Bristol Street Art & Banksy-inspired Giveaway

UPFEST 2017, Europe’s largest, free, street art & graffiti festival, will take place from 29 to 31 July when over 300 artists will paint at 35 venues throughout Bedminster & Southville.

Talented artists travel from 30 countries and across the UK to paint live on 30,000sqft of surfaces in front of 35,000 visitors.

Ashton Gate will be the biggest area at the festival with more than 100 artists painting live, inside and outside of stadium. The venue will also host the longest painting surface for the festival to date with 50 artists painting on a 200m stretch, alongside a New York Style Subway Train, live entertainment, a plethora of children's workshops including Morph making sessions in association with Aardman and an art fair area featuring hundreds of pieces of affordable art and exclusive prints from a selection of festival artists.

And for a chance to win a Banksy-inspired giveaway enter online at visitbristol.co.uk/competition

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Top Ten Landmarks in the USA

FOR those planning to visit an award-winning landmark this year, TripAdvisor has identified top-rated tours and experiences in the #USA all bookable on TripAdvisor.

Top 10 Landmarks in the U.S.:

1. Golden Gate Bridge - San Francisco, California

This 4,200-foot marvel of engineering opened 80 years ago and remains the signature landmark of San Francisco.   Top-rated tour: San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge Bike Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $55 per person

2. Lincoln Memorial - Washington, D.C.

The iconic marble statue of America's 16th president presides over the National Mall as an enduring monument to the nation's cherished values of freedom and equality.   Top-rated tour: Washington DC Monuments Bike Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $40 per person

3. Alcatraz Island - San Francisco, California

Impenetrable and escape-proof, Alcatraz operated as a prison for only 29 years, housing America's most notorious criminals in infamous conditions. Top-rated tour: Alcatraz Tour plus Muir Woods, Giant Redwoods and Sausalito Day Trip - book on TripAdvisor from $79 per person

4. Grand Central Terminal - New York City, New York

Grand Central's stunning Beaux-Arts design, a delight to tourists, is also a prime example of art serving function: more than 750,000 commuters pass through daily.  Top-rated tour: Grand Central Indoor Food Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $89 per person.

5. Statue of Liberty - New York City, New York

Lady Liberty's lighted torch serves as a symbol of welcome and inclusion to all those hoping to make a better life in a new world.

Top-rated tour: Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Guided Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $55 per person

6. USS Arizona Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii

The USS Arizona Memorial floats above the submerged battleship and honors the thousands of Americans who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor. "The memorial offers a unique perspective, both emotionally and visually," a TripAdvisor reviewer commented.

Top-rated tour: Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor and Punchbowl Sightseeing Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $50 per person

7. Empire State Building - New York City, New York

Spanning 102 floors and more than 1,450 feet, this Art Deco masterpiece is arguably America's most iconic skyscraper. A TripAdvisor reviewer advised, "There's no better place to see the city lights than from the observation deck at night."  Top-rated tour: Empire State Building Tickets - Observatory and Optional Skip the Line Tickets - book on TripAdvisor from $34 per person

8. Rockefeller Center - New York City, New York

Shop, stroll, skate or search the skyline at this sprawling, soaring complex of office buildings, stores, restaurants and public art. Top-rated tour: Big Bus New York Hop-On Hop-Off Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $41 per person

9. St. Patrick's Cathedral - New York City, New York

This magnificent Neo-Gothic cathedral, famed for its classic spires and beautiful stained glass, is a National Historic landmark and still a local parish church.
Top-rated tour: NYC Highlights Small-Group Tour - book on TripAdvisor from $74 per person

10. Biltmore Estate - Asheville, North Carolina

Take a trip to the Gilded Age of the late 19th century at this lavish, expansive estate that contains a chateau, winery, farm, shops and restaurants. One TripAdvisor reviewer called it "a beautiful example of the excesses of wealth and a real work of art. In the spring, the gardens have the most beautiful flowers."

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

In the air . . . Latin America

AIR Europa introduces first direct flight to Honduras - Air Europa has launched the first ever flight from Madrid to San Pedro Sula in Honduras which will operate once a week. Return flights are priced from £405 from London via Madrid with a flight time of approximately 18 hours. www.aireuropa.com

UNITED Airlines announces new service between New York and Buenos Aires -
United Airlines has announced a new year-round daily, nonstop service between New York and Buenos Aires, Argentina, starting in October 2017. In addition, the airline is increasing its year-round, daily service to Bogota, Colombia, from New York, with an additional daily flight starting June 8 through August 14. www.united.com

AEROMEXICO increases flights between London and Mexico City to daily nonstop service - Aeromexico has increased its service from six weekly flights to one daily flight between London and Mexico City. www.aeromexico.com

LATAM Airlines launch new connections from Lima and Santiago
In September 2017, LATAM will launch a new direct flight from Lima, Peru to Tucumán, Argentina. In October, it will also start operating a direct service from Santiago, Chile to three cities in Argentina – San Juan, Neuquén and Tucumán opening up the region futher for international visitors. www.latam.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Al Fresco Dining tops in Palm Springs

SIX restaurants in Palm Springs have been ranked in OpenTable.com’s “100 Best Al Fresco Dining Restaurants in America 2017.” These awarded restaurants are a reflection of more than 10 million combined opinions from submitted reviews by verified OpenTable diners, which cover a range of over 25,000 restaurants across the United States.

In no particular order, the winning Al Fresco restaurants from #PalmSprings includes: Copley’s on Palm Canyon, Jake’s, Le Vallauris, Miro’s Restaurant, Spencer’s Restaurant, and The Tropicale. Restaurants were ranked according to OpenTable’s grading scale: “Qualifying restaurants were then scored and sorted according to the percentage of reviews for which ‘great for outdoor dining’ was selected as a special feature.”

Out of the states that made the best 100, #California boasts with 29 top #restaurants, followed by Florida closely behind with 28, and Arizona with 22.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Social media celebrates some big birthdays this coming week…

‘World Social Media Day’ is coming Friday 30th June 2017 - launched by website Mashable as a way to recognise and celebrate social media’s impact on global communication. 

Saturday 8th July, marks six years since Snapchat was first launched - as "Picaboo" on iOS on July 8, 2011. The app was later relaunched officially as Snapchat in September 2011.

As the globe honours its favourite social sites and apps, travel site momondo.co.uk this week considers how we choose to use social media on holiday.

From a survey of 1000* Brits this year, momondo found over a third post photos on social media, and one in five write updates regularly while away.

Interestingly the number of Brits who avoid social media has dropped by 10% year on year – that’s 23% of Brits in 2017, compared to 33% of Brits in 2016 - suggesting it’s more popular than ever to keep engaged with friends and family online while travelling.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Invitational Campaign Encourages Travel for WorldPride 2019

NEW YORK City’s official destination marketing organization, has joined with Heritage of Pride, organizers of #NYC Pride, to formally announce the two-year countdown to WorldPride 2019. 

Set to take place in #NewYorkCity in June 2019, the global celebration of Pride will coincide with the historic 50th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots—the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement—making it a year to underscore New York City’s progress and resilience as a global #LGBTQ capital. 

The announcement was made as New York City’s 2017 Pride celebrations are currently underway this week. A new invitational campaign, titled “One World, One Pride, One New York City – Unite in 2019” launched yesterday in New York City, with additional promotion and activations taking place in Madrid during the upcoming WorldPride celebrations there June 23–July 2.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Haka record goes international

THE world's biggest haka in Rotorua, organised as part of the nationwide festival of events for the DHL New Zealand Lions Series tour attracted extensive international media attention and was a huge hit with travelling fans.

More than 7,500 locals and Lions supporters gathered on Rotorua’s village green, chanting Ka mate, Ka mate, smashing the current world record set in France.*

Working with the International Rugby Club who masterminded the event as part of #Rugby 2017 Festival, Tourism #NewZealand funded drone footage and a video of the extraordinary event which then went out to international media.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Nordic Cuisine New Culinary Tours in Sweden

WITH Nordic cuisine still trailblazing around the world, now is the time to discover Sweden’s iconic food on home turf. With a whole host of new foodie experiences on offer this summer, from seaweed foraging and open fire cooking through to new culinary cycle tours and quirky bar and restaurant launches, #Sweden has plenty to keep even the most avid food fanatic entertained.

New seaweed foraging and cooking class on the west coast

Catxalot, a seaweed producer from Grebbestad in West Sweden that supplies many of Sweden’s top restaurants, has launched a new seaweed foraging and cooking workshop. Food fans are taken down to the seashore to learn which seaweeds are good to eat, where to find them, why they’re so good for you and how to cook them. After foraging for seaweed, oysters and mussels, the group cooks dinner together from the produce they found. The seven-hour class costs SEK 1,450 (£129) per person. This is one of several classes and events that Catxalot organises throughout the year. www.catxalot.se/en-GB

Get back to nature with a forest yurt stay and open fire cooking
At Nyrups Natur Hotell in Höör in Skåne the focus is on enjoying the peace and beauty of nature – right down to the food. Accommodation is in yurts amongst a beech forest, and everything is cooked outdoors over open fires. The hotel owners provide guests with quality local, seasonal ingredients and easy to follow recipes, enabling them to work with the fire and prepare a delicious meal with flavours of the forest. An overnight stay starts from SEK 495 (£44) per person and ingredients for cooking meals over the fire start from SEK 125 (£11) per person. The hotel is reached via a 35 minute drive from Malmo followed by a one kilometre walk through the forest.

Food and farming at Lindegren’s Nordic Viking pig farm

One farm on the Bjäre Peninsula is offering a hands-on farming and culinary experience, centred around its herd of rare breed Linderöds pigs - an ancient, native breed that has been part of the Skåne way of life since before the Viking era. Over two days, guests will gain an insight into raising the animals, processing the meat and modern Nordic cooking. With the help of some of the region’s best chefs and using herbs and vegetables harvested from the farm as well as the pork, guests will prepare meals in the traditional way over an open fire. Available on 18-19 June, 27-28 August and 13-14 September 2017, the trip costs SEK 6,250 (£554) per person and includes all meals, accommodation, guide and clothes needed for working with the animals. www.lindegrens.se

Become a winemaker for the day

As the southernmost region of Sweden, Skåne is gaining quite a reputation for its wines, with leading experts tipping it as the place to watch. Discover why on a day experiencing the life of a Swedish winemaker at the small-scale vineyard of Frillestad. After an explanation of wine growing and its various practical tasks, visitors are able to put this knowledge in to practice, with tasks such as cleaning grapes, pruning, topping the vines or measuring the sugar content of the grapes. Over a light lunch, would-be-winemakers will enjoy a wine tasting and then visit the winery to discover how the wines are made. Lasting around four hours, this experience costs SEK 600 (£53) per person. www.frillestad.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Holiday Planning Causes Stress

SO with the summer holidays approaching, relaxing times await - or so you would think. According to momondo’s international travel survey, the summer holiday is not a completely relaxing event for Brits, with 30% finding holiday planning to be a stressful ordeal.

Naturally, there are a lot of factors to consider when planning the summer holidays: from calculating the budget and deciding upon the destination, to finding the right flight and hotel, and then eventually packing for the holiday itself. Whilst travel should be a rewarding and relaxing escape from everyday life, it is always beneficial to consider a few tips and tricks to better overcome the planning of this years’ summer holiday.

1. Do your homework and plan ahead

2. Make a luggage checklist

3. Avoid last minute airport arrival

4. Less is more

5. Unplug your mobile devices

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

The Peak of Peru

FLASH Pack, the solo travel adventure specialist, offers a 12–day tour of #Peru with local Flash Pack guide & driver throughout the tour, two domestic flights to Maldonado & Cuzco, private minibus, Amazonian riverboats, mountain bikes and airport pickup.

The tour starts with exploring the rich culture of Peru’s capital before heading into the jungle on a typical Amazonian boat and trekking the epic habitat bursting with wildlife. 

Cruise down the Madre de Dios river on a night time boat through the jungle. Stroll the charming streets of Cuzco and admire the Inca heritage and artwork. Hike the kaleidoscopic Rainbow Mountain and sleep at a cosy base camp beneath the stars. Discover a lost city at Machu Picchu, a true bucket list destination. Mountain bike through the highlands of Sacred Valley and enjoy tasty Latin American cuisine washed down with potent Pisco sours.

From £2,299 per person: 11 nights’ twin-shared accommodation, including 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Discover Prague In A Different Way

THE project Prague Unknown shows #Prague as a city of various faces and undiscovered alleys. It offers guided tours off the beaten tracks, walks through narrow paths and abandoned pasageways. Thanks to Prague Unkown you can visit places most people haven’t heard of and discover Prague in a different way. Prague Unkown can also take you to districts with connection to the old industrial architecture and many more unusual places.

One of the specialties is a walk through the picturesque district called New World near the Prague Castle, which tourists usually don’t visit and most of Prague inhabitants haven't heard of. Prague Unkown team calls it a Prague Montmartre, simply because it is where all kind of interesting artists, such as graphic designers, photographers, painters, animators and many more reside in tiny houses. No wonder there are many unique buildings such as the only log house in the heart of Prague.

Another tour offers a look at a Czech rarity – cubism in architecture! You may know this style from different fields such as painting or scuplture, its connection with architecture is a Czech thing worth looking at because houses designed in cubism manner are not to be found anywhere else in the world.
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Cheapflights UK Travel Awards Celebrate Best In UK Travel

THE UK travellers’ favourite airlines, airports, travel brands and destinations were honoured at the inaugural Cheapflights UK Travel Awards. Winners in 20 categories were revealed at a ceremony held in central London last week, ranging from favourite airline cabin crew and airport for duty-free shopping, to best travel blog and favourite short and long-haul destinations.

Andrew Shelton, Managing Director of Cheapflights commented: “In what we can describe as turbulent times it is apparent that the UK has far from lost its appetite for travel, as we’ve seen a near 50 per cent year on year increase in users of our core flight search product, which we expect to number 25 million in 2017, more than a quarter of a million people are using our app every month and we now have over four million subscribers to our mailing list. These are exciting times for the brand and we are looking forward to working closely with new and existing partners as we grow further in 2018.”

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Hover over the Hoover Dam

GRAND Canyon Helicopters is now offering tours from its new Hoover Dam heliport.

The four brand-new tours, including a three-minute taster flight, make it easier than ever for guests to enjoy a flightseeing experience of the world-famous Hoover Dam.

From the heliport, located next to the Hoover Dam Lodge Hotel & Casino on U.S. 93, GCH flies guests closer to the dam than previously and also offers views of Lake Mead and the volcanic terrain of Black Canyon.

The new tours range from just the blink-and-it-will-be-over three-minute flight to a two-hour adventure.

Papillon.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

TripAdvisor Announces World's Top Landmarks With Travelers' Choice Awards

THE awards honor 706 landmarks in 82 countries.

"These iconic sights are cultural and historical touchstones for visitors across the globe," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor. "Summer is the perfect time for travelers to plan a visit to one of these landmarks. To enhance the experience at many of these signature places, visitors can book tours on TripAdvisor that offer unique perspectives or special VIP access."

Top 10 Landmarks in the World:

1.   Angkor Wat - Siem Reap, Cambodia
2.   Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque Center - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
3.   Mezquita Cathedral de Cordoba - Cordoba, Spain
4.   St. Peter's Basilica - Vatican City, Italy
5.   Taj Mahal - Agra, India
6.   Church of the Savior on Spilled Blood - St. Petersburg, Russia
7.   Great Wall at Mutianyu - Beijing, China
8.   Machu Picchu - Machu Picchu, Peru
9.   Plaza de Espana - Seville, Spain
10. Duomo di Milano - Milan, Italy

For the complete list of the 2017 Travelers' Choice Landmarks winners, as well as reviews and candid traveler photos, go to: www.tripadvisor.com/TravelersChoice-Landmarks


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

On the runway . . .

ANA, Japan’s only 5-Star airline, has once again been recognised as the world’s leading airline in two categories at the prestigious 2017 World Airline Awards hosted by SKYTRAX. The awards for “World’s Best Airport Services” and “Best Airline Staff in Asia” were presented in a special ceremony at the International Paris Air show this week. 

EMIRATES has won World’s Best Inflight Entertainment award for a record 13th year at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline Awards 2017. The airline also picked up the award for Best First Class Comfort Amenities.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

New Ambassador for Spabreaks.com

EUROPE'S leading #spa booking agency, Spabreaks.com, announced that actress and TV presenter Denise van Outen will be joining the team as a new ambassador for the upcoming year.

As spa travel experts, Spabreaks.com sends more than 4,000 people on spa breaks each week and is a pioneering leader in the spa industry, known for making #wellbeing more accessible for those with cancer and championing body confidence and mental health awareness. 

As part of her work with Spabreaks.com, the mum of one, famed in particular for her role presenting The Big Breakfast and performances in the West End and on Broadway, will be reviewing spas, sharing her thoughts on health and wellbeing on the company blog and working with the brand on upcoming initiatives throughout the year.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Cheers to the Walla Walla Wine Train

WALLA WALLA has long been known as friendly town set in the heart of Washington's wine country, but getting there can be a challenge. The Walla Walla Wine Train by InquisiTours just made visiting a lot simpler. Travelers shouldn't have to follow in the footsteps of pioneers on the Oregon Trail, following wagon ruts for 2,000 miles. Now it's as easy as booking a tour and hopping on a train. The inclusive escorted tour showcases all Eastern Washington has to offer with stops in two of the region's unique and complimentary towns: Leavenworth and Walla Walla.

InquisiTours offers two- to four-night tours leaving Seattle and Portland. Amtrak's Empire Builder covers the first leg of the scenic journey from Seattle along the Puget Sound to the Cascade Mountains and Leavenworth with views of the water, multiple mountain ranges, and a trip through America's longest rail tunnel, the Cascade Tunnel.

Enjoy a two-night deluxe hotel stay in Leavenworth, Washington's premier mountain town. In this Bavarian-themed town, travelers can choose from a wide variety of activities, from paddle boarding, zip lines or even a visit the famous Nutcracker Museum. An organized event to a local beer garden offers guests a chance to sample some local craft beers and homemade bratwurst.

The tour journeys along the mighty Columbia River through Hanford Reach National Monument, the Columbia's last remaining stretch of wild river, into the heart of Washington Wine Country. The effects of the ice age Missoula Flood on the land combined with the mighty Columbia reveal a vast landscape that surprise even lifelong North Westerners.


While visiting many of the Columbia Valley's unique AVAs (American Viticulture Area), Red Mountain, Walla Walla Valley, and Yakima Valley guests can sample world class wines.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Spain & Cyprus Autumn Getaways

THINKING of escaping in the Autumn? Here are two great offers from cheapflights.co.uk. So plan ahead and have something to look forward to.

Seven-night four-star holiday in Costa Dorada, #Spain from just £328pp, including flights and transfers.  Departure on 13 October 2017 via Cheapflights.co.uk.  Located on Spain's glorious Golden Coast, and a stones-throw away from La Pineda beach, Hotel Estival Park and Apartments family-friendly hotel ensures guests will have both a fun and relaxing time. 

Seven-night five-star half-board spa resort holiday in Northern #Cyprus from just £369pp, saving £302pp (45%), including flights and transfers.  Departure on selected dates between November - December 2017 via Cheapflights.co.uk.

Located close to the popular resort town of Kyrenia, North Cyprus, this luxury hotel is situated on the azure waters of the Eastern Mediterranean and is known for having one of the finest, private beaches. Boasting a wealth of facilities, including three outdoor swimming pools, a private beach, an indoor heated pool, a casino, fitness room, and massage and spa facilities.

http://www.cheapflights.co.uk/hot-travel-deals

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: `TOMS` 138531931@N05/27634990756 Kyrenia harbour via photopin

Great Heritage

ENJOY a fabulous trip back in time by simply downloading the Great Heritage 2017 Guide to the best castles, museums, historic houses, gardens and churches across the Lake District and Cumbria. 

Full of ideas for intriguing days out the guide is brimming over with quirky things to discover, from a Bee Penthouse to a Sleeping Giant and a Viking helmet chandelier to a Faerie Glen!

There is also the opportunity to win a 2-night break with luxury accommodation and FREE entry for one year to any of our attractions. 

www.cumbriaslivingheritage.co.uk/competition-2017-2/

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: dolbinator1000 126654539@N08/33191987254 via photopin.

Adventure and Wildlife Africa's latest offerings

ADVENTURE and wildlife tour operator Gane and Marshall has created a selection of new itineraries to celebrate four lodge, safari camp and hotel openings in top #wildlife spotting locations in #Africa. 

Founded in 1991 as an adventure trekking company, specialising in Kilimanjaro climbs, Gane and Marshall has evolved to become one of the UK’s leading providers of tailor-made wildlife and adventure holidays around the world. They pride themselves on delivering off-the-beaten-track travel experiences in safe hands, whether that’s an Africa safari, an Arctic cruise, wild-life watching in Finland or an adventure trek in Nepal. 

The latest itineraries from the tailor-made specialist are to Botswana and Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Zambia, each offering wildlife fans the chance to experience a newly opened, luxury safari lodge, including Sable Alley bush camp in Botswana, the ultra-chic Miavana in Madagascar, the remote Gomoti Plains Camp in Botswana and the stylish King Lewanika Lodge in Zambia.

www.ganeandmarshall.com

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

New York is on top, but Bali is on the rise

AS summer kicks in, we will all start packing our suitcases and getting ready to leave for #holidays. According to new data from travel search engine momondo.co.uk, Brits are planning for far away destinations this summer, with New York on top of the list. Bali has shown a massive 333% increase in searches making it the highest trending #destination.

The relaxing holidays ahead don’t come without a price though, as more than one in three Brits finds holiday planning stressful. Surveying 1,030 Brits and analysing flight searches for travels during the summer months, travel search site momondo.co.uk found long-haul destinations are most popular among Brits for their 2017 summer holidays. 

“Across all the searches completed on our site, New York is by far the most popular summer holiday destinations among Brits this year, even though beach holidays are usually the most preferred holiday type,” says Neil James Cartwright, spokesperson at momondo.co.uk.



Top 5 most popular destinations for Brits:

1. New York
2. Bangkok
3. Bali
4. Orlando
5. Los Angeles

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Play stops Work in Malta

NOTHING worse than going on holiday for a relaxing time only to hear construction noise, well head to #Malta because they have it sorted.

Tourism areas will be spared the noise and disruption caused by demolition and excavation works over the summer months, in accordance with a legal notice banning such work between June 15 and September 30.

The ban is being spearheaded by the Planning Authority, the Building Regulation Office and the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).

It is aimed at alleviating the intrusion that construction sites have on both the tourism industry and the number of Maltese families who move to their summer residence.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

TO Canada with Love

#TORONTO continues a year of celebrations in 2017 with a newly released summer programme of free events as part of TO Canada with Love. TO #Canada with Love is the City of Toronto's year-long series of celebrations, commemorations and exhibitions honouring Canada's 150th birthday with more than 30 City-produced events taking place throughout 2017.

The TO Canada with Love summer programme includes:

MomenTO
A city-wide schedule of events, MomenTO highlights 150 years of Canadian moments through people, places and events significant to the history of Canada and Toronto. Torontonians are encouraged to contribute to an online MomenTO timeline, and to present a diverse set of events, exhibits and installations.

National Aboriginal Day and The Indigenous Arts Festival
The City of Toronto continues its tradition of producing and presenting the largest National Aboriginal Day celebrations in the country with the five-day Indigenous Arts Festival from 21 to 25 June at Fort York National Historic Site. These events acknowledge June is National Aboriginal History Month.

Canada Days
A city-wide celebration, Canada Days presents more than 130 performances by emerging and established artists from across Canada with international guest artists at four locations across Toronto, including a four-day festival at Nathan Phillips Square from 30 June to 3 July and one-day events at Mel Lastman Square, Humber Bay Park West and Scarborough Civic Centre on 1 July.

Iconic CN Tower
On July 1, 2017 The CN Tower will celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary with a spectacular fireworks display and lightshow! The show begins at 10:30pm with a 30 second lightshow, followed by 5 minutes of fireworks set to Canadian music, and will end with another fantastic lightshow.

Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: Pintrest

Popular Vegas Chinatown restaurant Chubby Cattle relaunches

CHUBBY Cattle upgrades include open view display kitchens and hand-cutting bar; where certified A5 Miyazaki Wagyu from Japan and their own breed of Dorper lamb are hand sliced per order.  The sheep are raised organically on their own open pasture. This provides their restaurants with the best 100% grass fed lamb. 

To provide the most authentic hotpot experience in the #USA, Chubby Cattle owner Hai Bin Yang went back to his native Inner Mongolia in China and had DNA tests done to match the sheep that are native to Inner Mongolia. Sourcing the best lamb for Chubby Cattle has been one of his biggest concerns since the planning stages. After several tests, the South African Dorper Sheep was found to be the closest, perfect match.

Black head Dorper lamb have been specifically bred to produce superior quality meat, not wool. This depletes the lanolin in the fat which gives the meat a milder, less gamey flavor.



Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: Chubby Cattle 2.0

Under the Radar Florida Beach Destination

NEW Smyrna Beach, a relatively under-the radar beach destination on the USA’s Atlantic coast, possesses an old town charm rarely found in holiday hot-spot, #Florida. For visitors who haven’t ventured this way before, 2017 is the year to discover #NewSmyrna, as the beach beauty beckons with exciting openings and new experiences to entice travellers. 

Located north of Cocoa Beach and just south of Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach offers a different experience to the Florida that Brits are most familiar with. The beach town offers miles of white sand and beach activities, fascinating historical sites, a year-round calendar of cultural events and eclectic shopping and dining experiences.

There are many arts, foodie, sport and beach events and festivals hosted throughout the year in New Smyrna Beach but, new for 2017, will be a “Restaurant Week”, taking place in Autumn 2017 and set to further build on the fantastic reputation the beach town’s dining scene enjoys amongst locals and holidaymakers alike.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Boutique Adventure on the Irrawaddy Delta

BOUTIQUE river cruise company Pandaw Expeditions has announced the launch of a brand-new expedition, sailing into the heart of the vibrant and varied landscape of the Irrawaddy Delta, exploring its maze of tributaries which remain untouched by tourism. 

‘The Great Irrawaddy Delta’ itinerary will set sail from and return to Rangoon, weaving through the complex labyrinth of waterways on a fascinating seven-night river cruise. Explore the contrasts of indigenous village life, markets, ancient trading ports, temples, churches and mosques, and have the chance to spot a plethora of birdlife and wildlife. On the waterways, fishermen and turtle egg hunters ply their ancient business, while exotic migratory water birds paddle in the shallows.

This expedition is truly a step back into a bygone era. Since the Raj, life in the Delta has seen little change, although British civil engineering increased the cultivatable land through dykes and barriers, connecting the Delta with the Yangon River. 

In the heyday of the Raj, the Delta’s rice production fed vast swathes of the British Empire. In the early 1900’s The Irrawaddy Flotilla Company operated over 100 creek steamers across the Delta connecting these rice towns and villages when there were neither roads nor bridges.

Departures start from 10 March 2018. Prices are from US$2,117pp (currently £1,695pp), based on sharing a twin cabin.

For more information go to www.pandaw.com


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Picture Credit: jenlung.a 75212875@N02/34052202633 Irrawaddy River via photopin

Pirates of the Caribbean inspires more searches on Caribbean Holidays

FLIGHT searches by UK holidaymakers to the #Caribbean are up by 50 per cent year on year according to leading global flight search and travel deals website, Cheapflights, as Brits are inspired by the most recent Pirates of the Caribbean movie and new flight routes and hotels across the region.

Flight searches to this popular region have been on the increase all year, as Brits seek good value alternatives for their summer holidays from busy Med resorts, and the uncertainty that continues to hang over those in North Africa. The build-up to, and release of, the latest chapter in Captain Jack Sparrow’s adventures - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales – on 25 May has further shone a spotlight on the Caribbean, contributing to an overall year on year increase of 50% between January and the beginning of June. Although the film was shot mostly in Australia (the previous installment, On Stranger Tides, was shot mostly in Hawaii), the name and locations are evocative of tropical islands such as St Lucia and The Grenadines, which historically harboured the real-life pirates that inspired the franchise.

Deals to the Caribbean available now include:

Save up to £200 per couple off seven nights in Barbados on selected dates in September and October 2017. Book before 13 June to secure seven nights at Time Out Hotel in Barbados, close to the renowned Oistins Fish Market, from £649pp including return flights from London and air-conditioned B&B accommodation. 

Save up to £464 per couple off seven nights five-star all-inclusive at Occidental Grand Xcaret in Mexico on selected dates in September 2017. Book before 14 June to secure seven nights accommodation and return flights from London from £929pp.  

www.cheapflights.co.uk



Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Take-off Tuesday

AIR Malta has launched a weekly promotion offering discounted flights to a number of selected destinations Air Malta has launched a weekly promotion offering discounted flights to a number of selected destinations. 

With Take-off Tuesday, promotion on flights will be offered every Tuesday, running from 2:00pm till midnight.

The routes and travel periods are flexible and vary every week.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK