calls it the most exotic and erotic hotel in the city. But if it’s nightlife you’re after, head to one of the intoxicating nightclubs that the city offers. Here, sweaty dancers rub shoulders with fevour; silicone blondes can be found at Ink, Brazilian prostitutes at Maluco Beleza and polo players at Cuernavaca. Swingers should head to Anchoorena for a Roman-style orgy set over three floors.

For the remaining four Sexy City Break tips, click here:

http://www.nowfly.co.uk/ZipIt/69-top-sexy-city-breaks.aspx

Top Picks for Prague
Eating
Traditional Czech dishes include wild boar, duck, carp or perch, red cabbage and dumplings – so make like the locals and sample them here in Prague. Sauces rich in cream and piled-high portions could play havoc with your health if you’re exposed for long enough, so we recommend Café La Veranda where all the meat is free of fat and the ingredients are fresh.

For the remaining four picks for Prague tips, click here:

http://www.nowfly.co.uk/ZipIt/67-top-picks-for-Prague.aspx

Renowned travel writer and editor David Wickers gives nowfly.co.uk an insight into his top 5 travel tips.

Here are the edited versions – for full details click on the links below each article:

Hidden Italy

I love Italy and know most parts but my favourite pocket is the relatively little known Marche. In between Umbria and the Adriatic, it’s got everything we go to Italy to find – Renaissance art and architecture, historically intact hill towns, soft and velvety dumpling hills rising to the snow-capped peaks of the Sibillini national park, a seemingly endless stock of palaces, classical gardens, nights at the opera and feasts of seafood and fine wine.

For David’s remaining four travel tips click here:

http://www.nowfly.co.uk/ZipIt/50-David-Wickers-travel-tips.aspx

Top Sexy City Breaks

Buenos Aires

In Buenos Aires adult entertainment is full-on to say the least. The term ’sex sells’ is taken quite literally in this steamy Latino city. Youkali Hotel is one of the most popular hotels for porn sets and glamour magazine shoots – Playboy calls it the most exotic and erotic hotel in the city. But if it’s nightlife you’re after, head to one of the intoxicating nightclubs that the city offers. Here, sweaty dancers rub shoulders with fevour; silicone blondes can be found at Ink, Brazilian prostitutes at Maluco Beleza and polo players at Cuernavaca. Swingers should head to Anchoorena for a Roman-style orgy set over three floors.

For the remaining four Sexy City Break tips, click here:

http://www.nowfly.co.uk/ZipIt/69-top-sexy-city-breaks.aspx

Top Picks for Prague

Eating

Traditional Czech dishes include wild boar, duck, carp or perch, red cabbage and dumplings – so make like the locals and sample them here in Prague. Sauces rich in cream and piled-high portions could play havoc with your health if you’re exposed for long enough, so we recommend Café La Veranda where all the meat is free of fat and the ingredients are fresh.

For the remaining four picks for Prague tips, click here:

http://www.nowfly.co.uk/ZipIt/67-top-picks-for-Prague.aspx

About nowfly.co.uk:

Recently voted one of the top 10 travel websites for 2009 by the Times Online travel section, the site has just been re-launched. It is still very fast at unearthing fantastic travel deals, but now has a fresh new look, easier navigation and a very clear results page.

www.nowfly.co.uk was established in January 2008. nowfly uses search engine technology to find as many prices as possible for your flight, hotel or car rental query. We search hundreds of leading, reliable and reputable airline, hotel and travel websites and we aim to present this information as quickly as possible in an easy and logical way.

Over the course of the next few months, English Wine Producers (EWP) will be presenting activities and launching information to highlight the UK wine industry, from the release of the new vintage wines to outlining the industry’s new labelling changes.

The highlight of the industry’s calendar is the St George’s Day Trade & Press Tasting, taking place this year on Friday 23rd April at Chelsea Football Club.

This is the showcase event for the UK wine industry, with EWP members’ wines highlighted alongside smaller, boutique wineries from the country’s six regions. The tasting will launch new vintages and wines and provide an opportunity to meet many of the producers and other representatives from the industry, as well as meet new faces and wines released for the first time. Additional features will include the launch of English Wine Week 2010.

English Wine Week will this year run from Saturday 29th May – Sunday 6th June, incorporating the Spring May Bank Holiday (the last weekend in May). Seasonally this is an ideal time to look to promote English wines either in store or in house, with new vintages and wines coming on stream and looking forward to the summer months ahead. Vineyards will be geared up to attract visitors and look to opportunities to link in with trade customers to highlight English wines to an ever increasing interested consumer audience.

Joining EWP this year and new to the market is sparkling wine estate Gusbourne. Based just outside Appledore in Kent, 10km from the south coast, Gusbourne Estate comprises only the traditional varieties planted on 20 ha, spread across 3 distinct plots. Owned by Andrew Weeber, whose passion for wine extends all the way back to his South African roots, Gusbourne is run on a day-to-day basis by Plumpton-trained Jon Pollard.

Gusbourne’s first vintage releases, to be presented at the EWP Trade Tasting on 23rd April, will be from 2006, with a little over 5000 bottles each of Brut (Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay) and Blanc (100% Chardonnay). Production has increased for subsequent vintages, and a groundbreaking new winery is planned for the near future.

More families are pooling resources and holidaying together this year, according to Invitation to Tuscany (020-8444-9500; ).

The villa and farmhouse specialist has noticed an increase in bookings from groups of family and friends. The most sought-after accommodation is clusters of individual cottages and apartments on one site, enabling everyone to have fun together but providing more privacy and independence for individual families than sharing one large house.

Taking over a whole estate of smaller houses is generally much cheaper than renting one huge villa – and to make it even more attractive the company is offering a 5% reduction on all such bookings in 2010.

A total of 15 people can stay in three recently-restored old houses on a renowned 450-acre Chianti wine estate close to Siena. Set on a hillside amid some of Tuscany’s loveliest countryside, the bright and spacious houses sleep four, five and six and are arranged around an old courtyard enjoying wonderful views and shared use of a large swimming pool. The vineyard is in the tiny village of Lornano where there is an excellent restaurant and a 9th-century church. Guests can also visit the ancient winery to sample and buy the Chianti Classico, regarded as one of the finest in Tuscany. Where all three houses are booked together, weekly rental is from £1,995 until May 7, rising to £4,564 from June 26-August 27.

Another option for groups is a collection of gorgeous old farm cottages and farmhouse apartments just outside the picturesque medieval hill village of Casole d’Elsa, half an hour from Siena. Together sleeping 16 people, they comprise a cute little stone cottage, a wonderful old barn conversion, the ground floor of the farmhouse with a beautiful brick-vaulted ceiling, and the first floor with a furnished outdoor loggia. There is a large swimming pool, duck pond, fitness equipment under a shady pergola and children’s swings – all within a gentle framework of vineyards and olive groves and with views across to the towers of San Gimignano. When all four properties are booked together they cost from £2,633 per week, rising to £3,804. Prices are for accommodation only.

In celebration of the rise in interest in quality British cooking, The Grill at The Dorchester will be honouring  St. George’s Day on Friday 23 April 2010 with a special menu.

Making the most of local produce, the menu will be available for lunch bookings and features beautifully cooked  classic British fare such as pressed terrine of Cornish lobster, Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding or Roasted rump  of lamb, priced at £55 per person.

The Grill at The Dorchester is one of London’s longest-standing traditional dining rooms. Head Chef, Brian Hughson  demonstrates a strong passion for sourcing quality, organic produce from around the British Isles wherever  possible. Together with Head Sommelier Jason McAuliffe, the British duo and their team create a welcoming, relaxed  atmosphere in which to enjoy classic British cuisine.

To make a reservation, please contact Restaurants at The Dorchester on +44 (0) 20 7629 8888 or email  restaurants@thedorchester.com.

St. George’s Day Menu

Wild Scottish smoked salmon and home cured gravadlax,carved at the table
or Carpaccio of beef, celery leaves and black truffle salad or Pressed terrine of Cornish lobster and tomato, sour cream dressing or Broccoli soup with Stilton beignets and red wine pears

Angus beef with Yorkshire pudding and seasonal vegetables or Roasted rump of lamb, confit tomatoes and courgette flowers or Potato and onion pie, wild mushroom and chervil cream or Roasted Pollack, lemon puree and brandade

Selection of Artisan British cheeses or Lemon tart with clotted cream ice cream
or Apple turnover or Bread & butter pudding with Baileys and chocolate ice cream

£55.00 per person
(Price inclusive of VAT at 17.5% and exclusive of 12.5% service charge)

City Cruises plc enters its summer season on the 29th March 2010, with an expanded sightseeing service and a new  London Showboat schedule from the 1st April 2010.

The sightseeing service operates a circular cruise between Westminster, Waterloo and Tower Piers as well as a  hop-on hop-off service between the four major destination piers on the River Thames (Westminster, London Eye,  Tower and Greenwich).

From the 29th March 2010 the frequency of the service will increase, offering passengers more choice. Cruises to  Westminster Pier will start to operate every 30 minutes and there will be additional boats between Westminster and  Tower Piers, departing every 15 minutes.

The London Showboat, an unforgettable evening of top quality entertainment and superb food will operate from the  1st April 2010 Wednesday through to Sunday. Boarding is at Westminster Pier at 19:15, returning at 23.00.

Prices for the sightseeing service will change from the 1st April 2010 with a River Red Rover ticket, which offers  unlimited travel throughout the day, on all the company’s sightseeing boats, costing £13.00 per adult and £6.50  per child (5 to 16 years of age).

The price for the London Showboat will remain at £75 per person, which includes a welcome drink, four- course  dinner, half a bottle of wine, the river trip, cabaret and dancing.

Further information can be obtained by calling the Sales Centre on + 44 (0)20 77 400 400 or by visiting the  website at www.citycruises.com where tickets for the sightseeing cruises and The London Showboat can also be  booked online. Gift vouchers are also available.