Tourism Awareness Week starts in Jamaica

#JAMAICA continues to experience record-breaking visitor arrivals. For the first eight months of this calendar year, January to August, there was a 6.9 percent increase in stopover arrivals in comparison to the corresponding period for 2016.

Concurrently, cruise passenger arrivals were up 5.1 percent to the end of August and in the eight-month period, a total of 2.8 million visitors earned the country approximately US$2 billion or 8.3 percent more in gross foreign exchange earnings than the same period last year.

The figures were disclosed yesterday (September 24) by Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett in a message he delivered at the St John’s Methodist Church, Montego Bay, marking the start of Tourism Awareness Week. The calendar tourism event is being observed in partnership with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) through October 1 and focusses on “Sustainable Tourism – a Tool for Development”.

Minister Bartlett said it tied in with the designation of 2017 as the “International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development” and provided the opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value.

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

Yorkshire takes it up a gear

#YORKSHIRE has received a huge boost with the news that the Tour de Yorkshire will grow from three to four days in 2018. After its phenomenal success over the last three years cycling’s world governing body the UCI confirmed the four-day Tour de Yorkshire was being included on their 2018 Europe Tour calendar between Thursday 3rd and Sunday 6th May. 

The Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire will also double in size next year, increasing from one to two days on Thursday 3rd and Friday 4th May. The news will bring far-reaching benefits to the county and further enhance Yorkshire’s reputation as a world-class cycling destination. 

The Tour de Yorkshire was launched in 2015 following the hugely successful Tour de France Grand Départ 12 months previously, and it has since grown to become one of the sport’s best-supported and most exciting races. This year’s event was broadcast live in 180 countries and a record 2.2 million fans lined the route. The race also generated £64 million for the Yorkshire economy and the Asda Women’s Tour de Yorkshire remains one of the most lucrative events in the sport.

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

Going crazy in California

THE All Saints Lunatic Asylum is a haunted attraction, offering several terrifying experiences that are not recommended for pregnant women, children under 10 or the faint of heart. 

This terrifying attraction in Apple Valley, California is over 6,000 square feet and put on by those who are dedicated to providing a high quality Halloween experience. 

The All Saints Lunatic Asylum now offers an escape room where you and a team need to escape from a series of rooms.

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

Garden Route National Park score increase in visitors

THE Garden Route National Park (GRNP), #SouthAfrica has doubled figures of visitors to the National Park during the SA National Parks Week campaign. The week long campaign started on the 16th – 23rd September 2017 attracted a total of 7, 449 visitors to the Park. Most visitors were recorded in the Tsitsikamma section of the Park (3,714), Knysna (1,734) and Wilderness (1,506). 

The Park had prepared activities to showcase the diverse nature-experiences in the GRNP. Park Manager Paddy Gordon says ‘#Knysna has South Africa’s single largest complex of indigenous forests, fynbos areas. We also manage seascapes and estuaries. SANParks invests millions annually to protect and maintain the area for conservation to the benefit of current and future generations.’

The Garden Route remains exciting for both local and international visitors for its diverse ways of venturing into nature- hiking, cycling, ziplining, segways, scootours, water activities (snorkelling, diving, boat cruises, canoeing) and others.


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

Space on Tour

EUROPEAN Space Agency Astronaut Tim Peake has launched a ‘first-of-its-kind’ national tour of the Soyuz spacecraft used for his Principia mission, with the aim of inspiring a generation of people across the country.

The Science Museum Group, which acquired the capsule Soyuz TMA - 19M in 2016, and global technology innovators Samsung, have joined forces to create The National Tour of Tim Peake’s Spacecraft and Space Descent VR. 

The Soyuz spacecraft will go on public display across the length and breadth of the British Isles, enhanced by Space Descent VR - a unique virtual reality adventure using Samsung Gear VR technology which places visitors right at the heart of Tim Peake’s journey from the International Space Station back to Earth.

It’s the first time that a Science Museum Group object has ever undertaken such a comprehensive tour of the UK, and the venture has a unique twist as one more tour venue will be chosen via a public competition.  Any venue interested in being the sixth venue of the tour, in autumn 2018, can apply via an online competition form at group.sciencemuseum.org.uk 

The deadline for entries is 1 December 2017, and the winner will be announced in March 2018
Venues:

1. National Science and Media Museum, Bradford 27 September – 19 November      2017
2. Locomotion, Shildon 22 November 2017 – 15 January 2018
3. National Railway Museum, York 17 January – 8 March 2018
4. Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester 10 March – 13 May 2018
5. National Museum Scotland, Edinburgh May – August 2018
6. Competition winner venue TBC
7. National Museum Wales, Cardiff November 2018 – January 2019
8. National Museum Ulster, Belfast February – May 2019

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

Picture Credit: NASA Johnson 29988733@N04/23775631743 via photopin

Japan rises through the ranks

IN Euromonitor's Top 100 City Destinations Ranking 2017, the organization named #Japan one of the year's greatest success stories. Tokyo rose six places to 17, and Osaka leapt twenty-seven places to 55, experiencing 52% more tourist arrivals in 2015 than 2014. 

Condé Nast Traveler has recently touted Japan in their recent pieces, 'The 25 Most Beautiful Places in Japan' and 'Three Places to Visit in 2017.'

From cultural experiences to diverse landscapes to delicious cuisine, Japan continues to attract visitors from around the globe for its endless discovery.


Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk

All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Airport nursing suites now open at McCarran International Airport

McCARRAN International Airport in Nevada, the eighth-busiest airport in North America with more than 47.4 million passengers passing through in 2016, has opened three airport nursing suites offering an intimate and private space for traveling nursing mothers. 

The suites are accessible to all and can be locked from the inside via an indicator deadbolt. Created by Mamava, a company dedicated to transforming the culture of breastfeeding by making it easier for more women to achieve their breastfeeding goals, the Mamava suite is a self-contained, mobile pod with comfortable benches, a fold-down table, an electrical outlet for plugging in a breast pump, and a door that can be locked for privacy. The 4-foot by 8-foot pod is meant for individual use, but can fit more than one person, as well as mothers with babies and other children in tow. 

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

Haunted Castles and Spooky Family Fun in Denmark

#DENMARK is famed worldwide for its cosy, warm and friendly atmosphere – and the ‘hygge’ is at its best during the chilly Danish autumn and winter, making it the perfect time to visit. But at Halloween, the cosiest country in the world transforms for frights and fun. 

Valdemar’s Castle, a stunning palace on the island of Tåsinge near Svendborg, in southern Denmark, will have a series of spooky Horror Nights from 29 September until 4 November. With several ‘horror zones’ to explore – everything from a war zone to a horrific hospital and mysterious dark forest – be prepared to be scared! There is also ‘The Mind-Blowing Horror Show’ starring Martin Castor, an international show hypnotist with a scarily sharp ability for modern psychological entertainment, mentalism and mind reading.

Esrum Kloster, north of Copenhagen, is hosting an All Saints Evening on 4 November, where guests will be transported to the dark Middle Ages. The darkened monastery will be filled with vivid lights and eerie soundscapes. Enjoy snacks and nibbles while you explore the monastery and walk alongside the souls of the dead. Perhaps even encourage them to let go of this world and move to the ‘other side’.

From 14 October to 22 October, Egeskov Castle, between Odense and Svendborg, will be hosting fun and spooky treasure hunts for children aged 6–12. Meet mysterious creatures and witches as you make your way through a quest to help Count Dracula find his way back to the crypt where he belongs. Egeskov will be decorated for Halloween with pumpkins all over the gardens. The castle grounds also offer holiday cottages for rent and a free campsite.

On 31 October, enjoy All Saints’ Eve at Gammel Estrup – the Old Estrup Manor House Museum located in beautiful natural surroundings 40km from Aarhus. This special night will feature ghost stories by candlelight, atmospheric tours of the dark cellars and the chance to walk through beautifully illuminated paths in the Baroque garden.


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

Flexible Driving at Melbourne and Canberra Airports

THE membership based car sharing service Flexicar has installed eight Flexicar pods at Melbourne Airport and two Flexicar pods at Canberra Airport, providing travellers with a convenient alternative to public transport and taxis. 

Members of Flexicar can easily book a vehicle for one hour up to five days, collecting it from the newly installed Flexicar pods (designated car parking spaces) at Melbourne and Canberra Airports. 

At the end of the booking, customers simply need to return the vehicle to the same pod. The service provides travellers with the use of a car for short periods of time inclusive of fuel, a generous kilometre allocation and damage cover*, with the added benefit of no waiting time when the vehicle is collected and returned.

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

'Undiscovered' Japan

JAPAN National Tourism Organization (JNTO) New York Office, together with Eric Ripert, chef and co-owner of Le Bernardin, and Condé Nast Traveler are creating a series of promotional videos where they will share the 'undiscovered' Japan with the world, focusing on Ripert's journey through central #Japan, Hokuriku region. Ripert is traveling to Japan in September and the video series will premiere on CNTraveler.com in early December.

Ripert's adventures will include Kanazawa, best known for its traditional and culinary attractions, where he will visit a variety of culinary attractions, such as a local fish market, shoyu (soy sauce) brewery, and a factory of wagashi, a traditional Japanese confection. He will also participate in a traditional tea ceremony and making traditional soba noodles. In Fukui, Ripert will visit a local sake brewery, hot springs, and a knife producer that has been in business over 700 years.


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

Picture Credit: Ame Otoko 30674850@N00/2411326001 Japanese Tea Ceremony (Usucha) via photopin

Yoga in Italy’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

IT'S hard to imagine a more fitting place to which to retreat for a yoga holiday than a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whether it is famed for its aesthetically pleasing landscapes captured by Renaissance painters (as is the case in Tuscany’s Val d’Orcia) or for its distinctive mountains and exceptional natural beauty (as in the Dolomites). Simply being in these unspoilt natural surroundings instils calm, regenerating both the body and mind, which is further intensified through specific yoga exercises. 

Adler Spa Resorts is very fortunate to have hotels in these two Italian locations of note and both are offering yoga retreats in November/December 2017, with Adler Thermae repeating its retreats in February/March 2018. Adler Mountain Lodge is in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites.  Adler Thermae in Tuscany has three yoga holidays planned for November and December, which will then be repeated in February and March 2018. Yoga is an integral part of Adler Spa Resorts’ offering – complimentary classes are offered week in, week out by the in-house team at all the hotels, with dedicated yoga holidays such as those described above taking place at specific times. 

www.adler-resorts.com/en/yoga-retreats-italy

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

InterContinental opens Vietnam's Highest Hotel

ONE of the world’s leading hotel companies, InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the opening of InterContinental Hanoi Landmark72 in Hanoi, #Vietnam.

Perched atop the towering Keangnam Landmark72 from the 62nd to 71st floors, InterContinental #Hanoi Landmark72 is now welcoming guests to enjoy one of the 359 sophisticated and luxurious rooms.

Situated close to some of Hanoi’s major landmarks and attractions such as Hanoi Museum, Vietnam National Convention Centre, Garden Shopping Centre and the headquarters of many Vietnamese multinational corporations. The hotel is less than 40 minutes from Noi Bai International Airport, promising guests a smooth transit when visiting the capital city.

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

Special Assistance from Heathrow

HEATHROW welcomed over 80 passengers this weekend in its first annual special assistance Open Day. The event was jointly hosted with Omniserv, Heathrow’s special assistant provider, along with disability charities like TryB4uFly, Whizz-kidz, and Spinal Injuries Association, and airlines including Virgin Atlantic. Its aim was to help passengers understand how our Special Assistance service works so passengers with disabilities or mobility restrictions have the confidence and information they need before they travel.

In total, over nine companies exhibited at the Open Day. Passengers were also given the opportunity to go on behind-the-scenes tours of the airport, and to walk them through the actual journeys they would take from check-in to gate.

Over one million passengers at Heathrow request special assistance from the airport each year. Following a critical report by the Civil Aviation Authority this year, Heathrow is transforming its service for these passengers and will soon publish a new action plan outlining practical steps to ensure its special assistance is considered amongst the best in the UK.

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

Cruisers island of choice

THE leading cruise review site has recognized Pure #Grenada, Spice of the Caribbean as one of the top five Southern Caribbean destinations for #cruise. CruiseCritic.com recently announced the winners of its second annual Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards based entirely on consumer ratings submitted to the website for trips within the last year. The awards name the top cruise destinations across 15 regions worldwide.

Pure Grenada is already buzzing with a number of new onshore excursions to cater to every taste. These attractions include culinary tours that introduce visitors to Grenada’s world famous spices, hiking tours to some of Grenada’s breath-taking ridges in the north and the Grenada High wire canopy obstacle course set in our mystic rain forest. ‘Bean To Bar’ chocolate tours, pristine white sandy beaches, gorgeous waterfalls, underwater adventures and much more are there to be enjoyed.

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

London is the go to place

TOURISM numbers in #London are set to rise sharply, with more than 40 million people expected to visit the city by 2025, an increase of 30 per cent on the 31.2 million visitors who came to the capital in 2016 says a report ‘A Tourism Vision for London’, published 1 September 2017.

According to Google, London leads worldwide searches for city and short breaks ahead of Barcelona, Rome, Paris and Amsterdam, with the overall number of searches up by 17 per cent year-on-year. London also tops Google’s search rankings for global cities to fly to.

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

Thailand’s most pet-friendly beach resort

IF there’s a single word to describe Centara Chaan Talay Resort & Villas it would be “unspoilt” – a pristine white beach overlooking a clear sea and backed by virgin jungle. Quiet. Authentically rural. A place to relax, read, and rejuvenate and a place to bring your dog! 

Walk by the ocean, through the garden, even to lunch or dinner with you in the open-air restaurant. There are even pet washing and grooming tools supplied in every villa. If your dog isn’t too large, it can even stay in your room with you. 

The palm-covered hills of Koh Chang lie across the strait; you can take a boat there or to Koh Kood to experience world famous dive sites. Enjoy the infinity pool and a traditional Thai massage in the resort’s spa. Stroll the 800-metre stretch of beach just outside your front door, take a Thai cooking class or join the candle-making and T-shirt painting activities. 

Situated in Trat on the South-East coast of #Thailand close to the Cambodian border. The area surrounding the resort is steeped in history and offers a real Thai experience where the locals go about their daily activities without the hustle and bustle of other resort areas.

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

Visit Zagreb for a brush with culture

ZAGREB is just an easy, two hour flight from London Heathrow with #Croatia Airlines and British Airways, from London Gatwick with Monarch and also from Manchester with Monarch with a flight time of just 30 minutes more. A wide range of accommodation in the capital from funky hostels, city apartments through to five star hotels.

Street Art - This is quite remarkable and brings present day street art to a new level. Also known as MUU, everyone is talking about this. Street Art was based on an idea by a group of famous Croatian artists to revitalise various parts of Zagreb. The ZagrebBeThere app is a free iOS and Android app which takes you to Zagreb’s coolest spots and helps you to discover the fabulous street art.

Museum of Broken Relationships - An art installation which is now world famous. It exhibits mementos of relationships which have gone wrong (not just between lovers) and is housed in an 18th Century Palace in the Upper Town.

Croatian Museum of Naive Art - Also in the Upper Town, there was an amazing collection of totally self-taught artists and sculptors, many of which were simple country folk. Without any training, this movement developed between 1930-1970’s with most of the artists from the Zagreb and surrounding area, with Hlebine having an important role in this genre. www.hmnu.hr/en

Mestrovic Atelier - The art scene of the capital cannot be considered without mention of Ivan Mestrovic, Croatia’s most famous sculptor and architect. Across Croatia, even in the smallest places, there is usually a Mestrovic creation somewhere. He lived from 1883-1962 and worked with Rodin. More than 300 sculptures and other artwork are on display in his former residence in the Upper Town and dating from 17th century. www.mestrovic.hr/muzeji/atelijer-mestrovic/atelijer-mestrovic.html

Art Pavilion - Not to be missed, a beautiful yellow art deco building at the southern end of Zrinjevac Park. This was never intended as a permanent structure (it was intended as temporary exhibit in Budapest in 1896) and was rebuilt in original stone in Zagreb. The Pavilion houses a wide range of exhibitions – featuring works of both local and international world class artists. www.umjetnicki-paviljon.hr/en

Moderna Gallery - Home to a national collection of 19th and 20th century art including “Tactile Gallery MG”, the first multi-sensory gallery in this part of Europe for visually impaired people. www.moderna-galerija.hr

Lauba House for People & Art - This contemporary art gallery opened in 2011 with a permanent collection that rotates every month. Located in an old Zagreb textile mill, it features new artists from Croatia and abroad. www.lauba.hr/en

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

NSW is Number one again

NEW South Wales has achieved its highest annual growth in the past five years for domestic visitors, nights and expenditure, according to new figures released this week by Tourism Research #Australia. 

The State remains the number one destination for domestic visitors in the country. In the 12 months to June 2017, NSW welcomed 30.1 million domestic visitors, who stayed 97 million nights and spent 7.2 billion in the State’s visitor economy. 

NSW Minister for Tourism and Major Events Adam Marshall said the latest numbers from the National Visitor Survey revealed a continuation of NSW’s strong tourism growth.

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

Thameslink trains now three times longer at Brighton, Gatwick and London Bridge

PASSENGERS travelling between London Bridge, Gatwick Airport and Brighton now have brand new Thameslink trains that are up to three times longer giving more space and more seats.

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has withdrawn the last of its older trains from this off-peak service, replacing them with cutting-edge Siemens Class 700 carriages.

The 12-carriage trains replace the mostly four-carriage (weekdays) and eight-carriage (Saturdays) twice-hourly service, creating 9,000 extra seats each weekday and much more space for passengers at Gatwick and families heading for the coast.

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

South Africa not just for wildlife . . .

ON the Southern tip of Africa, #SouthAfrica conjures images of sun and The Big Five: African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and Rhinoceros. All with various status of threatened or vulnerable, South African safaris these days consist of using the camera as the weapon of choice. Wildlife Conservation is one of the major tourism drawcards for S.A, with Kruger National Park the biggest of them all.

For something totally different, S.A is full of paleoanthropological sites such as the Cradle of Humankind, with early human development also popular with thousand year old Khoisan rock art scattered across the country. If that’s not your flavour head to some of the big cities for museums, art and nightlife. Not commonly known, is the fact that ,any parts of South Africa have a vibrant and exciting nightlife.

Across South Africa, roomsXML has over 1000 properties. Cape Town: Parliamentary capital and site of parliament and close to Table Mountain, increasingly popular with tourists. Durban: One of the biggest cities in S.A and home to holiday destinations frequented by locals. Johannesburg: One of the greenest cities in the world and with the largest man made forest. The economical hub of South Africa.

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

World Travel Awards

CASA Dorada Los Cabos, Resort & Spa, a five-star resort in Cabo San Lucas, is proud to announce that it is competing to become World’s Leading Beach Resort for 2017. The World Awards are the top tier of the World Travel Awards program and nominees have a proven pedigree of being the world’s best.

World Travel Awards (WTA), now in its 24th year, is considered the Oscars of the Travel Industry. The annual program is renowned as the most prestigious and comprehensive in the travel and tourism industry. The honorable recipients of a WTA have undergone rigorous independent examination, proven their excellence and have raised industry standards.

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

Europe’s most convenient airports revealed

EURO travellers rejoice! GoEuro, the platform for comparing and booking trains, buses and flights across Europe, has analysed more than 70 European airports to rank the fastest and cheapest transfers to city centres.

Whilst air travel may be the quickest point-to-point travel option, getting from the airport to the city centre can be tricky and stressful, especially if it’s your first time at a new destination. GoEuro’s new research allows savvy travellers to begin their holiday sooner, assessing distance, duration and price from the terminal to the city.

The Ten most convenient European airport transfers:

1. Nice Côte d'Azur, five minute transfer from £1.59

2. Lanzarote, 10 minute transfer from £1.24

3. Birmingham, 9 minute transfer from £2.90

4. Málaga-Costa del Sol, 12 minute transfer from £1.59

5. Frankfurt, 10 minute transfer from £4.24

6. Nürnberg, 12 minute transfer from £2.65

7. Cologne Bonn, 13 minute transfer from £2.12

8. Prague, 15 minute transfer from £0.79

9. Leipzig-Halle, 13 minute transfer from £3.97

10. Amsterdam Schiphol, 14 minute transfer from £3.71

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

"Do Fall" new campaign from Illinois Office of Tourism

AS FALL quickly approaches, travelers looking for new ways to experience the season’s vibrant colors should look no further than #Illinois. Visitors willing to step out of their comfort zone are rewarded with stunning views from new perspectives – from soaring above fall foliage during sunset to gliding through golden tree tops.  The Illinois Office of Tourism kicks off its new “Do Fall” campaign, featuring the six most thrilling ways to experience the season throughout the state. 

1. Canoe down the Mississippi River in Alton with a backdrop of burnt orange leaves and limestone bluffs. Big Muddy Adventures offers a series of half-day and full-day canoe trips on the river from Pere Marquette State Park to Alton. Afterwards, celebrate your excursion with a visit to the Old Bakery Beer Company, an organic craft brewery in downtown Alton.

2. Zip line through the fall foliage in southern Illinois. Fly across 83 acres of Shawnee National Forest for a bird’s-eye view of the autumn colors. The Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour is Illinois’ first tree-based, eco-friendly zip line consisting of eight zip lines and three aerial suspension bridges. At Aerie’s Resort in Grafton, experience an unforgettable two-hour canopy tour along the Mississippi River.

3. Soak in an aerial view of fall foliage during a hot air balloon ride in Galena. Galena On The Fly offers hot air balloon rides from sunrise to sunset, year-round. While in the air, families have 360-degree views over three different states. Back on the ground, tour one of the oldest vineyards in Illinois and taste award winning wine at Galena Cellars.

4. Horseback ride through Giant City State Park in Makanda and take in the natural sandstone structures and autumn beauty. Riders are guided by experienced wranglers on a 3.2-mile private trail that winds through the beautiful Shawnee National Forest. Later, explore the Shawnee Hills Wine Trail with visits to family-owned wineries, Alto Vineyards and Blue Sky Vineyard.

5. Bike among the gorgeous trees and riverfront communities down the scenic Great River Trail (GRT) in the Quad Cities. Boasting abundant wildlife and stunning views of the Mississippi River, the trail is a favorite among locals. Afterward, riders can revive themselves with craft brews at the Bent River Brewing Company.

6. Wind your way through a 10-acre corn maze filled with haunted surprises at Jonamac Orchard in Malta, then unwind with Jonamac’s signature hard apple cider or apple wine. For a sweeter challenge, try your luck at the country’s first and largest apple tree maze, featuring 2,500 apple trees at Royal Oak Farm Orchard in Harvard. For pumpkin picking, take a road trip to The Great Pumpkin Patch in Arthur, one of the largest family owned pumpkin farms in the U.S.
Go Holiday news : www.govillasandcottages.co.uk
All your holiday needs: IN PRINT - ON-LINE - DiGiMAG - SMARTPHONE -TABLET - BLOG - TWITTER - G+ - FACEBOOK

Australian art comes to Tate Modern

WORKS by renowned Australian artists Gordon Bennett and Susan Norrie have gone on display at Tate Modern for the first time. They are among ten works of art which have now been jointly acquired by Tate and the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) in Sydney. The partnership, launched in 2015, is made possible through a $2.75 million corporate gift from Qantas and enables both museums to expand their collections each year, bringing the work of Australian artists to new global audiences.

Visitors to Tate Modern can find the works by Gordon Bennett and Susan Norrie on Level 2 of the Boiler House as part of the ‘Artist and Society’ display. This free collection display explores how artists respond to political contexts, raise awareness of social issues and argue for change 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

Leipzig Christmas market a family event

LEIPZIG Christmas market dates all the way back to 1458. Open from November 28 through December 23, its six areas are set in chime with the fascinating historical scenery of the Leipzig city centre. With more than 250 twinkling stalls embedded harmoniously in the historic centre, #Leipzig #Christmas market is not only one of the oldest but also one of the most popular and largest Christmas markets in #Germany. Visitors are offered a multitude of festive delights; they can indulge in numerous culinary specialties or explore the city’s traditional medieval market.

Traditionally, the main area of the Christmas market is Marktplatz (market square) where visitors can marvel at a Saxon spruce Christmas tree of at least 20 metres height, and enjoy a wide variety of performances at the market square stage. On Augustusplatz square a 38-metre-high Ferris wheel offers seasonal views from a lofty height. The Finnish village on Augustusplatz has become a classic over the years. The enticing scent of smoked salmon and fruity Glögi – a mulled wine made from berries – draws visitors to the Scandinavian tents and stalls.

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

Need for Speed

SPEEDVEGAS offers the only Formula One-inspired track especially built for anyone who dreams of driving an exotic supercar or American muscle car. SPEEDVEGAS’ most popular packages offer six distinct ways to reach adrenaline-pumping speeds for not only exotic car enthusiasts, but also anyone seeking an extraordinary, only-in-Vegas-style experience.

Drift Experience – Guests strap in for a non-stop exhilarating ride next to a driver for this ride-along drifting ride around around SPEEDVEGAS’ expertly engineered track.

War of the Worlds – Guests experience a battle of automotive excellence while driving 10 laps in two of the fastest and most exciting supercars ever produced. Five laps in the Shelby GT or Porsche Cayman GTS Five laps in the Mercedes AMG GT-S, Nissan GT-R or Audi R8.

American Muscle Showdown – Drive the leanest, meanest and most aggressive rear-wheel drive V-8 muscle cars on the market and go 0 to 60 in less than 3.5 seconds.

Raging Bull – This package is a head-to head matchup between the best-selling Lamborghini of all time and the newest member from the “House of the Raging Bull.” Drivers enjoy breathtaking laps behind the wheel of two of the fastest and most popular Lamborghinis.

Italian Faceoff – Whether driving the most expensive car or the most intimidating car is the goal, guests choosing this package receive the best of both worlds. Five laps in the Ferrari 458 Italia Five laps in the Lamborghini Huracán.

Battle of Legends – These exotic supercars offer a triple threat, pitting the very best in German engineering against the fastest and most ferocious supercars Italy offers. Five laps in the Lamborghini Huracán Five laps in the Ferrari 458 Italia Five laps in the Porsche 911 GT3 A combined 1,617 horsepower.

www.speedvegas.com

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

Direct flights to the Seychelles with British Airways

BRITISH Airways launches direct flights to one of the world’s most desirable holiday destinations.

From March 24 2018 customers will be able to fly direct from Heathrow Terminal 5 to the #Seychelles, making British Airways the only airline offering a non-stop service from the UK.

Scattered across the Indian Ocean and famed as some of the most idyllic islands on the planet, flights will take to the skies twice-a-week from March to October and will be operated by the airline’s newest fleet of aircraft, the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. The Seychelles offers honeymooners, families and sun worshippers world famous beaches, crystal clear waters, easy island hopping and colourful coral reefs.

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

Scotland shines

A NEW exhibition at the National Museum of Scotland supported by Glenmorangie will show for the first time how silver, not gold, became the most important precious metal in Scotland over the course of the first millennium AD.

New research and recent archaeological discoveries will chart the first thousand years of silver in Scotland. The exhibition will showcase Scotland’s earliest silver, arriving with the Roman army, and show the lasting impact this new material had on early Medieval Scotland.

The exhibition will include the first public display of the recently unveiled Dairsie Hoard, which dates to the late 3rd century AD and is the earliest known example of hacksilver from anywhere beyond the Roman frontier.

13 October 2017 to 25 February 2018 at the National Museum of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh
Admission: Free

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

Chile Celebrates

THE Chilean Tourism Board had cause for celebration recently after scooping the award for South America's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2017 at the 24th World Travel Awards. The event, which took place on 9th September 2017, recognises and celebrates individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.

This is the third year the accolade has been awarded to Chile and it’s little surprise why. #Chile has a wealth of adventure tourism for visitors to uncover from skiing down a volcano in Pucón, scuba-diving off Easter Island and ice-field walking in Patagonia, to taking a hot air balloon flight over the Atacama Desert and white water rafting on the Futaleufu River.

In the competition, Chile defeated Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Uruguay. With this new recognition Chile will be part of the worldwide competition to become the World’s Leading Adventure Tourism Destination 2017, an award that the country won in 2016. This year the global ceremony will take place in Vietnam on 10th December.

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

Kick-start the festive season at the Victorian Festival of Christmas

THE largest Christmas festival on the south coast is set to return this December when Portsmouth Historic Dockyard welcomes back the ever-popular Victorian Festival of Christmas. Open 10am to 6pm between 1 – 3 rd December, the festival is the perfect way to kick off seasonal celebrations. 

The Victorian Festival of Christmas transports visitors to a bygone era where a cast of colourful characters roam the snow-covered cobbled streets, rub shoulders with a medley of street entertainers, enjoy seasonal refreshments and over 150 stalls.

Visitors can encounter the ever-popular traditional Father Christmas dressed in green, see Scrooge in his hand-drawn carriage, bump into young chimney sweeps, and enjoy street performances from Victorian magicians and musicians. To top off proceedings, there will be a 35-foot Christmas tree alongside HMS Victory. 

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

Vietjet connects Ho Chi Minh City with Phnom Penh

VIETJET has started selling tickets for the Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) – Phnom Penh (Cambodia) route with prices starting from only VND199,000 (USD8.8 excluding taxes and fees). 

The new route will be put into operations as of November 24, 2017, looking to meet the trading and traveling demands between the two famous economic and financial hubs of Vietnam and Cambodia.



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